Startups

List of Unicorn Startups in Africa (2026) — Every African $1B+ Company

The complete list of unicorn startups in Africa — every Nigerian, Kenyan, South African, Egyptian, and African private company valued at $1 billion or more, with valuation, founders, and founding year.

Victor OgonyoVictor Ogonyo
·2026-05-27·10 min read

Africa has produced 8–12 confirmed unicorns with dozens more approaching $1 billion valuations. Nigeria leads the continent, followed by South Africa, Kenya, and Egypt. This is the complete list of every African unicorn and near-unicorn.

Africa at a Glance

MetricFigure
Confirmed unicorns8–12
Soonicorns ($500M+)25+
Top countryNigeria
Largest unicornFlutterwave ($3B)
Total VC invested (2024)$4.5B
Top sectorFinTech (60%+)

Confirmed African Unicorns

CompanyCountryValuationFoundedFoundersIndustry
FlutterwaveNigeria / USA$3B2016Olugbenga Agboola, Iyinoluwa AboyejiFinTech / Payments
OPayNigeria$2B2018Opera (backed by Chinese investors)Mobile Money
Chipper CashUganda / USA$2B2018Ham Serunjogi, Maijid MoujaledCross-border Payments
WaveSenegal / USA$1.7B2017Drew Durbin, Lincoln QuirkMobile Money (West Africa)
AndelaNigeria / USA$1.5B2014Jeremy Johnson, Christina Sass, Iyinoluwa AboyejiTech Talent
TymeBankSouth Africa$1.5B2015Coen JonkerDigital Banking
M-KOPAKenya$1B+2011Jesse Moore, Chad Larson, Nick HughesSolar Energy FinTech
InterswitchNigeria$1B+2002Mitchell ElegbePayments Infrastructure
MNT-HalanEgypt$1B2018Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed MohsenFinTech / Microloans
MooveNigeria / Global$750M→$1B2019Ladi Delano, Jide OdunsiMobility FinTech

Near-Unicorns — $500M to $999M

CompanyCountryEst. ValuationFoundedIndustry
Wasoko (Sokowatch)Kenya / Tanzania$625M2015B2B E-commerce
PayhippoNigeria$500M+2019SME Lending AI
mPharmaGhana$500M+2013Drug Supply Chain
PulaKenya / Pan-Africa$500M+2015AgriInsurance
YassirAlgeria$500M+2017Super App / Ride-hailing
Daystar PowerNigeria$500M+2017Solar Energy B2B
LifeBankNigeria$500M+2016Blood / Medical Supply
ChariMorocco$500M+2020B2B Commerce
TradeDepotNigeria$500M+2016FMCG Distribution
TuracoUganda / Kenya$500M+2019InsurTech
Carry1stSouth Africa$500M+2018Mobile Gaming
BreadfastEgypt$500M+2017Quick Commerce
PaymobEgypt$500M+2015FinTech Payments
CapiterEgypt$500M+2020B2B Commerce
ChpterKenya$500M+2021Social Commerce

By Country

Nigeria

CompanyValuationFoundedIndustry
Flutterwave$3B2016Payments Infrastructure
OPay$2B2018Mobile Money
Interswitch$1B+2002Card Payments
Andela$1.5B2014Tech Talent Marketplace
Moove$750M→$1B2019Mobility FinTech
Payhippo$500M+2019SME AI Lending
TradeDepot$500M+2016FMCG Distribution
LifeBank$500M+2016Medical Logistics
Daystar Power$500M+2017Solar B2B

Kenya

CompanyValuationFoundedIndustry
M-KOPA$1B+2011Solar Energy FinTech
Wasoko$625M2015B2B E-commerce
Pula$500M+2015AgriInsurance
LifeBank (ops)——Medical Supply
Chpter$500M+2021Social Commerce
Turaco$500M+2019InsurTech

South Africa

CompanyValuationFoundedFoundersIndustry
TymeBank$1.5B2015Coen JonkerDigital Banking
Carry1st$500M+2018Cordel Robbin-Coker, Lucy HoffmanMobile Gaming
Jumo$400M2015Andrew Watkins-BallFinTech Lending
Planet42$400M+2019Eerik Oja, Marten OrgnaCar Subscription
Yoco$400M+2013Katlego Maphai, Lungisa Matshoba, Bradley WattrusPayments

Egypt

CompanyValuationFoundedIndustry
MNT-Halan$1B2018FinTech / Microloans
Breadfast$500M+2017Quick Commerce
Paymob$500M+2015Payments
Capiter$500M+2020B2B Commerce

Other African Countries

CompanyCountryValuationFoundedIndustry
WaveSenegal$1.7B2017Mobile Money
YassirAlgeria$500M+2017Super App
Chipper Cash (origin)Uganda$2B2018Cross-border Payments
TuracoUganda$500M+2019InsurTech
mPharmaGhana$500M+2013Drug Supply
ChariMorocco$500M+2020B2B Commerce

Middle East Unicorns

The Middle East — primarily UAE and Saudi Arabia — adds a further cluster of unicorns:

CompanyCountryValuationFoundedIndustry
TabbyUAE / Saudi Arabia$3.3B2019BNPL
TamaraSaudi Arabia$1B+2020BNPL
NoonUAE$1B+2016E-commerce
AnghamiUAE (public)$1B+2012Music Streaming
SwvlUAE (public)$1.5B2017Mass Transit Tech
SarwaUAE$500M+2017Robo-advisor
KitopiUAE$1B2018Cloud Kitchens
TrellaEgypt / UAE$500M+2018Freight Tech

Africa's Unicorn Hub Cities

CityCountryNotable Companies
LagosNigeriaFlutterwave, OPay, Interswitch, Andela
NairobiKenyaM-KOPA, Wasoko, Pula, Turaco
Cape TownSouth AfricaTymeBank, Yoco, Carry1st
CairoEgyptMNT-Halan, Paymob, Breadfast
DakarSenegalWave
AccraGhanamPharma
AlgiersAlgeriaYassir

Sectors Driving African Unicorns

SectorShare of FundingKey Companies
FinTech60%+Flutterwave, OPay, Wave, Interswitch
E-commerce / B2B Commerce15%Wasoko, TradeDepot, Chari
Health Tech8%M-KOPA (health credit), LifeBank, mPharma
AgriTech5%Pula, Apollo Agriculture
EdTech4%Andela, uLesson
CleanTech4%Daystar Power, M-KOPA (solar)
Mobility4%Moove, Yassir

See Also

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