WIOCC Group, a African open-access digital infrastructure provider, said on Tuesday it had raised an additional $65 million in debt financing to expand its network and data centre footprint across the continent.

The facility, structured as sustainability-linked debt, was arranged by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Proparco, Emerging Africa Infrastructure and Asia Infrastructure Fund (EAAIF), and asset manager Ninety-One.

WIOCC Chief Executive Chris Wood said the funding would strengthen the company’s ability to scale its hyperscale network and extend open-access digital infrastructure, supporting Africa’s growth and digital inclusion.

“Digital connectivity is key to economic growth across Africa. This financing enables us to build resilient networks and expand access to high-speed internet,” Wood said.

The company said the funds would be used to increase connectivity capacity, enhance data centre resilience, and further develop its pan-African digital ecosystem.

IFC’s Sarvesh Suri said the investment would help optimize WIOCC’s capital structure, mitigate currency risk, and accelerate deployment of open-access networks to drive economic growth and job creation.

Puleng Pitso of Ninety-One, the fund manager for EAAIF, highlighted that the investment would support small businesses, entrepreneurs, and industries participating in the digital economy.

Françoise Lombard, CEO of Proparco, noted that the financing would accelerate WIOCC’s expansion across terrestrial fibre, submarine cables, and open-access data centres, which carry a significant portion of Africa’s internet traffic.

Since its founding in 2008, WIOCC has invested over $750 million in digital infrastructure across Africa, linking open-access data centres and transforming connectivity across the continent.

Enterprise artificial intelligence company Ageiro has raised $3 million in funding to help organisations cut software development timelines from months to days by converting business intent directly into production-ready applications.

The Johannesburg-based firm is developing what it calls “humanity’s last app,” an agentic AI platform designed to translate high-level business goals into autonomous digital execution. The platform allows enterprises to rapidly launch new software capabilities, remove traditional development bottlenecks and scale AI-driven digital workforces while keeping humans in oversight roles.

Enterprises are under growing pressure from fragmented software tools, rising customer expectations and a global shortage of skilled technology workers. The World Economic Forum estimates that by 2030, Africa alone will require an additional 23 million STEM graduates to fill key roles, highlighting the widening talent gap facing organisations.

Ageiro aims to address these challenges by introducing an adaptive autonomous layer between software engineers and the enterprise, where AI agents build, evolve and maintain applications under governed human control.

“Ageiro is built for organisations that can no longer afford the cost, friction and slow pace of the conventional software development lifecycle,” said Paulo Matos, chief executive officer of Ageiro. “Our platform represents a fundamental shift in how enterprises build software, enabling applications to be created and evolved in days rather than months, while maintaining governance, transparency and accountability.”

The platform is designed for regulated, enterprise environments, with built-in auditability, compliance controls and decision oversight. Humans remain responsible for strategy, constraints and governance, while AI systems handle execution and continuous adaptation.

Ageiro said the funding will be used to strengthen its decision-intelligence models, compliance and risk frameworks, and system connectors to support autonomy in complex enterprise settings. The company will also expand its go-to-market operations through sales, partnerships and category-building initiatives.

Founded by a team of technologists, Ageiro positions its technology as a way for enterprises to accelerate product innovation while allowing engineering teams to focus on higher-value work such as security, architecture and intelligent design.

Visa has graduated 22 startups from 12 African countries from its fourth Africa Fintech Accelerator in Cape Town, lifting the programme’s total to 86 fintechs valued at about $1.3 billion.

The 22 startups received mentorship and technical support across product development, marketing, finance and sales, alongside access to Visa’s global partner and investor network during the three-month accelerator programme.

“Africa’s fintech landscape continues to expand at extraordinary speed, powered by founders solving real-world challenges,” said Chad Pollock, vice president and general manager for East Africa at Visa. “The startups in Cohort 4 capture the energy driving Africa’s digital commerce transformation.”

Visa said the 2025 cohort benefited from deeper collaboration with strategic corporate partners including Bank of Africa, Onafriq and First Bank of Nigeria Ltd, which contributed market expertise and operational support, opening avenues for potential commercial pilots, partnerships and investment.

Africa’s fintech sector remains the largest recipient of venture capital on the continent, driven by demand for digital payments, lending and financial inclusion tools. McKinsey estimates fintech revenues in Africa could reach $47 billion by 2028, up from about $10 billion in 2023, while the European Investment Bank estimates the number of active fintech companies nearly tripled between 2020 and early 2024.

Visa said it expects the accelerator programme to remain a key platform for identifying scalable fintech solutions and strengthening partnerships across Africa’s rapidly evolving financial ecosystem.

Sun King, the Nairobi-based off-grid solar energy provider, said on Friday it has raised $40 million in equity financing from London-based impact investor Lightrock to accelerate its expansion across Africa and Asia.

The funding will be used to scale distribution of decentralised solar power systems, broaden the company’s product pipeline and increase its physical presence, the company said. Sun King’s integrated model combines solar panels, energy-efficient appliances and flexible pay-as-you-go consumer financing.

Sun King, led by Chief Executive Officer T. Patrick Walsh, plans to grow its retail footprint from about 470 outlets today to roughly 1,650 by 2030, and double its field agent workforce to around 90,000 across Africa, the company said.

The company already serves tens of millions of customers in underserved markets, providing solar home systems and related products where conventional grid electricity is limited or unavailable.

“Lightrock brings a deep understanding of our customers’ needs and a clear commitment to expanding access to energy,” Walsh said in a statement. “This investment strengthens our ability to reach millions more people with affordable, reliable power.”

Lightrock did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The investment reflects growing international investor interest in renewable energy and decentralised power solutions in emerging markets.

Sun King’s pay-as-you-go financing model, which allows consumers to make small incremental payments for solar systems, has unlocked significant customer financing and supported its rapid growth across several African and Asian markets.

The company’s latest funding comes amid a broader push to increase clean energy access for the hundreds of millions of people who lack reliable electricity, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.

Gigmile, a Nigerian vehicle financing and financial services platform for gig workers has secured funding from Yango Group’s Yango Ventures to equip gig workers with access to vehicle financing, software tools, and operational support.

The funding will support Gigmile’s regional expansion and help improve delivery efficiency and financial inclusion across the continent.

“Gigmile is working on a problem we understand deeply: how to build delivery systems that work for businesses and for the couriers who keep them running. Our experience in urban logistics gives us a strong foundation to help them scale responsibly and efficiently. We’re proud to support a team that shares our commitment to building practical, tech-enabled infrastructure across Africa.” said Daniil Shuleyko, CEO of Yango Group.

Yango Ventures focuses on early-stage startups from Seed to Series B in sectors such as O2O (Online-to-Offline), B2B SaaS, and FinTech. With an initial $20 million fund and plans for scalable growth, the corporate venture arm continues to expand its portfolio with companies building transformative, tech-driven solutions in high-growth regions across Africa, MENAP, LATAM, and beyond.

Gigmile is addressing one of the continent’s most dynamic and fast-growing sectors: last-mile delivery. By combining technology, flexible financing models, and data-driven workforce management, the company empowers gig couriers with the tools they need to operate efficiently and earn sustainably.

Yango Ventures’ investment will fuel product development, strengthen operational capabilities, and accelerate Gigmile’s expansion across multiple African markets.

Investing in Innovation Africa (i3), a leading African healthtech accelerator, unveiled three transformative partnerships at its 3rd Access to Markets (A2M) event, highlighting the growing influence of African startups in healthcare innovation.

The deals, signed during a two-day gathering of investors, global pharmaceutical manufacturers, and government agencies, target cervical cancer prevention, pharmacy based access, and malaria care, areas of critical public health need across the continent.

MSD and digital platform MYDAWA announced a collaboration to expand concierge healthcare services to support cervical cancer elimination. The initiative combines at home and in clinic care with online booking and patient education, leveraging MSD’s business and technical expertise to scale patient centered solutions.

“We are meeting communities where they are, forging new paths for patient access. This is how we break down barriers across Africa,” said Dr. Priya Agrawal, MSD Vice President, International Health Equity and Partnerships.

In Nigeria, Sproxil partnered with the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) and the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC) to deploy AI enhanced malaria surveillance. The model delivers real time insights from pharmacies and medicine vendors, allowing government agencies to monitor distribution and disease patterns while improving access to diagnostics and treatments.

“African led solutions, when properly supported, can drive continental health transformation while ensuring affordable anti-malarials reach the children and families who need them most,” said Dr. Ashifi Gogo, Sproxil CEO.

Boehringer Ingelheim’s Social Engagement Fund also invested in three startups, Dawa Mkononi, Kasha, and Reach52, further strengthening pharmacy innovation across Africa.

Since July, i3 has facilitated over 110 tailored introductions between startups and investors, generating 15 partnerships valued at more than $20 million. Its portfolio startups already serve 66,000 healthcare providers across 12 African countries and are projected to reach 167,000 providers by 2028.

Backed by the Gates Foundation, MSD, Cencora, Endless Health, HELP Logistics, Sanofi, and Boehringer Ingelheim, i3 continues to position Africa’s healthtech sector as a scalable, digitally enabled solution for pressing healthcare challenges.

Digital health platform MYDAWA and research-intensive biopharmaceutical company MSD have announced a collaboration aimed at enhancing concierge health services to support cervical cancer elimination in Africa.

The initiative, unveiled during the Investing in Innovation Africa (i3) 3rd Access to Markets (A2M) event, will expand access to both at-home and in-clinic health services, backed by online booking tools and educational counselling. MSD will provide business and technical expertise to help refine MYDAWA’s patient-focused delivery models.

“We’re excited to support MYDAWA in improving access to healthcare, powered by purpose and technology. This is how we break down barriers across Africa,” said Dr. Priya Agrawal, MSD Vice President, International Health Equity and Partnerships.

The i3 A2M event also saw the announcement of two other major healthtech partnerships. Nigeria’s National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) and the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC) signed an MoU with Sproxil to strengthen malaria surveillance and access to diagnostics and treatment. The partnership leverages Sproxil’s AI-powered test-to-treat model to deliver real-time data from pharmacies and medicine vendors, helping NMEP track disease patterns and ensure accountability.

“African-led solutions, when supported, can transform healthcare delivery and ensure life-saving antimalarials reach those who need them most,” said Dr. Ashifi Gogo, Sproxil CEO.

Meanwhile, Boehringer Ingelheim’s Social Engagement Fund invested in three startups—Dawa Mkononi, Kasha, and Reach52—supporting innovative pharmacy solutions across Africa.

Since July, i3 has facilitated over 110 introductions between leading healthtech startups and investors or partners, resulting in 15 partnerships valued at over $20 million. The A2M event convened 15 startups, 41 investors, and multiple government representatives, showcasing a rapidly growing ecosystem of African-led healthcare innovation.

i3 is backed by the Gates Foundation, MSD, Cencora, Endless Health, HELP Logistics, Sanofi, and Boehringer Ingelheim, advancing scalable, digitally enabled solutions to improve patient access across the continent.

Boehringer Ingelheim’s Social Engagement Fund has invested in Dawa Mkononi, a member of the latest i3 cohort, Kasha, and Reach52 to drive the future of pharmacy across Africa.

The three were part of the 15 innovators at the i3’s A2M accelerator working closely with innovators building the future of pharmacy care in Africa and completing more than 110 bespoke introductions to customers and investors, generating 15 partnerships with a potential value exceeding $20 million.

The other innovators include Chefaa, Meditect, mPharma, MYDAWA, Sproxil and Zuri Health.

“We are delighted to invest in three additional startups that deliver a strong impact to communities across Africa,” says Dr. Ilka Wicke, Head of Sustainability Social. “These partnerships reflect our belief that sustainable healthcare solutions are best built through collaboration – with local innovators who understand the needs on the ground and with global partners who can help scale their vision. Together, we’re making meaningful progress toward our goal of improving the lives of 50 million people by 2030. We’re thrilled to celebrate progress with our partners who share this vision across the i3 program.”

 At an unprecedented pace of more than one advancing partnership per week, i3 continues to deliver best-in-class growth advisory support to African healthtech innovators.

This year’s A2M brought together 15 leading African healthtech startups, whose innovations already power more than 66,000 healthcare providers across 12 African countries and are on track to reach over 167,000 providers by 2028, demonstrating a powerful channel for improving patient access and strengthening health systems.

A2M also convened 41 prominent investors, global and regional pharmaceutical manufacturers, donors, development finance institutions, and multilateral agencies—including Grand Challenges Canada, IFC, World Bank, Pfizer, Causal Foundry, Proqurable, Federal Ministry of Health, PVAC, and i3’s sponsors—who are all working to accelerate scalable innovations, create jobs, and expand healthcare impact across the continent.

Singapore’s InsurTech bolttech, has acquired Kenya’s mTek, a digital insurance platform in a move to advance bolttech’s strategic goals in East Africa and enhances the Group’s global embedded insurance capabilities.

As part of this acquisition, mTek’s digital platform and insurance expertise will be leveraged on a global scale, combining local insight with bolttech’s extensive global insurance and protection ecosystem.

According to Stephan Tan, Chief Executive Officer, EMEA, bolttech, “This represents an exciting step forward for bolttech as we expand our footprint in Africa. mTek’s innovative platform and talented team share our vision of using technology to make protection more accessible. Together, we can accelerate digital transformation in insurance and extend the reach of embedded protection across the region.”

Founded in 2019, mTek’s digital platform enables customers in Kenya to compare, purchase, and manage insurance seamlessly. Its insurtech capability supports greater access to insurance and financial inclusion through simple, transparent, and paperless insurance experiences. The mTek platform partners with leading industry players including GA Insurance, Sanlam, and Britam. In September, mTek and Mastercard announced a collaboration to bring embedded insurance solutions across East Africa.

“Joining the bolttech family marks an exciting next chapter for mTek. Our technology, local insight, and commitment to inclusive insurance have transformed how customers access protection in Kenya, and this partnership allows us to scale that impact even further – bringing more innovative and relevant insurance solutions to customers at scale,” said Bente Krogmann, Chief Executive Officer, mTek.

mTek’s existing leadership team, led by CEO Bente Krogmann, will continue to oversee operations in East Africa, providing stability and support for customers, partners and employees during this next phase of growth. As part of the acquisition, mTek will also rebrand in due course.

bolttech and mTek will work closely together to ensure a smooth integration for all employees, customers, and partners.

South African safety technology startup Community Wolf has acquired Namola, one of the country’s most widely used emergency-response apps, as it seeks to create an integrated national platform combining community crime reporting with professional emergency services.

The deal brings together two well-known safety platforms in a country where crime reporting, emergency response and public-private coordination remain highly fragmented. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Community Wolf operates an AI-driven system that allows users to report crime or suspicious activity via WhatsApp, without downloading an app. The platform processes reports using artificial intelligence to generate real-time incident data and location-based insights that can be shared with police, private security companies and community safety groups.

Namola, which will continue operating as a standalone product within the Community Wolf ecosystem, provides emergency assistance through a mobile app that connects users to police, medical, fire and private security responders across South Africa.

Emergency response on the Namola platform is powered by AURA, a technology company that operates a nationwide network of more than 3,000 private security and medical responders.

“With the rise of AI, we are entering a world where crime can be detected and responded to faster than ever before,” said Warren Myers, AURA’s chief executive and co-founder. “This acquisition strengthens our partnership with Community Wolf and improves safety outcomes for Namola users.”

Community Wolf co-founder Nick Mills said the company planned to invest in growing the Namola platform and expanding its reach.

“We believe Namola can once again become a household name in private emergency services in South Africa,” Mills said.

Co-founder Michael Houghton said the acquisition would accelerate Community Wolf’s goal of providing faster and more coordinated safety services by combining real-time community intelligence with professional emergency response.

South Africa continues to face high levels of violent crime, while emergency response services are split between public authorities, private security firms and community-based initiatives. The companies said the combined platform would help close gaps in reporting, response times and access to assistance.