Lagos: Nigeria is set to host a pivotal event aimed at fostering global investment and innovation in Africa as it gears up for Moonshot by TechCabal. The conference, renowned as Africa’s flagship innovation summit, will see participation from founders and industry leaders who will engage in vital discussions on cross-border partnerships and exit strategies to boost Africa’s innovation economy.
According to African Press Organization, the African tech landscape is showing signs of recovery following a global funding slowdown between 2023 and 2024. In the first half of 2025, startup funding in Africa surged to $1.42 billion across 243 deals, marking a 78% increase from the previous year. African startups are venturing into global markets, offering homegrown solutions to tackle global challenges. This growth trajectory necessitates enhanced deal flow, robust exit opportunities, and increased investor confidence to further channel capital into Africa’s tech ecosystem. These themes will be at the forefront of discussions among founders, investors, venture capitalists, angels, and limited partners at Moonshot, across multiple content tracks.
Prominent figures such as Maxime Bayen of FundCatalyst, Lexi Novitske of Norrsken 22, Tito Cookey-Gam of Partech Africa, and Eloho Omame of TLcom Capital will drive these discussions through various panels and keynotes. The European Union’s Digital for Development (D4D) will also lead a delegation of over 100 investors and ecosystem leaders from Europe to Lagos, aiming to foster critical conversations and boost deal flow between African startups and global capital.
The event, headline sponsored by Sabi, will also highlight Africa’s bold adoption of artificial intelligence. Nigeria’s Minister of Trade Jumoke Oduwole will provide insights into how progressive trade policies are empowering startups, expanding digital service exports, and positioning Nigeria as the hub for digital trade in Africa.
Moonshot by TechCabal, a cornerstone event for early and growth-stage capital in Africa, will feature sessions on Africa’s Next-Gen Payment Rails, examining the impact of APIs, digital-first infrastructure, mobile money adoption, and cross-border interoperability on financial inclusion and trade growth. Another session will explore cryptocurrencies and digital assets’ role in shaping cross-border payments and novel financial access models across Africa.
API technologies have become integral to digital commerce, facilitating real-time settlement and seamless cross-border transactions, as noted by Wole Ayodele, CEO of Fincra. Moonshot 2025 will emphasize how these technologies can drive growth and efficiency for businesses in Africa and beyond.
Tomi Oduyemi, Growth Lead of Cardtonic, remarked that Moonshot serves as a critical platform for connecting the people and ideas propelling Africa’s digital economy forward. The event fosters connections and insights that enable innovation to scale and deliver impactful outcomes across the continent.
The two-day gathering, supported by platinum sponsors including Fincra, Raenest, Flutterwave, Luno, Cardtonic, Roqqu, Opay, Interswitch, and Busha, is open to global and African VC investors, startup founders, tech CEOs, policymakers, creatives, students, and support organizations driving Africa’s innovation economy.