As Africa’s digital economy accelerates, a wave of innovation is sweeping across the continent’s startup ecosystem. From Nigeria to South Africa, emerging companies are redefining education, commerce, agriculture, and travel. Here’s a roundup of the week’s most compelling developments, curated by FollowICT.
Nigeria’s Edozzier Cracks Global Top 5 in iOS Education
In a striking leap for Nigerian EdTech, Lagos-based Edozzier has secured a spot among the top five global education apps on Apple’s iOS platform—surpassing industry giants like Udemy and Coursera as of August 1, 2025.
The AI-powered education resource planning platform achieved this milestone just two weeks after launching its mobile app. Its rapid ascent was fueled by its role in facilitating the 2025 SQI College of ICT scholarship program, which saw over 18,500 applicants across Africa, with more than 8,500 completing their assessments online via Edozzier.
The dual achievement underscores Edozzier’s growing reputation as a transformative force in African education—combining scalability, purpose-driven innovation, and a user-first approach that positions it among the continent’s fastest-growing and most influential EdTech platforms.
South Africa’s Flood Raises $2.5M to Digitize Offline Commerce
Flood, a South African startup offering “SuperApp-as-a-Service” infrastructure, has raised $2.5 million in seed funding to scale its mobile-first digital commerce platform across emerging markets.
Founded by serial entrepreneur André de Wet, Flood enables telcos, banks, and SMEs to build and expand marketplace models using a no-code, API-driven SaaS framework. The platform bridges traditional and digital retail through features like merchant onboarding, loyalty programs, in-store pickup, and real-time analytics.
Flood has already gained traction in South Africa, India, and the Maldives, with plans to launch in additional markets later this year. Its user base is growing rapidly, with daily engagement reaching 28% of the population and 8,000 merchants onboarded in just three months.
The new funding follows a $1 million pre-seed round in July 2024 and will support market entry, strategic partnerships, and onboarding thousands of offline merchants.
Doorcas Africa Launches AI-Powered Chat for Farmers
Doorcas Africa, a Nigerian AgriTech startup founded in 2023, has unveiled a WhatsApp-based AI chatbot and user-friendly web portal to help farmers access its services more efficiently.
The platform, designed to reduce livestock mortality and economic losses in rural and peri-urban areas, connects livestock owners with veterinary care providers. Its growing community now includes over 1,000 users.
Backed by multiple grants—including $5,500 from the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business, €6,000 ($7,000) from Start Global, and hardware development funding from India’s Global Health Innovation Fellowship—Doorcas is expanding its reach and impact across the continent.
TurnStay Secures $2M to Reinvent Travel Payments in Africa
TurnStay, a South African travel-focused fintech startup, has raised $2 million in seed funding to expand its operations across Africa and enhance payment infrastructure for travel and tourism operators.
Founded by seasoned entrepreneurs Alon Stern (Slide Financial) and James Hedley (Quicket), TurnStay reduces payment acquisition costs by processing card payments in the traveler’s country and settling locally using stablecoins. This model cuts fees by up to 70%, shortens settlement times, and boosts booking conversion rates.
The round was led by First Circle Capital, with participation from TLCom Capital, Enza Capital, Incisive Ventures, CVVC, and Equable Ventures. It follows a $300,000 pre-seed round in July 2024.
Visa Opens Applications for Africa Fintech Accelerator Cohort 5
Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) has opened applications for the fifth cohort of its Africa Fintech Accelerator program, a 12-week initiative aimed at scaling fintech startups across the continent.
Targeting companies with market-ready solutions or MVPs, the program offers mentorship, specialized training, networking opportunities, and access to funding. Applications close on August 15.
The initiative is part of Visa’s broader commitment to invest $1 billion in Africa’s digital payments ecosystem by 2027.
Boldswitch Unveils FacePay: Tipping with Just a Look
Boldswitch, a Nigerian fintech startup, has launched FacePay—a biometric tipping feature that allows users to send gratuities simply by snapping a photo of the recipient’s face.
Inspired by a real-world dilemma—a customer wanting to tip a service worker discreetly—FacePay eliminates the need for account numbers, QR codes, or conversation. The feature uses facial recognition to match the image with a registered Boldswitch user and instantly transfer funds.
Available now on the Boldswitch app, FacePay enables seamless, anonymous tipping for waitstaff, taxi drivers, security guards, and even online creators—provided they have a Boldswitch account.
