African startups are making significant progress. In this context, the digital economy platform FollowICT highlights the top startup news across Africa over the past week.
– Spiro Lands $215M to Expand Its Battery-Swapping Network for Africa’s Motorcycle Taxis
Spiro, the electric mobility company building battery-swapping infrastructure for motorcycles across Africa, has raised $215m in equity funding as it pushes deeper into a capital-intensive race to electrify urban transport.
The round, backed by investors including Impact Fund Denmark and Equitane, lands four months after Spiro secured a $50m debt facility and less than a year after a separate $100m equity raise led by Afreximbank’s Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA). It brings the company’s disclosed funding to more than $415m since 2023, making it one of the most heavily capitalised electric two-wheeler operators on the continent.
The speed and size of the fundraising underscore a conviction among development finance institutions and climate-focused funds that Africa’s electric mobility transition will not be won by selling vehicles alone. Instead, investors are betting on companies that control both the hardware and the refuelling infrastructure , a capital-hungry model that requires dense station networks, large battery inventories and local assembly capacity.
– South Africa-Based Startup Breaze Delivery Raises $1.2M to Expand Logistics Services for SMEs
South African logistics startup Breaze Delivery has raised $1.2M in growth funding from the Vumela Enterprise Development Fund, a partnership between FNB Business Banking and Edge Growth focused on supporting high-potential small and medium-sized enterprises.
The investment will support the company’s next phase of expansion as it scales its technology infrastructure, strengthens its delivery network, and extends its services to additional markets across South Africa.
Founded in 2021 by Avi Maja and Braden Snyman, Breaze Delivery provides on-demand and same-day delivery services designed specifically for SMEs, helping businesses improve fulfillment efficiency and customer experience.
– Cascador Bets $5.6m on Nigeria’s Growth-Stage Startups
Lagos-based entrepreneur support organisation Cascador awarded ₦7.7bn (approx. $5.63m) in catalytic funding and $20,000 in prizes to seven Nigerian startups at its 2026 Pitch Day, the group has announced.
The event, held in Lagos, saw the largest award go to Agriarche, an agricultural technology company that facilitates commodity trading between farmers and industrial buyers. Agriarche received ₦2.5bn (approx. $1.83m), the biggest single investment of the day.
Clean energy, healthcare, agriculture, artificial intelligence, data infrastructure, solar refrigeration and clean cooking were all represented among the recipients. Seven startups were selected from a pool of founders who completed Cascador’s 12‑week accelerator programme.
– BluePeak Provides $16 Million Financing to Côte d’Ivoire Logistics Firm Groupe Centaures
BluePeak Private Capital has committed $16 million to Groupe Centaures, one of Côte d’Ivoire’s leading indigenous logistics companies, in a deal designed to support both business expansion and environmental sustainability.
The financing has been structured as a sustainability-linked loan, tying part of the funding framework to the company’s ability to achieve specific greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets.
The transaction reflects a growing trend among investors seeking to combine financial returns with measurable environmental impact.
Founded as a family-owned business and now in its third generation of leadership, Groupe Centaures has built a strong presence in Côte d’Ivoire’s logistics sector.
The company provides integrated services across road freight transportation, warehousing, heavy lifting operations, and container management, making it one of the few local firms capable of delivering comprehensive logistics solutions on a single platform.
– StartupsAfrica-Focused Hummingbird One Fund Secures $6.25M First Close to Support African Clean Energy SMEs
Oikocredit has backed the first close of Hummingbird One, a blended finance vehicle launched by Charm Impact, which secured $6.25 million toward its $12 million target to support early-stage clean energy businesses across Sub-Saharan Africa. The fund aims to provide small-ticket loans ranging between $50,000 and $500,000 to renewable energy and clean cooking startups, targeting a financing segment often underserved by traditional institutional investors.
Hummingbird One was created to solve a longstanding funding gap facing locally owned clean energy businesses across Africa. Many startups operating in sectors such as solar energy, clean cooking, and sustainable infrastructure struggle to access growth capital because their financing needs are too small for large funds yet too complex for informal lenders. By focusing on flexible debt financing for early-stage companies, the fund aims to help local enterprises scale operations and expand access to sustainable energy solutions.
