Lagos Angel Network (LAN), one of Nigeria’s leading angel investor groups, has invested in Midddleman Technologies Inc., an artificial intelligence-powered trade infrastructure startup building tools to simplify and scale commerce between Africa and China, as investors increasingly target technology platforms addressing cross-border trade inefficiencies across the continent.
The investment underscores growing confidence in startups developing digital infrastructure for Africa’s rapidly expanding trade economy, particularly as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) seek easier access to global supply chains, payments, procurement services and logistics networks.
Midddleman, founded by Adeola Owosho and Omolara Sanni, is positioning itself as the operating system for Africa-China trade, offering an integrated platform that combines AI-powered sourcing, procurement support, cross-border payments and freight coordination for African businesses importing goods from China.
The Lagos-based startup has recorded significant early growth. Since launching its payments product in May 2024, the company has processed more than $1.6 million in payment volume and attracted over 12,500 registered users. The startup was also recognized among Google’s Top AI Startups for 2025, a milestone that has increased its visibility among investors and technology stakeholders.
The company’s platform seeks to address longstanding challenges facing African importers, including supplier verification, payment complexities, procurement risks and logistics inefficiencies. Through a combination of artificial intelligence, a network of vetted procurement agents based in China, integrated Naira-to-Renminbi payment rails and partnerships with third-party freight providers, Midddleman aims to create a more transparent and reliable trade ecosystem for African SMEs.
The investment comes as Africa-China trade continues to expand. China has remained Africa’s largest trading partner for more than a decade, with bilateral trade volumes reaching record levels in recent years. Yet despite the scale of commercial activity, many smaller African businesses continue to face barriers in accessing Chinese markets due to fragmented trade processes and limited access to trusted sourcing and payment infrastructure.
Lagos Angel Network said Midddleman’s vision, execution capabilities, and understanding of the market made the company a compelling investment opportunity.
“The Africa-China trade corridor is only going to grow, and we believe the next decade belongs to platforms that are building for it intentionally. What impressed us most about Midddleman was the founders’ long-term thinking, their deep market knowledge, and the preparedness and responsiveness they demonstrated throughout our process,” said Dr. Solomon King, Executive Director of Lagos Angel Network.
The deal extends beyond financial backing. LAN said it will provide strategic support, mentorship, and access to its network of investors, operators, and technology leaders to help accelerate Midddleman’s next phase of growth.
The funding will support the expansion of Midddleman’s AI-powered sourcing and procurement portal, strengthen its China-based procurement network ahead of a planned office launch in Guangzhou and support market expansion into Ghana and Kenya, two of Africa’s fastest-growing technology and trade hubs.
For Midddleman, the partnership represents a significant endorsement of its long-term vision to become a critical piece of trade infrastructure connecting African businesses to global manufacturing markets.
“LAN’s backing means we’re not just funded, we’re supported by people who understand what it takes to build infrastructure in this market,” said co-founder Adeola Owosho.
The investment reflects a broader trend within Africa’s startup ecosystem, where investors are increasingly backing infrastructure-focused technology companies capable of solving fundamental challenges across payments, logistics, supply chains and trade. While fintech has historically dominated venture capital flows into Africa, a growing number of investors are looking toward trade-enabling platforms that support regional integration and global market access.
Industry analysts say solutions that simplify sourcing, payments and logistics could play a critical role in unlocking growth for Africa’s SME sector, which accounts for the majority of businesses and employment across the continent.
As Midddleman expands into new markets and deepens its presence within China, the company is betting that the future of Africa’s trade economy will be driven by intelligent digital platforms capable of connecting businesses across borders with greater speed, transparency, and efficiency.
With fresh backing from Lagos Angel Network and growing traction among merchants, Midddleman is positioning itself at the center of one of the world’s most important emerging trade corridors, linking Africa’s entrepreneurial economy with China’s manufacturing powerhouse.
