Last week (November 17 – November 23, 2025) was the kind that makes you go “wait, really?” and then realize… yeah, this is how fast things are moving right now.
Busy, surprising, and a little bit wild. Nigeria rolled out faster payment systems, crypto just got a smoother path to cash, and Kenya is suddenly talking electric cars like it’s normal.
It’s exciting, a little fast, and maybe a bit overwhelming, but that’s what makes it worth paying attention to.
Let’s dive in.
African tech news highlights
Super Money launches South Africa’s first bank-backed rand stablecoin
Super Money has launched ZAR Supercoin, a South Africa-focused stablecoin backed 1:1 by rand reserves held at ABSA and regulated by the FSCA. The coin and its accompanying digital wallet aim to make everyday payments faster and more accessible across South Africa and the wider continent. Super Money says the goal is to bring simple, secure digital money into daily life for consumers and businesses.
Applications open for latest $55k Harvard Africa Business Club startup competition
Harvard Business School’s Africa Business Club has opened applications for its New Venture Competition, giving early-stage African startups a shot at up to US$55,000 in prize money. The competition will run during the club’s annual Africa Business Conference in Boston on March 27 to 28, offering finalists visibility with investors and support from Harvard MBA students. Eligible ventures must be under five years old and have raised less than US$1 million.
SA’s iDGuardian launches AI-powered ID verification system
South African startup iDGuardian has introduced a lightweight AI system that turns natural biometric signals into secure cryptographic proof, aiming to make digital identity more accessible. Built by township-based founder Basie Pharedi, the solution targets fintechs, banks, and verification agencies that need affordable, privacy-focused tools that work on everyday smartphones. Though still pre-funding, the prototype has already sparked interest from major players as the team explores partnerships and plans for broader rollout across South Africa and eventually sub-Saharan Africa.
Seedstars, SANAD partner to back women entrepreneurs in Africa, Middle East
Seedstars and the SANAD Technical Assistance Facility have launched the SANAD Elevate Her Programme to support female-led and 2X-aligned startups across MENA and Sub-Saharan Africa. The initiative will equip 40 high-potential founders with tailored acceleration, mentorship, and investment-readiness support to help close the region’s massive funding gap for women. Priority sectors include sustainability, agrifinance, and fintech, with applications now open to eligible startups in 15 countries.
30 startups selected for Latitude59 Pitch Competition in Kenya
Thirty startups have been shortlisted for the Latitude59 Kenya Pitch Competition, chosen from 222 applications spanning 27 countries. The finalists will undergo pitch training before the top ten are selected to compete on stage at the Nairobi finals in early December. Organizers say the calibre of applicants shows how African founders are now building bold, scalable solutions with global ambition.
Roam rolls out Kenya’s first universal fast-charging station for light electric vehicles
Roam has launched Kenya’s first universal fast-charging station for light electric vehicles, delivering up to 20 kilometres of range in five minutes. The rollout follows the company’s recent US$24 million raise to scale production of its locally designed electric motorcycles and buses. With Roam Point running on a simple self-service model and mobile payments, the company says it’s giving riders the freedom to charge anywhere as it pushes toward a cleaner, more flexible transport future.
Key funding round (November 17 – November 23, 2025)
SA’s Plentify closes Series A funding round
- Sector: Smart Energy and AI powered home electrification
- Lead investor(s): Secha Capital, Buffet Investments and a South African family office
- Why it matters: Helps households cut energy costs, ease pressure on national grids and shift everyday appliances toward cleaner power use.
South African smart energy startup Plentify has secured an oversubscribed Series A round, pushing its total funding to nearly $15 million. The company builds AI-driven hardware and software that quietly optimizes when home appliances draw power, which means better reliability, lower bills and more use of clean energy when it’s available. Investors say the model proven in South Africa is now ready for global expansion, and they seem pretty convinced, given how quickly this round filled up.
Trends to watch
- Infrastructure is creeping up the agenda: The Meta/2Africa cable + Nigeria’s NPS show that the environment (connectivity, payment rails, EV charging) is increasingly pushing beyond “just apps”. Founders should note: building on better digital infrastructure may now be less of a tailwind and more of a baseline.
- Payments + crypto bridging continues: Monica.cash, Nigeria’s NPS move payments and crypto are inter-woven. Fintech still leads.
- Emerging verticals beyond fintech: EV charging in Kenya, social monetisation platforms, women-entrepreneur funding. Signals that the “fintech-domination” narrative is loosening a bit.
- Liquidity, exits and scale are under the spotlight: With the Summit’s focus on “liquidity, scale and enduring returns”, the ecosystem is increasingly concerned not just with raising money but ‘how do we get out of it (profitably)’. Exit readiness matters.
- Gender and inclusion flags being raised: The Seedstars/SANAD tie-up is a positive signal for women-led ventures. Still, as other articles have flagged, Africa’s AI/data problems still reflect gender-skewed data sets.
Conclusion
It wasn’t a mega-round week in terms of blockbuster deals (at least based on the Week Nov 17-23 window and the sources checked).
But what it was is meaningful: odds of major structural shifts are increasing.
Better payment rails in Nigeria, connectivity leaps via subsea cables, EV infrastructure emerging in Kenya, focus on women founders, and a broader conversation around liquidity and exits.
So if you’re building in Africa: buckle up. The base is being set, the rules are being rewritten, and perhaps the biggest wins will go to those stepping in before they’re obvious.
Catch you next week.
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