💸 The Funding Struggle is Real. We Get It.
So you put in the work. You polish your pitch deck, send out cold emails to “global investors,” and wait—hoping for a response that never comes. And then, you realize the truth: many of these so-called global investors don’t actually fund African startups.
- Founder's Notes
- Blitz Launch Announcement
- Community Session Recap
- Ecosystem Updates
📮 Founder's Notes
Let's talk about the unique struggles African founders go through!
Dear Friends,
We know the grind. You’ve built something incredible. You’ve spent months, maybe years, solving a real problem in your community, refining your product, finding users, and getting traction. Now, you need funding to take it to the next level.
So you put in the work. You polish your pitch deck, send out cold emails to “global investors,” and wait—hoping for a response that never comes. And then, you realize the truth: many of these so-called global investors don’t actually fund African startups.
Some only invest in the U.S., Europe, or China. Others claim to support emerging markets but only fund teams already within their networks. And good luck finding out if they even consider international teams before wasting hours sending emails that will never get a reply.
It shouldn’t be this hard. You shouldn’t have to spend weeks hunting down funders who were never looking for you in the first place.
That’s why we built Blitz. We got tired of seeing African founders waste time chasing dead-end leads, so we decided to do the work for you.
Blitz is a curated funding directory designed to cut through the noise and help you find only vetted funding opportunities—no more time-wasters. It shows you who actually funds African startups, so you stop guessing and start pitching to the right people. Whether you’re looking for grants, venture capital, angel investors, accelerators, or alternative funding sources, you’ll find them all in one place.
No more searching through outdated lists, dead links, and vague investor criteria. No more cold emails that never get answered. Just a clear, easy way to find funding.
🚀 Blitz MVP is Launching Soon.
We’re rolling out early access in the coming weeks. If you’re tired of the fundraising chase, more info on the launch below.
And if you’ve ever spent hours emailing investors only to realize they don’t fund African teams, hit reply and tell us your story. We’ve been there. We get it. And we’re building Blitz to change that.
Best,
Ukeme, Founder at The Beta Collective
Community
Updates from The Beta Collective Community by Priscilla
The Countdown Begins… Blitz is Launching in Two Weeks! 🎉
We’ve been working behind the scenes, fine-tuning Blitz to be THE game-changer for startups, entrepreneurs, and impact-driven builders like you. And now, the countdown is ON—Friday, 7th March, we go LIVE! 🎊
What This Means for You
No more endless searching. No more applying for the wrong opportunities. No more struggling alone. Blitz is here to make sure Africa’s innovators get the funding and support they need to scale.
🔥 The wait is almost over! 🔥
🚀 Friday, 7th March—we go LIVE!
🗣️Community Session Recap
Last week, we hosted our very first Community Session, and let’s just say it was nothing short of AMAZING! Ukeme led the charge in this knowledge-packed session, helping founders break down the art of startup roadmapping, aka how to turn big, bold business goals into reality (and secure the right funding along the way).
We had a dynamic mix of innovators, builders, and problem-solvers in the room, all eager to learn how to structure their business strategy, prioritize key opportunities, and avoid the dreaded startup “guesswork.” If you missed it, here’s what went down:
Defining Priorities Like a Pro
Ukeme kicked things off by helping everyone zoom out and see the bigger picture. She walked us through how to:
✅ Set a clear vision and mission.
✅ Identify market opportunities and obstacles that could slow you down.
✅ Use a mix of research, data, and gut instinct to map out your next big move.
Funding Success 101: Are You REALLY Ready?
Spoiler alert: Investors aren’t just throwing money at cool ideas. They want to see strategy, traction, and proof that your startup is worth betting on! Ukeme explained how to position yourself for funding at different stages, from pre-seed to Series A, and what metrics actually matter when pitching to investors.
The Power of OKRs: Turning Goals into Action
A lot of us set big goals, but… do we actually track them? (Be honest! 😂) That’s where OKRs (Objectives & Key Results) come in. We broke down how to:
🎯 Set high-impact goals that actually move the needle.
📈 Use metrics and KPIs to measure success (not just vibes).
🔄 Stay flexible and iterate because roadmaps should guide you, not box you in!
Building a Strategic Roadmap: The Game Plan for Growth
We wrapped up the session by bringing everything together in a strategic roadmap, a visual, step-by-step guide that outlines:
🗺️ What needs to be done right now, next, and later.
🤝 How to align your team and resources to stay on track.
⏳ When to expect major milestones, pivots, and progress points.
Community Wins & Takeaways
Beyond the frameworks and strategies, the BEST part of the session was the real-time discussions and problem-solving! Founders shared their struggles, whether it was hiring the right team, securing funding, or validating product ideas and got expert advice from Ukeme and fellow attendees. Some of our favorite moments:
💬 A lively conversation about the reality of hiring in African markets.
💡 A startup founder figuring out how to differentiate their AI-powered app before spending more money on development.
🎯 Insightful advice on how to build investor relationships BEFORE you need funding.
Missed out? No worries, we’re just getting started!
Our first Community Session was a blast, and we’re already gearing up for the next one! But if you couldn’t make it, don’t sweat it, we’ll be sharing the session deck and other valuable resources inside the whatsapp group so you can catch up!
Ecosystem
News, Events, and Updates by Priscilla
News
🚀 African Startup Funding Surges 240% in January 2025!
African startups are off to a blazing start in 2025, with funding skyrocketing by 240% year-on-year to hit $289 million in January! This marks a huge leap from the $85 million raised in January 2024, signaling a renewed investor confidence in Africa’s startup ecosystem.
🔹 Big Deals & Big Players
The "Big Four" Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, and South Africa, continue to dominate, securing 60% of the total funds raised. Some of the standout investments include:
💡 PowerGen – Secured $50M+ to scale renewable energy solutions.
💳 LemFi – Raised $53M to expand its Fintech services into Asia & Europe.
🔍 Naked – Bagged $38M to revolutionize the insurtech space.
🏫 Enko Education – Secured $24M to grow its school network across Africa.
🌍 A Shift in Momentum
After a tough 2023 and 2024, when African startups raised just $1.5B (less than 1% of global funding), this January funding boom is a strong comeback for the ecosystem. Experts predict that 2025 will be a breakthrough year for African startups, with increased global investor interest and more startups scaling beyond the continent.
💰 What This Means for Founders
With fresh capital flowing in, now is the time for African entrepreneurs to refine their business models, build investor relationships, and position their startups for success. Whether you're in Fintech, Edtech, ClimateTech, or AI, the market is heating up, and opportunities are everywhere!
Funding and Resources
🚀 Fintech Founders, This One’s for You!
If you're a Fintech startup in Africa with an MVP or a market-ready solution, here’s your chance to scale, connect, and innovate! Visa’s Accelerator Program is back for its 4th cohort, and they’re looking for startups that are redefining how money moves, digitizing payments, and creating groundbreaking financial solutions.
So, what’s in it for you? A lot! 🚀
💡 Expert Mentorship – Get direct guidance from top industry leaders to refine your business strategy.
🔗 Networking & Partnerships – Connect with investors, partners, and key players in the global Fintech space.
🚀 Access to Visa’s Tech – Leverage Visa’s cutting-edge technology to power up your product.
💰 Funding Opportunities – Gain investment potential to scale your startup.
📈 Training & Expertise – Level up in product design, marketing, finance, and sales.
Since its launch in 2023, Visa’s Accelerator Program has already supported 64 startups and formed 15 active partnerships, including Kacha, an Ethiopian Digital Financial Service Provider that participated in the last cohort. The program is part of Visa’s $1 billion commitment to Africa by 2027, designed to revolutionize the continent’s payment ecosystem and digital economy.
💡 Is this the right opportunity for you?
If you're building an innovative Fintech solution and ready to scale, this program is for you! Whether you’re tackling financial inclusion, digital payments, or new financial services models, Visa wants to hear from you.
📅 Deadline: March 14, 2025 – Don’t wait until the last minute!
🔗 Apply Now and take your Fintech startup to the next level! 🚀
Events
🌍 Global AI Summit on Africa: Unlocking AI’s $2.9 Trillion Potential
AI is set to add $2.9 trillion to Africa’s economy by 2030, creating 500,000 jobs annually and driving innovation. To shape this future, the Global AI Summit on Africa will take place in Kigali, Rwanda, under the theme:
🧠 "AI and Africa’s Demographic Dividend: Reimagining Economic Opportunities for Africa’s Workforce."
🔹 What to Expect:
This invite-only event, hosted by C4IR, the Ministry of ICT & Innovation, and the World Economic Forum, will bring together world leaders, startups, investors, and AI experts to explore:
✅ AI & Jobs – Workforce readiness and talent mobility.
✅ Infrastructure & Adoption – Overcoming barriers to AI growth.
✅ Data & Sovereignty – Building Africa’s AI-driven digital economy.
✅ Governance & Ethics – Responsible AI policies for a secure future.
📅 Date: April 3-4, 2025 | 📍 Location: Kigali, Rwanda
📩 Access: By invitation only – Request an invitation
With Africa poised to play a key role in the global AI ecosystem, this summit will shape the continent’s AI-powered economic transformation. 🚀
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