A unicorn is a startup marked at USD 1 Billion or more. These are highly innovative and market disruptive startups. Nigeria has more than 26.3K+ startups. Of these, 5 have become Unicorns, with the latest entrant to the club being Moniepoint on Oct 29, 2024. In 2026, Nigeria has seen no new unicorn startups.
Globally, Nigeria is number 25 in terms of total Unicorns created, behind Luxembourg (5 unicorns) at rank 24 and Spain (6 unicorns) at rank 23. Lagos leads the list of cities in Nigeria with most unicorns at 4. It is followed by Port Harcourt (1 unicorn). Among sectors, Retail has seen the most unicorns created at 4, followed by FinTech at 4, and Enterprise Applications at 2
Here is a list of all 5 unicorns created in Nigeria:
5. Moniepoint
Moniepoint joined the Unicorn Club on Oct 29, 2024 after raising a $110M Series C funding round led by Development Partners International, valuing it at $1B.
Provider of integrated financial services for businesses and individuals. It offers a comprehensive platform encompassing payments processing, banking solutions, credit facilities, and business management tools. These services are designed to streamline financial operations and facilitate growth for its clientele. The platform aims to provide seamless access to essential financial resources.
Key facts about Moniepoint
- Founded Year: 2019
- Location: London (United Kingdom)
- Stage: Series C
- Primary Sector: Payments, Banking Tech and Alternative Lending
- Time to Unicorn: 5 years 9 months
- Top investors : Visa, Google
- Valuation: $*****
- Total Funding till date: $266M
- Employee Count: 5,310 as on May 31, 2026
- Latest Funding Round: Series C, Nov 03, 2025, $*****
4. Maser
Maser joined the Unicorn Club on Jun 01, 2022 after raising a $500M Series D funding round.
Provider of consumer electronic products. It products portfolio encompasses a wide range of categories, including home appliances, smartwatches, and sound systems. Its dedication to offering outstanding client experiences.
Key facts about Maser
- Founded Year: 2014
- Location: Port Harcourt (Nigeria)
- Stage: Series D
- Primary Sector: Consumer Electronics E-Commerce and Smart Homes
- Time to Unicorn: 8 years 5 months
- Valuation: $*****
- Total Funding till date: $500M
- Latest Funding Round: Series D, 2022, $*****
3. OPay
OPay joined the Unicorn Club on Aug 23, 2021 after raising a $400M Series C funding round led by SoftBank Vision Fund, valuing it at $2B.
Provider of financial services including transfers, bill payments, and debit cards. It facilitates account funding and transfers to other bank accounts. The company offers debit cards for payments at ATMs, POS systems, and online platforms. It also provides a service that allows users to earn daily interest.
Key facts about OPay
2. Flutterwave
Flutterwave joined the Unicorn Club on Mar 09, 2021
Provider of payment solutions for online and physical business transactions. It offers tools for accepting payments, payouts, transfers, and creating online stores. The company provides application programming interfaces for developers to integrate payment functionalities. It also facilitates tuition payments and event ticket purchases.
Key facts about Flutterwave
- Founded Year: 2016
- Location: San Francisco (United States)
- Stage: Series E
- Primary Sector: Payments
- Time to Unicorn: 5 years 2 months
- Top investors : Glynn Capital, Alrai Capital
- Valuation: $*****
- Total Funding till date: $489M
- Employee Count: 875 as on May 31, 2026
- Latest Funding Round: Series E, Jun 16, 2026, $*****
1. Interswitch
Interswitch joined the Unicorn Club on Nov 11, 2019 after raising a $200M Series D funding round led by Visa, valuing it at $1B.
Provider of technology solutions facilitating financial services and digital transactions. The company delivers platforms for individuals, small businesses, enterprises, and developers. It offers tools for payment processing, wellness, energy, real estate, mobility, and government sectors. The company provides resources such as a blog, press updates, support, and developer tools.
