Africa-focused early-stage investment firm Madica has announced new investments worth $400,000 in two artificial intelligence startups, Hypeo AI from Morocco and Anavid from Tunisia, while also forming a strategic partnership with the African Business Angel Network (ABAN). The initiative aims to strengthen access to early-stage capital, mentorship and networks for African founders, marking another step toward building a more inclusive and connected venture ecosystem across the continent.
The new funding, which gives each startup $200,000, reflects Madica’s mission to support underrepresented founders in underserved regions while promoting innovation in sectors where technology can make a tangible difference. Both companies use AI to solve real business challenges in their respective industries. Hypeo AI is transforming influencer marketing by automating everything from brand matching to payments, while Anavid uses real-time computer vision to help retailers reduce losses and improve in-store experiences.
The investment comes with more than just capital. The two startups will join Madica’s 18-month program, which offers mentorship, executive coaching and immersion experiences in global tech ecosystems. Through the program, founders will also gain access to Madica’s growing global investor network, helping them connect with new partners and opportunities for growth.
Emmanuel Adegboye, Head of Madica, said the new investments reflect the firm’s continued focus on founders building impactful solutions across Africa. “The founders we’ve just welcomed are visionaries, building solutions with the power to uplift communities and shape industries,” he said. “We’re proud to stand with them as they take on the next stage of their journey.”
Madica’s latest announcement follows its February 2025 investments in four African startups, Medikea, Motherbeing, Pixii Motors and ToumAI, which received a combined $800,000 in pre-seed funding across the healthcare, e-mobility and artificial intelligence sectors. With the addition of Hypeo AI and Anavid, Madica has now backed ten startups across the continent, investing a total of $2 million since its launch.
Beyond its funding activities, Madica’s partnership with the African Business Angel Network (ABAN) represents a major step in aligning institutional investors and angel networks. Announced during the ABAN Congress in Lagos, the collaboration opens the door to joint investments and shared deal flow between Madica and ABAN’s community of more than 5,000 angel investors spread across 37 African countries and the diaspora.
The partnership will make it easier for African startups to access diverse sources of funding, while also encouraging local investors to take a more active role in early-stage financing. Yemi Keri, President of ABAN, said the collaboration bridges an important gap in the African startup ecosystem. “Our collaboration with Madica helps bridge the gap between angel investors and institutional capital, ensuring that more funding comes from within the continent and that startups everywhere in Africa can access the right type of support to scale,” she said.
Madica’s investment model is designed to create long-term impact by combining funding with hands-on support and ecosystem engagement. The firm’s focus goes beyond individual startups to building stronger connections between entrepreneurs, investors, and mentors. This approach ensures that the capital invested also translates into sustainable growth, job creation, and innovation across industries.
Founded in 2022 as an affiliate of Flourish Ventures, a global early-stage venture firm that backs fintechs and other technology-driven businesses, Madica was created to fill critical funding gaps faced by African founders. Its name, “Made-in-Africa,” reflects its commitment to supporting locally built solutions that address real challenges within African markets. By 2025, Madica plans to invest $6 million in 30 African startups, a target that reinforces its belief in the continent’s growing entrepreneurial potential.
For startups like Hypeo AI and Anavid, this support represents more than an investment, it’s an opportunity to scale innovative products that can redefine industries. Hypeo AI’s automation of influencer marketing helps brands and creators collaborate more efficiently, while Anavid’s AI-powered CCTV integration empowers retailers to detect theft and improve customer experiences in real time. These use cases show how emerging technologies can create practical, high-impact solutions tailored to African market needs.
As Africa’s innovation ecosystem continues to mature, partnerships like Madica’s with ABAN will play a vital role in ensuring that founders have access not only to capital but also to knowledge, mentorship and community. Together, they are helping to shape a more distributed and inclusive future for African entrepreneurship, one where opportunity reaches beyond traditional tech hubs and into new regions filled with untapped potential.
Madica’s growing portfolio and strategic partnerships signal a clear message: Africa’s next wave of innovation will be built by local founders solving local problems with global ambition. Through steady investment, collaboration and shared purpose, initiatives like this are laying the foundation for a stronger, more connected startup ecosystem across the continent.
