StartupBlink

Top Unicorn Startups in Western Africa for 2026

In Western Africa, we rank 4 unicorn startups based on an algorithm that considers factors such as total investment, quarterly employee count, and website traffic. Unicorns in Western Africa are falling behind the performance of their global counterparts.

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Top Unicorn Startups in Western Africa for 2026

1st

OPay
SB Score:679

OPay offers a mobile payment service and consumer platform that enables users to send and receive money, pay bills, and order food and groceries. By providing smart financial services, OPay empowers users to manage their finances more effectively and accomplish more with their money.

Industry:
Software & Data
Subindustry:
Apps

National Rank (Nigeria)

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National Rank (Nigeria)

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Global Rank (WorldWide)

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SB Score:653

Moniepoint is a financial technology company that provides digital financial services for businesses. The company's services include payment solutions, banking services, credit provision, and business management tools that assist in financial transactions and operations.

Industry:
Fintech
Subindustry:
Financial Services

National Rank (Nigeria)

0

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National Rank (Nigeria)

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Global Rank (WorldWide)

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SB Score:598

Flutterwave provides a payment infrastructure for merchants and payment service providers. They offer an online marketplace for businesses to list their products and services for sale. They provide payment tools, including a smart payment ordering system for businesses to accept payments.

Industry:
Fintech
Subindustry:
Financial Services

National Rank (Nigeria)

0

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National Rank (Nigeria)

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Global Rank (WorldWide)

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Total amount:4

Most Valuable Unicorns in Western Africa for 2026

The top three most valuable unicorns in Western Africa have raised total funding of more than USD 1.4B. Among the top three funded unicorns, the most popular industry, based on total funding, is Fintech.
SB Score:598

Flutterwave provides a payment infrastructure for merchants and payment service providers. They offer an online marketplace for businesses to list their products and services for sale. They provide payment tools, including a smart payment ordering system for businesses to accept payments.

Industry:
Fintech
Subindustry:
Financial Services

National Rank (Nigeria)

0

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National Rank (Nigeria)

0

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Global Rank (WorldWide)

0

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2nd

OPay
SB Score:679

OPay offers a mobile payment service and consumer platform that enables users to send and receive money, pay bills, and order food and groceries. By providing smart financial services, OPay empowers users to manage their finances more effectively and accomplish more with their money.

Industry:
Software & Data
Subindustry:
Apps

National Rank (Nigeria)

0

View

National Rank (Nigeria)

0

View

Global Rank (WorldWide)

0

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3rd

Wave
SB Score:349

Wave creates lifelike avatars of musicians for interactive virtual performances, helping artists earn money through gaming and entertainment. Their technology enables virtual concerts on a digital stage, blending music and gaming for a unique and engaging experience.

Industry:
Social & Leisure
Subindustry:
Entertainment

National Rank (Senegal)

0

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National Rank (Senegal)

0

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Global Rank (WorldWide)

0

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SB Score:653

Moniepoint is a financial technology company that provides digital financial services for businesses. The company's services include payment solutions, banking services, credit provision, and business management tools that assist in financial transactions and operations.

Industry:
Fintech
Subindustry:
Financial Services

National Rank (Nigeria)

0

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National Rank (Nigeria)

0

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Global Rank (WorldWide)

0

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Total amount:4

Top Hiring Unicorns in Western Africa by Employee Number

The top three hiring unicorns in Western Africa have an average employee size that is smaller than to the global average. Among these, the Software & Data industry features the unicorn with the largest workforce.

1st

OPay
SB Score:679

OPay offers a mobile payment service and consumer platform that enables users to send and receive money, pay bills, and order food and groceries. By providing smart financial services, OPay empowers users to manage their finances more effectively and accomplish more with their money.

Industry:
Software & Data
Subindustry:
Apps

National Rank (Nigeria)

0

View

National Rank (Nigeria)

0

View

Global Rank (WorldWide)

0

Browse
View full page
SB Score:653

Moniepoint is a financial technology company that provides digital financial services for businesses. The company's services include payment solutions, banking services, credit provision, and business management tools that assist in financial transactions and operations.

Industry:
Fintech
Subindustry:
Financial Services

National Rank (Nigeria)

0

View

National Rank (Nigeria)

0

View

Global Rank (WorldWide)

0

Browse
View full page
SB Score:598

Flutterwave provides a payment infrastructure for merchants and payment service providers. They offer an online marketplace for businesses to list their products and services for sale. They provide payment tools, including a smart payment ordering system for businesses to accept payments.

Industry:
Fintech
Subindustry:
Financial Services

National Rank (Nigeria)

0

View

National Rank (Nigeria)

0

View

Global Rank (WorldWide)

0

Browse
View full page

4th

Wave
SB Score:349

Wave creates lifelike avatars of musicians for interactive virtual performances, helping artists earn money through gaming and entertainment. Their technology enables virtual concerts on a digital stage, blending music and gaming for a unique and engaging experience.

Industry:
Social & Leisure
Subindustry:
Entertainment

National Rank (Senegal)

0

View

National Rank (Senegal)

0

View

Global Rank (WorldWide)

0

Browse
View full page

Total amount:4

Best Countries for Startups

StartupBlink ranks the startup ecosystems of more than 100 countries and 1,000 cities. Download our latest Global Startup Ecosystem Report.
Global RankCountryTotal ScoreAnnual Growth

Access subscores for 1000 cities and 100 countries

Quantity Score
Quality ScoreBusiness Score
1st
0
United States
314.096
0.0%
00.00
00.00
00.00
2nd
0
United Kingdom
80.114
0.0%
00.00
00.00
00.00
3rd
0
Israel
71.462
0.0%
00.00
00.00
00.00
4th
0
Singapore
68.043
0.0%
00.00
00.00
00.00
5th
0
Canada
49.534
0.0%
00.00
00.00
00.00
6th
0
Sweden
40.781
0.0%
00.00
00.00
00.00
7th
0
Germany
37.644
0.0%
00.00
00.00
00.00
8th
+
1
Switzerland
36.108
0.0%
00.00
00.00
00.00
9th
+
3
Australia
35.438
0.0%
00.00
00.00
00.00
10th
0
The Netherlands
34.514
0.0%
00.00
00.00
00.00
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