A List Of Acquired Tech Startups In Africa

As the startup ecosystem in Africa continues to gain momentum and mature, a lot of acquisitions of tech startups and established companies are taking place, in leaps and bounds. The country with the most acquired tech startups in Africa is still South Africa. While other African countries are catching up, particularly with the recent multimillion-dollar acquisitions in Nigeria, South Africa has seen a bigger number of acquisitions over the years. The table below provides some insight into how acquisitions have been made on the continent during the last few years. This data is updated on a half-yearly basis.

S/NNAME OF STARTUPSECTOR OF STARTUPPRIMARY COUNTRY OF OPERATIONSYEAR FOUNDEDYEAR ACQUIREDNAME OF ACQUIRORPRIMARY COUNTRY OF ACQUIRORNATURE/DESCRIPTION OF ACQUISITION
 
1GetSmarterEdtechSouth Africa200720172UUnited StatesSold for $103-million plus $20-million in cash.
2Kapa BiosystemsLife ScienceSouth Africa20062016RocheSwitzerlandAcquired for for $445-million
3Fundamo CityFintech (Mobile financial services)South Africa19992011VisaUnited StatesAcquired for $110 million
4NimbulaEnterprise (Cloud computing)South Africa20082013OracleUnited StatesAcquired for $110 million
5GyftMobile Gift CardSouth Africa20122014FirstDataUnited StatesAcquired for $54m
6WooCommerceOpen source ecommerce pluginSouth Africa20112015WordPressUnited StatesAcquisition estimated to be worth over $30 million
7Quirk (Mirum)Digital agencySouth Africa19992016WPPLondon, United KingdomAcquired for a reported R350 million to R400-million ($35million to $39 million) at the time of the sale.
8Buni.tvEntertainmentKenya20092016Trace TvNigeriaUndisclosed
9BaxiFintech (Digital agent network)Nigeria20142021MFS AfricaSouth AfricaUndisclosed
10DevcorpEnterpriseMorocco20142021ABA Technology GroupMoroccoUndisclosed
11PicupLogisticsSouth Africa20142021KaroooooSingaporeAcquired for $4.8m
12FwRunEcommerceEgypt20192021DiggipacksSaudi ArabiaUndisclosed
13WaystoCapB2B EcommerceMorocco20172021MaxABEgyptUndisclosed
14CallPayFintechSouth Africa20142021UndisclosedUndisclosedAcquired at a valuation of ($6.8m)
15EventtusEvents managementEgypt20122021BevyUnited StatesUndisclosed
16Cars45Car-listing marketplaceNigeria20162017;2020; 2021Frontier Car Group; OLX Group; JIJIGermany; Netherlands; Nigeria (respectively)Undisclosed
17GiraffeRecruitmentSouth Africa20152021Harambee Youth Employment AcceleratorSouth AfricaUndisclosed
18WizzPassVisitor ManagementSouth Africa20152021FM:SystemsUnited StatesUndisclosed
19TareeqiBus trackingEgypt20182021eMushrifOmanUndisclosed
20DigidukaFintechKenya20192021MarketForceKenyaUndisclosed
21DabaDoce-HealthMorocco20142021Orange MEA; AXA CIMAMoroccoUndisclosed
22WayaWayaAI and Machine LearningKenya20162021AjuaKenyaUndisclosed
23LawtrustIT securitySouth Africa20062021AltronSouth AfricaAcquired for $17m
24Ubusha TechnologiesIdentity Security SolutionsSouth Africa20032019AltronSouth AfricaUndisclosed
25MangweeFintech (Mobile payments)Zambia20182021ZeepayGhanaUndisclosed
26ParceNinjaEcommerce logisticsSouth Africa20132021Imperial LogisticsSouth AfricaUndisclosed
27SurebetBetting/GamingKenya20192021TransAtlantic CapitalUnited StatesUndisclosed
28DelivroumFood deliveryTogo20182020GozemTogoUndisclosed
29LunoBlockchainSouth Africa20132020Digital Currency Group (DCG)United StatesUndisclosed
30DPO GroupEcommerceKenya20062020Network International Holdings plcUnited Arab EmiratesUndisclosed
31BeyonicFintech (Payments)Uganda20062020MFS AfricaSouth AfricaUndisclosed
32ConversioDigital MarketingSouth Africa20142020CM GroupUnited StatesUndisclosed
33HarmonicaDatingEgypt20172020Match GroupUnited StatesUndisclosed
34Shago PaymentsEcommerce payments solutionsNigeria20192021AlerzoNigeriaUndisclosed
35PaystackFintech (Payments)Nigeria20162020StripeUnited StatesAcquired for over $200m
36Sa3arAuto tech (car assessment)Egypt20192021Contactcars.comEgyptUndisclosed
37Cheki (Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya)Auto techNigeria, Uganda, Kenya20102021AutochekNigeriaUndisclosed
38Savi.ngFintech (Wealth management)Nigeria20182021PiggyVestNigeriaUndisclosed
39Exchange4FreeFintech (Cross-border payments)South Africa20082021AZA FinanceKenyaUndisclosed
40eLimuEdtechKenya20122020CcHubNigeriaUndisclosed
41Bottles AppLogistics (on-demand Delivery)South Africa20162020Pick n PaySouth AfricaUndisclosed
42SendwaveFintech (Cross-border payments)Kenya20142020WorldRemitUnited KingdomAcquired for $500m
43AppositEnterprise (Software development)Ethiopia20172020PagaNigeriaUndisclosed
44StarterHubCommunityEgypt20152019RiseUpEgyptUndisclosed
45MobisolOff-grid energyKenya20112019EngieKenyaUndisclosed
46iHubInnovation HubKenya20102019CcHubNigeriaUndisclosed
47Surf KenyaWi-fiKenya20152019BRCKKenyaUndisclosed
48AmplifyFintechNigeria20162019OneFiNigeriaUndisclosed
49OLX AfricaClassifiedsNigeria20122019JiJiNigeriaUndisclosed
50KongaEcommerceNigeria20122018ZinoxNigeria$10m (Reportedly)
51KngineAIEgypt20082018Samsung ElectronicsSouth KoreaUndisclosed
52QuickHelpAI (chatbot)Nigeria201520181001 Squared Artificial IntelligenceCanadaUndisclosed
53Cape NetworksSaaSSouth Africa20132018HPUnited StatesUndisclosed
54WezartArts marketplaceSouth Africa20162020African Fashion InternationalSouth AfricaUndisclosed
55TopCheckEcommerceNigeria20152018SilvertreeNigeriaUndisclosed
56StabusMobilityGhana20192021Treepz (Formerly Plentywaka)NigeriaUndisclosed
57Okuhle MediaDigital mediaSouth Africa20032021TraceFranceUndisclosed
58FundallFintechNigeria20192021Emerging Africa GroupNigeriaUndisclosed
59QuickCashFintechCôte d’ivoire20102021E-SettlementNigeriaUndisclosed
60DishaOne no-code tool for content creatorNigeria20192021InterswitchNigeriaDisha planned to shut down on December 31, 2021, save for the acquisition. Deal amount undisclosed.
61NafhamSocial startup for free crowdsourced educational contentEgypt20122021TyroEgyptUndisclosed
62FarmTrustBlockchain-enabled ecommerceTunisia20182021LAMMATunisiaUndisclosed
63QuenchEcommerce and last-mile delivery serviceSouth Africa20162021The Foschini GroupSouth AfricaUndisclosed.
64SwitchPayFintech providing alternative payments options to merchants and retailers.South Africa20182021AdumoSouth AfricaUndisclosed
65CrossfinCard and mobile-enabled payment transactionsSouth Africa20172021The EMMF I and ARC consortiumSouth Africa$94.3m
66MainOneData center infrastructureNigeria20102021EquinixUnited States$320m
67FilkhedmaHomes servicesEgypt20142021SweepSouthEgyptUndisclosed
68ThawteSSL and code signing certificatesSouth Africa19951999VerisignUnited StatesUS $575 million
69ClaimSyncEnd-to-end claims processing platformGhana20112013GenKey SolutionsNetherlandsUndisclosed
70SayaDeveloper of mobile messaging apps for feature phonesGhana20112014KirusaUnited StatesUndisclosed
71Paynet GroupMulti-institutional payments provider.Kenya20032014InterswitchNigeriaUndisclosed
72JobbermanRecruitmentNigeria20092015Ringier One Africa Media (ROAM)South AfricaUndisclosed
73NgCareers.comRecruitmentNigeria20092020JobbermanNigeriaUndisclosed
74Weza TeleFinancial products, including mobile loans and retail credit cards.Kenya20112015AFBGhana$1.7 million
75FawryFinancial services backed by techEgypt20082015Egyptian-American Enterprise fund, Helios Investment Partners and the MENA Long-Term Value FundEgypt; United Kingdom$100m
76VansoMobile and security-focused financial technology providerNigeria20052016InterswitchNigeriaUndisclosed
77One Africa MediaOnline marketplaces in the employment, auto, property and travel sectors.South Africa20122016RingierSwitzerlandUndisclosed
78Popcorn TrainingCybersecurity awareness training providerSouth Africa20122018KnowBe4United StatesUndisclosed
793elagiOn-demand Pharmacy deliveryEgypt20172020Ibnsina PharmaEgyptUndisclosed
80Oltio (formally MTN Mobile Money South Africa)Pioneered and patented several mobile payments and banking solutions,South Africa20042018MastercardUnited StatesUndisclosed
81Teacha!Online media hub for teachersSouth Africa20162020SnapplifySouth AfricaUndisclosed
82Simulation Engineering TechnologiesCreating computer simulation models of complex systems.South Africa200420184Sight HoldingsSouth AfricaUndisclosed
83RetailTowerEcommerce product that helps online merchants sell across multiple shopping enginesGhana20102018KudobuzzGhanaUndisclosed
84AccTech SystemsA professional services firm specializing in Microsoft ERP & CRM and Sage ERP & CRM business solutions.South Africa199420184SightSouth AfricaUndisclosed
85Dynamics Africa ServicesAn ISV Partner focusing on Microsoft Dynamics NAV and GP Enterprise solutions.South Africa201420184SightSouth AfricaUndisclosed
86Media WorksOnline-based Adult Education and Training (AET) providerSouth Africa19962018FutureLearn Pty Ltd.South AfricaUndisclosed
87Teranga SolutionsA mobile and cloud-based platform for hospitality firmsSenegal20132018HotelOnlineKenyaUndisclosed
88MubawabA free to use real estate ad site in arab countriesMorocco20132018Emerging Markets Property Group (EMPG)Dubai, UAEUndisclosed
89OrderTalkDevelops online ordering software and solutions for the restaurant, takeout, and hospitality industry.South Africa19982018Uber EatsUnited StatesUndisclosed
90VTN CommunicationsA provider of voice solutionsSouth Africa20112018HeroTelSouth AfricaUndisclosed
91Smart IntegrationAn integrated automation company.South Africa20042018Ulwembu Business ServicesSouth AfricaUndisclosed
92iSPartnersBusiness intelligenceSouth Africa20012018AltronSouth Africa$16 million
93Takealot.comOnline shoppingSouth Africa20102018NaspersSouth AfricaUndisclosed
94PropSysProperty management solutions for the real estate industry on hosted and on-premises platformsSouth Africa20032018MRI SoftwareUnited StatesUndisclosed
95MacroLanInternet Service Provider that delivers dedicated fibre broadband connectivity.South Africa19972018SEACOMMauritiusUndisclosed
96Eazi.comProptechSouth Africa20172018Pam Golding Property groupSouth AfricaUndisclosed
97Bamba GroupA real-time data gathering platform that engages and access the 1.5B people in the emerging markets via mobile feature phonesaKenya20132018Maximeyes GroupUnited KingdomUndisclosed
98Clarotech ConsultingAn Information and Communications Technology (ICT for short) company offering consulting, products and support servicesSouth Africa20012018 LogicalisSouth AfricaUndisclosed
99Open ConnectProvider of carrier, redundant light and last mile dark fibre services to leading Mobile Operators, ISP’sMalawi20162018Harith General PartnersSouth AfricaUndisclosed
100SteepleLow-commission digital agency for property salesSouth Africa20122018PropertyFoxSouth AfricaUndisclosed
101TPAY MOBILEEnd to end mobile payments platform that maximizes conversions and minimizes riskEgypt20142018Helios Investment PartnersUnited KingdomUndisclosed
102DCBEgyptDirect carrier billing service providerEgypt20142017TPay MobileEgyptUndisclosed
103WeBuyCarsOffers free online valuations and sale of carsSouth Africa20012018Transaction CapitalSouth Africa$116m
104CrossgatePayment solutionsSouth Africa20072018CrossfinSouth AfricaUndisclosed
105Magnetic SoftwareAgency Management PlatformSouth Africa20122018SilversoftSouth AfricaUndisclosed
106Conor SolutionsCustomer solutions providerSouth Africa  20072018Adapt IT Holdings Limited (Adapt IT)South Africa 
107FibreCoOpen access dark fibre network, providing infrastructure, connectivity and servicesSouth Africa20092018SEACOMMauritiusUndisclosed
108Medco PlastPackaging and containers company.Egypt20112018Indorama VenturesThailandUndisclosed
109Simfy AfricaMusic StreamingSouth Africa20102018MTNSouth AfricaUndisclosed
110BadrData solutions and web development companyEgypt20062018IncortaUnited StatesUndisclosed
111CompuscanProvides consumer and commercial credit informationSouth Africa19942018Experian SASouth AfricaUndisclosed
112Interpay AfricaA payment processor that connects merchants in Ghana to local and international paymentGhana20142018Emergent Technology Holdings LPUnited StatesUndisclosed
113FounaEcommerceTunisia20122018Magasin GénéralTunisiaUndisclosed
114Fintec LabB2B technology provider to major banking and insurance enterprises in South AfricaSouth Africa20152018ABSA BankSouth AfricaUndisclosed
115TouchsidesUses technology and big data insights to help brands and retailers win and retain loyal customers in high-growth marketsSouth Africa20142019HeinekenNetherlandsUndisclosed
116Teraco Data EnvironmentsA carrier, cloud and vendor neutral data centre providerSouth Africa20082019Berkshire PartnersUnited StatesUndisclosed
117DotModusCloud computing, data analytics and machine learning.South Africa20102019Dynamic TechnologiesSouth AfricaUndisclosed
118TravelCarMobility solutions platformTunisia20122019PSAFranceUndisclosed
119MediaMarkInformation services solutionsSouth Africa19962019Kagiso MediaSouth AfricaUndisclosed
120ConnectMedE-healthKenya20162019MerckGermanyUndisclosed
121ArqamFCSports dataEgypt20172019StasBombEnglandUndisclosed
122IoT.NXTInternet of thingsSouth Africa20152019VodacomSouth AfricaUndisclosed
123SureSwipeDelivers a simple, accessible and secure solution to payment acceptanceSouth Africa20082019Crossfin, Apis Growth Fund ISouth AfricaUndisclosed
124CompareGuruIndependent insurance comparison platformSouth Africa20132019SureStartSouth AfricaUndisclosed
125Heartbeat AdventuresTravelKenya20142019Cloud9xPKenyaUndisclosed
126Empty TripsDigital freight marketplaceSouth Africa20022019RCL FoodsSouth AfricaUndisclosed
127ROK Film StudiosProduction studioNigeria20132019Canal+ GroupFranceUndisclosed
128eClat HealthcareHospital management solutionsNigeria20122019Gulf CapitalDubai, UAEUndisclosed
129YuppiechefOnline retailer of kitchen and homeware productsSouth Africa20062021Mr. Price GroupSouth AfricaUndisclosed
130MENABytesMediaEgypt20172019RiseUpEgyptUndisclosed
131Daily DishDeliverySouth Africa20122019TCapitalNorwayUndisclosed
132Platform OneHealthcare marketplace linking pharmaceutical suppliers and pharmaciesEgypt20182021AumetUnited StatesUndisclosed
         
Based on reported acquisitions

acquired tech startups Africa acquired tech startups Africa acquired tech startups Africa acquired tech startups Africa acquired tech startups Africa acquired tech startups Africa

Charles Rapulu Udoh

Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based lawyer who has advised startups across Africa on issues such as startup funding (Venture Capital, Debt financing, private equity, angel investing etc), taxation, strategies, etc. He also has special focus on the protection of business or brands’ intellectual property rights ( such as trademark, patent or design) across Africa and other foreign jurisdictions.
He is well versed on issues of ESG (sustainability), media and entertainment law, corporate finance and governance.
He is also an award-winning writer