The Africa B2B Tech Report
Issue No. 107. Africa-Middle East B2B tech news & insights for 28 December 2025.
Welcome to the Africa B2B Tech Report. We explore the business of African tech.
The Report is brought to you by Charles Laughlin, the Co-founder &Chief Content Officer of BigFive Digital, a media and events firm that hosts the annual BigFive Summit in Cape Town. Charles is an independent journalist, podcaster, and event producer.
The Business of African Tech Week in Review, 21-27 December 2025
This week, we curated an eclectic blend of articles that had an impact on the Business of African tech.
There were a few key themes to what we have curated this week. Here are a few of the larger buckets that this week’s selection fell into. Please click on the headlines of the article summaries to view the original works.
Investment and ecosystem trends
Focusing on high-level funding shifts, regional market health, and investor sentiment.
Digital Innovation and Infrastructure
Focusing on the deployment of advanced tech like AI, drones, and e-mobility to solve structural challenges.
Financial inclusion and SME growth
Focusing on widening access to credit, digital payment networks, and retail modernization.
The following is a collection of stories that we tracked over the past week that mattered to the Business of African Tech.
UAE steps up with $1 billion fund for African AI development
The UAE launched a $1 billion "AI for Development" program to fund African projects in agriculture, education, and infrastructure, boosting digital growth through strategic partnerships.
The growing role of AI & drones in fighting epidemics in Africa
Advanced technologies are playing an increasingly important role in combating African disease outbreaks. Africa CDC is partnering with Zipline for drone medical deliveries. In West Africa, researchers are using AI to forecast Lassa fever outbreaks.
The World Bank puts $500 million into SME credit in Nigeria
The World Bank has approved a $500 million investment in Nigeria’s FINCLUDE project to offer credit to 250,000 SMEs. The project prioritizes women-led firms and agribusinesses to drive inclusive growth.
A look back at Egypt’s busy year in startup investing
Egypt’s startup ecosystem thrived in 2025, highlighted by Nawy’s $75 million round and massive deals across proptech, fintech, and auto-tech, demonstrating resilience despite global constraints.
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Is e-bike player Spiro just putting a fresh face on rider dependency?
An examination of e-bike operator Spiro’s ownership and operational model in Kenya raised concerns over rider dependency, remote deactivation powers, and infrastructure challenges within the electric motorcycle industry.
Why Africa’s 2025 startup boost has been fueled by equity finance
In 2025, Africa’s startup ecosystem has rebounded through increased equity financing, prioritizing strong unit economics and scalable models in fintech, cleantech, and infrastructure-driven sectors.
Modernizing Moroccan local retail behind Sanlam’s $2.2M investment
Sanlam Maroc has invested $2.2 million in Woliz to digitize Moroccan neighborhood retail, modernizing small shops, and enhancing financial inclusion in the country’s essential economic sector.
Booming 2025 MENA startup ecosystem showing signs of maturation
In 2025, startup funding in the MENA region saw record highs, driven heavily by debt. This surge was focused on Saudi Arabia and the UAE. And fintech and proptech drew the most investor attention. Yet despite the growth, the MENA ecosystem is showing signs of maturation and pragmatism that will carry into the new year.
Each issue of The Report features a chart or graphic (or two) that was shared with us, or that we found online, that we believe is relevant to the region’s B2B tech ecosystem.
The shifting sands of global economic dominance
This week’s chart comes to us courtesy of investor Axel Peyriere. We can thank him for this compelling infographic showing the shifting sands of the centers of power in the global economy. According to this graphic, which relies on Goldman Sachs data, two of the top 15 economies in 2027 will be in Africa.
Coming next week
BigFive Digital’s 2025 B2B Tech Year in Review and 2026 Predictions
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The 2026 BigFive Summit
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Great roundup on African tech trends. The World Bank's $500M for SME credit in Nigeria caught my eye becasue access to capital is usually the bigger barrier than tech infrastructure itself. I've worked with startups in emerging markets where the tech worked fine but financing models couldn't scale. Prioritizing women-led firms and agribusinesses makes sense given those sectors get overlooked by traditional lenders, creates real multiplier effects in local economies.