Unlocking Potential: Sub-Saharan Africa Startup Funding April 2025 Highlights

Total year-to-date (YTD) VC funding stood at just US $281.7 million, marking a sharp 46.9% decline from the same period in 2024. The deal count also continued to decline, from 181 deals in April 2024 to 74 deals this year, reflecting a 59.1% drop and a 70% decline from two years ago.

Despite the downward trend, Sub-Saharan Africa startup funding April 2025 brought renewed energy to the SSA market. Four of the five largest funding rounds so far in 2025 happened this month, signaling a strong month. These April deals alone accounted for over 44% of total YTD funding and indicating that while early-stage and mid-sized deals are shrinking, larger rounds are still drawing investor interest.

Top Performers in Sub-Saharan Africa Startup Funding, April 2025

Let’s take a closer look at the top 5 most funded startups in Sub-Saharan Africa in April 2025:

• Stitch (South Africa) led the month with a US $55 million Series B to expand its open banking and payment infrastructure services. This includes the recently acquired and rebranded Stitch In-Person Payments.
• OmniRetail (Nigeria) raised US $20 million in Series A to scale its asset-light B2B e-commerce platform, connecting over 150,000 informal retailers and further developing its embedded finance arm, OmniPay.
• Zeepay (Ghana) secured US $18 million in debt financing, a boost to its mobile money and remittance services that now operate across more than 20 African and Caribbean markets.
• Djamo (Côte d’Ivoire) closed a US $17 million round, making it the largest deal ever for an Ivorian startup. The company focuses on financial inclusion and was recently granted the region’s first fintech-issued brokerage license.
• Arnergy (Nigeria) raised US $15 million in a Series B extension, aimed at growing its lease-to-own solar energy installations in response to rising energy costs and increasing demand for sustainable infrastructure.

These startups, hailing from South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire, represent a diverse mix of fintech, cleantech, and e-commerce solutions. Yet, fintech remains the main sector capturing 3 out of 5 of the top funding rounds this month.

Future Prospects for SSA Startup Funding Landscape

Going forward, recovery across the continent’s venture scene will remain on hinging on macroeconomic stability, cross-border investor confidence, and the strength of local ecosystems in supporting founders.

While Sub-Saharan Africa startup funding April 2025 remains below past highs, the standout rounds of April also reflect growing investor preference for businesses with proven models, profitable operations, and regional scaling potential.