African startups have taken in more than $3 billion in funding in 2025, passing that level for the first time since 2023. This would be the strongest year reported after a couple of years of slowed action. Africa: The Big Deal, which tracks startup funding across the continent, recorded a 33% rise compared with last year.
They recorded $2.2 billion in startup funding in 2024, which was 25% lower than in 2023. Investor activity slowed as global venture capital spending tightened, bringing a hard time African founders in particular.
Recent months have showed some changes… A large share of this year’s money actually landed late in the year. EV company Spiro raised $100 million, and Nigerian fintech Moniepoint secured $90 million. These deals took the total past the $3 billion line.
Smaller raises also contributed to the impressive comeback. Ivorian fintech Djamo raised $17 million in April. The company described the return to double digit growth as a real breath of fresh air, even though the total will stay below the 2022 high.
How Do The Latest Figures Compare With Previous Years?
They also reported that African tech startups saw funding rise 33% year on year in 2025. This followed a 35% fall in 2023 and another 25% drop in 2024…
In 2023, startups raised close to $3 billion. The research says 2025 is on track to pass that total, even though the year has not ended. Equity funding has also moved ahead of 2023 levels, pointing to stronger investor confidence in ownership stakes rather than short term lending.
Monthly data shows how uneven the year has been. In November, startups announced $162 million in funding. Africa: The Big Deal said 79% of that money came as equity. That month ranked fifth highest in 2025 and matched November 2024, which recorded $181 million, but stayed below November 2023, which reached $267 million.
Across Africa, 32 ventures raised $100,000 or more during November. Business Insider Africa reported that 16 of these startups secured $1 million or above, showing a steady flow of mid sized deals alongside the headline grabbing rounds.
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Why Do IPOs And Exits Matter This Year?
Exit activity has returned after a long quiet era. Business Insider Africa pointed to Walletdoc’s $23 million acquisition as one sign that buyers have come back into the market.
Public listings have also made headlines as two fintech companies floated shares in November 2025, making it the first IPOs of this kind in over six years. These listings gave investors clear price signals and showed that African tech companies can reach public markets again.
South African fintech Optasia listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange on November 4. Business Insider Africa said the company raised $345 million and reached a market valuation of $1.4 billion.
Later in the month, Moroccan fintech Cash Plus listed on the Casablanca Stock Exchange on November 25. The IPO raised $82.5 million and valued the company at $550 million. These listings added weight to the funding rebound seen across the year.
What Does This Mean For The Rest Of 2025?
The final total for 2025 will stay short of the record set in 2022. Even so, crossing $3 billion shows an undeniable change from the lows of the past two years.
Africa: The Big Deal’s data shows that money is returning across deal sizes, from multimillion dollar rounds to smaller early stage raises. Business Insider Africa added that the mix of equity funding, acquisitions and IPOs points to healthier market conditions.
The numbers clearly show that African startups have regained momentum in 2025. The numbers are indicative of a year that rebuilt confidence after a long slowdown, setting a steadier base as the year draws to a close.
