Madica, a pioneering pre-seed investment initiative backed by Flourish Ventures, has announced investments totaling up to $600,000 across three new startups located in Tanzania, Kenya, and Nigeria.
Each of the recipients—Kirimofresh, Hakimu, and Biovana—will receive funding of up to $200,000 along with the opportunity to take part in Madica’s 18-month support program. This comprehensive program offers valuable resources, including mentorship, executive coaching, and two fully-funded trips to technology ecosystems both within Africa and internationally. Additionally, founders will gain access to Madica’s expansive global network of investors.
This latest wave of investments is part of Madica’s ongoing efforts to build a robust portfolio since its inception in 2022. The program has previously supported innovative startups like GoBEBA and NewForm Foods, demonstrating a commitment to fostering growth across a range of sectors and regions.
Contributions of the Three Startups
Kilimo Fresh, a Tanzanian agritech startup co-founded by Baraka Chijenga and Justice Mangu, is focused on bridging the gap between smallholder farmers and urban markets. By aggregating, processing, and distributing fresh produce through a technology-driven supply chain, Kilimo Fresh addresses the rampant issue of post-harvest food waste in sub-Saharan Africa, where an estimated 30 to 50 percent of food never reaches consumers due to fragmented supply chains, inadequate storage, and weak market connections.
Hakimu, a Kenya-based legaltech startup founded by Rawan Dareer, Ahmed Ahmed, and Ahmed Elbashir, aims to establish an AI-powered, pan-African legal infrastructure. With the legal technology space still largely untapped in Africa, many individuals lack access to affordable legal services and efficient digital tools. Hakimu seeks to bring transformative change to this landscape.
Biovana, a health data startup emerging from Nigeria and co-founded by Estelle Dogbo and Dr. Jumi Popola, is positioning itself as a data harmonization and certification platform. It aims to consolidate and make accessible the fragmented and inconsistent health datasets generated across Africa, providing crucial resources for global pharmaceutical, AI, and clinical research. An important aspect of Biovana is its leadership, which is exclusively comprised of women—an uncommon sight in the deep tech industry on the continent.
Significance of These Developments
The pre-seed financing landscape in Africa faces well-documented challenges. Data from Africa: The Big Deal reveals that only $46.5 million was allocated to pre-seed investments across 281 startups in 2025, a figure that has remained relatively stagnant since 2024 despite a broader 40 percent growth in the African venture capital market. Pre-seed funding accounts for just 1.5% of total investments, significantly lower than the standard 4-6% seen in the United States.
The number of active pre-seed investors has also dwindled, dropping from 200 in 2022 to 135 in 2025. Alarmingly, nearly 60 percent of the limited pre-seed funds are concentrated in just four countries: Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and Egypt.
Madica was conceived as a response to these pressing issues, strategically investing in sectors such as agritech, legaltech, and health data, and spanning geographies that are often overlooked by traditional venture capitalists. The program is committed to supporting founders without established investor networks.
“Each new investment brings us closer to the portfolio we set out to build, one that reflects the breadth and diversity of African entrepreneurship,” said Emmanuel Adegboye, head of Madica.
Guidance for New Founders
In conjunction with its investment initiatives, Madica has launched the inaugural edition of its fundraising guidebook series, titled “Zero to Funded: A Founder’s Guide to Pre-Seed Fundraising in Africa.” This 75-page resource is designed for first-time founders, who often lack access to accelerators or robust networks. The guide covers essential topics, including common misconceptions that can hinder initial discussions with investors, insights on whether venture capital is the right choice, and practical templates and checklists for founders.
Mentorship and Upcoming Events
Madica has appointed Tauriq Brown, former CEO of TooMuchWiFi and a venture builder with experience at Rocket Internet and Mountain Partners, as a mentor, providing hands-on guidance for portfolio founders. The entire Madica team and its portfolio companies are currently gathering in Morocco for an intensive trip aligned with GITEX Africa, featuring workshops on investment readiness, organizational culture, and team dynamics, along with opportunities to connect with investors and ecosystem partners.
Future Aspirations
Madica remains open for applications from pre-seed startups based in Africa, maintaining an accessible eligibility threshold. Startups that demonstrate a minimally viable product with a handful of paying customers, along with full-time founders and minimal prior institutional funding, are welcome to apply. Given that Africa requires approximately $120 million annually in pre-seed capital to ensure a healthy startup ecosystem, ongoing support for early-stage funding is crucial. Throughout its 18-month program, Madica aims to establish itself as a consistent supporter of innovative startups.
Operating under Flourish Ventures, a global venture capital firm, Madica invites eligible African startups to apply via madica.vc.
