The African Founder's Toolkit: 50+ Resources for Building Your Startup

Accelerators and Programs

Y Combinator has backed many African startups—their application is worth the effort. Techstars has Africa-focused programs. Locally, look at CcHub, MEST, and Founders Factory Africa. For fintech specifically, consider Catalyst Fund and Village Capital's programs.

Beyond accelerators, programs like Endeavor, Google for Startups, and the African Leadership Academy's Anzisha Prize offer valuable networks and resources without taking equity.

Funding Sources

Africa-focused VCs include TLcom, Norrsken22, Launch Africa, Ventures Platform, and Future Africa. For pre-seed, look at angel networks like LoftyInc, Rising Tide Africa, and First Check Africa. International firms actively investing in Africa include Partech Africa, 4DX Ventures, and Serena Ventures.

Don't overlook grants and non-dilutive funding. USAID, Google.org, and various DFIs offer funding that doesn't require giving up equity. Impact investors like Acumen and Omidyar Network bridge the gap between grants and commercial capital.

Communities and Networks

Join communities where founders help each other. Africa Tech Summit, AfricArena, and Startup Battlefield Africa are major events. Online, look at African Tech Twitter, the Afrobility podcast community, and various Slack and WhatsApp groups for founders. The relationships you build in these communities often matter more than the content.