Madica Expands Portfolio With Two New AI Startups – African Business Innovation

Partners with ABAN to Boost Investment Flow and Ecosystem Networks for Portfolio Companies

Madica, a structured investment program for pre-seed African startups, has announced new investments in two AI-powered companies: Anavid and Hypeo AI. Each company has secured up to $200,000 in funding and will join Madica’s 18-month program, which provides a tailored curriculum, hands-on mentorship, executive coaching, and two fully funded immersion trips to key technology ecosystems both locally and internationally. Beyond funding, the startups will gain access to Madica’s global investor network, positioning them for growth and long-term success.

This new round of investments reinforces Madica’s commitment to supporting founders and startups often excluded from traditional venture funding. By backing underrepresented founders, startups from underserved regions, and innovators in overlooked sectors, the program seeks to counter the concentration of Africa’s tech funding in a few markets and among well-connected entrepreneurs—driving more equitable growth across the continent.

Launched in 2022 and affiliated with Flourish Ventures, an early-stage fintech venture investor supporting the architects of a better financial future, Madica is a sector-agnostic investment program addressing structural gaps in Africa’s startup ecosystem. The program tackles key challenges such as limited access to capital, a scarcity of investors, and insufficient mentorship. It provides structured support for startups to resolve critical issues and foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and wealth creation across Africa.

The selected AI-powered startups were chosen from applications across the continent and are providing tech-driven solutions in some of Africa’s largest industries:

Anavid (Tunisia), co-founded by Ahmed Chaari and David Nilsson, is an AI-powered solution that integrates with existing retail cameras to reduce shoplifting losses and enhance customer experience.
Hypeo AI (Morocco), founded by Meriam Bessa and Salah Eddine Mimouni, is an AI-driven SaaS platform that automates every step of influencer marketing—from brand matching and content validation to payments.

Commenting on the new portfolio companies, Emmanuel Adegboye, Head of Madica, said:

“At Madica, we believe and continue to prove that some of the world’s most transformative ideas come from places that are too often ignored. The founders we’ve just welcomed are visionaries, building solutions with the power to uplift communities and shape industries. We’re proud to stand with them as they take on the next stage of their journey.”

Meriam Bessa, co-founder and CEO of Hypeo AI, added:

“Our region is rapidly growing with creative energy, but without the right digital backbone, it often goes untapped. We’re changing that by using AI to reimagine how brands and creators find each other, collaborate, and thrive. Backing by Madica will help us strengthen our AI capabilities to achieve this goal.”

To expand investment flow and ecosystem networks for portfolio companies, Madica has announced a strategic partnership with the African Business Angel Network (ABAN) during the annual ABAN Congress in Lagos. The collaboration enables ABAN-affiliated angels across the continent and Madica to share deal flow and explore co-investment opportunities and future fundraises by portfolio companies, broadening access to capital and support for African startups.

Yemi Keri, President of ABAN, said:

 “The future of Africa’s innovation economy depends on how effectively we can mobilize local capital and empower local investors. Our collaboration with Madica helps bridge the gap between angel investors and institutional capital, ensuring that more funding comes from within the continent, and that startups everywhere in Africa can access the right type of support to scale.”

Madica began the year by investing in category-defining startups including Medikea, Daleela, Pixii Motors, and ToumAI, reinforcing its commitment to gender diversity in the African tech ecosystem. As part of its support, portfolio companies participate in one-week, fully funded immersion trips that include expert training, investor connections, and workshops on Madica’s core pillars: growth, governance, founder well-being, and fundraising.

Madica is now welcoming new investment opportunities across the continent to strengthen its pan-African reach. Eligible startups can pitch via the Madica website if they have an MVP (ideally with paying customers), a full-time founder commitment, limited prior institutional funding, and are led by African founders. The Madica team recently attended the Moonshot by TechCabal Conference in Lagos, Nigeria, and will participate in Big Angels Day Africa in Dakar, Senegal, this October to meet founders and explore new investment commitments.

About Madica

Launched in 2022, Madica is an Africa-focused pre-seed investment program empowering underrepresented and underfunded mission-driven founders. Affiliated with Flourish Ventures, the sector-agnostic platform provides funding and democratizes access to world-class company-building support for African entrepreneurs.

About Flourish Ventures

Flourish Ventures is an $850M global early-stage venture firm backing entrepreneurs transforming financial systems for the better. The firm’s global portfolio spans over 100 companies across the U.S. and emerging markets, including unicorns such as Alloy, Flutterwave, Kin, Neon, and Unit, alongside innovators like Akua, Brico, Crossmint, Fuse, Reserv, Spade, Stitch, Swap, and Vidyut. Flourish champions entrepreneurs shaping policy, media, and research to drive lasting change in financial services. Its evergreen structure allows long-term, conviction-driven investment. Notable exits include Brigit, Chime, GrabFinance, Mantl, SeedFi, and United Income.

About ABAN

The African Business Angel Network (ABAN) is the largest pan-African organization of angel investors. Established in 2015, ABAN represents a growing number of business angel groups that provide vital human and financial capital to African startups, creating jobs and fueling innovation. Active in 37 African countries and the diaspora, ABAN unites 75+ member networks and more than 5,000 angel investors committed to advancing early-stage innovation across the continent.