Nigeria's technology sector has evolved from a small ecosystem of local problem-solvers into Africa's largest startup hub, producing more tech unicorns than any other African nation. Lagos alone attracted more than **$6 billion** in foreign startup funding between 2019 and 2024, accounting for over 70 percent of Nigeria's total technology investment inflows during that period.
Here are ten homegrown Nigerian tech brands that have expanded their footprint internationally.
**Reliance Health** began as Kangpe, a telemedicine app launched in 2015 by Dr. Femi Kuti, Opeyemi Olumekun, and Matthew Mayaki. The founders relaunched as Reliance Health in 2018, an integrated health maintenance organisation. By 2022, it covered over 200,000 individuals and 600 businesses including Beiersdorf Nivea, Jumia, and PwC, after raising a **$40 million Series B** — the largest African healthtech Series B at the time. It now operates in Egypt, Senegal, Kenya, and Ghana.
**Paga**, co-founded by Tayo Oviosu in 2009, acquired Ethiopia-based Apposit in 2020 and built Paga Engine, an enterprise payments API used by Western Union, Wise, and Flutterwave. Now UK-headquartered, Paga launched digital banking for the African diaspora in the US in 2025.
**LemFi** (originally Lemonade Finance) was co-founded by Ridwan Olalere and Rian Cochran in 2020. After acquiring UK e-money licence holder RightCard for **$2.5 million** in 2022, it entered the US in 2023 and Europe in 2025 via a partnership with Modulr Finance and the acquisition of Irish currency exchange firm Buttercrane. LemFi now serves over **2 million customers** across 27 send-from markets, processing more than **$1 billion** in monthly transaction volume on **$85 million** total funding.
**Moove** was founded in Lagos in 2020 by Ladi Delano and Jide Odunsi, offering revenue-based vehicle financing to ride-hailing drivers. Starting with 76 cars in Lagos, it has financed over **36,000 mobility entrepreneurs** across 20 markets and partnered with autonomous vehicle company Waymo.
**Kuda**, co-founded by Babs Ogundeyi and Musty Mustapha, obtained Nigeria's first digital-only banking licence from the CBN in 2019. It launched in the UK in 2022 and is now licensed in Canada and Tanzania.
**SeamlessHR**, built by Emmanuel Okeleji and Deji Lana, provides end-to-end cloud HR and payroll software used by nearly **2,000 enterprises** managing over **300,000 employees** across 20 African countries, with offices in Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya.
**Moniepoint** began as TeamApt in 2015. After pivoting to agent banking, it processed over **14 billion transactions** worth approximately **N412 trillion ($294 billion)** in 2025. Eight out of every ten in-person payments in Nigeria now run through its network.
**Interswitch**, founded in 2002 by Mitchell Elegbe, became Nigeria's first tech unicorn after Visa acquired a minority stake in 2020. It operates across 23 African countries.
**Flutterwave**, founded in 2016, raised **$250 million** at a **$3 billion** valuation by 2022. It holds payment licences in 34 African countries, supports 150+ currencies, and secured 34 US Money Transmitter Licences.
**Paystack**, founded in 2015 by Shola Akinlade and Ezra Olubi, was acquired by Stripe for over **$200 million** in 2020 — the largest startup exit in Nigerian history. It now operates across 40+ countries and became the first African payment gateway partner for Apple Pay.
