Several Nigerian and Nigeria founded startups raised funding in 2026, and Moove’s $250 million Series C in August was the largest single round. Nairametrics reported $184.7 million from 51 disclosed deals in the first half of 2026, compared with $178.3 million from 63 deals in the same period of 2025. Here is who raised money, what they are building and what the numbers tell you. CMA9ja tracks these rounds as they are announced.
Funding headlines can make the ecosystem look busy, but a few large deals often drive the totals. Looking at both the amounts and the number of deals gives a clearer picture.
How much Nigerian startups raised in 2026 so far
Nairametrics reported that funding in the first quarter fell 28 percent year on year, with $78.6 million raised across 15 deals. July was much quieter, with $4.9 million across six disclosed deals.
August changed the picture. Startups raised $364.1 million from 20 companies, and Moove alone accounted for about 69 percent of that total. September brought $11.3 million from nine startups. Adding the monthly figures gives roughly $565 million for January to September, though these reports count only disclosed deals.
The largest rounds
- Moove builds autonomous mobility infrastructure. It was founded in Nigeria in 2020 and is headquartered in the UAE. In August 2026 it raised a $250 million Series C at a reported $2.1 billion valuation, led by Mubadala.
- Yellow Card provides stablecoin payments and settlement infrastructure. It announced a $40 million strategic round in August 2026, backed by SC Ventures, Sony Innovation Fund, Polychain and Blockchain Capital.
- Terra Industries makes defence drones and autonomous sentry towers. It was founded in 2024, and its seed round reached $52 million across raises in January, February and August 2026.
Fintech and stablecoin rounds
Payments and stablecoin companies took a large share of 2026 funding. Checker raised $8 million in May 2026 for an API that gives institutions stablecoin liquidity. Nomba secured $3 million in debt financing from CardinalStone in September 2026, which is a loan rather than equity. Cardtonic raised a $2.1 million seed round in January 2026 for a virtual dollar card that businesses use for spending.
Education, logistics and deep tech
Tuteria, an online tutor marketplace, raised $2.6 million from Enza Capital and Chui Ventures in the first half of 2026. MAX (Metro Africa Xpress) works in mobility, logistics and electric vehicle financing, and it raised a round in January 2026. Reports differ on the amount, with some saying $24 million and others $32 million. ChipMango, a deep tech company, raised a $1.9 million seed round and a further $200,000 in September 2026.
A single large round can make a whole month look strong, so the number of deals is often the better sign of how healthy the ecosystem is.
What the numbers tell you
Funding in Nigeria comes in waves, and one deal can change a month’s total. Founders who want to raise money should plan for slow periods and keep their runway long enough to avoid pressure. Investors also tend to ask for proof of revenue or traction before they commit.
If you follow funding news, check the date of each report and whether it counts only disclosed deals. That will stop you from comparing figures that were measured differently.
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