The Africa B2B Tech Report

Issue No. 102. Africa-Middle East B2B tech news & insights for 22 November 2025.

Nov 22, 2025

Welcome to the Africa B2B Tech Report. We cover the constellation of partners, builders, and developers that make emerging tech work for African businesses. 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, 16-22 November 2025

The following curation of stories on African tech trends covers the week of 16-22 November. This week, we share coverage of improving trends for startup exits, Africa’s growing instant payments volume, policy initiatives to promote digital inclusion, and more.

African startup exits on the rise amid ongoing liquidity concerns

Africa’s startup ecosystem has seen 37 exits thus far in 2025. Despite the increase in exit activity, overall liquidity remains constrained, with most exit values undisclosed.

First Circle raises $30 million to address Africa’s fintech capital gap

First Circle Capital has launched a $30 million venture fund to address a capital gap in Africa’s fintech ecosystem. The fund, backed by the International Finance Corp. (IFC), supports pre-seed and seed-stage startups that are building digital financial services across the continent.

Bloomberg is looking for Africa’s most innovative startups

Bloomberg is seeking applications for its 2026 “Africa Startups to Watch” list, spotlighting innovative, privately owned companies with proven customer demand and a focus on solving Africa’s unique challenges.

Africa processed $2 trillion in instant payments last year

Africa’s instant payment systems processed nearly $2 trillion in 2024 across 64 billion transactions. This highlights the continent’s rapid shift to digital finance and inclusion.

New PwC report highlights Africa’s fast-evolving media landscape

PwC’s 2029 outlook highlights how Africa’s Entertainment and Media industry is rapidly evolving, driven by digital consumption and AI, creating a blueprint for businesses to seize the next billion-dollar opportunity.

Social media rivals word of mouth among young African shoppers

A recent Boston Consulting Group report finds that social media is battling with word-of-mouth for the top purchase driver among African consumers. Social media is a particularly important purchase driver for Gen Z Africans. This underscores why retailers must treat platforms like TikTok as direct commerce channels.

Will Africa power the world’s remote workforce?

Africa’s young, skilled, and digitally enabled workforce is poised to become a major source of affordable global remote talent. Realizing this potential is contingent on addressing infrastructure and perception challenges.

Google, AfCFTA partner to train 7,500 Africans on AI

A new program from Google and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat will train 7,500 African SMEs in Artificial Intelligence (AI), e-commerce, and digital trade skills to foster continental business growth.

Three AI excellence centers on tap for West, Central Africa

West and Central African nations participating in the Cotonou Declaration plan three regional “AI excellence centers” by 2028. The commitment also includes training 20 million people in digital skills by 2030.

Using blockchain to open investment opportunities for young Africans

The Togolese fintech Minah.io uses blockchain technology to fractionalize real-world assets like real estate, energy, and agriculture. This enables young Africans to invest in high-potential development projects.

Sahara Impact Ventures makes latest e-mobility investment

Sahara Impact Ventures is the latest VC to put money into e-mobility. The firm has invested in Ghana’s Wahu Mobility to scale its design and leasing of African-built electric bikes. This funding accelerates the ongoing shift from petrol to sustainable transport.

IFC to pour $15 million into MENA climate fund

The International Finance Corp. (IFC) is considering a $15 million equity investment to anchor the new Catalyst MENA Climate Fund II, which aims to deploy $150 million to $200 million for climate mitigation and adaptation projects.

Kuwait approves modern legal framework for digital commerce

Kuwait’s Cabinet has approved a new Digital Commerce Law. Its purpose is to create a modern, comprehensive legal framework to help accelerate the country’s shift toward a digital economy.

NEO PAY, Biz2X deal empowers AI-driven SME financing in the UAE

NEO PAY and Biz2X partnered to launch embedded, AI-powered SME financing in the UAE. This collaboration integrates Biz2X’s lending engine into NEO PAY’s merchant platform for faster, tailored loans.

Africa to add 1 billion+ working-age people by the end of the century

Again, thanks to Axel Peyriere for this eye-opening infographic, which we found on LinkedIn.

This chart, citing United Nations data, shows that Africa will add more than 1 billion working-age people by the end of this century. This figure is much bigger than what other regions are expected to produce over the same time period.

To illustrate this point, Peyriere notes that the Democratic Republic of the Congo alone is expected to add 226 million working-age people by the end of the century. The entire European continent is expected to add 300 million employment-age population over the same span. So a single African nation will nearly match the European continent.

A growing working-age population is one thing. Having enough work for them to do is another. This datapoint highlights that Africa is a continent of incredible promise that also faces immense challenges.