Funding Round (Amount): Pre-seed round

Investor(s): Salah Abou Elmagd, alongside angel investors

Founder(s): Nadeem Barakat

Founded in: Egypt (2024)

About Company

Business For Teens is a Cairo-based education startup focused on entrepreneurship and financial literacy for young learners. The company designs learning programmes for students in their early teens, combining classroom instruction with hands-on activities that simulate real business scenarios. Rather than relying on theory-heavy teaching, the platform emphasises practical exposure, encouraging students to build projects, make decisions, and understand how businesses operate in everyday settings.

The startup works directly with schools and education partners, integrating its programmes into existing learning environments. Since its launch, it has established partnerships across Egypt and parts of the Gulf, positioning itself within a growing demand for early skills development and workforce readiness.

What’s Next

The company plans to expand school partnerships and adapt its programmes for additional regional markets while strengthening its curriculum offering.

ACQUISITIONS

Flutterwave acquires Mono in a rare infrastructure-led exit

Flutterwave has acquired Nigerian open banking company Mono, completing one of the most closely watched fintech deals on the continent in recent years. The transaction brings together payments and bank data infrastructure under one roof, reflecting a broader shift among Africa’s largest fintech platforms toward owning core financial plumbing. Rather than folding Mono into its brand, Flutterwave plans to keep the product running independently, with the same leadership team and a clear focus on infrastructure depth rather than market visibility. The move allows Flutterwave to strengthen how businesses verify accounts, move money between banks, and access financial data across its network.

For Mono, the acquisition represents a meaningful outcome in a market where exits of this scale remain uncommon. The company built its reputation by helping startups and financial institutions connect securely to bank accounts, enabling smoother onboarding and risk checks. By joining Flutterwave, Mono’s tools are expected to reach a wider range of merchants and developers without losing their identity. More broadly, the deal signals a maturing phase in African fintech, where consolidation is driven less by user growth and more by long-term platform resilience.

INVESTOR ACTIVITIES

British International Investment backs a landmark clean energy project in Egypt

British International Investment has committed capital to support a large solar and energy storage development in southern Egypt, reinforcing its focus on climate-aligned infrastructure across Africa. The project will strengthen Egypt’s position as a regional clean energy destination and reflect growing investor confidence in long-term power assets that combine generation with storage. Located in an area with strong natural conditions and existing grid links, the development is designed to deliver steady power while supporting national energy transition goals.

The project is led by AMEA Power, with support from international partners that bring technical and operational experience to Egypt’s renewable sector. By combining different forms of capital, the financing structure will help manage early risks and attract long-term investors to a complex infrastructure build. For Egypt, the project supports energy security, job creation, and a gradual shift away from fossil fuels. For BII, the investment aligns with its mandate to back infrastructure that delivers both economic and environmental value over time.

Development Partners International secures early backing for its next Africa fund

Development Partners International has secured a major commitment for its latest Africa-focused private equity fund, reinforcing institutional confidence in its long-standing investment approach. The backing positions the fund as a continuation of DPI’s strategy of supporting established African businesses with strong local demand and regional expansion potential. Rather than early-stage ventures, the fund will focus on companies that provide everyday services across consumer and business sectors, with an emphasis on building durable operations and governance.

DPI has built its reputation by working closely with management teams to professionalise businesses and support cross-border growth. Its earlier funds backed companies that expanded steadily despite challenging market conditions, helping shape a track record that continues to attract global investors. The new fund now enters the market at a time when patient capital is increasingly selective, favouring managers with proven execution. With early momentum in place, DPI is positioning the fund to play a central role in financing Africa’s next generation of scaled businesses.

Acumen closes a major blended finance initiative for energy access

Acumen has completed the close of its Hardest-to-Reach Initiative, marking a significant milestone in efforts to expand clean energy access across underserved African markets. The initiative brings together different types of capital to support businesses operating in places where traditional investment rarely goes. By combining catalytic funding with longer-term financing, Acumen aims to help energy providers reach communities that have historically been left out of grid expansion and commercial investment.

The initiative will support enterprises delivering distributed energy solutions to households and small businesses, with a focus on building sustainable markets rather than short-term interventions. This approach from Acumen reflects its long-standing belief that patient capital can unlock lasting impact when paired with local operators. For investors, the initiative demonstrates how blended finance can balance risk and return while addressing structural gaps in energy access. For communities, it represents a pathway toward more reliable power and the economic activity that follows.