Breaking News: Chowdeck swiftly conquers Ghana, setting a new record for fastest expansion
In the first half of 2025, the African tech startup ecosystem is witnessing a surge in growth and maturation. This is evident in record merger and acquisition (M&A) activity, increased funding, and significant regional expansions.
Kenya's Sun King has secured a $156 million securitisation deal, while Swyft, a Cameroon-based logistics tech startup, has secured an undisclosed pre-seed investment. These funding inflows are part of the $1.42 billion raised by startups, a 78% increase year-on-year, with fintech startups accounting for nearly 45% of this funding.
The market consolidation, with 29 M&A deals, the highest ever in a half-year, is primarily driven by fintech startups seeking scale and talent. This trend signifies a maturing ecosystem, as these startups aim to establish a strong foothold in the market.
Notable regional expansions are led by companies in Nigeria and Egypt. For instance, fintech brought in ₦83 billion for MTN Nigeria in H1 2025, while its revenue for the same period was ₦2.3 trillion, an increase of 54.5% year-on-year. Moreover, MTN Nigeria's average data usage per user increased by 26.3% to 13.2 GB, and the company's mobile money wallets saw a 51% decrease in usage.
Meanwhile, in Ghana, the fintech sector is a key growth driver within the broader African tech momentum. The country is progressing regulatory frameworks for its rapidly expanding cryptocurrency industry, reflecting the sector's increasing formalization. Ghana’s fintech growth aligns with the broader continental surge, supported by rising venture capital investments exceeding $1.3 billion in 2024.
Elsewhere, Canadian tech companies are not specifically highlighted in the recent funding or expansion related to the African startup market. However, it is common for African startups expanding globally to seek partnerships or presence in tech hubs like Canada.
In the job market, opportunities abound. Uridium is hiring a UI/UX Designer remotely, while Cleva is looking for a Senior Backend Engineer remotely. Terminal is seeking a Community Manager in Lagos, and the Senior Product Designer position is available remotely.
Innovation continues with Treepz launching operations in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. Treepz's first North American client is the University of Toronto-backed African Impact Initiative. Aragon is hiring a Content & Social Lead remotely, and Uridium is hiring a Frontend Developer in Lagos.
Amidst these developments, entrepreneurs like Omolara Sanni are leaving traditional jobs to build startups. Sanni left a 9-5 job to build Middlemand, demonstrating the entrepreneurial spirit driving the African tech startup ecosystem.
In conclusion, the African tech startup ecosystem in 2025 is experiencing robust funding growth and market consolidation, with fintech at the forefront, significant regional expansions led by Nigeria and Egypt, and Ghana making progress in cryptocurrency regulation supporting fintech growth. The specific connection to Canadian tech expansion requires additional information not covered in the current search set.
The surge in funding for African tech startups, such as Sun King's $156 million securitization deal and Swyft's undisclosed pre-seed investment, is not only increasing year-on-year but also favors fintech startups, accounting for nearly 45% of the total funding raised. Simultaneously, the business consolidation in the fintech sector, with 29 M&A deals in the first half of 2025, is primarily driven by these startups seeking scale and talent, underscoring the maturing African tech ecosystem.
