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Business Insider
01-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Lagos Startup Week turns 10: Africa's biggest startup gathering returns this July 2025
Get ready for a historic celebration as Lagos Startup Week (LSW), Africa's most influential gathering for innovators and entrepreneurs, announces its 10th-anniversary edition! This landmark event, themed "DND – Disrupting the Next Decade," Happening July 7–12, 2025, Lagos Startup Week will feature city-wide activities and experiences designed to engage the entire innovation ecosystem from community meetups and pitch competitions to masterclasses and exhibitions. The main conference will take place on July 10th and 11th at the iconic Civic Centre, bringing together founders, investors, creatives, and policymakers for two days of high-impact content and networking. Lagos Startup Week turns 10: Africa's biggest startup gathering returns this July 2025 Ten years ago, under the visionary guidance of Olumide Olayinka, Partner Prime Startups, Lagos Startup Week was born to ignite a movement and shape the future of innovation across Africa. What began as a nascent idea in 2015 has blossomed into a powerful reality. Fast forward to 2025, and Lagos is not merely participating in the global startup narrative; it's actively shaping it. Consistently ranked among Africa's most active startup cities by and Partech, Lagos has seen Nigerian startups attract over $3.5 billion in venture capital, launch globally relevant companies, and foster a new wave of digital pioneers. The city now proudly boasts five unicorns—Interswitch, Flutterwave, Jumia, OPay, and Moniepoint and has seen its ecosystem valuation grow 11.6x since 2017, proving its standing ahead of global cities like Istanbul and Pune. "This is more than an event. This is where Africa's future gets prototyped," shares Olumide Olayinka, Partner at Prime Startups and the driving force behind Lagos Startup Week. He passionately adds, "Lagos Startup Week was never just an event; it is a bold commitment to investing in the future of African innovation, entrepreneurship, and inclusive growth. it was always a declaration. This city needed a platform where founders could breathe, build, and belong. Ten years later, we are still doing that, but now on a massive scale, and with the entire world watching." This 10th edition is going to be unforgettable! Imagine over 5,000 attendees hosted at the iconic Civic Centre for two days of pure inspiration. We're talking four stages buzzing with ideas, and electrifying Demo Days showcasing the tech that will literally shape our tomorrow. Whether you're looking to launch your big idea, scaling your existing business, or doing from the insights that will be shared by our guests and speakers, you'll connect with top tech experts, industry titans, forward-thinking regulators, and investors ready to back the next big thing. Our "DND – Disrupting the Next Decade" theme isn't just a catchy phrase. It's a deep dive into what it truly takes to build and thrive in complex markets, how Africa's most daring innovations grow, from humble garages to city rooftops, and how we, together, will define the next 10 years of entrepreneurial impact. This year, we're putting a spotlight on the founders who aren't just creating products but rewriting the entire narratives through their resilience and disruptive thinking. Get ready to be inspired by a lineup of visionary leaders and innovators who are shaping Africa's tech landscape. This year, Lagos Startup Week will feature dynamic voices whose dedication to disruption and entrepreneurial growth extends far beyond their impressive titles. We are excited to announce an initial roster of speakers, including: Jason Njoku, Founder & CEO, IROKO; Ngozi Dozie, Co-Founder, Carbon; Tosin Faniro-Dada, Partner, Breega; Ireayo Oladunjoye, MD & CEO, Endeavour Nigeria; Satoshi Shinada, Partner/Co-Founder Verod Kepple Africa Ventures, Wole Ayodele, CEO, Fincra; Tito Cookey-Gam, Principal, Partech; Aniedi Udo-Obong, Developer Ecosystem Program Partnerships, Google; Kayode Adeyinka, CEO, Gigmile; Oladunni Fanibe, Accelerator Portfolio Manager Africa, Google; and Akinbola Asalu, CEO, Aktivate just to mention a few. The Lagos Startup Week's team is going ahead to curate for more speaker announcements, so keep an eye out for updates! Our past editions have welcomed giants like Steve Case (AOL / Revolution VC), Michael Seibel (Y Combinator), and local legends like Shola Akinlade (Co-founder, Paystack). And we've showcased early-stage gems that are now household names, including Flutterwave, Moniepoint, and Paystack (acquired by Stripe for over $200 million). Lagos Startup Week is powered by Prime Startups, more than just an organizer, they're an ecosystem builder. They champion African founders all year long, offering support, forging cross-border partnerships, and engaging with policy to lay the groundwork for Africa's next wave of high-growth ventures. In a world that's constantly shifting and digitizing, Lagos Startup Week isn't just a date on the calendar. It's a barometer for how emerging markets will define the future of commerce, connectivity, and capital. It's the place where Africa builds, and the world can't help but watch. Join us in Lagos this July. The future isn't coming. It's being built right here, right now! Eko for Show!
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mercanis Secures Over $20 Million in Series A Round
Ensuring Supply Chain Efficiency through AI Founders Mercanis Berlin, June 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The company receives fresh capital from new investors Partech and AVP, as well as from existing investors. Mercanis enables over 40% process cost savings and supports clients such as BASF-Coatings, GASAG, Goldbeck, Wilson, and Brose. The funds will be used to further develop Agentic AI and support the upcoming expansion plans, including into the U.S. Berlin, June 18, 2025 – In its latest Series A round, Mercanis, a Berlin-based startup for Agentic-AI procurement solutions, has raised over $20 million. The round was led by new investors Partech and AVP, with additional funding from existing investors, including Capmont Technology, and Speedinvest. Well-known business angels like Dr. Ulrich Piepel, Dr. Marcell Vollmer, Mirko Novakovic (Instana & Dash0), and Victor Jacobsson (Klarna) continue their support for additional capital will be used to further strengthen the company's leadership position in Agentic-AI and accelerate its international expansion, including entry into the U.S. market. Fabian Heinrich, CEO and Co-Founder of Mercanis, states: "The trust placed in us by both long-standing and new investors is not only a powerful endorsement of our mission, but also a driving force behind our ongoing commitment to excellence. With this funding, we can expand our AI solution and accelerate our international expansion – particularly into the U.S. In times of geopolitical and economic uncertainty, our technology empowers companies far beyond Germany to build more resilient procurement operations that safeguard their supply chains and protect their bottom line.' Next-generation AI-powered procurementFounded in 2020 by Fabian Heinrich and Moritz Weiermann, Mercanis aims to reshape procurement processes with its Agentic-AI Procurement Suite. The cloud-based platform combines procurement, supplier management, and contract management. Intelligent agents autonomously handle operational tasks, while AI continuously analyzes procurement data to uncover savings opportunities, enhance strategic decisions, and drive measurable results—delivering over 40% process savings, a 2.5x increase in efficiency, and a 12x return on investment. 'Mercanis has transformed the way we manage suppliers and execute procurement projects. What used to take days now takes only hours. The automation and transparency help us act faster and make better decisions – especially when multiple stakeholders are involved. It's a must-have for any procurement team looking to modernize,' says Uwe Kreplin, Head of Procurement at GASAG. In addition to GASAG, Mercanis also counts BASF-Coatings, Goldbeck, Wilson, and Brose among its clients. Within just a few years, Mercanis has established itself as a trusted partner to multinational firms, with impressive traction across organizations now procuring billions through the platform,' says Philippe Collombel, Founding and General Partner at Partech. 'We are particularly impressed by the strength of their product and its ability to drive adoption at scale,' adds Magda Poslusny, Principal at Partech. 'By automating key procurement processes, Mercanis not only boosts operational efficiency but also drives meaningful cost savings by engaging a broader supplier base. We are confident Mercanis is on track to become a category leader in procurement.'About Mercanis:Mercanis offers an Agentic-Ai Procurement Suite that covers the entire procurement process – from supplier selection to contract signing. The solution includes four key modules: Spend Analytics, Sourcing & Request Processes (RFx), Supplier Management (SRM), and Contract Management. With the integrated Mercu AI Co-Pilot, repetitive tasks like supplier discovery, risk detection, intake management and offer comparison are automated, leading to significant efficiency improvements and over 40% process savings. Founded in 2020 by Fabian Heinrich and Moritz Weiermann, Mercanis supports prominent clients like BASF-Coatings, GASAG, Goldbeck, Wilson, and Brose in digitizing their procurement processes. The company is based in Berlin and currently employs over 40 Partech: Partech is a global tech investment firm headquartered in Paris, with offices in Berlin, Dakar, Dubai, Nairobi, and San Francisco. Partech brings together capital, operational experience, and strategic support to back entrepreneurs from seed to growth stage. Born in San Francisco 40 years ago, today Partech manages €2.5B AUM and a current portfolio of 220 companies, spread across 40 countries and 4 Founders Mercanis CONTACT: Sabrina Rymarowicz Zossener Straße 56-58 10961 Berlin sabrina@
Business Insider
16-06-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Lagos Startup Week turns 10: Celebrating a decade of Africa-led innovation
Fast forward to 2025: Lagos is not just participating in the global startup narrative, it's shaping it. From Dealroom to Partech, Lagos is consistently ranked among Africa's most active startup cities, attracting founders, VCs, and global tech operators. Born in 2015 under the vision of Prime Startups, Lagos Startup Week was launched to spark a movement: one that would not just showcase startups, but shape the very future of innovation across Africa. That vision has now become a reality. In 2025, as LSW celebrates its 10th edition, Lagos has earned its place on the global tech map. According to and Partech reports, Lagos is now one of the most active startup ecosystems on the continent, with Nigerian startups attracting over $3.5 billion in venture capital funding, launching globally relevant startups , and fostering a new wave of digital pioneers redefining what's possible ahead of Istanbul, Turkey and Pune, India. having created five unicorns and grown its ecosystem valuation 11.6x since 2017 despite having a smaller economy,' the report stated. According to the report, Lagos is home to five unicorns, comprising Interswitch, Flutterwave, Jumia, OPay, and Moniepoint, which makes the state stand out and the major acquisition of Paystack by Stripe for over $200 million. The event organisers have curated a range of activities for over 5,000 attendees. Participants will have the opportunity to learn from tech experts and business leaders, gain valuable advice on scaling or starting a business, and network with high-profile entrepreneurs,regulators and investors. Lagos Startup Week is undeniably the destination for anyone seeking to forge connections within the global tech industry. 'This is more than an event. This is where Africa's future gets prototyped,' says Olumide Olayinka, Partner, Prime Startups and Convener of Lagos Startup Week. What began as a grassroots gathering has evolved into one of the continent's most consequential platforms for innovation, venture, and ecosystem development. The 10th edition of Lagos Startup Week marks more than a milestone; it signals a new era. Under the bold theme 'DND – Disrupting the Next Decade,' LSW 2025 will examine what it takes to build in complex markets, elevate African-led innovation on the global stage, and define the next 10 years of entrepreneurial impact. From resilience to radical thinking, this year's event will spotlight founders who are not just building products but rewriting narratives. LSW is proudly powered by Prime Startups, an ecosystem builder supporting African founders beyond the event stage. Through year-round founder support, cross-border ecosystem partnerships, and policy engagement, Prime Startups is helping to lay the foundation for Africa's next wave of high-growth ventures. According to Olumide Olayinka, Co-organiser and Partner at Prime Startups. ' Lagos Startup Week was never just an event; it was always a declaration. Olumide said that 'the city needed a platform where founders could breathe, build, and belong. Ten years later, we are still doing that at scale, and with global attention.' THE LSW EXPERIENCE– 2025 AGENDA HIGHLIGHTS 📅 Dates: July 7–12, 2025 📍 Venue: Civic Centre, Lagos, Nigeria 🌍 Theme: DND – Disrupting the Next Decade To accommodate the expanding scope of this landmark edition, the event will span seven floors of the iconic Civic Centre for three unforgettable days. This year's edition promises to be even more spectacular, featuring 4 stages and Demo Days, all designed to showcase the visionary technology that will shape our collective future. Expect: Previous editions have welcomed visionaries such as: WHY THIS MATTERS In an era of global realignment and digital acceleration, Lagos Startup Week is more than a timestamp. It's a bellwether for how emerging markets will define the future of commerce, connectivity, and capital. It's where Africa builds and the world watches. Join us in Lagos this July. The future isn't coming. It's being built here. Watch 2024 recap: Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a seasoned industry leader, or an enthusiast looking to stay ahead of the curve, Lagos Startup Week is the ultimate destination to witness the cutting edge of innovation. See you there!
Associated Press
11-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
CloudQuery Grows 4x YoY Raising $16M to Accelerate Enterprise Cloud Governance
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 11, 2025-- CloudQuery, the developer-first cloud governance platform, today announced 4x Year over Year growth metrics which has resulted in a $16 million funding round led by Partech. This round includes continued support from Boldstart, Tiger Global and Work-Bench. Reza Malekzadeh, General Partner at Partech, joins the board. The new capital will be used to expand CloudQuery's product into broader governance, security, and compliance use cases, scale go-to-market efforts with a focus on Fortune 500 adoption, and invest in strategic partnerships to accelerate platform growth. As cloud adoption accelerates, platform, security, and DevOps teams face growing challenges in gaining real-time visibility across fragmented infrastructure. CloudQuery takes a developer-first approach to cloud governance and cloud asset inventory by turning data from 60+ sources, including AWS, GCP, Azure, Okta, and Wiz, into a single, queryable data warehouse. The platform delivers out-of-the-box insights for security, compliance, and cost, while enabling teams to build custom dashboards and alerts, without writing complex data pipelines or managing heavy infrastructure. 'CloudQuery enables us to scale and tailor our security and compliance efforts across both cloud and IT environments,' said Tony Snook, Engineering Manager at Reddit. 'Its powerful asset inventory platform, extensive out-of-the-box integrations, and flexible plugin framework have helped us build a governance observability stack that fits our exact needs.' Over the past year, CloudQuery has achieved rapid growth across all fronts: 'Partech brings deep experience in scaling global enterprise software companies, and we're excited to have them lead this next chapter,' said Yevgeny Pats, CEO and founder of CloudQuery. 'Their partnership, combined with continued support from our existing investors, is a strong vote of confidence in our vision to become the cloud governance backbone for the modern enterprise. We're building a platform that gives security, compliance, and platform teams the control and visibility they need, without the friction of legacy tools.' 'CloudQuery is redefining how enterprises approach cloud governance — offering a developer-first, extensible platform that brings clarity and control to today's complex infrastructure environments,' said Reza Malekzadeh, Partner at Partech. 'Their open architecture, strong traction, and sharp focus on security and compliance challenges make them uniquely positioned to lead this category, and we're excited to support them as they scale.' About CloudQuery CloudQuery is the developer-first cloud governance platform that helps platform, security, and compliance teams gain full visibility and control over their cloud infrastructure. Trusted by Fortune 500 companies and leading enterprises across finance, automotive, and gaming, CloudQuery enables organizations to monitor configuration, enforce policies, and drive cost and security insights at scale. Founded by serial entrepreneur Yevgeny Pats, CloudQuery has raised a total of $34.5 million from top-tier investors including Partech, Tiger Global, Boldstart Ventures, and Work-Bench. Learn more at About Partech Partech is a global tech investment firm headquartered in Paris, with offices in Berlin, Dakar, Dubai, Nairobi, and San Francisco. Partech brings together capital, operational experience, and strategic support to back entrepreneurs from seed to growth stage. Born in San Francisco 40 years ago, today Partech manages €2.5B AUM and a current portfolio of 220 companies, spread across 40 countries and 4 continents. View source version on CONTACT: Media contact Oriel Belzer, VP Sales [email protected]/ +1-408-513-5253 KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA NEW YORK INDUSTRY KEYWORD: INTERNET SECURITY DATA MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY SOFTWARE SOURCE: CloudQuery Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 06/11/2025 09:30 AM/DISC: 06/11/2025 09:28 AM
Business Wire
11-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
CloudQuery Grows 4x YoY Raising $16M to Accelerate Enterprise Cloud Governance
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- CloudQuery, the developer-first cloud governance platform, today announced 4x Year over Year growth metrics which has resulted in a $16 million funding round led by Partech. This round includes continued support from Boldstart, Tiger Global and Work-Bench. Reza Malekzadeh, General Partner at Partech, joins the board. The new capital will be used to expand CloudQuery's product into broader governance, security, and compliance use cases, scale go-to-market efforts with a focus on Fortune 500 adoption, and invest in strategic partnerships to accelerate platform growth. With 4x YoY growth and adoption by Fortune 500s, CloudQuery delivers real-time cloud visibility across security, compliance, and cost Share As cloud adoption accelerates, platform, security, and DevOps teams face growing challenges in gaining real-time visibility across fragmented infrastructure. CloudQuery takes a developer-first approach to cloud governance and cloud asset inventory by turning data from 60+ sources, including AWS, GCP, Azure, Okta, and Wiz, into a single, queryable data warehouse. The platform delivers out-of-the-box insights for security, compliance, and cost, while enabling teams to build custom dashboards and alerts, without writing complex data pipelines or managing heavy infrastructure. 'CloudQuery enables us to scale and tailor our security and compliance efforts across both cloud and IT environments,' said Tony Snook, Engineering Manager at Reddit. 'Its powerful asset inventory platform, extensive out-of-the-box integrations, and flexible plugin framework have helped us build a governance observability stack that fits our exact needs." Over the past year, CloudQuery has achieved rapid growth across all fronts: Quadrupled ARR Quadrupled its customer base, including four Fortune 500 financial institutions and major enterprises in automotive, gaming, and finance Doubled team size and recently acquired Tailwarden Expanded its product from a popular data movement engine into a full-featured cloud governance platform 'Partech brings deep experience in scaling global enterprise software companies, and we're excited to have them lead this next chapter,' said Yevgeny Pats, CEO and founder of CloudQuery. 'Their partnership, combined with continued support from our existing investors, is a strong vote of confidence in our vision to become the cloud governance backbone for the modern enterprise. We're building a platform that gives security, compliance, and platform teams the control and visibility they need, without the friction of legacy tools.' 'CloudQuery is redefining how enterprises approach cloud governance — offering a developer-first, extensible platform that brings clarity and control to today's complex infrastructure environments,' said Reza Malekzadeh, Partner at Partech. 'Their open architecture, strong traction, and sharp focus on security and compliance challenges make them uniquely positioned to lead this category, and we're excited to support them as they scale.' About CloudQuery CloudQuery is the developer-first cloud governance platform that helps platform, security, and compliance teams gain full visibility and control over their cloud infrastructure. Trusted by Fortune 500 companies and leading enterprises across finance, automotive, and gaming, CloudQuery enables organizations to monitor configuration, enforce policies, and drive cost and security insights at scale. Founded by serial entrepreneur Yevgeny Pats, CloudQuery has raised a total of $34.5 million from top-tier investors including Partech, Tiger Global, Boldstart Ventures, and Work-Bench. Learn more at About Partech Partech is a global tech investment firm headquartered in Paris, with offices in Berlin, Dakar, Dubai, Nairobi, and San Francisco. Partech brings together capital, operational experience, and strategic support to back entrepreneurs from seed to growth stage. Born in San Francisco 40 years ago, today Partech manages €2.5B AUM and a current portfolio of 220 companies, spread across 40 countries and 4 continents.
