StartupBlink

1246 Top startups in South Africa for August 2026

We rank Cell C, Bash and Yoco in South Africa along with 1243 other startups based on an algorithm that scores startups based on total investment, employee count, and quarterly website traffic. South Africa startup ecosystem ranks #52 globally and #1 in Southern Africa.

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Top Unicorn Startups in South Africa for 2026

TymeBank is the only unicorn in South Africa raising more than USD 1.5B. It is the undefined ranked unicorn in Southern Africa.
1st
TymeBank logo
TymeBankSB Score: 632

TymeBank, a South African investment company, is 100% black-owned and operated. Offering innovative financial solutions, TymeBank empowers customers with fully digital banking services.

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Website
www.tymebank.co.za
Employee range
1,001 – 5,000
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
National Rank(South Africa)
Regional Rank(Southern Africa)
Global Rank(Worldwide)

Total amount:1

Best Startups in South Africa for 2026

1st
Cell C logo
Cell CSB Score: 643

Cell C is a mobile provider in South Africa, offering a wide range of services and mobile and data deals.

View Full Page
Website
cellc.co.za
Employee range
1,001 – 5,000
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$401.1M
National Rank(South Africa)
Regional Rank(Southern Africa)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
2nd
Bash logo
BashSB Score: 628

TFGLabs is the group’s technology division that is spearheading its digital transformation.

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Website
bash.com
Employee range
251 – 500
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
National Rank(South Africa)
Regional Rank(Southern Africa)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
3rd
Yoco logo
YocoSB Score: 573

Yoco empowers 100,000 small businesses in South Africa to accept payments seamlessly in-store, online, and on-the-go.

View Full Page
Website
www.yoco.com
Employee range
251 – 500
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$176M
National Rank(South Africa)
Regional Rank(Southern Africa)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
4th
Luno logo
LunoSB Score: 573

Luno makes it safe and easy to buy, store and learn about cryptocurrencies in South Africa.

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Website
www.luno.com
Employee range
501 – 1,000
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$13.8M
National Rank(South Africa)
Regional Rank(Southern Africa)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
5th
Ozow formerly known as i-Pay logo

Ozow is the future of payment as we know it. An oh-so (or Ozow) easy, automated and ultra-secure pay-by-bank solution that helps customers pay in just a few seconds, merchants can initiate Ozow payments through a variety of payment platforms, such as SMS, eCommerce, eBilling, QR Code, and instore Point-of-Sale (POS). Through Ozow’s precise and secure system (that reduces the risk of charge-backs), merchants get real-time payments with instant transaction notifications and automated bank reconciliations. As no card is required for payment, their products are also more widely available, resulting in fewer abandoned carts, increased sales, and more happy customers. Furthermore, merchants enjoy transaction fees as low as 1,5%, with no monthly costs, setup fees, or minimum charges, enabling them to save their money. As an added bonus, merchants processing up to R1m per month can use Ozow for free in their first year, no strings attached. Ozow is committed to financial inclusion on a continent where many people are disenfranchised by a lack of payments options. Furthermore, Ozow is committed to making it affordable for smaller businesses to take their trade to a wider audience, and to ensure that if traditional payment methods are unavailable, merchants don’t suffer. Ozow is bringing commerce to a wider audience, promoting financial inclusion, and innovating for our customers. Paying with us is Ozow easy, Ozow fast and Ozow trusted!

View Full Page
Website
ozow.com
Employee range
101 – 250
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$49.4M
National Rank(South Africa)
Regional Rank(Southern Africa)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
6th
Peach Payments logo
Peach PaymentsSB Score: 528

Peach Payments provides payment solutions to online and mobile businesses enabling them to easily accept payments from consumers across the globe and especially from those in the emerging markets. Our specific focus is on Africa and the BRIC countries where the local infrastructure requires a unique and tailored approach to online payments.

View Full Page
Website
www.peachpayments.com
Employee range
101 – 250
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$31.8M
National Rank(South Africa)
Regional Rank(Southern Africa)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
7th
Naked Insurance logo
Naked InsuranceSB Score: 525

Naked Insurance is the new generation: effortless, transparent and sincere. Naked Insurance offers short-term retail insurance products.

View Full Page
Website
www.naked.insure
Employee range
101 – 250
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$69.5M
National Rank(South Africa)
Regional Rank(Southern Africa)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
8th
Yoco logo
YocoSB Score: 518

Yoco is an African technology company. We create opportunities for entrepreneurs and small businesses to get paid, run and grow their business through a single platform. Our growing product ecosystem includes payments (offline and online), lending and business software. Today Yoco processes US$ billions annually for over 300,000 small businesses.

View Full Page
Website
www.yoco.co.za/za
Employee range
251 – 500
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$176M
National Rank(South Africa)
Regional Rank(Southern Africa)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
9th
VALR logo
VALRSB Score: 517

VALR.com is a digital asset trading platform where you can buy, sell, store and transfer cryptocurrencies seamlessly and securely. We offer one of the widest selections of digital assets. We‘re helping to build a financial system that recognises the oneness of humanity.

View Full Page
Website
www.valr.com
Employee range
51 – 100
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$55M
National Rank(South Africa)
Regional Rank(Southern Africa)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
10th
Carry1st logo
Carry1stSB Score: 502

Carry1st is a full-stack publisher of social games and interactive content with a focus on frontier markets like Africa. Founded in 2018 by Cordel Robbin-Coker, Lucy Hoffman, and Tino Mundangepfupfu, Carry1st employs a team of 29 people across 14 countries hailing from top companies like Carlyle, King, Jumia, Rovio, Socialpoint, and Wargaming. It has raised over $10m to date including a recent $7m Series A headlined by Riot Games, Konvoy Ventures, Raine, and Akatsuki. Carry1st will use the funding to launch and scale its existing portfolio, secure new partnerships with global gaming studios, and expand its team.

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Website
www.carry1st.com
Employee range
11 – 50
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$57M
National Rank(South Africa)
Regional Rank(Southern Africa)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
11th
HyperionDev logo
HyperionDevSB Score: 472
EdtechEdtech

HyperionDev is one of the largest online coding bootcamps out there. It was founded in 2012, as a small grassroots movement of Computer Science students working towards a single goal: to build and deliver better technical education for anyone who wanted to learn digital literacy and programming skills. Today, we're backed by Facebook & Google and serve over 150,000 registered students in over 35 countries.

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Website
www.hyperiondev.com
Employee range
251 – 500
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$10.5M
National Rank(South Africa)
Regional Rank(Southern Africa)
Global Rank(Worldwide)

Total amount:637

Most Funded Startups in South Africa for 2026

The top three most funded startups in South Africa have raised total funding of more than USD 753M. Cell C has 1.28% more funding than Yoco.
1st
Cell C logo
Cell CSB Score: 643

Cell C is a mobile provider in South Africa, offering a wide range of services and mobile and data deals.

View Full Page
Website
cellc.co.za
Employee range
1,001 – 5,000
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$401.1M
National Rank(South Africa)
Regional Rank(Southern Africa)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
2nd
Yoco logo
YocoSB Score: 573

Yoco empowers 100,000 small businesses in South Africa to accept payments seamlessly in-store, online, and on-the-go.

View Full Page
Website
www.yoco.com
Employee range
251 – 500
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$176M
National Rank(South Africa)
Regional Rank(Southern Africa)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
3rd
Yoco logo
YocoSB Score: 518

Yoco is an African technology company. We create opportunities for entrepreneurs and small businesses to get paid, run and grow their business through a single platform. Our growing product ecosystem includes payments (offline and online), lending and business software. Today Yoco processes US$ billions annually for over 300,000 small businesses.

View Full Page
Website
www.yoco.co.za/za
Employee range
251 – 500
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$176M
National Rank(South Africa)
Regional Rank(Southern Africa)
Global Rank(Worldwide)

Total amount:637

Top Hiring Startups in South Africa by Employee Number

The top three hiring startups in South Africa have an median employee size that is between [5001-10000]
1st
Tennovo logo
TennovoSB Score: 163

Tennovo provides consulting and technology services focused on digital transformation and cloud-enabled solutions. The company delivers advisory support and development services, helping clients migrate systems, modernize platforms, and adopt emerging technologies in areas such as cloud integration, digital workflows, and platform engineering. It collaborates with enterprises to design and implement scalable technology solutions aligned with business objectives. The firm also offers managed IT services, cybersecurity support, and ongoing system optimization to help organizations maintain effective infrastructure.

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Website
tennovo.com
Employee range
10,001+
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
National Rank(South Africa)
Regional Rank(Southern Africa)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
2nd
Vectra logo
VectraSB Score: 276

VECTRA is a technology-driven diversified industrial company serving attractive global markets, including automotive systems, electronic devices, aerospace and defense, industrial and medical. Its business platforms use technology to address customers' complex applications and demanding requirements.

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Website
vectra.co.za
Employee range
5,001 – 10,000
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
National Rank(South Africa)
Regional Rank(Southern Africa)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
3rd
Cell C logo
Cell CSB Score: 643

Cell C is a mobile provider in South Africa, offering a wide range of services and mobile and data deals.

View Full Page
Website
cellc.co.za
Employee range
1,001 – 5,000
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$401.1M
National Rank(South Africa)
Regional Rank(Southern Africa)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
4th
Kelo logo
KeloSB Score: 338

Kelo is a digital bookshop platform that offers licensing and subscription-based access to a diverse range of genres, including the Bible. It provides users with a seamless way to explore and enjoy books, making reading more accessible and engaging for everyone.

View Full Page
Website
kelo.africa
Employee range
1,001 – 5,000
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
National Rank(South Africa)
Regional Rank(Southern Africa)
Global Rank(Worldwide)

Total amount:1246

Explore More Top Startups

Explore the Startup Ecosystem of South Africa

Population

(South Africa)

60.4 Million

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Regional Rank

(Southern Africa)

1st

0

Global Rank

(WorldWide)

52nd

1

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Top Cities for Startups in South Africa - Ranked by StartupBlink

StartupBlink ranks the startup ecosystems of more than 100 countries and 1,000 cities. Download our latest Global Startup Ecosystem Report.
2026 National Rank CityGlobal RankTotal Score & National ShareAnnual GrowthQuantity ScoreQuality ScoreBusiness Score
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