Nigeria, with a population of over 200 million people and Africa’s fastest expanding economy, has emerged as a vital country for startups seeking to capture the whole market. Nigeria has emerged as a battleground for aspiring enterprises seeking growth and establishing themselves as potential tech leaders in the long run in Nigerian startups.
Apart from being Africa’s largest economy, owing primarily to its enormous oil and gas production, it has also had 6.9% GDP growth.
With recent openings, doing business in Nigeria is lot easier than it used to be. These Nigerian startups have taken on the responsibility and challenge of building outstanding companies. Being involved in a variety of businesses and platforms in Nigeria.
Startups in Nigeria are expanding their operations by utilizing new technology and meeting people’s demands. Startups in Nigeria are focusing on innovation and the development of innovative manufacturing systems. These firms are transforming industries such as logistics, finance, hotels, investment, and automobiles.
Many firms are acquiring enormous popularity in Nigeria by giving their services to a large market. With Africa’s remarkable growth, some entrepreneurs have taken their services global and effectively positioned themselves as a brand.
Top 30+ Startup Companies in Nigeria
2. Chaka
3. CowryWise
4. Eden
5. Flutterwave
6. Flying Doctors Nigeria
7. Giga Layer
8. Gradely
9. Haulr
10. Hotels
11. Bamboo
12. Konga
13. Lifebank
14. Mines.io
15. Opay
16. Otrac
17. Overwood Capital
18. Paga
19. Paystack
20. PiggyVest
21. reQuid
22. Riby
23. Rise Vest
24. Roqqu
25. Safer Codes
26. Slatecube
27. TalentQL
28. Thrive Agric
29. uLesson
30. Vinsighte
31. Wealth.ng
32. WeMove
1. AutoCheck
Founder: Etop Ikpe
Founding Year: 2020
Category: Automobile
This Nigerian startup makes it easy to purchase and sell cars in Nigeria. TLcom Capital and 4DX Ventures led a $3.4 million investment in this automotive technology business. This firm wants to create a safe and secure environment for buying and selling automobiles. Autocheck also offers automotive repair and maintenance services in Nigeria to help you extend the life of your vehicle. They also offer car washing, battery service, painting, denting, tyre service, car brake service, engine service, and other services. Basically, you’ll find everything you need to keep your automobile in good condition right here. You may download their app from the App Store, upload details about your vehicle, register it, and receive a maintenance schedule.
2. Chaka
Founder: Tosin Osibodu
Founding Year: 2019
Category: Investments
Chaka, which debuted in 2019, is a digital investment platform that allows you to manage and grow your portfolio. It allows Nigerians to invest in global stock exchanges such as the NASDAQ and NYSE. The fundamental goal of Chaka was to remove investment obstacles from Africa and the rest of the world, allowing investors to invest anywhere in the world. This enabled the creation of numerous investment and trading opportunities. Trading will undoubtedly be the next big thing in the future years. It is beneficial to investors both inside and outside the country.
3. CowryWise
Founder: Edward Popoola, Razaq Ahmed
Founding Year: 2017
Category: Banking and personal finance
CowryWise is a top startup in Nigeria that makes quality investment and financial services available to the general public. It automates the saving and investing of money. Users can sign up for an investment plan, and a set amount will be automatically transferred from their savings account to their CowryWise account each month. This sum also yields nearly double the interest rate offered by any bank.
4. Eden
Founder: Nadayar Enegesi (CEO), Prosper Otemuyiwa, and Silm Momoh
Founding Year: 2019
Category: Home Service, Technology
This ingenious tech-enabled concierge service for houses is a one-of-a-kind Nigerian enterprise. Eden has made it simple to take care of your home and complete daily duties! It completes household chores for you by delegating everyday tasks to a person. This allows you to continue living your life as usual. It saves users time and energy and is well-known for its experience.
5. Flutterwave
Founder: Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Olugbenga Agboola
Founding Year: 2016
Category: FinTech
Flutterwave’s APIs let clients to create bespoke payment systems. It provides the underlying technology, services, and infrastructure needed to create unique payments and facilitate smooth transactions. Transaction service providers, merchants, banks, and companies are among its clientele. Since 2016, the company has facilitated approximately $8 billion in transactions.
6. Flying Doctors Nigeria
Founder: Olamide Orekunrin
Founding Year: 2009
Category: Healthcare
Flying Doctors Nigeria is West Africa’s first indigenous air ambulance service. Air ambulance, medical solutions, and medivac services are all offered by this organization. This company has been providing life-saving aeromedical transport at the lowest possible cost for more than ten years. They are at the vanguard of the Covid battle and intend to invest $1 billion in African healthcare. Flying Doctors Nigeria is regarded as one of the top startups in Nigeria as a result of its excellent service.
7. Giga Layer
Founder: Ahmad Mukoshy
Founding Year: 2012
Category: Web Hosting
GigaLayer is a web hosting provider that offers domain names and other services to businesses that host their websites in Nigeria. Among their various offerings are domain names (.ng), website security certificates, virtual servers, and shared hosting. This startup has thousands of satisfied business owners as clients.
8. Gradely
Founder: Boye Oshinaga
Category: EdTech
Gradely, a Nigerian startup, is working to make studying more enjoyable for youngsters. They collaborate with students, instructors, schools, and parents to identify and close gaps in each student’s learning. They also display a personalized performance and learning journey for students to follow. They also provide immediate feedback. Gradely even offers a catch-up section where they develop customized lessons to assist students in catching up.
9. Haulr
Founder: Tom Chute
Founding Year: 2018
Category: Logistics, AI
Haulr solves a long-standing issue: truck tracking. This AI-powered startup provides partners and logistics providers with real-time updates. It aids in the reduction of theft and the cost of shipping products. They accomplish this by closely monitoring the trucks and reducing empty hauls. Neohaul Technologies founded this incredibly unique Nigerian firm.
10. Hotels
Founder: Mark Essien
Founding Year: 2012
Category: Tourism and Hospitality
Hotels.ng is a Nigerian online travel booking agency that specializes in hotel reservations. Customers can book hotels, make payments, read online reviews, and even recommend hotels to their peers. They want to make sure that everyone in Nigeria has a clean, safe, and comfortable hotel stay. So far, they have collaborated with 7,138 hotels across 320 Nigerian cities.
11. Bamboo
Founder: Yanmo Omorogbe and Richmond Bassey
Founding Year: 2019
Category: Wealth Tech
Bamboo is another investing platform comparable to a rising Vest; this site allows consumers to participate in both Nigerian and US equities. It also helps to invest in or trade in the 3500 stocks listed in the United States. Stocks. This is simple to accomplish with mobile phones or PCs. Bamboo makes it simple to find trending firms in which to invest. Bamboo believes in employing the highest level of security to protect its consumers’ data. Users can purchase shares in seconds by using their local currency balance. Their emphasis on design allows new users to feel at ease as well.
12. Konga
Founder: Prince Nnamdi Ekeh and Sim Shagaya
CEO: Nick Imudia Nnamdi Ekeh
Founding Year: 2012
Konga is an online retailer. It sells everything from books to cellphones to food and much more. Konga.com is an online shopping mall. It began in 2012 but has really taken off in the last several years, and its major goal is to become the largest commerce trading company. It enables both dealers and consumers to purchase in bulk. Zinox Technologies purchased Konga. Konga.com assists clients in growing by providing a variety of products in the categories of literature, healthcare, baby products, phones, laptops, clothing, and so on. Konga has been delivering excellent service to the people of Nigeria for several years, and as a result, Konga is regarded as one of the top startups in Nigeria.
13. Lifebank
Founder: Temie Giwa-Tubosun.
Founding Year: 2015
Category: MedTech
Lifebank is a MedTech firm that intends to address Nigeria’s blood shortage. This company has developed an app that links with hospitals and clinics. They provide blood from blood banks as well as medical supplies such as oxygen, medications, and medicines to persons in need of medical care. To date, Lifebank has collaborated with up to 670 hospitals, giving 28,000 critical medical supplies and saving over 10,400 lives.
14. Migo
Founder: Ekechi Nwokah
Founding Year: 2013
Category: Banking and finance
Migo (formerly known as Mines.io) is a startup that enables consumers to obtain loans, withdraw funds, and obtain credit depending on their credit score. Migo’s own credit system was created using Machine Learning and AI to enable businesses to give loans to their low and middle-income clients. They have created a bespoke API that allows fintech operators to learn more about their customers before extending loans. They have served over a million customers and made around 3 million loans to date.
15. Opay
Founder: Yahui Zhou
Founding Year: 2018
Category: FinTech
Opay is an Africa-focused financial firm that creates applications for payment, transportation, grocery, and food delivery, among other things. Millions of individuals use OPay on a regular basis to send and receive money as well as pay bills. Nigeria has emerged as a hotspot for venture capital and fintech growth. Opay promises that it has the lowest fees in Africa. They were recently funded for $120 million and had previously raised $50 million. Opay is making financial services more accessible to people and payment easier with the support of a committed staff and rapidly rising users.
16. Otrac
CEO: Faridah Kabir
Founding Year: 2016
Category: E-learning
Otrac is a platform that allows medical professionals to continuously learn. They provide specialized training and seminars for medical professionals. Otrac aims to offer a learning platform that aids in the continuous improvement of healthcare professionals. They are Nigerians who have distinguished themselves on the startup landscape in Nigeria. They helped several professions with the 70,000 dollars they raised. Because of all of these offerings, Otrac is regarded as one of the top e-learning programs for African healthcare professionals.
17. Overwood Capital
Founder: Dr Tayo Oyedeji
Founding Year: 2020
Category: FinTech
A Nigerian company called Overwood Capital uses technology to give “regular people access to high-yield investment instruments.” This was started with the intention of offering Nigerians secure, high-yield investments. Since its creation in January 2020, 491 users and 100 million transactions have been made. Through its service and trust, Overwood Capital has distinguished itself as one of Nigeria’s most promising startups.
18. Paga
Founder: Tayo Oviosu
Founding Year: 2009
Category: Digital payments
Paga is a startup that aims to make receiving and transmitting money more convenient. It was created with the goal of encouraging people to use a secure platform to transfer and receive money. Paga is a mobile payment app that allows consumers to transfer and receive money digitally. They had 16,830,666 consumers and 26,908 agents at the time of writing this article. Paga has had a significant impact on the elimination of cash for transactions and the chances to utilize a better payment service. Until now, this digital payment service has had a significant impact on the lives of many Nigerians.
19. Paystack
Founder: Ezra Olubi, Shola Akinlade
Founding Year: 2015
Category: FinTech
Paystack is a Fintech firm that makes payments for businesses and consumers faster and easier. It accepts credit card, debit card, USSD, money transfer, and mobile money payments from its consumers. It includes a proprietary API that allows enterprises to create their own payment sites. Businesses that use their API have access to a dashboard where they can see reports and analyze client data.
20. Piggyvest
Founder: Ayo Akinola, Joshua Chibueze, Nonso Eagle, Odunayo Eweniyi, Somto Ifezue
Founding Year: 2016
Category: Banking and Financial Services/ FinTech
PiggyVest makes it simple for people and organizations to save and invest money. It enables debit cardholders to automate the savings process. Users select a plan, and a little sum of money is automatically saved on a monthly, weekly, or daily basis. This money can only be withdrawn on a specific day. To date, the PiggyVest platform has assisted over 1,000,000 people in saving for their aspirations.
21. reQuid
Founder: Felix Imafidon and
Founding Year: Beta launch 2019
Category: FinTech
reQuid is an intriguing Nigerian business that allows you to invest in agriculture. It allows you to effortlessly invest, monitor, and liquidate your investment. It rose to prominence after winning the first-ever X-Kathon conducted by the Nigerian Stock Exchange, with a grand prize of $5 million. They’ve already attracted 1,000+ users and are on their way to becoming one of Nigeria’s top startups.
22. Riby
Founder: Abolore Salami
Founding Year: 2016
Category: Banking and finance
Riby is a platform that assists businesses in adapting to digital money. It benefits trade associations, cooperatives, small firms, and even individuals. Their platform allows users to access services such as savings, peer-to-peer lending, and loans. Riby’s mission is to empower Nigerians to live better financially. Riby assists members of their groups in accessing financial services such as savings and loans. Riby’s aim is to assist people in living a better financial life. Many middle-class people have been active in shared economic models in recent years.
23. Rise Vest
Founder: Eleanya Eke Urum
Total Funding: $62,000 (₦22.5 million)
Category: Fintech, investment, Wealth Tech
Rise vest provides all services for people in Nigeria, with a focus on dollar-denominated asset investments. It was once known as Cashestate until rebranding as Rising Vest in November of 2019. Users of Rise Vest can invest in US real estate, Eurobonds, sticks, and venture capital. More than 40,000 people have invested in Rise. Rise Vest has worked hard and has successfully improved people’s lives via their services.
24. Roqqu
Founder: Uchenna Nnodum
Founding Year: 2018
Category: FinTech, Cryptocurrency
Roqqu is a FinTech firm built on blockchain that allows customers to purchase, sell, and trade cryptocurrencies. They feature a mobile app and a web platform that allow consumers to buy cryptocurrency directly with their debit cards. This platform is specifically intended for Nigerian users, allowing them to securely trade digital assets. Roqqu is quick, safe, and most importantly, dependable. You can transfer payments directly to your bank account using this platform with no risk. Roqqu also allows you to be compensated in bitcoin, TRON, and XRP.
25. Safer Codes
Founder: Felix M
Founding Year: 2020
Category: Marketing
Safer Codes is an independent firm that creates personalized QR codes for its customers. To generate a QR code for a website, a social profile, or even to share a document, simply input the details on their page and press enter! Safer Codes generates QR codes that may be used to register clients, manage inventory, and make quick payments. They provide several unique digital services, such as a virtual menu and virtual check-ins.
26. Slatecube
Founder: Chris Kwekowe, Emerald Kwekowe
Founding Year: 2018
Category: E-learning
Slatecube provides a cloud-based e-learning and workforce development system. They have a SaaS platform that makes use of the potential of AI. They provide comprehensive learning solutions to corporations, government agencies, and recruiters in order to bridge the gap between education and skills. Schools and universities can also utilize the platform to deliver lectures, track attendance, administer examinations, and assess outcomes. Among their partner organizations are MITx, Code.org, and The Bits Academy.
27. TalentQL
Founder: Adewale Yusuf, Opeyemi Awoyemi, Akintunde Sultan, Jobberman and DevCareer
Founding Year: November 2020
Category: Talent Acquisition
TalentQL boasts to be Africa’s best talent cluster. They specialize in talent acquisition, talent pipeline development, and remote workforce management. This means they source the correct people for African companies while also creating a pipeline of that talent. Zedcrest Capital led the $3000k funding round for this newly created recruitment firm.
28. Thrive Agric
Founder: Uka Eje
Founding Year: 2016
Category: Agritech
Thrive agric is an agri-tech firm that intends to enhance African food security by empowering local farmers. This company has created a crowdfunding platform. This platform features local farmers. Subscribers can fund these local farmers and receive real-time information on what is happening on the farm when harvest time arrives, as well as a cut of the profits. Farmers utilize the monies to purchase insurance, purchase products, and promote them.
29. uLesson
Founder: Sim Shagaya
Category: EdTech
uLesson, a Nigerian business, is the country’s most popular learning app. It is designed to make education more accessible and inexpensive by utilizing the best teachers, resources, and media available. Their individualized learning, depth of material, and relevance actually distinguish them. They cover the WAEC, JAMB, NECO, and GCE curriculums. They’ve also appeared on Techcrunch, Quartz, Business Insider, Ventureburn, and other websites.
30. Vinsighte
Founder: Oluwatomisin Kolawole
Founding Year: 2018
Category: Technology
Vinsighte is one of the Nigerian startups in the Facebook Accelerator 2019 class. It uses computer vision and sonar technology to make life easier for the visually handicapped. Their guiding aids assist the sight impaired in moving around their settings and in reading and writing. Vinsighte focuses on making the greatest use of cutting-edge technology to reduce the prevalence of visual impairment and assist Nigerians and Africans in living a better life with proper eyesight. Vinsighte is widely regarded as one of the top startups in Nigeria for providing such an outstanding and beneficial service.
31. Wealth.ng
Founder: Ibukun Awosik
Founding Year: 2010
Category: Investment and advisory
Wealth.ng is a Nigerian fintech firm that focuses on consolidating all of your investment portfolios into one place. It was founded by Sankore Securities Limited and pools treasury bills, bonds, mutual funds, equities, real estate, and agro investment. They also offer the option of gifting stocks to your loved ones. Wealth.ng has made it simple and secure for Nigerians to put their money in a safe location and earn a living.
32. WeMove
Founder: Celestine Ezeokoye
Category: Logistics
WeMove is a company that creates unique transportation technology solutions. They have a long list of prestigious clients, including Unilever, Flutterwave, Techpoint.ng, and others. It is well-known for allowing its users to create, find, and hire any car. WeMove Technologies owns it, and it has made quite a name for itself. Wemove has had a significant impact on transportation in Nigeria by providing their service. You can add or hire cars for agricultural, private journeys, haulage, moving places, weddings, holidays & tours, and consumer products with WeMove.