Access to early-stage funding remains a major challenge for many African entrepreneurs, particularly those building outside major tech hubs. Madica is addressing this gap with a new round of investments worth up to $600,000 across three startups in Tanzania, Kenya and Nigeria, reinforcing its commitment to supporting founders who are often overlooked by traditional venture capital.
The move is part of Madica’s broader effort to ensure that promising founders across Africa, especially those outside major startup hubs, can access the capital and support they need to grow. By targeting regions and sectors that are often overlooked, the initiative is expected to play a role in building a more inclusive and balanced startup ecosystem across the continent.
“Each new investment brings us closer to the portfolio we set out to build, one that reflects the full breadth and diversity of African entrepreneurship. The opportunity across the continent is enormous, and we’re committed to being a crucial and consistent partner in realising it,” says Emmanuel Adegboye, Head of Madica.
Expanding Opportunity Across Key Sectors
The three selected startups, Kilimo Fresh, Hakimu and Biovana, operate in sectors that are growing but still receive less attention compared to fintech. Their inclusion highlights a shift toward supporting innovation in agriculture, legal technology and health data.
Kilimo Fresh, based in Tanzania and co-founded by Baraka Chijenga and Justice E. Mangu, is working to improve agricultural supply chains. The platform connects smallholder farmers to urban markets, helping to reduce post-harvest losses while increasing farmers’ earnings. By improving how food moves from farms to cities, the company is addressing both inefficiencies and income gaps in the agricultural sector.
In Kenya, Hakimu, co-founded by Rawan Dareer, Ahmed Ahmed and Ahmed Elbashir, is building an AI-driven legal infrastructure platform. Its goal is to make legal services more accessible by simplifying and digitising legal processes. Legal technology is still developing in many African markets, but demand for more efficient and affordable legal services is growing, positioning the startup to meet an important need.
Nigeria’s Biovana, co-founded by Estelle Dogbo and Jumi P., is focused on health data. The company works on harmonising and certifying datasets so they can be used in global pharmaceutical and AI research. Its work supports the growing demand for reliable African data in global health innovation. The startup also stands out as a women-led business in a sector where female representation is still limited.
Each of these startups will also take part in Madica’s 18-month support programme. This includes mentorship, executive coaching, access to global investor networks and immersion trips designed to expose founders to different markets and ecosystems. These non-financial resources are expected to play a key role in helping founders scale their businesses effectively.
Building Founders Beyond Funding
Beyond capital, Madica is also investing in knowledge and ecosystem development. Alongside the latest funding round, the programme has released a 75-page guide titled Zero to Funded: A Founder’s Guide to Pre-Seed Fundraising in Africa.
The guide is designed to support founders who may be entering the venture capital space for the first time. It provides practical tools, including templates and checklists, and addresses common misconceptions around fundraising. It also explains the trade-offs that come with taking venture capital, helping entrepreneurs make more informed decisions.
Since its launch in 2022, Madica has focused on supporting founders who are often excluded from traditional funding channels due to geography, sector focus or limited access to investor networks. This approach is helping to open up opportunities for a wider range of entrepreneurs across the continent.
The programme is also working to strengthen connections within the African startup ecosystem. It is organising engagements that bring together founders, investors and industry players. One such initiative is an upcoming gathering in Morocco, which will take place alongside GITEX Africa. Events like this are becoming increasingly important for early-stage founders looking to build networks and gain visibility.
Through its combined approach of funding, mentorship and ecosystem building, Madica is contributing to the growth of a more inclusive and diverse startup landscape in Africa. By supporting startups in less-funded sectors and regions, the programme is not only backing individual businesses but also helping to unlock broader economic opportunities across the continent.
