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African startups pulled in more than $2 billion in funding between January and August 2025, defying a slowdown in deal volumes, according to a new report by Briter Bridges.
The report, Africa Venture Pulse: State of Investment 2025, noted that the figure was higher than the capital raised during the same period in 2024, which fell short of the $2 billion mark. However, it also pointed out a continued decline in the number of disclosed deals.
“While the deal count has slipped from the highs of previous years, investors are writing bigger cheques,” Briter Bridges stated. The median deal size climbed back to 2022 levels, settling at about $1 million.
The report revealed that over 500 deals were recorded in 2024 during the same period, but the tally for 2025 came in slightly lower. Still, larger commitments helped keep funding momentum strong.
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Fintech remained the continent’s most funded sector, drawing more than $1 billion. Cleantech followed closely with a record year, raising nearly $950 million, much of it via debt financing. Healthtech, mobility, and proptech lagged behind in comparison.
Regionally, East Africa led with $865 million, trailed closely by Southern Africa with $845 million. North Africa attracted $450 million, while West Africa, once boosted by Nigeria’s fintech boom, saw funding dip to $420 million.
The report also flagged a persistent gender imbalance: “Nearly 90 percent of funding went to male-led ventures, with just 10 percent to women founders,” it noted.
Despite these challenges, Briter described 2025 as a rebound year for Africa’s startup ecosystem, marking a turnaround after two years of contraction following the 2022 funding bubble.
