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The Baobab Network

Africa's #1 accelerator: backing Africa's top tech entrepreneurs.

Based in Nairobi, The Baobab Network is Africa’s leading start-up accelerator, providing early stage technology companies across the African continent with funding, support and a global, platform to scale their businesses.

04/04/2025

Last week in Lagos, we hosted yet another unforgettable mixer bringing together Founders, Investors, and Entrepreneurs.

We came back feeling inspired and more convinced than ever about the unstoppable potential of Nigeria’s thriving ecosystem.

The energy, resilience, and sheer drive of Nigerian founders is truly unmatched. There’s so much the rest of the continent can learn from their hustle.

We really believe there’s nothing like in-person gatherings, especially in a business like ours, where the people we meet shape the DNA of every decision we make.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us. Our belief in Nigeria has always been strong, but after this trip, we’re more excited and bullish than ever about this ambitious, dynamic country.

03/04/2025

At the recent Event, .travel .co CEO Peter Wachira shared the stage with industry leaders to tackle some of the travel industry’s toughest financial challenges.

From revenue leakages caused by manual accounting to a staggering 69.99% cart abandonment rate, inefficiencies across the sector are having a major impact on the bottom line.

Triply is changing that. With global payment integrations, an FX converter tool (saving agents up to 20%), and a customer tracking progress platform, they’re building smarter tools to boost transparency, streamline transactions, and help travel businesses retain more of their revenue.

Well done to the entire Triply.co team for continuing to drive innovation in the travel industry.

01/04/2025

In July 2021, two brothers building a startup in their home country, Nigeria, pitched us a ‘Shopify for Africa’-style logistics platform.

Our IC wasn’t fully sold on the model – but we were sold on the Founders. and were sharp and driven, and they weren’t just Co-Founders – they were brothers.

Read the full story of how that $800 startup became one of our defining investments, and Africa’s fastest-growing cross-border shipping company. Link in our bio.

27/03/2025

Mighty Fin takes 2nd at the CBC Women in FinTech Hackathon, standing out among 16 teams building the future of finance. 
We’re proud to back companies building solutions that help communities thrive, and Mighty Fin is doing just that with their new product, MamaPay: a cross-border payment platform designed to simplify transactions, reduce costs, and empower women-led businesses across Africa. 
Because when women in business thrive, economies grow. 
This milestone marks another step in Mighty Fin’s mission to make inclusive finance a reality across the continent. Well done Vwanganji Hope Amatende Bowa and the team!

26/03/2025

We almost missed the chance to back .travel (Baobab ’22) - now one of Africa’s fastest-growing travel-tech startups, backed by Y Combinator and 4DX Ventures. 
In 2022, we passed on their first application. A few months later, their momentum was undeniable - and we scrambled to get them into our next cohort. Two years on, they’re generating millions in revenue and scaling fast. 
Read the full story of how we nearly passed on Triply by clicking the link in our bio.

25/03/2025

Africa’s Tech Moment: Why Sam Altman is Paying Attention

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, sees Africa as a key player in the future of global technology:

“Africa is going to be the fastest-growing and most important market over the next coming decades for many companies.”

And he’s not just saying it - he’s making moves:

Backing local innovation – He’s an investor in Wave, Senegal’s fintech unicorn transforming mobile payments.
Exploring emerging tech trends – His initiative, Worldcoin, saw massive uptake in Kenya, sparking major conversations around digital identity.
Connecting with the continent’s builders – Lagos, Nigeria, was one of only 17 stops on OpenAI’s global tour, highlighting Africa’s rising prominence in the tech world.

While in Lagos, Altman said:

“The energy here is great for innovation. People are pushing the limits of technology and coming up with new ideas we haven’t heard before.”

His attention underscores what many Africans have long known - the continent’s youthful population, fast-paced digital growth, and vibrant startup ecosystems are generating unprecedented opportunities.

As this momentum accelerates, some big questions arise:

Which sectors are primed for the biggest breakthroughs - AI, fintech, clean energy, or something new altogether?
With global attention intensifying, how can Africa channel this into long-lasting, inclusive growth for its entrepreneurs and communities?

We love to see global tech leaders not just acknowledging Africa’s potential, but actively engaging with and investing in it!! 🚀 Thanks, Sam.

19/03/2025

Last week, we hosted our first Demo Day of 2025, where founders from our latest cohort pitched their startups to hundreds of global investors.

One of our favourite parts of running the Accelerator? Helping founders crack a clear, powerful one-liner that sums up what they’re building.

It’s one of the best ways to sharpen positioning - because if you can’t explain it in one sentence, that’s usually the best place to start!

Here’s how the startups from our latest cohort describe themselves in a line — short, sharp, and to the point.

How would you pitch your startup in one sentence? Drop it in the comments!

14/03/2025

(Baobab ‘24) and Kawu (Baobab ‘23) have partnered to drive growth across their markets - a collaboration that holds real potential for both companies.

Lemonade Payments is a privacy-first digital payments platform helping SMEs manage everything from secure transfers to invoicing and reporting. Kawu is building a neo-bank for the next generation of consumers in Uganda.

Partnerships like this show the power of collaboration - and how Baobab companies can leverage the network to grow and unlock new opportunities. We’re proud to have played a part in bringing these two companies together.

Read more by clicking the link in our bio.

12/03/2025

(Baobab ‘24) was selected by as one of just 20 startups to pitch at ! 
Events like these not only spotlight innovative startups and founders but also create connections that help the ecosystem thrive - and remind us of the power of collaboration. Great to see Kingsley Ibe crossing paths with fellow Baobab portfolio company from (Cohort 1, 2024) while in Qatar! 
Big shout-out to the Tech Connect Africa team for the work they’re doing to shine a light on and propel African startups onto global stages.

Read more by clicking the link in our bio.

07/03/2025

Recently featured in , Community Wolf - a South African startup in Baobab Network’s latest Accelerator cohort - is making communities safer by turning WhatsApp into a powerful crime-reporting tool.

Founded by Nick Mills and Michael Houghton, Community Wolf is using AI to:
✅ Process reports in multiple languages via WhatsApp
✅ Connect citizens directly with law enforcement & security teams
✅ Enable real-time crime reporting and faster response times
✅ Train chatbots to monitor and analyze crime-related activity in local WhatsApp groups

Their pilot in Stellenbosch is already proving how technology can unite communities, police, and private security for real impact.

We proud to support Nick and Michael as they harness technology to make African communities safer.

Read more by clicking the link in our bio.

05/03/2025

We’re proud to partner once again with as they gear up for GITEX AFRICA 2025 in Marrakech from 14-16 April! 
From AI and fintech to mobility and sustainable tech, this event will bring together founders, investors, and industry leaders shaping Africa’s digital future, from AI and fintech to mobility and sustainable tech. 
Registration is now open! Don’t miss your chance to be part of Africa’s largest tech and startup event. 
🔗 Register by clicking the link in our bio

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