A technological revolution is unfolding across Africa—and Bloomberg is calling the world to pay attention. The financial news giant has launched its search for the second edition of Africa Startups to Watch, a high-impact initiative spotlighting the continent’s most daring entrepreneurs, breakthrough innovations, and scalable solutions poised to transform industries and uplift communities. With the global economy pivoting toward inclusive innovation, this Africa startups to watch Bloomberg list is no longer just a feature—it’s a signal of where the future is being built.
From Lagos to Kigali, Nairobi to Dakar, African founders are rewriting the rules of entrepreneurship. They’re not waiting for infrastructure to catch up—they’re leapfrogging it. Startups are deploying AI to diagnose diseases in rural clinics, building solar-powered cold chains for farmers without grid access, and designing low-cost robotics that automate urban logistics. These are not prototypes. They are live, revenue-generating businesses solving real problems at scale.
The inaugural Africa Startups to Watch list in 2025 spotlighted 25 trailblazers—including makers of off-grid refrigerators, soil-testing devices, and energy-efficient automation tools—earning them global visibility, investor interest, and strategic partnerships. This year, Bloomberg is raising the stakes. With over 2,000 applications already received from every corner of the continent, the competition is fierce, the ideas bolder, and the potential impact deeper than ever.
This isn’t just about technology. It’s about transformation. Bloomberg is actively seeking ventures that reflect Africa’s rich diversity—founders from underrepresented regions, women-led teams, diaspora returnees, and innovators tackling systemic challenges in healthcare, agriculture, fintech, clean energy, transportation, and beyond. The message is clear: the most powerful ideas often come from those who understand the problem best.
To be considered, startups must be privately owned, focused on African markets, and backed by proof of demand—customer traction, revenue, or investment. Founders must demonstrate how their product works in the real world, who benefits, and what makes their solution uniquely scalable. Generic pitches won’t cut it. Specificity wins.
Crucially, the final selection will go far beyond hype. Selected companies will be featured across Bloomberg TV, Bloomberg.com, and its global network of financial and policy influencers—a platform that reaches millions of investors, executives, and decision-makers worldwide. For an African startup, inclusion on this list can mean the difference between obscurity and breakout growth.
“The next wave of global innovation isn’t coming from Silicon Valley alone,” said a Bloomberg editor involved in the project. “It’s emerging from African kitchens, garages, and co-working spaces—where necessity meets ingenuity.”
As artificial intelligence and automation reshape economies, Africa stands at a pivotal crossroads. Its youthful population, mobile-first adoption, and urgent need for scalable solutions create fertile ground for disruption. But visibility remains a barrier. This Africa startups to watch Bloomberg initiative is designed to shatter that ceiling—elevating ventures that don’t just survive, but lead.
Applications close on January 23, 2026, and Bloomberg is urging founders to go beyond buzzwords. Tell the story. Show the data. Prove the impact.
Because in 2026, when the world looks for the next big idea, it won’t just be watching.
It will be looking to Africa.
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