Tech hubs powering startup growth in Africa

Africa Business Insights

Stephene Chikozho

LET US talk about the quiet revolution that definitely deserves our attention.

A bold new narrative is taking shape in a number of African countries — one powered by innovation hubs that are redefining what “Made in Africa” really means.

This is not the usual struggle story.

It is a story of startups, unicorns and scalable solutions built for the continent and, increasingly, the world.

And, honestly, it is long overdue.

A network of innovation hubs is rewriting the continent’s economic narrative.

These ecosystems — part incubator, part community and part catalyst — are nurturing startups, attracting global capital and solving pressing challenges.

With over US$5 billion raised by African tech ventures in recent years, these hubs are proving that the continent is not just catching up, but is on track.

1. Co-Creation Hub (CcHub) — Lagos, Nigeria

Nigeria’s first open innovation lab has become a launchpad for startups tackling systemic issues. Its alumni include LifeBank, a healthcare logistics pioneer; and BudgIT, a civic tech platform tracking US$50 billion in public funds.

2. iHub — Nairobi, Kenya

The iHub was pivotal in launching M-Pesa, a mobile phone-based money transfer platform that now serves more than 50 million users; and BRCK, which delivers rugged internet devices to rural schools.

3. Kigali Innovation City — Rwanda

This is a US$2 billion smart city project merging Carnegie Mellon University Africa, Venture Capital funds and state-of-the-art infrastructure. It is expected to create more than 50 000 jobs by 2030.

4. Nairobi Garage — Kenya

This is Africa’s largest co-working space. It hosted Uber’s Kenyan launch and fintech unicorn Branch, which has issued more than US$600 million in loans to underserved borrowers.

5. The Innovation Hub — Pretoria, South Africa

South Africa’s first accredited tech park incubated mLab and VxPharma. Its startups were part of SA’s US$1,3 billion tech funding wave in 2023.

6. MEST Africa —

Accra, Ghana

This tech training ground has produced more than 500 entrepreneurs and 80 startups, including MeQasa. MEST allocates more than US$2 million annually to build a sustainable startup pipeline.

7. BongoHive — Lusaka, Zambia

Zambia’s first tech hub backs local stars like My Perfect Stitch and Outsource Now, bridging innovation and practical small and medium enterprise support.

8. Hive Colab — Kampala, Uganda

Uganda’s pioneer hub incubated Easy Matatu (smart transit) and ChapChap (micro, small and medium enterprise support), both active in East Africa’s informal economies.

9. Nailab — Nairobi, Kenya

Funded with US$1,6 million in government support, Nailab fostered ClinicPesa and Taimba, driving healthcare and agriculture innovation.

10. IceAddis — Ethiopia

Addis Ababa’s first tech hub incubated Payway and 3BL Enterprises. It is a cornerstone in Ethiopia’s emerging digital economy.

11. Impact Hub — Pan-African

Active in Ghana, Rwanda, Senegal and Zambia, Impact Hub’s Deep Dive Africa programme has unlocked more than US$500 000 in capital for early stage startups.

How about Zimbabwe?

In the growing chorus of African innovation, Zimbabwe has often been an overlooked voice.

Yet, beneath the radar, the country is building a tech-driven future quietly, deliberately and with remarkable foresight.

At the heart of this transformation lies a dynamic network of innovation hubs, powered by both private sector players and a groundbreaking overhaul of the national education system that resulted in Education 5.0.

 Private innovation hubs

In Harare and Bulawayo, private sector-led innovation spaces are planting the seeds of Zimbabwe’s tech ecosystem.

TechVillage in Bulawayo is a hub that is more than a workspace.

It is a community accelerator that supports startups solving local challenges with global relevance. Its programme focuses on logistics, e-commerce and agri-tech-sectors vital to Zimbabwe’s socio-economic fabric.

In Harare, Impact Hub is supporting a new generation of socially conscious entrepreneurs. Through offering co-working spaces, venture acceleration and investor matchmaking, the hub connects Zimbabwean innovators to global markets.

Other influential hubs like Moto Republik, StartUp Hive and Emerging Ideas have become the go-to platforms for early stage entrepreneurs hungry for change and scalability.

In 2024, Zimbabwean startups collectively raised over US$12 million in seed and early stage capital. That is a tenfold increase from just five years prior.

Global investors are starting to take notice.

 Universities reimagined

Yet the most profound shift is probably happening within Zimbabwe’s universities, driven by a national policy framework first introduced in 2013 aimed at enhancing innovation and industrialisation within the country’s higher education sector.

Since then, Zimbabwe championed emphasis on science, technology, engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects in secondary and tertiary education.

This initiative sought to cultivate a workforce skilled in areas critical for technological advancement and industrial growth.

In 2018, Zimbabwe institutionalised Education 5.0.

Unlike traditional education models that stop at teaching and research, and community engagement, the new policy introduced two additional pillars: innovation and industrialisation.

The goal? To transform universities into engines of technology, innovation, industrialisation and economic development.

To date, a lot has happened at Zimbabwean universities.

So, is Zimbabwe set to be Africa’s innovation powerhouse? Time will tell.

Stephene Chikozho is the chief executive officer of Africa Business Inc. He writes in his personal capacity. You can follow him on social media (Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Threads) WhatsApp +263772409651 or [email protected]