10 African startups that shut down in 2025
Four startups across Nigeria and East Africa shut down or suspended operations in the first quarter of 2025. Fintech sector experienced the highest number of shutdowns, with eight out of ten closures occurring in Nigeria.
How Breni, a Nigerian Edtech startup, gained 3,000+ users in 20+ countries with zero ad spend
Breni attracted over 3,000 users from 20+ countries within three months of launch. The platform generated ₦200,000 ($137) in revenue in its first 37 days.
Three-month-old Edtech, Breni, targets pre-seed funding to become “Duolingo for Everything”
Breni launched on August 24, 2025, aiming to be 'Duolingo for everything'. The startup has attracted over 3,000 users from more than 20 countries within three months.
Why African Edtech is abandoning children for adults
Edukoya shut down in February 2025 after raising $3.5 million, citing that it was too early for its vision. Global funding for edtech peaked at $20.3 billion between 2020 and 2021, but interest in K-12 products declined as classrooms reopened.
TLcom reaches midpoint deployment in $5M TAPSI fund with key bet on TurnStay
TLcom Capital has deployed 50% of its $5M pre-seed fund, TAPSI. The firm backed South African travel payment platform TurnStay’s $2M seed round.
