In a challenging global investment climate, Nigeria’s tech ecosystem stood out in 2025, with a select group of startup founders attracting the lion’s share of capital into the nation’s innovation economy.
According to data compiled by Nairametrics, while 98 startups raised funding across the year, just 11 companies accounted for approximately 83% of all capital inflows — underscoring how investor confidence increasingly clusters around founders with strong execution records and credible governance practices.
These founders not only raised significant funding but also shaped key sectors such as fintech, mobility, energy, logistics and enterprise services areas central to Nigeria’s push for financial inclusion, infrastructure resilience and productivity growth.
Top 10 Founders by Funding Raised in 2025
You can search google for their picture.
10. Mouloukou Sanoh – Mansa
Sector: Fintech
Sanoh’s work in financial services earned strategic backing as Mansa continued to scale cross-border payment and business fintech solutions.
9. Victor Alade – Raenest
Sector: Fintech
Alade’s Raenest expanded its platform for remote workers and SMEs, capturing investor interest with its multicurrency payments and global payroll tools.
8. Ayoola Dominic – Koolboks
Sector: Logistics / Cooling Tech
Dominic’s Koolboks — a solar-powered cold storage solution — drew funding for its potential to transform agricultural logistics and reduce post-harvest waste.
7. Femi Adeyemo – Arnergy
Sector: Clean Energy
Adeyemo’s Arnergy secured financing to deepen investment in solar energy deployment, helping power homes and businesses in off-grid regions.
6. Christopher Longbottom – Mopo
Sector: Green Tech
Longbottom’s eco-focused startup attracted capital to scale solutions in environmental services and sustainability.
5. Deepankar Rustagi – Omnibiz
Sector: B2B Commerce & Logistics
Rustagi’s Omnibiz, which connects informal retailers with suppliers while embedding digital payments, raised one of the year’s larger Series A rounds to extend regional footprint.
4. Adeola Adedewe – Kredete
Sector: Fintech / Credit Services
Adedewe’s credit platform for small businesses continued to attract capital for its role in bridging SME financing gaps.
3. Ridwan Akangbe Olalere – LemFi (Lemonade Finance)
Sector: Fintech / Remittances
Olalere’s LemFi stood out in remittance and cross-border finance, drawing strong investor interest thanks to its scalable digital financial services.
2. Tosin Eniolorunda – Moniepoint
Sector: Fintech
As founder of Moniepoint — one of Africa’s most prominent fintech firms — Eniolorunda continued to command substantial funding, building on the company’s strong market position in payments and financial infrastructure.
1. Chief Diana Chen – Lagride
Sector: Mobility & Logistics
At the top of the list, Chief Diana Chen’s Lagride made waves with robust funding inflows for its innovative mobility and logistics solutions, which are pivotal to urban transportation and logistics efficiency.
What This Means for Nigeria’s Startup Scene
Capital Concentration Around Strong Leaders
The funding landscape in 2025 was distinctly top-heavy, with a small cohort of founders and companies capturing the majority of capital inflows. This reflects investor preference for startups with proven business models, governance discipline, and clear execution plans rather than speculative early-stage ventures.
Growth Amid Broader Funding Rebound
Across Africa, startup funding rebounded strongly in 2025 in some reports exceeding $3.5 billion — driven largely by equity deals in high-growth sectors like fintech and energy, with Nigeria playing a leading role alongside Kenya, South Africa and Egypt.
Equity and Debt Mix
Several founders opted for non-dilutive financing (e.g., debt instruments) alongside traditional equity raises, signaling a shift toward capital efficiency and sustainability in founder strategies.
Final Takeaway
Nigeria’s 2025 startup funding story isn’t just about amounts raised — it’s about leadership quality, sector focus and execution excellence in an era where global capital is being more selective.
These top founders illustrate how strategic vision paired with operational discipline can unlock significant investment flows even in cautious markets.
Source: Nairametrics
