Hi there,
HoaQ just turned six. Take a moment to sit with that.
What started as a small syndicate in Dublin during the COVID-19 pandemic, co-founded by Nubi Kay’ and Joe Kinvi, has grown into a global community of over 1200 angel investors in just six years. The idea was simple. We wanted to find a way to help the diaspora back African founders building the future.
That idea has become something much bigger than any of us imagined.
We've reviewed over 5,000 pitches and invested in more than 130 startups. We've deployed over $4 million in capital across fintech, logistics, healthtech, food tech, edtech, and more. 20% of our portfolio is female-led. We've celebrated exits (Baselime, Mono, Raenest) and learned hard lessons from the ones that didn't work out. Through it all, this community has shown up.
As Nubi put it: "Africa's next wave of innovation needs more than just capital. It needs committed partners who understand the journey." That is what HoaQ is. And six years in, we're just getting started.
This edition brings you two new deals on the platform, a portfolio spotlight on Kunda Kids (who are doing incredible things in children's media), news from our ecosystem, curated reads for founders and investors, and upcoming events you won't want to miss.
Let's get into it.
Why Join HoaQ?
Our newsletter gives you the highlights, but a HoaQ membership gives you access to the rooms where the real thing happens. Members get early access to vetted startup deals, physical hangouts with fellow investors and founders, a private community of over 1,200 professionals and operators across 35+ countries, and exclusive portfolio company discounts.
You’re specially invited to our April AMA Session.
Africa's AI Moment: Build, Buy, or Be Left Behind?
April 30, 2026 | 5:00 PM (GMT+1) | Online
The real question facing founders and investors on the continent right now is Artificial Intelligence. Are African builders positioned to capture value from AI, or just consume it?
This month, we’re tackling “Africa’s AI Moment” from all angles. Dr. Chinasa T. Okolo, a researcher and policy advisor on AI governance, brings the research lens. Hasan Luongo, General Partner at Resilience17 and ex-VP Global Marketing at Chipper Cash brings the investor lens.
Together, they'll cut through the noise on which AI businesses are actually viable in African markets, who controls the underlying infrastructure, and what it means for anyone writing checks or building on the continent. If you're trying to decide whether AI in Africa is a real investment category right now or still mostly noise, this is the conversation to be in.
Aktivate
Industry: Creator Marketing Infrastructure
Aktivate is building the operating system for creator marketing in Africa. The platform enables businesses to discover, manage, and pay creators seamlessly, while allowing creators to access brand deals, monetize content, and earn income from a single platform.
Explore the Aktivate deal on Borderless
InfraRed
Industry: Document Intelligence & Verification
InfraRed is building a document intelligence and verification platform that enables individuals and companies to collect, validate, and extract structured data from documents quickly and securely. The platform combines AI-powered extraction, fraud detection, and automated workflows into a single layer.
Kunda Kids, a HoaQ portfolio company, is redefining what children's media looks like when African culture is at the centre. The London-based company creates books, animations, and educational content that celebrates the joy of childhood, blending it with rich African heritage for children all around the world.
Their flagship animated series, Kunda & Friends, has crossed over 1 billion viewing minutes since launching in 2023. That's 83 million YouTube views, viewership across 224 countries, and over 220,000 subscribers across platforms. They've built a standard for how African stories are produced and how culturally rooted content can travel globally with confidence.
Beyond the screen, Kunda Kids has published 12 children's books (including Sarai's Culture Day, written by Tania Omotayo), launched four interactive apps, and reached over 50,000 families, with their content now used in more than 100 schools. Co-founder Louisa Kiwana Olafuyi made the Top 20 of Africa's Business Heroes 2025 and won demo day at the IFC Female Founders Growth Programme. They've also been featured on CNN African Voices. If you're looking for proof that world-class content can come from and celebrate Africa, Kunda Kids is it.
Wimbart, the PR firm that has helped shape how the world sees African tech, just turned 10. Founded by Jessica Hope in 2016, the agency started at a kitchen table and has grown into one of the most recognized tech communications firms on the continent. HoaQ co-founder Joe Kinvi was one of the voices featured in their anniversary film. Happy 10, Wimbart. Read more here
African startups raised $711 million in Q1 2026, according to TechCabal's latest funding report. The quarter also saw over 30 M&A deals, including Flutterwave's acquisition of Mono, a HoaQ portfolio company. Read the full breakdown here
Cascador has opened applications for its 2026 ScaleUp Programme, selecting 12 growth-stage founders for a 12-week programme with tailored mentorship, expert support, and access to its Catalytic Fund, which deploys $2 to $5 million annually in growth capital. Applications close June 15. Learn more here
Refiant AI, a South Africa-founded startup, just raised $5 million in seed funding to compress and restructure AI models so they can run efficiently on local machines rather than expensive data centres. Their technology reduces energy consumption by over 80% while retaining 95 to 99% of model performance. For African markets, this matters. Read more here
"More deals, less cash: Africa's exit problem" is a sharp piece from TechCabal examining why 67 M&A deals in 2025 (a 72% year-on-year increase) still aren't delivering real liquidity to investors. Read here
TechCabal sat down with Jessica Hope, founder of Wimbart, to reflect on a decade of telling Africa's tech story. A worthwhile read for founders thinking about when and how to invest in their story. Read here
Launch Base Africa published their analysis of who wrote the most checks in Q1 2026 and where the capital went. Development finance institutions and established Africa-focused venture funds dominated early-to-growth stage activity, with a clear shift toward climate tech, mobility, and financial infrastructure. Read here
CNBC Africa makes the case for taking another look at private equity and venture capital in Africa, arguing that profit and purpose can sit on the same dashboard. A good read for investors thinking long-term about the continent. Read here
No Wahala Therapy + HoaQ Mixer | London
Mixer: April 29, 2026 | 6:00 PM (GMT+1)
Show: May 2, 2026 | Gateway House, Woolwich, London
We're closing out April in London with two events in one ticket.
No Wahala Therapy is a stage play about Nigerians in the UK navigating identity, survival, and community. It's the kind of storytelling that reminds you why community matters in the first place, which is exactly why we wanted to partner with them. Join us for drinks and good company at the mixer on April 29, then catch the full show on May 2 or 3.
You'll receive mixer details by email once you have your ticket.
Bought a ticket? Don’t miss the mixer!
Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter all the way to the end.
Till next time,
Wisdom from HoaQ.
