Kenya Leads Charge in Bloomberg’s 2026 Africa Startups to Watch

Bloomberg News has unveiled its annual list of promising startups across the continent, and Kenyan companies are taking center stage. With four representatives—BuuPass, Leta, Oye, and WorkPay—Kenya boasts the largest presence on this year’s rankings, which spotlight 25 innovative firms transforming healthcare, fintech, logistics, climate technology, and AI sectors.

The startups were selected based on their ability to address critical challenges with original approaches while demonstrating traction with customers and investors. Many are tackling issues that traditional institutions have struggled to solve—from financing medical care to ensuring clean water access and facilitating digital payments.

“These companies represent a diverse range of solutions to pressing problems,” noted Jennifer Zabasajja, Bloomberg Television’s chief Africa correspondent, in a statement. “What’s particularly encouraging is that nearly half the funding raised by these startups came from African investors themselves.”

The list includes:

Healthcare: 10mg Health (Nigeria), Remedial Health (Nigeria), Deaftronics (Botswana), Telemedan (Chad), Waspito (Cameroon) Fintech: AzamPay (Mauritius/Tanzania), Black Swan (Tanzania), HUB2 (Ivory Coast), Nkwa (Cameroon) Other sectors: BuuPass, Leta, Oye, WorkPay (Kenya) along with startups from South Africa, Nigeria, Tanzania and other nations.

These companies are not just building businesses—they’re shaping the future of African innovation by addressing fundamental needs with technology-driven solutions.