Web3 in Africa is no longer a question of potential. It’s a matter of execution. We’re introducing 20 startups selected for Batch 2 of the Lisk African Incubation Hub, powered by CV Labs. Each one tackles a clear use case from remittances and mental health, to clean energy and cross-border payments. The cohort spans the continent, backed by a program built to support growth, funding, and scale. 

This program is part of Lisk’s broader mission to support founders in high-growth markets — providing the infrastructure, capital access, and strategic backing they need to build real-world Web3 solutions.

Meet the startups building what’s next.

DeFi: Building Africa’s Next Finance Layer

A high number of Africans are still locked out of traditional banking. But this cohort isn’t waiting for legacy systems to catch up. They’re building modern financial tools that are simpler, safer, and accessible to millions. From stablecoin wallets to real-time gig payouts, these startups are building Africa’s next financial layer. They're combining the reliability of Web2 with the transparency and control of Web3. Whether it's remittances, SME credit, cooperative finance, or direct-to-wallet contractor payments, this cohort is focused on access, speed, and trust.

• Azza: A WhatsApp-based crypto agent that enables users to trade stablecoins efficiently and securely.

• BlockCoop: A decentralized finance platform for SACCOs, automating guarantor pools, share trading, and liquidity management to improve financial inclusion and governance.

• ETHQub: A blockchain-powered community lending system, digitizing Ethiopia’s traditional rotating savings model where members contribute and receive pooled funds in cycles.

• Lucred: A digital credit provider, offering BNPL, salary advances, and asset financing through vetted merchants, using AI for credit scoring among underserved users.

• MyAza: An AI-driven digital banking platform that supports cross-border payments, multi-currency wallets, and financial automation tools across Africa.

• Rafiki: A real-time payout solution, facilitating instant and secure disbursements for P2P subcontractors and flexible teams.

• RemittEase: A business-focused remittance platform enabling fast and efficient cross-border transfers for SMEs across Africa.

• Studio Claris (Prosperi): A crypto-enabled sales and records tool that helps African small businesses manage operations and accept digital payments.

• Swahilies: A business finance platform for African SMEs that enables easy transaction tracking, credit score building, and access to credit and supplier payments.

HealthTech and Wellness: Making Care More Accessible

From mental health to medicine access, startups in this cohort are rethinking what healthcare can look like in a digitally connected, decentralized world. These teams are using blockchain and AI as core tools to improve access, affordability, and transparency. Whether it’s helping patients find life-saving medications, delivering culturally relevant therapy through AI, or connecting clinics to a wider ecosystem of care, these solutions are built with real needs in mind. They're not replacing healthcare systems, they’re reinforcing them. Making healthcare smarter, faster, and closer to the communities that need it most.

• Imisi Healthcare: A B2B healthtech marketplace and SaaS platform powered by AI. Connects patients, clinics, and healthcare providers across Africa.

• Lifeline: A blockchain-powered pharmaceutical platform that helps patients access medication and testing through smart contracts and AI diagnostics on Celo and Hyperledger.

• Therabot: An AI-driven mental wellness platform that offers personalized therapy through voice-enabled bots, avatar sessions, group therapy, and corporate wellness features.

DePIN and RWA Tokenization: Sustainability as a Priority

These startups show that blockchain’s utility extends well beyond financial systems. This cohort is bringing decentralization to infrastructure such as energy, mobility, agriculture, and the mechanisms that support sustainable growth. One platform tokenizes renewable energy projects, opening up access to capital and clean power. Another builds EV fleets with built-in environmental tracking and token-based rewards. Together, they’re redefining how infrastructure is owned, financed, and monitored. Transparent, traceable, and designed for long-term impact. This is where green tech and Web3 converge, with tools built not just for efficiency but for sustainability.

• AxiMobility: A decentralized and sustainable transportation ecosystem that integrates an EV fleet with blockchain-based environmental tracking, shared ownership, and tokenized community rewards.

• EneageX: An AI and blockchain-powered platform that promotes renewable energy tokenization, securitization, and transparent marketplace access.

• Niteon: A B2B agritech platform connecting verified African commodity manufacturers to global buyers with the inclusion of a sustainable supply chain.

Creator Economy and IP Monetization: Transitioning to Web3 

Streaming is growing fast, but revenue models haven’t kept up. Artists still struggle with delayed payments, opaque royalty structures, and platforms that benefit intermediaries more than creators. These startups are turning that model on its head, building tools that give artists direct access to fans, transparent ownership over their work, and faster, fairer compensation. Whether it’s music sharing, NFT licensing, or decentralized royalty splits, these platforms are putting creators first, technically and financially. It’s not just about visibility. It’s about giving artists control over how their work is shared, tracked, and monetized.

• Audioblocks: A platform where artists can share, grow, and monetize their music with direct fan feedback.

• Delight Productions: A decentralized music platform for Africa that ensures artists receive fair royalties directly is a game-changer in music distribution, streaming and royalty distribution.

Decentralized Employment and Incentive Protocols

Web3 is reshaping how work is coordinated, compensated, and verified. These startups are building infrastructure for on-chain labor where rewards are based on contribution, not just credentials. One platform allows decentralized communities to launch and manage transparent reward systems. The other connects freelancers to task-based opportunities using AI and blockchain-powered payments. Together, they reflect a shift toward employment systems that are programmable, borderless, and trustless. This isn’t just about freelancing or payouts. It’s about redefining how digital work creates and moves value.

• Project Oryx: A decentralized rewards platform that enables Web3 ecosystems to launch, manage, and validate on-chain contribution-based incentives with transparency and precision.

• Workdey: An AI-powered gig marketplace that connects businesses and individuals to verified African freelancers for task-based work, with integrated blockchain payments and smart talent matching.

Web3 Travel: Redefining the Future of Exploration

Travel is evolving, from how we plan and book our journeys to how we pay for them. By leveraging blockchain and AI, we can create decentralized travel ecosystems that prioritize transparency, security, and direct connections between travelers, service providers, and local communities. This way, we can make travel smarter, more accessible, and more rewarding for everyone involved.

• Esosa: An AI concierge that curates culturally immersive travel experiences for travelers across Africa. 

Momentum You Can Measure

These startups are designing systems that solve persistent problems with clarity and intent. The work speaks for itself, whether it’s financial access, healthcare delivery, or clean infrastructure. And it’s only the beginning. As these founders refine their models and grow their communities, you’ll see their impact compound over time. Stay tuned, we’ll be sharing their milestones, insights, and subsequent moves in the months ahead.