Take a quick look at Africa’s tech ecosystem—would you still call it “emerging”? Honestly, I don’t think so.
Over the past decade, we’ve witnessed a significant technological transformation, attracting foreign venture capital and establishing tech hubs that now compete on a global scale.
While this innovation is happening across several regions in Africa, a few cities stand out for the growth of their tech scenes. Lagos, Nairobi, Cape Town, Cairo, and several others are attracting funding, producing top talent, and building notable startups across fintech, e-commerce, AI, logistics, and health tech.
In this article, we explore the 7 fastest growing tech cities in Africa, what’s driving their growth, and the startups putting them on the global map.
Fastest Growing Tech Cities in Africa
We have ranked the top 7 cities shaping Africa’s tech future and what makes them even special. They include:
1. Lagos, Nigeria
Lagos, Nigeria is the fastest-growing tech city in Africa. It’s almost impossible to talk about tech in Africa without mentioning the city, its most dominant tech hub. Aside from this, Lagos is also known as Nigeria’s commercial hub and Africa’s most populous city.
Quite a few big tech names from Africa began here. The city offers startups access to a massive market, a growing middle class, and as you may already know, an increasingly tech-savvy population.
Lagos consistently attracts the highest share of funding in Africa, thanks to its scale and market potential. A large chunk of this growth is due to strong fintech adoption and mobile-first consumers, as we’ve seen in Paystack, which was recently acquired by Stripe.
Key tech sectors and notable startups in Lagos include:
- Fintech: Flutterwave, Paystack, Interswitch.
- E-commerce: Jumia, Konga.
- Logistics: Gokada, Chowdeck.
- Health tech: Helium Health, 54gene.
- SaaS: Moniepoint.
2. Nairobi, Kenya
You’ve probably heard of the term “The Silicon Savannah”, which refers to Kenya’s booming technology and innovation ecosystem, centred in Nairobi.
For a long while now, the city has been a leader in mobile money and digital finance in Africa, which has laid a strong foundation. Nairobi also benefits from strong government support for technology and a vibrant community of professionals.
Although the city boasts strong innovation hubs like iHub and Nailab, along with active international investors, funding competition has intensified, with more startups than ever before. Also, scaling beyond East Africa is still a challenge for these startups.
Key tech sectors and notable startups in Nairobi include:
- Fintech & mobile money: M-pesa, Cellulant.
- Agritech: Twigs foods, iProcure.
- Health tech: Ilara Health, Penda Health.
- E-commerce: Wasoko.
3. Johannesburg, South Africa
In case you’re surprised, Johannesburg is currently ranked as South Africa’s top startup hub, after overtaking Cape Town very recently. Johannesburg, being the country’s financial and corporate capital, has its tech ecosystem connected to banks, enterprises, and multinational firms.
Its proximity to major corporate institutions makes it a strong base for B2B and enterprise-focused startups.
But here’s the sad thing about Johannesburg. Even with the capital and all of the access it has, there is a slower consumer tech growth when compared to other cities like Lagos or Nairobi.
Key tech sectors and notable startups in Johannesburg include:
- Fintech: TymeBank, Yoco.
- Insurtech: Pineapple, Naked Insurance.
- SaaS: SovTech, Stitch.
- Cybersecurity: Cyberlogic, Entersekt.
4. Cape Town, South Africa
There’s a lot of funding going into tech projects in Cape Town currently, and the reason for this isn’t far-fetched. The city has positioned itself as one of Africa’s most mature and globally connected tech centers.
Cape Town is known for its high quality of life (ranked among top honeymoon destinations in Africa), strong research institutions, and strong tertiary education system thereby attracting both local and international talent. It’s just that place where there’s never a scarcity of skilled developers!
You know what’s even better? The political stability and economic infrastructure in Cape Town is unmatched compared to many other African cities. However, high operating costs and economic inequality can be quite a challenge too.
Key tech sectors and notable startups in Cape Town include:
- Fintech: Yoco, Ozow.
- AI & Data: Data Prophet, Aerobotics.
- SaaS: Jumo, OfferZen
- Health tech: LifeQ.
5. Cairo, Egypt
Cairo has emerged as a powerful tech hub connecting us with the Middle East. With a large population and a growing pool of engineers, the city is producing startups that scale rapidly across the region.
Egypt’s large domestic market, affordable talent, and increasing access to capital have fueled Cairo’s startup growth. Government-backed initiatives and tech parks have also contributed significantly to this cause.
Many enterprises choose to launch in Egypt, particularly to enjoy advantages such as scale and affordability. However, the volatility of the Egyptian Pound and other economic uncertainties can pose certain risks for startups and investors in the region.
Key tech sectors and notable startups in Cairo include:
- E-commerce: Jumia, MaxAB.
- Fintech: Fawry, Valu.
- EdTech: Elmenus, Nafham.
- Logistics: Swvl, Trella.
6. Kigali, Rwanda
Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, which was only a hamlet during independence has grown to become the country’s largest city. While it may be smaller in size compared to other cities in this list, its tech growth over the years is quite impressive.
Much of this progress can be credited to the Rwandan government, which has actively supported tech innovation through favorable policies, incentives, and digital infrastructure investments.
The city’s reputation for cleanliness, efficiency, and ease of doing business has also made it an attractive destination for both local founders and international investors.
However, Kigali still faces certain limitations like a talent pool shortage and limited market size compared to other African cities on this list.
Key tech sectors and notable startups in Kigali include:
- Fintech: PayDay, AC Group.
- Health tech: Babyl Rwanda, Zipline.
- Smart City: Yego Innovision.
7. Accra, Ghana
Oh, don’t be shocked! Accra has quietly become one of Africa’s most promising tech cities. The city’s stable political environment and business-friendly policies have made it attractive to startups and investors around the world.
Aside from that, Ghana’s English-speaking environment and improving digital infrastructure contribute immensely to this appeal.
The city’s tech ecosystem is still emerging, with a smaller funding volume and market size, but I believe it’s only a matter of time before it’s up there with the likes of Lagos.
Key tech sectors and notable startups in Accra include:
- Health tech: mPharma, Redbird.
- Fintech: Hubtel, Zeepay.
- Agritech: Complete Farmer, AgroCenta
- EdTech: eCampus, Asoriba.
What This Growth Means for Africa
Now that you know the fastest growing tech cities in Africa, what next?
The rapid growth of these tech cities along with many others not cited in this article signals a broader transformation across Africa. Unlike in the past, innovation is no longer concentrated in one country or region.
Instead, Africa’s tech future is being built by interconnected ecosystems solving local and global problems. Trust me, this means a big deal for everyone, including founders, investors, governments, and of course, consumers.
For founders, these cities offer different advantages depending on market focus, cost, and scalability. For investors, they present growing opportunities in fintech, AI, healthtech, and climate solutions. For governments, they highlight the importance of policy, infrastructure, and talent development.
FAQs on Fastest-Growing Tech Cities in Africa
Let’s explore quick answers to common questions about the developing tech ecosystem in Africa.
Which city is the fastest-growing tech hub in Africa?
Lagos, Nigeria, is currently the fastest-growing tech city in Africa in terms of startup activity, funding volume, and market size.
It consistently attracts the largest share of venture capital on the continent and is home to major fintech startups like Flutterwave, Paystack, and Interswitch.
Why is fintech the dominant tech sector in African cities?
Fintech is the most dominant tech sector among these cities and it’s okay to wonder why. The reason is actually very simple. A large population of Africa is underserved by traditional banking systems and these tech establishments are bridging the gap.
Startups offering mobile payments, digital banking, and cross-border transfers solve real, everyday problems, making fintech one of the fastest-scaling sectors across cities like Lagos, Nairobi, Cairo, and Accra.
Which African tech city is best for launching a startup?
The best city depends on your startup’s focus.
- Lagos is ideal for fintech and large-scale consumer products.
- Nairobi is strong in agritech and mobile-first solutions.
- Cape Town suits SaaS, AI, and globally oriented startups.
- Kigali is attractive for govtech and healthtech due to supportive policies.
What role do governments play in tech ecosystem growth?
Governments play a major role through policies, digital infrastructure, and regulatory frameworks. Cities like Kigali and Cairo benefit from government-backed tech initiatives, while others like Lagos and Nairobi rely more on private-sector-led innovation.
Which African city has the best tech talent pool?
Lagos, Nairobi, and Cape Town have the largest and most diverse tech talent pools. These cities benefit from strong universities, coding communities, remote work opportunities, and international exposure, making them attractive to startups and global tech companies.
Wrapping Up
Looking at it from the surface, you might want to believe that these cities are only building startups, but in reality, they are doing so much more. They are building strong and reliable ecosystems that will define Africa’s economic future.
The 7 fastest growing tech cities in Africa mentioned on this list each offer unique blueprints for tech-driven growth.
Hopefully, with an upsurge in funding, talent pool, and digital adoption, these cities will continue to shape Africa’s position in the global technology landscape.
