Africa has become home to various great startups and new businesses which have been helping the economy and contributed greatly to their countries in terms of employment, stability, revenue, etc.
Many people have been looking for places apart from their countries to develop their businesses and startups, this article is going to address that. In this article, you are going to read about the top ten best African cities to have a startup in.
In recent years, Africa has become one of the growing hubs for development and business growth. This continent houses so many countries and cities that are giving way for growth and evolution to happen both in the tech space and the white-collar world at large.
According to Business Insider, these are the top ten best African cities one can decide to start a business or a tech-related venture. They are written in order of their ranks as well as their index globally.
1. Lagos
Lagos is ranked as number one in Africa and one of the states in Nigeria. It has an index of 8.230 and is ranked number 82 globally. Lagos ranks number one on the list because of its inclusion and diversity.
It is the best city to have a startup in right now because of its mass population and room for growth and opportunities. Many Nigerians leave their hometown to have greener pastures in this great city, and this makes Lagos a good base for a target audience who can patronise businesses and startups.
2. Cairo
Cairo is one of the greatest cities in the world. It is located in Egypt and is also its capital. It has an index of 5.682 and is the one hundred and twenty-fourth (124th) country to have the best influence over startups, globally.
Despite their ancient history, Egypt is one of the fast-developing countries that are fostering growth across the continent, and Cairo is just the place to grow.
3. Cape Town
This city is located in South Africa and is the third-best African country for a startup. Cape Town has become more popular over the last few years and is known to be a growing hub for startups. It has an index of 5.188 and is ranked number one hundred and thirty-six (136) on the global board.
4. Nairobi
This is the capital of Kenya and one of the cities known for great development and inclusion. Many jobs have been created because of this city, and they have included other African residents to also partake in their development.
Nairobi is found in Kenya with an index of 5.185 and is the one hundred and thirty-seventh (137th) best country in the whole world.
5. Johannesburg
This is the capital of the country South Africa and an enormous yet beautiful city. Growth happens in this capital and a lot of startups can be found in this city. These people could not miss their chance, and so should anyone who dreams of having a booming startup, not miss an opportunity too. Its index is 4.097 and it is the one hundred and fifty-sixth (156th) country best for startups globally.
6. Victoria
Victoria is the capital and largest city of the country Seychelles, found in East Africa. It is the city that has made the greatest progress from where it was in the ranking to the top best African cities for startups.
Victoria is blessed with beautiful tourist centres suitable for sight-seeing and most importantly, businesses and startups, and most of the startups found in Victoria are in Fintech and Marketing. It is ranked 232nd globally, and its index is 2.172.
7. Accra
This is the capital city of Ghana and one of the best cities in Africa. It is rich in culture and population so it is not a surprise that this city is one of the best for startups. They are also welcoming and friendly to their fellow African countries and even foreigners, which in turn boosts their ecosystem for startups and the economy at large.
Accra is home to known businesses such as Chipper Cash, Enterprise Group, Jetstream Africa, etc. It has an index of 1.693 and is ranked as the two hundred and sixty-eighth (268th) in the world.
8. Port Louis
This is found in Mauritius and is a great startup ecosystem. It is ranked number three in Eastern Africa and number two hundred and ninety (290) globally. Port Louis is home to startups such as Kreek Africa Team, EXPAT.COM, etc. Its environment and atmosphere are very friendly for businesses, and they offer enough room for growth.
As of April 2023, there were twenty-six (26) Fintech startups in Port Louis, and this is enough evidence that the city is not overly crowded. It has an index of 1.426.
9. Dakar
Dakar is the capital of the African country Senegal. It is rich in population and is ranked as the third best in Western Africa. It has a population of over ten million citizens and non-indigenes, and this creates an environment that promises patronage, growth, diversity and inclusivity.
The city is notable for startup success stories like that of Baobab Plus, Compeel, Quality Foods, etc. It is ranked as three hundred and ninety-nine in the world and has an index number of 1.071.
10. Tunis
This is the capital of Tunisia, and it is home to startups such as Expensya, Millesima Technologies, Med. tn, Artify, etc. It has an index of 0.966 and is ranked as the three hundred and sixtieth (360th) best startup company in the world.
This capital has the feel every startup company will wish to have, and they have a great ecosystem suitable for them. Tunisia is ranked first in the MENA region in terms of accessible talent and is currently ranked as the second best in Northern Africa.
These capitals and cities have been picked as the best for startups in the entire Africa and have been exquisitely recommended.
Researched By: Safiya Onayi Ahmed
