How was your weekend?
Mine felt… quieter than usual. Not dead, just that kind of calm that makes you suspicious something big is brewing underneath.
The sort where accelerators open new applications, investors quietly shift partners, and yet—if you look closely—tiny signals hint at where the continent’s startup pulse is heading next.
This past week (Sept 29 – Oct 5, 2025) didn’t scream headlines but hums direction, African tech scene quietly resetting, rethinking, reloading.
While we didn’t see a mega-round, the signals were clear: capital is flowing steadily, impact and infrastructure playbooks are rising, and regulators are quietly staking claims.
African tech news highlights (Sept 29 – Oct 5, 2025)
216 Capital Venture Accelerator Opens Applications for Tunisian Startups
216 Capital, in partnership with global innovation platform Plug and Play, has launched the first edition of its six-month Venture Accelerator programme for Tunisian startups. The programme will prepare up to 20 early-stage ventures for investment through mentorship, funding of EUR50,000 (US$59,000) each, and access to global investor networks. Applications are open until October 31, with selected startups joining Plug and Play’s worldwide ecosystem after completion.
Intella Partners with Visa to Advance Arabic Conversational AI
Egypt’s Intella, a leader in Arabic speech intelligence, has partnered with Visa to revolutionize conversational AI for financial institutions across the Middle East and North Africa.
The collaboration will combine Visa’s global network with Intella’s dialectal AI models—capable of understanding over 25 Arabic dialects—to deliver data-driven customer insights and next-generation banking experiences.
This marks a major step in closing the “intelligence gap” in Arabic-language AI, transforming how banks engage, analyze, and serve customers across the region.
TLcom Capital Partner Ido Sum Departs After 14 Years
Africa-focused venture capital firm TLcom Capital has announced the departure of partner Ido Sum after 14 years with the firm. During his tenure, Sum helped close TIDE Fund I and II and supported portfolio companies like uLesson, Littlefish, and Zone. Managing partner Maurizio Caio thanked Sum for his years of dedication, wishing him success in his next chapter.
Latitude59 Returns to Nairobi for 2025 Pitch Competition
Latitude59, Estonia’s flagship startup and tech event with global editions in Singapore, Cape Town, and Nairobi, is inviting early-stage African startups to apply for the L59 Pitching Competition happening in Nairobi from December 3–5.
Applications are open until October 25 for startups with proven traction and Africa-based teams, with ten finalists to receive pitch training and compete for a trip to Latitude59 2026 in Tallinn, Estonia.
CEO Liisi Org said the event celebrates Africa’s bold and globally minded founders, marking the competition’s third consecutive year in Kenya.
Nedbank ReNEW Accelerator Opens for Circular Economy Startups
South African startups focused on waste-related circular economy solutions can now apply for the Nedbank ReNEW accelerator, offering up to ZAR1 million (US$58,000) in funding and tailored business support.
Managed by Impact Amplifier and funded by the Nedbank Foundation, the programme aligns with the national Circular Economy Strategy to boost innovation and job creation. Applications close on October 9.
Other tech news highlights
- Bolt enters Kenya safari rides: Bolt is launching a service to compete with Uber in Kenya’s tourism routes — safari park drives, reserves, and tourist circuits. This attempt to diversify beyond city rides shows how ride-hailing services are eyeing adjacent verticals and revenue streams.
- Nigeria–Kenya deepen space / satellite partnerships: Nigeria’s space agency (NIGCOMSAT) and Kenya are in talks to collaborate more closely in satellite services. Kenya is exploring sourcing more satellite connectivity from Nigeria rather than always relying on external providers. This underscores growing African interest in owning or regionalising connectivity infrastructure.
- Kenyan banks resist rate cuts; regulator warns fines: Kenya’s Central Bank (CBK) has publicly threatened to penalize banks that refuse to lower lending rates in line with policy cuts. Eight banks reportedly refused to lower rates in August, prompting regulatory heat. That conflict could influence lending to fintechs, SMEs, and consumer credit plays.
- Spark Accelerator launches second cohort: Safaricom, M-PESA Africa, and partners have selected 10 startups into their second acceleration cohort. These include ventures in embedded finance, creative economy, SME productivity tools, insurance, etc. Corporate-powered accelerators continue to gain traction as sources of capital + market access.
Key funding rounds (Sept 29 – Oct 5, 2025)
This week’s funding activity was quieter than some blockbuster periods—but still meaningful, especially in climate, venture studios, and early stage deals.
| Startup / Fund | Sector | Country | Amount / Type | Lead Investor(s) / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pyramidia Ventures | Agri-tech / climate + venture studio | Kenya | US$1.5 million | To expand its model of building and scaling climate-tech startups. |
| OKO | Climate insurance / agritech | Mali (serving multiple markets) | Undisclosed (six-figure) | Led by Catalyst Fund, with participation from existing backers. |
Note: Compared to some weeks, the rounds are modest or undisclosed. That said, these reflect interesting bets in climate adaptation, insurance, and venture building.
Also relevant, though not strictly funding news:
- Lisk launches a $15 million Web3 fund for emerging markets: Lisk (Swiss blockchain platform) has announced a $15M fund to back Web3 founders in Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. First checks will start at ~$250,000.
Trends to watch
- Climate/agritech & Risk Mitigation are gaining traction: Both OKO’s insurance round and Pyramidia’s climate-tech venture model show growing investor interest in climate resilience, agricultural value chains, and tools that help manage volatility (e.g. weather insurance).
- Venture studio/builder models may become more prominent: Pyramidia’s studio approach (versus just a single startup) reflects a trend: some capital is being deployed into structures that spawn multiple ventures in climate / agri-tech verticals.
- Early stage & seed funding still dominates: We didn’t see mega late-stage rounds this week. The deals are smaller or undisclosed, hushing rumors of “dryness.” That aligns with a fundraising environment where capital is selective and more cautious.
- Infrastructure, sovereignty, and control are coming into focus: The Nigeria–Kenya satellite discussions, and investment in Web3 (via Lisk’s new fund), reflect awareness that Africa must reclaim more of its digital infrastructure instead of always renting from outside.
- Regulatory posture matters more than ever: The standoff between Kenyan banks and the central bank over rate cuts illustrates how macro/regulation will ripple into fintech, credit startups, and capital flows. Founders may need to factor in compliance and relationships with regulators earlier.
- Retention over acquisition is becoming the survival playbook: A TechCabal op-ed this week argued that African unicorns of the future will be built less on aggressive user acquisition and more on strong retention, given rising acquisition costs and saturation.
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