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The African Development Bank is considering investing €7.5 million to support early-stage tech startups across Africa. The funds will target sectors such as finance, healthcare, agriculture, education, and climate. The initiative aims to help innovative companies launch, create jobs, and improve access to services for underserved populations across the continent.
Renew Venture Lab is accepting applications from African founders developing solutions combining technology and financial services. The program aims to help early-stage startups better integrate payment or lending features, scale in a more structured way, and prepare to attract investors. Top participants may later be considered for funding. Applications are open until Thursday, April 30.
The cryptocurrency platform VALR has partnered with Onafriq to let users in several African countries fund their accounts via mobile money in local currencies. Under the agreement, users can buy Bitcoin, stablecoins and tokenized assets, and use additional financial services. The integration of local payment systems with digital assets is intended to broaden access to financial services across the continent.
Nigerian startup PowerLabs has raised a pre-seed round to accelerate deployment of its Pai Enterprise platform, which uses artificial intelligence to manage multiple energy sources for businesses. The platform helps clients cut electricity costs, prevent outages and reduce emissions by integrating solar, grid and generator power into a single real-time system.
Tanzania is launching a dedicated fund for youth-led startups to support its digital economy. Announced by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, the initiative will be government-funded and overseen by the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology. The fund aims to help young entrepreneurs access capital, take advantage of expanding telecommunications infrastructure, and create jobs in online services, education, healthcare and e-commerce.
The Botswana Innovation Fund is launching a 12-month program to support 10 startups in climate and digital technologies. Selected companies will be supported in turning their ideas into viable products, testing their solutions, gaining customers, and preparing to attract investors. The program targets renewable energy, energy efficiency, water management, and data-driven technologies.
Vertiv, a company specializing in critical digital infrastructure, will host an online event on April 15 at 11:00 AM (GMT+2) focused on AI-ready data centers in Africa. The session will examine the power, cooling, and scalable infrastructure needed to support the rapid growth of AI and cloud computing. Industry experts will discuss key technical challenges and the solutions required to support future expansion.
The Africa Tech Summit is scheduled to take place on May 29, 2026, at the London Stock Exchange. The event will bring together African startups, diaspora investors and global funds. It will focus on funding and partnerships in London, a key hub for access to international capital.
The pan-African neobank Zazu has partnered with Visa to offer entrepreneurs and small businesses in Morocco a 100% online business account. Customers can open an account, send and receive payments, issue multiple cards for their teams, and track expenses in real time from a single dashboard, eliminating the need for multiple tools, saving time and improving cash flow management.
The Moroccan startup z.systems, which specializes in digitizing neighborhood grocery stores, has raised $1.65 million from the Azur Innovation Fund and existing investors. The company aims to build digital infrastructure for the traditional retail sector, which accounts for the vast majority of food spending in Morocco, and plans to connect 50,000 retailers to its platform by 2030, with support from the government.
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In Casablanca, the Morocco Accelerator program has launched its second cohort, featuring 19 Moroccan startups, including diaspora founders, specializing in fintech, AI, healthcare, agritech and deeptech. Supported by the Ministry of Digital Transition, in partnership with Technopark and Plug and Play, the program provides mentorship, market access and connections with investors. It aims to help these startups scale beyond Morocco, in line with the Morocco Digital 2030 strategy.
Egyptian startup Lucky has raised $23 million in a funding round to expand its credit offerings and grow across North Africa. The app already allows millions of users to save money, make payments and access flexible lines of credit. The new funding will support its technology, licensing and compliance efforts as it moves toward becoming a digital bank.
The African accelerator Innovate Now has selected 19 Kenyan startups for its 11th cohort focused on assistive technology. The ventures address issues in AI-powered accessibility, mobility, inclusive education and digital inclusion. Over the next eight months, founders will receive dedicated mentorship, test their solutions with people with disabilities, and take part in tailored coaching ahead of a final Demo Day.
Cyber Carnival 2026 will take place this June in Nairobi, Kenya, with dates yet to be confirmed. Framed as a full-scale festival, the event combines cybersecurity and technological innovation with elements of African culture. It will bring together professionals, tech enthusiasts, and the wider public through workshops, live demonstrations, and interactive exhibits designed to make digital security more accessible while showcasing local creativity.