Nigeria is gearing up to welcome hundreds of international investors, startup founders, and innovation leaders this October for Moonshot by TechCabal 2025, a high-stakes gathering expected to ignite Africa’s next wave of deals, funding rounds, and tech-driven exits.
The flagship innovation conference will serve as a strategic meeting point for global capital providers, African founders, and venture capitalists seeking to accelerate the continent’s innovation economy. Over two days in Lagos, participants will explore partnerships, cross-border investment opportunities, and exit strategies designed to unlock Africa’s next chapter of growth.
African Tech’s Comeback Story
After a challenging two-year funding slowdown, African tech is showing strong signs of recovery. In the first half of 2025, startups across the continent secured $1.42 billion in funding across 243 deals — a 78% jump compared to the previous year. The resurgence signals renewed investor confidence, particularly as African startups expand globally, exporting homegrown innovations that tackle worldwide challenges.
At the heart of this momentum is the need to strengthen deal flow and create viable exit opportunities that attract sustained investment. These themes will dominate this year’s Moonshot agenda, where founders, limited partners (LPs), venture capital firms, and angels will discuss how to build Africa’s next generation of unicorns and digital leaders.
High-Profile Voices, Global Investors
The conference will feature an influential lineup, including Maxime Bayen of FundCatalyst, Lexi Novitske of Norrsken 22, Tito Cookey-Gam of Partech Africa, and Eloho Omame of TLcom Capital. Adding to the global dimension, the Digital for Development (D4D) Hub, representing the European Union, will lead a 100-person delegation of investors and ecosystem leaders from across Europe a move expected to accelerate Africa–EU capital flow and strategic partnerships.
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“The African tech ecosystem is gaining real momentum, and global investors are ready to back its next wave of startups,” said Tomiwa Aladekomo, CEO of Big Cabal Media. “This is the moment to connect ambitious founders with capital and create partnerships that scale across markets. At Moonshot, we’re turning that momentum into real opportunities for growth, investment, and collaboration.”
Connecting Africa and Europe’s Innovation Corridors
Hussein Jaffar, Deputy Coordinator of the D4D Hub Africa Branch, emphasized Moonshot’s role in strengthening the Africa–Europe innovation bridge.
Moonshot is where the Global Gateway vision comes to life connecting African innovators with European investors to build scalable digital solutions, he said. “It’s about turning connections into concrete collaborations that strengthen innovation ecosystems and advance shared global priorities.
Spotlight on AI, Trade, and Digital Infrastructure
Headline sponsor Sabi will lead discussions on Africa’s rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI). Nigeria’s Minister of Trade, Jumoke Oduwole, is also slated to speak on how progressive trade policies are positioning the country as a continental hub for digital exports and cross-border commerce.
Moonshot 2025 will also spotlight Africa’s Next-Gen Payment Rails exploring how APIs, digital-first infrastructure, and mobile money adoption are reshaping commerce and financial inclusion. Another key session will examine cryptocurrencies and digital assets as new enablers of cross-border trade and alternative financial access across the continent.
APIs have become the backbone of digital commerce,” said Wole Ayodele, CEO of Fincra. “They enable real-time settlement, embedded finance, and seamless transactions and we’re exploring how these tools can power Africa’s next growth frontier.
A Platform for Scale and Impact
Tomi Oduyemi, Growth Lead at Cardtonic, described Moonshot as “a key platform for bringing together the people and ideas driving Africa’s digital economy.”
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It creates the connections and insights that allow innovation to scale and deliver impact across the continent, she added.
Supported by platinum sponsors Fincra, Raenest, Flutterwave, Luno, Cardtonic, Roqqu, Opay, Interswitch, and Busha, Moonshot 2025 expects to draw more than 4,000 attendees including global VC investors, founders, policymakers, and ecosystem builders.
With over 120 speakers and nine signature content tracks, the event builds on the success of last year’s edition, which gathered 3,500 participants from over 15 countries.
