Hi there,
2026 is already off to a flying start, and we have not slowed down one bit.
This week, our team was on the ground at Africa Tech Summit (ATS) Nairobi, one of the continent’s flagship gatherings for tech leaders, investors, and founders shaping Africa’s digital economy. The 8th edition of ATS brought together over 1,000 attendees at the Sarit Expo Centre on February 11–12, and the energy was electric.
But for HoaQ, ATS Nairobi was about more than panels and keynotes.
It was about the conversations happening in the corridors, over lunch, and at the networking sessions. The kind that spark new partnerships, and deepen the connections that make this ecosystem work.
The summit was also a powerful reminder that Africa’s tech ecosystem is accelerating.
Here are some key lessons we learned:
Infrastructure isn’t optional: One of the main themes at ATS was that Africa’s next wave of growth depends on real infrastructure. As leaders at the Summit pointed out, political frameworks like AfCFTA matter, but without interoperable financial systems, cross-border growth stays theoretical.
Early-stage founders still matter: Contrary to popular assumption, capital isn’t just locked in fintech anymore. ATS Nairobi’s Investment Showcase selection highlighted a diverse cohort of 12 investor-ready startups spanning payments, healthtech, Web3, agritech and more.
Digital connectedness remains central: Discussions throughout the Summit underscored that seamless cross-border payments are both a source of friction and a massive opportunity
Nairobi’s role as a regional innovation hub is real: Beyond ATS itself, broader ecosystem signals point to Kenya, and particularly Nairobi, cementing its position as an innovation centre for the continent.
At ATS, we met incredible founders, reconnected with investors from across the continent, and left more energized than ever about the opportunities ahead.
It’s exactly the kind of momentum we love to see in Q1.
Now, let’s get into what we have for you this edition.
Redii is building the global retirement benefits infrastructure for startups and SMBs, on a mission to modernize how companies support distributed teams across borders. It enables businesses hiring globally to offer compliant, institutional-grade retirement benefits.
You can check out the Redii opportunity now to learn more about the deal.
Stay tuned for new deals. They are currently being finalised and will be shared with members soon. In the meantime, log in to your Borderless dashboard to review active opportunities and stay up to date with performance updates on existing investments.
LemFi (formerly Lemonade Finance) continues to be one of the standout stories in our portfolio. The cross-border payments platform, which enables immigrants to send money home affordably and reliably, has been making serious moves.
Most recently, LemFi launched Send Now, Pay Later (SNPL), the UK’s first AI-powered service combining credit and remittances. With SNPL, immigrants can access up to £1,000 in credit to send money instantly, all while building their UK credit profile. It’s a game-changer for the millions of diaspora members who need to move money quickly but don’t always have immediate liquidity.
LemFi has also expanded its corridor network, partnering with Esewa Money Transfer (EMT) following approval from the Central Bank of Nepal, enabling reliable, low-cost remittances to Nepal. And on the compliance front, the company brought on Janine Ross, a former senior AML executive at Citi, to strengthen its UK regulatory infrastructure.
From product innovation to regulatory excellence, LemFi is proving that building for the diaspora requires both ambition and discipline.
We’re proud to have them in our portfolio.
HoaQ co-founder Joe Kinvi was featured in the Irish Independent’s “This Working Life” series, sharing his journey from Togo to Ireland to building HoaQ and Borderless. The piece explores how tech became his vehicle for impact and why he believes technology is the greatest enabler for the world. Read the article here.
Risevest, one of our portfolio companies, created a comprehensive Cost of Living report spanning four African markets (Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Ghana). You can find the report here.
Delta40, a Kenya-based venture firm, successfully raised $20 million to expand financing for early-stage startups across Africa. Backed by the Soros Economic Development Fund and the Rockefeller Foundation, with 54 investors from 13 countries, this is another signal that the appetite for African venture capital remains strong. Learn more here.
The 11th edition of Disrupt Africa’s African Tech Startups Funding Report is out now. It’s packed with data on funding trends, sector breakdowns, and investor activity across the continent. If you invest in African tech, this is essential reading. Download the report here.
HoaQ Fund’s Yewande Odumosu spoke to Tech Cabal and shared some predictions for 2026. Read more here
Lagos Tech Fest 2026 is coming up between Feburary 17 - 18, 2026.
Joining the community
Joining our community is now easier than ever.
We’ve upgraded your experience. With the help Borderless, a platform that helps diaspora communities create and join investment collectives, we are giving you a smoother, more seamless experience.
If you’re yet to join us there, simply head over to HoaQ’s website and click ‘Join HoaQ’. You’ll be redirected to Borderless, where you can either create an account or log in if you already have one. Already a HoaQ member but yet to log in? This is a little reminder to hop on your dashboard and see what’s going on. We have a lot of exciting new offers coming in 2026.
If you’d like a step-by-step walkthrough, we put together a short video to guide you through the process. Watch the video here.
And that’s it for this newsletter! Thanks for sticking around all the way to the end.
Remember, investing in startups carries inherent risks, and we encourage you to do your due diligence.
See you next time,
Wisdom from HoaQ.
