The conversation around African startups is changing. After years of attention driven by funding rounds and rapid expansion, focus is increasingly moving toward companies building practical solutions to pressing economic and social challenges. Bloomberg’s African Startups to Watch in 2026 highlights 25 companies operating across sectors including finance, healthcare, transport, agriculture and technology, offering a closer look at how innovation is being used to improve access, efficiency and opportunity across the continent.
The list reflects how African startups are responding to some of the continent’s biggest challenges, from financial inclusion and healthcare access to food security, logistics and climate resilience. It also comes at a time when the startup funding environment is evolving. While venture capital investment has become more selective, many startups are attracting support from African investors and alternative financing sources, showing growing confidence in locally built businesses.
Bloomberg noted that nearly half of the funding raised by startups on the 2026 list came from African backers, highlighting the increasing role of local capital in shaping the continent’s innovation ecosystem.
Financial Inclusion and Healthcare Solutions Take Center Stage
Several of the companies on the list are focused on improving access to financial services for individuals and businesses that have traditionally been underserved.
In Ivory Coast, HUB2 is helping simplify digital payments in West Africa by connecting banks, mobile wallets, cards and telecom operators through one platform. The company is addressing the region’s fragmented payment systems and helping businesses process transactions more efficiently across the CFA franc zone.
Cameroon’s Nkwa is focused on encouraging savings habits among people and businesses operating in informal economies. The fintech platform has gained backing from Cameroon’s Ministry of Finance and local angel investors as it works to improve financial management in Central Africa.
South African startup Omnisient is using artificial intelligence and alternative consumer data to help lenders assess creditworthiness beyond traditional banking records. By using information from telecom companies and retailers, the platform is helping expand access to credit for underserved populations.
Operating mainly in Tanzania, AzamPay is building payment infrastructure that allows businesses to accept digital payments more easily in markets where cash transactions remain dominant.
Tanzania’s Black Swan is also using AI and alternative data, including electricity payments and transaction histories, to help small businesses access financing without formal credit histories.
In Kenya, Oye is supporting boda boda riders through a platform that links insurance, loans and financial services to fuel purchases. The company aims to improve financial protection for riders while reducing the barriers to accessing insurance products.
Meanwhile, PawaPay continues to expand its operations across Africa’s fragmented payments market. Operating in more than 20 countries, the company processes millions of transactions daily while maintaining a strong focus on profitability.
Nigeria’s Sycamore provides lending and investment products while also expanding services to African diaspora communities looking for financial links to the continent.
Healthcare innovation is also strongly represented on the list. Nigeria’s 10mg Health is helping healthcare providers access working capital through its financing platform, helping hospitals and pharmacies continue serving patients despite financial constraints.
Another Nigerian startup, Remedial Health, is tackling counterfeit medicines by helping pharmacies manage inventory, verify suppliers and access financing. The company says it has already supported more than 14,000 healthcare providers across Nigeria.
In Chad, Telemedan is using solar-powered telemedicine stations to connect patients with doctors remotely, helping address healthcare shortages in underserved areas.
Cameroon’s Waspito allows patients to connect directly with doctors online without requiring appointments, improving access to healthcare services in urgent situations.
Tanzania’s SafeSip is combining solar-powered water purification systems with AI monitoring technology to improve access to safe drinking water while reducing dependence on single-use plastics.
Botswana-based Deaftronics is manufacturing solar-powered hearing aids designed for African markets where electricity supply can be unreliable, helping address hearing impairment challenges across the continent.
Agriculture, Climate and Technology Startups Expand Their Impact
Beyond finance and healthcare, the Bloomberg list also highlights startups improving transport systems, agriculture, environmental sustainability and security.
Kenyan logistics company Leta helps businesses improve delivery operations through route planning, fleet management and real-time tracking systems. The startup has received support from Google’s Africa Investment Fund.
Also based in Kenya, BuuPass is digitizing travel bookings across buses, trains and flights, helping modernize transport systems that have traditionally relied on manual ticketing.
HR technology company WorkPay has expanded beyond payroll services into compliance and financial solutions across more than 30 African countries.
South African startup Jem allows workers to access payslips, workplace documents and financial services directly through WhatsApp, serving more than 200,000 employees across hundreds of businesses.
In agriculture, Ghana’s Complete Farmer is helping connect African farmers with global buyers through technology that improves traceability and quality assurance, helping farmers access export opportunities.
South Africa’s Amesect is turning organic waste into fertilizer and animal feed, addressing waste management problems while supporting agricultural productivity.
Madagascar’s Bôndy is focused on forest restoration and regenerative agriculture projects aimed at reducing food insecurity and environmental degradation.
Somalia’s Ecosom converts agricultural waste and invasive plant species into biochar and cleaner fuel products, helping improve soil health while reducing environmental damage.
Nigeria’s Terra Industries is developing drone and defense technologies designed to address growing security challenges across West Africa. The company is also expanding its manufacturing capacity following recent funding.
In Egypt, WideBot is building Arabic-language artificial intelligence tools designed specifically for Arabic-speaking markets and regional dialects, helping close language gaps in AI technology.
South Africa’s AURA is connecting users to emergency response and private security services through one platform, addressing growing demand for reliable emergency support systems.
Together, Bloomberg’s African Startups to Watch in 2026 highlights a startup ecosystem that is increasingly focused on sustainability, local problem-solving and long-term impact. Rather than prioritizing growth alone, many African startups are now building businesses designed to strengthen industries, improve services and create practical solutions for communities across the continent.
Source: Bloomberg’s African Startups to Watch 2026.
