StartupList Africa · Country Directory
African Startup
Countries
Browse the continent market by market — sectors, companies, and funding patterns in one place.
Browse by city hubNorth Africa
— Markets shaped by deep engineering talent, dense urban demand, and strong links into MENA and Europe.6 countries·892 startups·$7B
Egypt
Lead marketEgypt combines a large home market with strong technical talent and a startup pipeline that has become harder to ignore. Many of the best companies here solve operational problems at serious scale.
Morocco
95 companies· $506.1MMorocco sits at a useful crossroads between Africa, Europe, and MENA. Founders here often build with trade, logistics, software, and cross-border workflows in mind.
Tunisia
Algeria
Sudan
Libya
West Africa
— Large consumer markets, busy commercial corridors, and some of the continent's strongest fintech and commerce momentum.14 countries·939 startups·$10.8B
Nigeria
Lead marketNigeria is still the market many teams use to prove they can win at scale. The pace is fast, competition is real, and the best companies usually learn how to execute in public.
Ghana
121 companies· $1.2BGhana's ecosystem is smaller than some of its peers, but it often rewards disciplined companies and clearer operating models. It is a strong market to watch when you value signal over noise.
Cote Divoire
Senegal
Mali
Togo
Guinea
Sierra Leone
Benin
Burkina Faso
Liberia
Cape Verde
Mauritania
Niger
East Africa
— Operator-led ecosystems where payments, logistics, climate, and practical infrastructure continue to shape real company building.8 countries·616 startups·$10.9B
Kenya
Lead marketKenya blends strong payments history with practical startup building in agriculture, climate, mobility, and logistics. It is one of the clearest places to watch products meet real-world distribution.
Uganda
63 companies· $179MUganda is often strongest when startups are built close to real customer problems. The ecosystem is worth watching for practical products in finance, agriculture, logistics, and everyday commerce.
Rwanda
Ethiopia
Tanzania
Seychelles
Somalia
Djibouti
Central Africa
— Earlier but important markets where logistics, energy, and foundational digital services often matter more than hype cycles.5 countries·33 startups·$470.7M
Cameroon
Lead marketUse this page to get a grounded view of startups building in Cameroon, then move into company profiles, sectors, and funding context as the picture sharpens.
Dr Congo
11 companies· $400.3MUse this page to get a grounded view of startups building in Dr Congo, then move into company profiles, sectors, and funding context as the picture sharpens.
Gabon
Central African Republic
Congo
Southern Africa
— Deeper enterprise demand, steadier capital bases, and ecosystems that often reward software, fintech, and disciplined execution.12 countries·604 startups·$13.5B
South Africa
Lead marketSouth Africa brings a deeper enterprise base, a broad founder bench, and a market where software, fintech, marketplaces, and operational tooling can all find room to grow.
Mauritius
26 companies· $412.9MUse this page to get a grounded view of startups building in Mauritius, then move into company profiles, sectors, and funding context as the picture sharpens.
Zimbabwe
Zambia
Angola
Botswana
Mozambique
Malawi
Lesotho
Madagascar
Namibia
Eswatini
How to use the country index
Use this hub when you want to compare ecosystems region by region, then move into country, sector, and company pages once the shortlist starts getting sharper.
- 01
Start with the region that fits your market thesis, then open the countries where the numbers and context both look compelling.
- 02
Use the country cards to compare company count, city concentration, capital logged, and the sector that appears to be leading.
- 03
Move from a country page into sector, investor, people, and company views once you are ready to turn a scan into a real shortlist.
Frequently asked questions
Why browse startups by country first?
Country pages keep local market context intact, which makes it easier to see which sectors, operators, and companies are actually shaping a market.
What should I do after opening a country page?
Start broad, then move into the featured sector links when you want a tighter shortlist for sourcing, diligence, or market mapping.
Can this page support investor and partnership research?
Yes. It is built to help you move from general ecosystem scanning into a more credible country-level shortlist.