About startup landscape in Zambia
Zambia has over 1,388 startups across the country. Of these, 168 are funded companies that have collectively raised $1.11B in venture capital and private equity. A total of 138 investors have participated in 199 funding rounds, with 10 startups securing early-stage funding. In the last five years, 227 new companies have been founded, raising over $5.4M in funding. Startups in Zambia have witnessed 18 acquisitions and 11 IPOs, while 284 startups wrapped up operations. Additionally, 33 companies have been founded by women.
Top Companies in Zambia
Zamtel is the top company in Zambia, ranked using Tracxn Score (what's this?).
Here are 5 of the top companies in Zambia:
Company | Description | Location | Founded | Current Stage | Private Funding Raised |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Integrated telecommunication services provider | Lusaka (Zambia) | 1913 | Unfunded | - | |
Generates, distributes and supplies electricity in Zambia | Lusaka (Zambia) | 1970 | Funding Raised | - | |
Online lending marketplace for consumer and business loans | Lusaka (Zambia) | 2016 | Series A | $20.5M | |
Private equity fund focused on multiple sectors | Johannesburg (South Africa) | 2005 | Unfunded | - | |
A boutique investment firm specializing in seed capital for the telecom sector | Dubai (United Arab Emirates) | 2024 | Unfunded | - |
Recent Funding Rounds in Zambia
In the year 2026, till February 2026, $11.3M has been raised in 2 equity
funding rounds across Zambia.
Here are some recent, important funding rounds in Zambia:Company | Round Raised | Amount Raised | Funding Date | Investors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Seed | 1521 | Feb 25, 2026 | - | |
Series A | 1600 | Feb 17, 2026 | and 2 more | |
Seed | 5918 | Dec 10, 2025 | ||
Seed | 4951 | Jul 03, 2024 | ||
Seed | 3668 | Jun 03, 2024 | and 3 more |
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- 1.4K+ Total Companies
- $1.11B+ Total Funding
- 165+ Funded Companies
- 10+ IPOs
- 15+ Acquisitions
Top Investors in Zambia
Europa is the top investor in companies of Zambia based on number of companies invested.
Here are some top investors in Zambia:
Investor | Location | Top Portfolio Companies |
|---|---|---|
Washington, DC (United States) | ||
Lusaka (Zambia) | ||
Lusaka (Zambia) | ||
Acquisitions in Zambia
In the year 2026, till March 2026, 2 acquisitions happened in Zambia. Last year, in 2025, a total of 1 acquisition happened in Zambia.
Here are some recent, important acquisitions in Zambia:
Company | Acquisition Type | Acquisition Date | Acquirers |
|---|---|---|---|
Business Acquisition | Mar 03, 2026 | ||
Business Acquisition | Feb 18, 2026 | ||
Business Acquisition | Jun 13, 2025 | ||
Business Acquisition | Feb 23, 2024 | ||
Business Acquisition | Jan 24, 2024 |
IPOs in Zambia
In the year 2011, till June 2011, 1 IPO happened in Zambia.
Here are some recent, important IPOs in Zambia:
Company | IPO Date | Exchange Symbol |
|---|---|---|
Jun 23, 2011 | London Stock Exchange (LSE) | |
Sep 25, 2003 | Euronext Exchange (Euronext) |
Top News about startups in Zambia
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Western Union and Chipper Cash Partner for Money Transfer ServicesPYMNTS.com•Jul 31, 2025•Western Union, Zoona, Chipper Cash
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Western Union, Zoona, and Chipper Cash Launch International Money Transfer ServicesBusinessnewsthisweek•Jul 30, 2025•Western Union, Zoona, Chipper Cash
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Zambian card issuing startup Union54 raises $12M led by Tiger GlobalTechCrunch+•Apr 18, 2022•Not Boring Capital, Vibe Capital, Tiger Global Management, Union54 and 1 other
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Tiger Global leads $3M round in Zambia’s Union54 for its card-issuing APITechCrunch+•Oct 27, 2021•Union54, Y Combinator, Tiger Global Management, Runa Capital and 3 others
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