Madica backs three startups, launches fundraising guide for first-time founders
The selected startups will each receive up to $200,000
Madica, a pre-seed investment programme supporting African startups, has expanded its portfolio with three new companies, committing up to $600,000 in total funding.
The latest investments span Tanzania, Kenya, and Nigeria, reflecting the programme’s mission to widen access to early-stage capital beyond the continent’s established startup hubs.
The selected startups Kilimo Fresh, Hakimu, and Biovana will each receive up to $200,000, alongside participation in Madica’s 18-month support programme.
In addition to funding, founders will benefit from mentorship, executive coaching, exposure to global investor networks, and immersion trips designed to connect them with broader startup ecosystems.
Since its launch in 2022, Madica has focused on backing founders often excluded from venture capital opportunities due to geography, sector, or limited investor access.
Speaking on the development, Emmanuel Adegboye, Head of Madica, said each investment moves the programme closer to building a portfolio that reflects the diversity of African entrepreneurship, noting the vast opportunities across the continent.
The newly funded startups operate in sectors that are gaining traction but remain underfunded compared to fintech.
Kilimo Fresh, based in Tanzania, is an agritech platform connecting smallholder farmers to urban markets, aiming to reduce post-harvest losses and improve farmer incomes.
In Kenya, Hakimu is developing an AI-driven legal infrastructure to expand access to legal services and simplify legal processes across Africa, tapping into the continent’s emerging legal tech space.
Nigeria’s Biovana operates in the health data sector, focusing on harmonising and certifying datasets for use in global pharmaceutical and artificial intelligence research. The startup also stands out as being co-founded by two women.
Alongside the investments, Madica has launched a 75-page fundraising resource titled Zero to Funded:
A Founder’s Guide to Pre-Seed Fundraising in Africa. The guide provides practical support for early-stage founders, covering investor engagement strategies, venture capital trade-offs, and step-by-step tools for navigating initial fundraising rounds.
Beyond funding and education, Madica continues to strengthen ecosystem engagement. The programme is set to host a gathering of its team and portfolio companies in Morocco, aligned with the upcoming GITEX Africa event, aimed at boosting visibility and connections for early-stage founders.
TNAM
Edited By Egwu Patience Nnennaya
