African Start-up Money Don Fall Like Rain In January 2026

Abeg, make we yarn wetin dey happen for Africa start-up world as January 2026 don show say money no dey flow again like before.

According to report wey dem drop for Africa: The Big Deal, dem only raised $174 million for January 2026, e be like say na wah oh! Last year for January 2025, dem don collect $276 million, but now e don drop reach ground level. Na serious matter! If you check well, na even small pass the average $263 million wey dem dey get last twelve months.

But no be say na everything be bad news. January 2026 still better pass some past years like 2023 wey dem only get $106 million, and 2024 wey be $85 million. Na wetin dem dey call as progress, if we fit call am that! But the real gist na say only 26 start-ups collect money wey pass $100,000 this January. E be like say dem dey fear to lose money, because na just over half of wetin we dey see for last year. This one na the lowest since 2020, my people!

Make we talk about wetin dey rain for funding. The top boaster for this month na valU from Egypt, wey don secure $64 million in debt financing from National Bank of Egypt (NBE). E go help dem grow, expand for Jordan and the whole region. Na also good news be that for dem.

MOVERS ALERT! Naija own MAX don raise $24 million as dem join forces with Equitane DMCC and other big players. Dem money go help dem expand dem electric vehicle fleet and battery swapping business for West and Central Africa. Na those moves go dey help dem fortify their base!

More gist, NowPay from Egypt don collect $20 million, Yakeey from Morocco raise $15 million, Terra Industries don get $12 million, and Cauridor from Côte d’Ivoire dey jolly with $10 million funding too. Na wetin I call plenty small-small win!

On top exit matter, Flutterwave don ginger things well as dem acquire Mono for about $30 million. Savannah wey be tech talent start-up don finally dey join forces with Commit, while Izili Group don carry Qotto join for solar wahala.

Looking forward, e be like say dis year go start slow for African start-up ecosystem. Investors dey very careful now o. Dem dey prefer businesses wey dey show clear revenue models and dey manage capital well instead of just dey run for fast growth. But no worry, the year still get hope if macroeconomic stability fit hold strong and global interest rates dey calm down small.

Overall, while money fit dey hard to find this year for many start-ups, those wey fit shine go be the ones wey strong and get resilience for business! Make we dey watch the space.