DeepTech in Africa Mapping Study

Africa has officially become a key player in the global DeepTech revolution, with funding to DeepTech startups accounting for more than a third of the total volume of funding to all startups on the continent in 2023.

This report, Mapping the African DeepTech Landscape, provides the first comprehensive evidence base to chart this emerging terrain and create a common language for stakeholders. The study reveals a robust, yet often invisible, ecosystem of over 300 active DeepTech startups that have collectively raised $3 billion in funding over the last decade.

These ventures are deploying breakthrough scientific and engineering innovations to tackle the continent’s most complex and enduring development challenges. They are primarily focused on high-impact sectors such as health, agriculture, and cleantech.

Key findings inside the report:

• Deeptech is on the rise but remains fragmented, with the maturity of ecosystems differing widely across African countries.
• Deeptech founders are well-educated, with a majority possessing Master's degrees, though the field is currently mostly male and often foreign-educated.
• The study highlights that funding gaps are present across all stages, with the late stage presenting the biggest challenge to scaling these capital-intensive innovations.
• Universities are powering the innovation pipeline but face constraints in effectively working with the wider ecosystem, while corporate involvement remains limited.

This research was led by the Pan-African BRAIN program, implemented by Briter  and Open Startup (OST) and funded by Digital Africa, with support from partners including IFC, MIT Legatum Center, Africa Grow, and the US Embassy of Tunis

Download the full "Mapping the African DeepTech Landscape" report now to access the definitive guide for understanding, investing in, and shaping the next frontier of African innovation.