1177 Top startups in Western Africa for April 2025

We rank WAVE, Jiji and OPay in Western Africa along with 1174 other startups based on an algorithm that scores startups based on total investment, employee count, and quarterly website traffic. The leading startup ecosystem in Western Africa is Nigeria accounting for 0% of all startups in the region.

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Top Unicorn Startups in Western Africa for 2025

Three startups have achieved unicorn status by exceeding USD 1 billion in valuation. Collectively, the top three unicorns in Western Africa have raised more than USD 5.7B.
SB Score:669

Moniepoint is a financial technology company that provides digital financial services for businesses. The company's services include payment solutions, banking services, credit provision, and business management tools that assist in financial transactions and operations.

Industry:
Fintech
Subindustry:
Financial Services

City Rank (Lagos)

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National Rank (Nigeria)

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Global Rank (WorldWide)

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SB Score:640

Flutterwave provides a payment infrastructure for merchants and payment service providers. They offer an online marketplace for businesses to list their products and services for sale. They provide payment tools, including a smart payment ordering system for businesses to accept payments.

Industry:
Fintech
Subindustry:
Financial Services

City Rank (Lagos)

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National Rank (Nigeria)

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Global Rank (WorldWide)

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3rd

Wave
SB Score:427

Wave creates lifelike avatars of musicians for interactive virtual performances, helping artists earn money through gaming and entertainment. Their technology enables virtual concerts on a digital stage, blending music and gaming for a unique and engaging experience.

Industry:
Social & Leisure
Subindustry:
Entertainment

City Rank (Dakar)

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National Rank (Senegal)

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Global Rank (WorldWide)

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Total amount:3

Best Startups in Western Africa for 2025

1st

WAVE
SB Score:638

Wave mission is to make Africa the first cashless continent in the world On a continent where more than half of the population does not have a bank account, Wave offers the first network of financial services without account management fees, available instantly and everywhere! Wave is the first Francophone Africa Unicorn.

Industry:
Fintech
Subindustry:
Payments

City Rank (Dakar)

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National Rank (Senegal)

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Global Rank (WorldWide)

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2nd

Jiji
SB Score:632

Jiji, Africa's top classifieds marketplace, expanded to four new countries in 2019 after being acquired by OLX. With over 8 million monthly unique users, Jiji is a leading platform for buying and selling goods in Nigeria and beyond.

Industry:
Marketing & Sales
Subindustry:
Adtech

City Rank (Lagos)

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National Rank (Nigeria)

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Global Rank (WorldWide)

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3rd

OPay
SB Score:609

OPay offers a mobile payment service and consumer platform that enables users to send and receive money, pay bills, and order food and groceries. By providing smart financial services, OPay empowers users to manage their finances more effectively and accomplish more with their money.

Industry:
Software & Data
Subindustry:
Apps

City Rank (Ikeja)

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National Rank (Nigeria)

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Global Rank (WorldWide)

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SB Score:530

Moove is a mobility fintech that provides revenue-based vehicle financing to mobility entrepreneurs, democratizing vehicle ownership across Africa. The company embeds its alternative credit-scoring technology onto ride-hailing, logistics, and last-mile/instant delivery platforms, which allows access to proprietary performance and revenue analytics of mobility entrepreneurs to underwrite loans.

Industry:
Fintech
Subindustry:
Financial Services

City Rank (Lagos)

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National Rank (Nigeria)

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Global Rank (WorldWide)

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SB Score:523

Autochek is a cutting-edge automotive technology company dedicated to creating digital solutions for the industry. Their goal is to revolutionize the way people interact with their vehicles by providing innovative and user-friendly tools.

Industry:
Transportation
Subindustry:
Automotive

City Rank (Lagos)

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National Rank (Nigeria)

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SB Score:512

Quala is a customer success platform that prioritizes human interaction. By merging qualitative assessments with straightforward quantitative metrics, it empowers businesses to gain a comprehensive understanding of their customers, fostering meaningful connections and enhancing customer experiences.

Industry:
Software & Data
Subindustry:
SaaS

City Rank (Lagos)

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National Rank (Nigeria)

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SB Score:500

TeamApt is a fintech company specializing in digital banking, business solutions, and payments infrastructure. They create innovative tools to streamline financial processes and improve the overall banking experience for customers.

Industry:
Fintech
Subindustry:
Fintech-Other

City Rank (Lekki)

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National Rank (Nigeria)

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SB Score:493

mPharma offers solutions to health insurance and pharmaceutical companies to make it easier for patients to afford their medications. It aims to increase patient access to high-quality medications. mPharma partners with drug manufacturers, insurance companies, financial institutions, and governments to deliver prescription drugs directly to consumers in emerging markets. They provide doctors, patients, and pharmacists access to a network of high-quality chronic disease medicine at sustainable prices. The company was founded by Gregory Rockson (CEO), Daniel Shoukimas (CPO), and James Finucane (CTO) in 2013.

Industry:
Healthtech
Subindustry:
Health Care

City Rank (Accra)

0

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National Rank (Ghana)

0

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Global Rank (WorldWide)

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SB Score:490

uLesson mobile platform offers a seamless learning experience through academics, media, and technology. Students access curriculum content through streaming and SD cards, enhancing their educational journey.

Industry:
Edtech
Subindustry:
Edtech

City Rank (Jos)

0

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National Rank (Nigeria)

0

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Global Rank (WorldWide)

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SB Score:488

CoinAfrique is a mobile app connecting sellers and buyers across 16 African countries through classified ads. Buy and sell easily with just a few taps on your phone.

Industry:
Software & Data
Subindustry:
Apps

City Rank (Dakar)

0

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National Rank (Senegal)

0

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Global Rank (WorldWide)

0

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Total amount:1178

Top 232 Fintech Startups in Western Africa for 2025

The top three Fintech startups in Western Africa have raised more than USD 734M. The top three cities in the Western Africa for Fintech startups are Lagos, Accra and Abuja.

1st

WAVE
SB Score:638

Wave mission is to make Africa the first cashless continent in the world On a continent where more than half of the population does not have a bank account, Wave offers the first network of financial services without account management fees, available instantly and everywhere! Wave is the first Francophone Africa Unicorn.

Industry:
Fintech
Subindustry:
Payments

City Rank (Dakar)

0

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National Rank (Senegal)

0

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Global Rank (WorldWide)

0

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SB Score:530

Moove is a mobility fintech that provides revenue-based vehicle financing to mobility entrepreneurs, democratizing vehicle ownership across Africa. The company embeds its alternative credit-scoring technology onto ride-hailing, logistics, and last-mile/instant delivery platforms, which allows access to proprietary performance and revenue analytics of mobility entrepreneurs to underwrite loans.

Industry:
Fintech
Subindustry:
Financial Services

City Rank (Lagos)

0

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National Rank (Nigeria)

0

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Global Rank (WorldWide)

0

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Total amount:232

Top 333 Software & Data Startups in Western Africa for 2025

The top three Software & Data startups in Western Africa have raised more than USD 823M. The top three cities in the Western Africa for Software & Data startups are Lagos, Accra and Abuja.

1st

OPay
SB Score:609

OPay offers a mobile payment service and consumer platform that enables users to send and receive money, pay bills, and order food and groceries. By providing smart financial services, OPay empowers users to manage their finances more effectively and accomplish more with their money.

Industry:
Software & Data
Subindustry:
Apps

City Rank (Ikeja)

0

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National Rank (Nigeria)

0

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Global Rank (WorldWide)

0

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SB Score:512

Quala is a customer success platform that prioritizes human interaction. By merging qualitative assessments with straightforward quantitative metrics, it empowers businesses to gain a comprehensive understanding of their customers, fostering meaningful connections and enhancing customer experiences.

Industry:
Software & Data
Subindustry:
SaaS

City Rank (Lagos)

0

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National Rank (Nigeria)

0

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Global Rank (WorldWide)

0

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SB Score:488

CoinAfrique is a mobile app connecting sellers and buyers across 16 African countries through classified ads. Buy and sell easily with just a few taps on your phone.

Industry:
Software & Data
Subindustry:
Apps

City Rank (Dakar)

0

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National Rank (Senegal)

0

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Global Rank (WorldWide)

0

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Total amount:333

Top 168 Ecommerce & Retail Startups in Western Africa for 2025

The top three Ecommerce & Retail startups in Western Africa have raised more than USD 207M. The top three cities in the Western Africa for Ecommerce & Retail startups are Lagos, Accra and Abuja.
SB Score:444

Cars45 simplifies the process of buying and selling pre-owned cars in Nigeria. Owners can get a free quote online by entering their vehicle details, then schedule an appointment at one of 13 inspection centers for a thorough evaluation.

Industry:
Ecommerce & Retail
Subindustry:
Ecommerce

City Rank (Lagos)

0

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National Rank (Nigeria)

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Global Rank (WorldWide)

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SB Score:430

Sabi Am is a B2B network that speeds up informal trade by connecting businesses across all industries. It accelerates commerce, making transactions faster and more efficient.

Industry:
Ecommerce & Retail
Subindustry:
Ecommerce & Retail-Other

City Rank (Lagos)

0

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National Rank (Nigeria)

0

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Global Rank (WorldWide)

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SB Score:427

PropertyPro.ng is Nigeria's premier real estate search platform. Discover your dream property with ease. Simplifying the property search process, PropertyPro.ng offers a seamless experience for users.

Industry:
Ecommerce & Retail
Subindustry:
Ecommerce

City Rank (Ikeja)

0

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National Rank (Nigeria)

0

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Global Rank (WorldWide)

0

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Total amount:168

Most Funded Startups in Western Africa for 2025

The top three most funded startups in Western Africa have raised total funding of more than USD 1.19B. OPay has 0.54% more funding than Moove.

1st

OPay
SB Score:609

OPay offers a mobile payment service and consumer platform that enables users to send and receive money, pay bills, and order food and groceries. By providing smart financial services, OPay empowers users to manage their finances more effectively and accomplish more with their money.

Industry:
Software & Data
Subindustry:
Apps

City Rank (Ikeja)

0

View

National Rank (Nigeria)

0

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Global Rank (WorldWide)

0

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SB Score:530

Moove is a mobility fintech that provides revenue-based vehicle financing to mobility entrepreneurs, democratizing vehicle ownership across Africa. The company embeds its alternative credit-scoring technology onto ride-hailing, logistics, and last-mile/instant delivery platforms, which allows access to proprietary performance and revenue analytics of mobility entrepreneurs to underwrite loans.

Industry:
Fintech
Subindustry:
Financial Services

City Rank (Lagos)

0

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National Rank (Nigeria)

0

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Global Rank (WorldWide)

0

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SB Score:493

mPharma offers solutions to health insurance and pharmaceutical companies to make it easier for patients to afford their medications. It aims to increase patient access to high-quality medications. mPharma partners with drug manufacturers, insurance companies, financial institutions, and governments to deliver prescription drugs directly to consumers in emerging markets. They provide doctors, patients, and pharmacists access to a network of high-quality chronic disease medicine at sustainable prices. The company was founded by Gregory Rockson (CEO), Daniel Shoukimas (CPO), and James Finucane (CTO) in 2013.

Industry:
Healthtech
Subindustry:
Health Care

City Rank (Accra)

0

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National Rank (Ghana)

0

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Global Rank (WorldWide)

0

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Total amount:1178

Top Hiring Startups in Western Africa by Employee Number

The top three hiring startups in Western Africa have an median employee size that is between [1001-5000]

1st

WAVE
SB Score:638

Wave mission is to make Africa the first cashless continent in the world On a continent where more than half of the population does not have a bank account, Wave offers the first network of financial services without account management fees, available instantly and everywhere! Wave is the first Francophone Africa Unicorn.

Industry:
Fintech
Subindustry:
Payments

City Rank (Dakar)

0

View

National Rank (Senegal)

0

View

Global Rank (WorldWide)

0

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SB Score:493

mPharma offers solutions to health insurance and pharmaceutical companies to make it easier for patients to afford their medications. It aims to increase patient access to high-quality medications. mPharma partners with drug manufacturers, insurance companies, financial institutions, and governments to deliver prescription drugs directly to consumers in emerging markets. They provide doctors, patients, and pharmacists access to a network of high-quality chronic disease medicine at sustainable prices. The company was founded by Gregory Rockson (CEO), Daniel Shoukimas (CPO), and James Finucane (CTO) in 2013.

Industry:
Healthtech
Subindustry:
Health Care

City Rank (Accra)

0

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National Rank (Ghana)

0

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Global Rank (WorldWide)

0

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SB Score:376

Food Concepts Pioneer Limited runs bakeries that specialize in creating delicious baked goods. Their bakeries produce a variety of treats that are loved by customers.

Industry:
Foodtech
Subindustry:
Food and Beverage

City Rank (Ikeja)

0

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National Rank (Nigeria)

0

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Global Rank (WorldWide)

0

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Total amount:1177

Best Countries for Startups

StartupBlink ranks the startup ecosystems of more than 100 countries and 1,000 cities. Download our latest Global Startup Ecosystem Report.
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Global RankCountry
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Total Score

Access subscores for 1000 cities and 100 countries

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Quantity Score
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Quality Score
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Business Score
1st
0
United States
215.001
00.00
00.00
00.00
2nd
0
United Kingdom
55.995
00.00
00.00
00.00
3rd
0
Israel
51.557
00.00
00.00
00.00
4th
0
Canada
38.254
00.00
00.00
00.00
5th
+
1
Singapore
37.736
00.00
00.00
00.00
6th
-
1
Sweden
27.024
00.00
00.00
00.00
7th
0
Germany
25.830
00.00
00.00
00.00
8th
0
France
24.894
00.00
00.00
00.00
9th
+
1
The Netherlands
24.462
00.00
00.00
00.00
10th
+
1
Switzerland
24.081
00.00
00.00
00.00
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