Africa’s fintech sector is projected to grow from $10 billion in 2023 to $47 billion by 2028, driven by mobile money adoption and rising demand for digital financial services. Female founders are leading this transformation, building scalable ventures that serve millions across underserved markets. Despite receiving just 2% of total investment, they continue to deliver strong traction, regional expansion, and strategic exits.

Unicorns are by no means reliable indicators of growth, but when ventures are valued at (or over) $1 billion, they can point to strong market potential, resilience, etc. More ventures worldwide have crossed this $1 billion threshold, but the African unicorns are struggling to attain and even maintain it.    Unicorns are by no means reliable indicators of growth, but when ventures are valued at (or over) $1 billion, they can point to strong market potential, resilience, etc. More ventures worldwide have crossed this $1 billion threshold, but the African unicorns are struggling to attain and even maintain it. Turn on screen reader supportTo enable screen reader support, press ⌘+Option+Z To learn about keyboard shortcuts, press ⌘slash

Africa has a peculiar story of resilience and growth trackers despite its glaring need to improve and at least match up with other ecosystems.

Following the emergence of Africa’s first unicorn, Jumia, in 2016, another- Interswitch, joined the ranks three years later in 2019, a milestone year when startup funding on the continent surpassed $1 billion, according to multiple sources.