Disrupt Africa launched its Research arm in January 2016, with the aim of measuring the development of the African tech and entrepreneurship space, and making it more transparent for all those interested in this thriving ecosystem.
Our team tracks a variety of themes, sectors and countries across the African tech entrepreneurship ecosystem, producing reports containing in-depth data and insightful analysis.
Companies, organisations or governments can commission bespoke research reports from the Disrupt Africa team on a project basis, with Disrupt Africa opening up its database and expertise to external clients. Please contact Gabriella on gabriella@disrupt-africa.com, or Tom on tom@disrupt-africa.com for more information.
We also produce a host of in-house publications, details of which are listed below:
Finnovating for Africa 2023 & Full Startup List [Released August 2023]
The Finnovating for Africa 2023: Reimagining the African financial services landscape report considers data compiled over eight and a half years on fintech startups active in 25 countries across Africa. Covering 8 sub-sectors, the report analyses startups by country and vertical as well as launches, funding and acquisitions. It includes the full list of 678 African fintech startups, and is available free as part of an open-sourcing initiative with industry partners. See more.
Diversity Dividend: Exploring Gender Equality in the African Tech Ecosystem 2023 [Released June 2023]
The first ever publication focused on gender equality in the African tech startup landscape, this groundbreaking publication contains both quantitative and qualitative data – quantifying female founders and VCs in the ecosystem, as well as their access to funding and opportunities, and polling them directly about their experiences. It also features dozens of personalised case studies. The publication is available free as part of an open-sourcing initiative with industry partners. See more.
African Tech Startups Funding Report 2022 & Full Startup List [Released January 2023]
In its eighth edition, Disrupt Africa’s flagship publication, the African Tech Startups Funding Report, charts funding flowing into the continent’s tech startup over the course of 2022. The data reveals 633 startups raised over US$3 billion – making 2022 a record year for African tech investment. This publication offers dig-deeps of seven countries, and 15 sectors. A section on the year’s acquisitions is also included in the report, which is available free as part of an open-sourcing initiative with industry partners. See more.
The Kenyan Startup Ecosystem Report 2022 & Full Startup List [Released December 2022]
The Kenyan Startup Ecosystem Report 2022 from Disrupt Africa dives into the Kenyan ecosystem by analysing active startups, local support networks, and funding and exit activity over the last eight years. Available free as part of an open-sourcing initiative with industry partners, alongside the full list of 308 Kenyan tech startups. See more.
The Nigerian Startup Ecosystem Report 2022 & Full Startup List [Released September 2022]
The Nigerian Startup Ecosystem Report 2022 from Disrupt Africa dives into the Nigerian ecosystem by analysing active startups, local support networks, and funding and exit activity over the last 7.5 years. Available free as part of an open-sourcing initiative with industry partners, alongside the full list of 481 Nigerian tech startups. See more.
The South African Startup Ecosystem Report 2022 & Full Startup List [Released June 2022]
The South African Startup Ecosystem Report 2022 from Disrupt Africa dives into the South African ecosystem by analysing active startups, local support networks, and funding and exit activity over the last seven years. Available free as part of an open-sourcing initiative with industry partners, alongside the full list of 490 South African tech startups. See more.
African Tech Startups Funding Report 2021 & Full Startup List [Released January 2022]
In its seventh edition, Disrupt Africa’s flagship publication, the African Tech Startups Funding Report, charts funding flowing into the continent’s tech startup over the course of 2021. The data reveals 564 startups raised over US$2 billion – making 2021 a record year for African tech investment. This publication offers dig-deeps of seven countries, and 12 sectors. A section on the year’s acquisitions is also included in the report, which is available free as part of an open-sourcing initiative with industry partners. See more.
The Egyptian Startup Ecosystem Report 2021 & Full Startup List [Released October 2021]
The Egyptian Startup Ecosystem Report 2021 from Disrupt Africa dives into the Egyptian ecosystem by analysing active startups, local support networks, and funding and exit activity over the last seven years. Available free as part of an open-sourcing initiative with industry partners, alongside the full list of 562 Egyptian tech startups. See more.
Finnovating for Africa 2021 & Full Startup List [Released June 2021]
The Finnovating for Africa 2021: Reimagining the African financial services landscape report considers data compiled over six and a half years on fintech startups active in 25 countries across Africa. Covering 10 sub-sectors, the report analyses startups by country and vertical as well as launches, funding and acquisitions. It includes the full list of 576 African fintech startups, and is available free as part of an open-sourcing initiative with industry partners. See more.
African Tech Startups Funding Report 2020 & Full Startup List [Released January 2021]
In its sixth edition, Disrupt Africa’s flagship publication, the African Tech Startups Funding Report, charts funding flowing into the continent’s tech startup over the course of 2020. The data reveals 397 startups raised over US$700 million – making 2020 the record year for African tech investment. This publication offers dig-deeps of six countries, and 13 sectors. A section on the year’s acquisitions is also included in the report, which is available free as part of an open-sourcing initiative with industry partners. See more.
High Tech Health 2020 [Released June 2020]
The High Tech Health: Exploring the African E-health Startup Ecosystem Report 2020 examines the work of 180 startups active across Africa’s e-health space. The report divides the e-health sector into eight sub-categories which are looked at in detail, and also includes data on regional hotspots and trends, startup launches, and funding. See more.
High Tech Health 2020 & Full Startup List [Released June 2020]
For those wishing to access Disrupt Africa’s dataset of e-health startups, this version of our publication includes both the High Tech Health 2020 report, and an appendix containing the full list of 180 startups, by country and by sub-sector. See more.
African Tech Startups Funding Report 2019 [Released January 2020]
In its fifth edition, Disrupt Africa’s flagship publication, the African Tech Startups Funding Report, charts funding flowing into the continent’s tech startup over the course of 2019. The data reveals 311 startups raised over US$491 million – making 2019 the record year for African tech investment. This publication offers dig-deeps of six countries, and 13 sectors. A section on the year’s acquisitions is also included. See more.
African Tech Startups Funding Report 2019 & Full Startup List [Released January 2020]
Disrupt Africa also makes available the full list of funded tech startups from across Africa, detailing location, sector, investor(s), when funding was secured and, where we are able to disclose, the approximate amount raised. Any funding amounts disclosed confidentially do not appear in the list. See more.
Finnovating for Africa 2019 [Released June 2019]
The Finnovating for Africa: Reimagining the African financial services landscape 2019 report considers data compiled over four and a half years on fintech startups active in 28 countries across Africa. Covering nine sub-sectors, the report traces launches, funding, acquisitions, as well as bank and accelerator engagement. See more.
Finnovating for Africa 2019 & Full Startup List [Released June 2019]
For those wishing to gain access to Disrupt Africa’s full database of fintech startups, this publication features both the Finnovating for Africa 2019 report, and an appendix containing the full dataset of 491 startups, by country and by sub-sector. See more.
African Tech Startups Funding Report 2018 [Released January 2019]
In its fourth edition, Disrupt Africa’s flagship publication, the African Tech Startups Funding Report, charts funding flowing into the continent’s tech startup over the course of 2018. The data reveals 210 startups raised over US$334 million – making 2018 the record year for African tech investment. This publication offers dig-deeps of six countries, and 11 sectors. A section on the year’s acquisitions is also included. See more.
African Tech Startups Funding Report 2018 & Full Startup List [Released January 2019]
Disrupt Africa also makes available the full list of funded tech startups from across Africa, detailing location, sector, investor(s), when funding was secured and, where we are able to disclose, the approximate amount raised. Any funding amounts disclosed confidentially do not appear in the list. See more.
Future of Work 2018 [Released August 2018]
The Future of Work: Exploring the African Digital Work Landscape Report 2018 looks at the continent’s journey into the digital workplace. The report looks at the activity of 180 African future of work startups – operating in areas as wide ranging as online recruitment, to coding schools. The publication looks in-depth at the rise of the on-demand economy in Africa; as well as considering regional hotspots, startup launch dates, and funding. See more.
Future of Work 2018 & Full Startup List [Released August 2018]
In addition to the report, this version of the Future of Work 2018 publication includes an appendix listing the 180 startups tracked in this space, arranged by country and sub-category. See more.
Agrinnovating for Africa 2018 [Released May 2018]
The inaugural Agrinnovating for Africa: Exploring the African Agri-Tech Startup Ecosystem Report 2018 traces the emergence of the agri-tech sector across the continent. The report charts the rise of 82 agri-tech startups in Africa, operating in six sub-sectors. With the agri-tech space currently in boom, the report also looks at regional trends, activity in the sub-sectors, startup launch dates, and funding of the space. See more.
Agrinnovating for Africa 2018 & Full Startup List [Released May 2018]
For those wishing to consult the full list of African agri-tech startups compiled by Disrupt Africa, this version of the Agrinnovating for Africa 2018 publication includes both the report, and the list of 82 agri-tech startups, arranged by country and by category of focus. See more.
African Tech Startups Funding Report 2017 [Released January 2018]
In its third edition, Disrupt Africa’s flagship publication, the African Tech Startups Funding Report, charts funding flowing into the continent’s tech startup over the course of 2017. The data reveals 159 startups raised over US$195 million – making 2017 the record year for African tech investment. This publication offers dig-deeps of five countries, and 10 sectors. A section on the year’s acquisitions is also included. See more.
African Tech Startups Funding Report 2017 & Full Startup List [Released January 2018]
This year, for the first time, Disrupt Africa is making available the full list of funded tech startups from across Africa, detailing location, sector, investor(s), when funding was secured and, where we are able to disclose, the approximate amount raised. Any funding amounts disclosed confidentially do not appear in the list. See more.
Afri-Shopping 2017 [Released December 2017]
The Afri-Shopping: Exploring the African E-commerce Startup Ecosystem Report 2017 explores the work of 264 e-commerce startups currently operating around the continent. Discussing 12 sub-sectors individually, the publication also looks into the accelerating pace of ventures launching, the funding being pumped into the e-commerce space, challenges faced by entrepreneurs, and the rocky road to profitability. See more.
Afri-Shopping 2017 & Full Startup List [Released December 2017]
For those wishing to access Disrupt Africa’s dataset of e-commerce startups, this version of our publication includes both the Afri-Shopping 2017 report, and an appendix containing the full list of 264 startups, arranged by country, and by sub-sector. See more.
High Tech Health 2017 [Released October 2017]
The High Tech Health: Exploring the African E-health Startup Ecosystem Report 2017 examines the work of 115 startups active across Africa’s e-health space. The report divides the e-health sector into eight sub-categories which are looked at in detail, and also includes data on regional hotspots and trends, startup launches, funding rounds, trends in funding, accelerator programmes and competitions. See more.
High Tech Health 2017 & Full Startup List [Released October 2017]
For those wishing to access Disrupt Africa’s dataset of e-health startups, this version of our publication includes both the High Tech Health 2017 report, and an appendix containing the full list of 115 startups, by country and by sub-sector. See more.
Finnovating for Africa 2017 [Released June 2017]
The Finnovating for Africa: Exploring the African Fintech Startup Ecosystem Report 2017 considers data compiled over two and a half years on fintech startups active in 20 countries across Africa. Covering nine sub-sectors, the report traces launches, funding, acquisitions, as well as bank and accelerator engagement. See more.
Finnovating for Africa 2017 & Full Startup List [Released June 2017]
For those wishing to gain access to Disrupt Africa’s full database of fintech startups, this publication features both the Finnovating for Africa 2017 report, and an appendix containing the full dataset of 301 startups, by country and by sub-sector. See more.
African Tech Startups Funding Report 2016 [Released January 2017]
The second edition of Disrupt Africa’s flagship report returns with data and analysis of fundraising by Africa’s tech startups across 2016. Tracking activity in eight countries and nine sectors, this edition of the report adds data on acquisitions over the course of the year, as well as comparative analysis of the ecosystem from 2015 to 2016. See more.
African Tech Startups Funding Report 2015 [Released January 2016]
Disrupt Africa’s annual flagship report tracks funding flowing into Africa’s tech startups over the course of each year. The 2015 edition contains data on investment activity in six countries, 10 sectors; highlighting key deals, measuring average deal sizes, and geographic trends. See more.