$1 billion. That's the total funding raised by AfricArena alumni startups since we opened our doors in 2017. Not a projection. Not a target. A result, quietly accumulated across hundreds of founder journeys, pitch stages, late-night conversations, and deals that started with a handshake in a room we helped fill.

Founded in Somerset West by Hein Duvenhage and four co-founders, Arable Grow is tackling one of Africa’s most persistent challenges: how to produce fresh, nutritious food reliably in environments constrained by water, space, and fragile supply chains.

The 2025 AfricArena Grand Summit was packed with energy, and out of the many startups, one shone brightly as a beacon for African entrepreneurs. Zazu, the first pan-African digital banking platform built exclusively for SMEs and founders, has raised $1 million in pre-seed funding from a powerhouse mix of African and European investors. This funding will accelerate Zazu’s rollout in South Africa and Morocco, with plans to expand across the continent in 2026.

After months of caffeine-fueled brainstorms, endless Whatsapp groups, and planning sessions that felt longer than a Cape Town summer day, the AfricArena Grand Summit 2025 is officially back at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) this December 2–3!

Pic Caption: Sthe Shabangu, Head of Public Relations at Amazon Web Services (AWS) Sub-Saharan Africa announces the Gender Diversity...