African Startup Funding Q1 Decline Dashes Hopes of 2025 Rebound
TLDR
- African tech startups raised $284 million across 55 deals in Q1 2025, down 8.4% from the same period last year
- In 2024, total startup funding on the continent fell over 50% to $1.1 billion, with the number of funded ventures cut in half amid global capital constraints
- The slowdown comes despite optimism triggered by late 2024 mega-rounds for Moniepoint and Yellow Card
African tech startups raised $284 million across 55 deals in Q1 2025, down 8.4% from the same period last year, according to Disrupt Africa’s latest African Tech Startups Funding Report. The data signals a continuation of 2024’s funding downturn and tempers expectations of a market recovery.
In 2024, total startup funding on the continent fell over 50% to $1.1 billion, with the number of funded ventures cut in half amid global capital constraints. The trend appears to be holding in 2025. The number of funded startups in Q1 declined by nearly half year-on-year, from 82 in Q1 2024 to 55 this year.
The slowdown comes despite optimism triggered by late 2024 mega-rounds for Moniepoint and Yellow Card. The largest Q1 2025 deals were secured by LemFi (Nigeria), Naked (South Africa), and Gozem (Togo). If the current pace holds, annual funding totals will likely mirror 2024 levels.
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Key Takeaways
The Q1 2025 numbers confirm that Africa’s tech funding winter is far from over. While the rate of decline is slowing—down 8.4% in Q1 2025 versus a 52.3% drop in Q1 2024—the ecosystem remains constrained by a global capital pullback. The drop in funded startups—from 87 in Q1 2022 to 55 this year—shows investor selectivity remains high, with capital consolidating around fewer, more established ventures. Significant Q1 funding rounds in Nigeria, South Africa, and Togo highlight regional resilience and the continued appeal of fintech and mobility. Still, unless macro conditions shift or new LP capital enters the market, a broader recovery appears unlikely in 2025. For startups, this means a focus on operational efficiency, path-to-profitability, and strategic fundraising. For investors, it’s a buyer’s market. The slowdown may also spark a rebalancing of valuations and greater emphasis on sustainable growth rather than aggressive expansion.
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