These companies are building solutions in environments where infrastructure or systems have failed to deliver.
May 28, 2026 at 12:00 AM EDT
Bloomberg’s second edition of African Startups to Watch spotlights companies across the continent as they race to solve some of its toughest challenges.
These companies are building solutions for issues such as accessing a doctor in Chad, moving goods in Kenya, securing a loan in South Africa or safeguarding borders in Nigeria in environments where infrastructure or systems have failed to deliver.
Global shifts are reinforcing that pressure. The conflict in Iran and cuts to healthcare assistance under President Donald Trump’s administration have highlighted the need for African governments and businesses to mobilize capital locally. Nearly half of the funding raised by companies on this year’s list came from African investors.
Startups across the continent almost doubled their debt fundraising in 2025, even as equity financing from venture capital firms declined. Still, international backers including 8VC, controlled by Palantir Technologies co-founder Joe Lonsdale, and Google saw value in investing in African companies.
With assistance from
Yinka Ibukun, Ana Monteiro, Prinesha Naidoo, Helen Nyambura, Alexander Parker, Enzokuhle Sabela, Rene Vollgraaff and John Davies
Editors
Arijit Ghosh and Torrey Clark