The Startup Map Blog
Insights, stories, and playbooks for the African tech ecosystem.
Top Startups to Watch in 2026: The Mid-Year Check
11 startups worth paying attention to right now — from a $6.6B Swedish vibe-coding tool to a bootstrapped AI design app with 60,000 users and zero VC. The mid-year list nobody else is publishing.
The Most Promising African Startups of 2026: A Mid-Year Check
250,000 users across 180 countries, zero venture capital. Meet the bootstrapped wildcard — and seven other African startups that actually raised, shipped and scaled in H1 2026.
Fintech Events in South Africa 2026: The Complete Conference Guide
Seven fintech conferences worth putting in your 2026 calendar — from Johannesburg payments expos to Cape Town investor summits.
FinTech Summit Africa 2026: Our Johannesburg Fintech Guide
Startup Map Africa is an official media partner. Our guide to the agenda, 12 themes, Startup World Cup pitch competition, and how to register.
Beyond the Pitch: Why the Silicon Savannah Needs 'Gardeners,' Not Just Stars
Last Friday, I joined the Kenya roadshow for IMELP Edition 3. It was a deep dive into the "plumbing" of the African tech ecosystem.