In May, African Startups raised $254 million in funding, pushing the continent to surpass $1 billion in startup funding within five months in 2025, the same milestone which took about seven months to achieve last year.
Behind these impressive figures are the powerhouse placing big bets on the continent’s startup potential, which include venture capital firms, private equity funds, and private investment funds.
These investors are not just funding startups but shaping the African startup ecosystem, providing support to companies addressing real-world challenges. Below, are the major investors who led the funding rounds for most of the largest deals in May, with each funding led not less than $10 million:
1. Prosus Ventures
Prosus Ventures is the investing arm of Prosus. It invests in emerging technologies and innovative companies across Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Americas. Focusing on key technology sectors like e-commerce, mobility and logistics, fintech and blockchain, agritech and sustainability.
Prosus Ventures led the Thndr, a Cairo-based investment platform $15.7 million funding round in May, with participation from BECO Capital, JIMCO Capital, Endeavor Catalyst, Y Combinator, and Onsi Sawiris.
It has invested in several startups and innovative companies across the globe; Prosus ventures portfolio includes Bandlab, Bibit, Thndr, Zest Equity, and Zapia, amongst others.
2. Development Partners International (DPI) Venture Capital
DPI Venture Capital is a platform that supports entrepreneurs, from the initial ideas stage to achieving successful sales. DPI venture capital empowers high-growth ventures to solve meaningful challenges and provide access to opportunities across the continent.
DPI has invested in various African startups, from investing $110 million in Moniepoint during its Series C round in 2024 to leading Sylndr’s $15.7 million Series A equity round to accelerate Sylndr’s expansion across Egypt, boost its pricing intelligence, and strengthen partnership with dealers and service providers.
DPI portfolio includes Moniepoint; Solevo, a chemical distribution company; Cofina, a financial services provider; and other companies cutting across retail, telecommunication, and fintech.
3. Al Mada Ventures:
Al Mada is one of Africa’s private investment funds and operates in different sectors, such as banking, telecommunications, renewable energy, and the food sector.
Identifying the capital deficit affecting African startups, Al Mada launched a $110 million capital venture, Al Mada Ventures, to address the gap in growth-stage investing.
Al Mada Ventures recently led Money Fellow, $13 million pre-Series C round in conjunction with DPI Nclude Fund, a fintech-focused investment vehicle that supports early-stage and growth-stage startups in Egypt and Africa as a whole to drive financial inclusion.
4. Partech:
Partech Africa is a private equity fund that focuses on startups using tech to address emerging opportunities in various growth stages. It invests in fintech, entertainment companies, mobility as well as companies specialized in supply chain services.
Partech co-led AURA, a South African health tech $15 million Series B round with the Cathay AfricInvest Innovation Fund (CAIF). It also led Nawy’s $52 million Series A equity round with participation from March Capital, VKAV, VentureSouq, and DPI Nclude Fund, among others.
Partech Africa focuses on startups with major activities based in Africa to raise between €0.5 million and €5 million as initial tickets.
