In a bold move set to transform Africa’s startup landscape, Maasai Technologies has unveiled a groundbreaking mergers and acquisitions (M&A) platform that aims to help African startups plan and execute successful exits. The platform, described by its creators as a “lifeline for founders,” addresses a critical gap in the continent’s vibrant but often unpredictable startup ecosystem, where many entrepreneurs struggle to find viable exit strategies when growth slows or funding dries up.
The launch comes at a crucial time in the evolution of Africa’s technology ecosystem. According to The African Tech Startups Funding Report, the overall number of M&A deals on the continent fell by 20% in 2024 compared to the previous year. However, despite the slowdown in total deals, strategic acquisitions saw a remarkable surge, representing 50% of all deals in 2024 compared to a meager 6.7% in 2023. This trend underscores the growing recognition of well-executed exits’ role in fostering market consolidation, recycling capital, and nurturing investor confidence.
Segun Cole, co-founder of Maasai Technologies, emphasized the importance of shifting the mindset toward exit planning in Africa. At a product demo event where he introduced the platform, Cole remarked, “The conversation within the African tech ecosystem has focused almost exclusively on fundraising and growth, with exit planning treated as an afterthought. Many founders don’t know when or how to exit their business. The mantra is ‘If it happens, it happens.’ But having a clear exit strategy is just good business practice, regardless of market conditions.”
Cole stressed that many founders wait until they are desperate to sell or facing financial distress before considering an exit, often putting them in a disadvantageous negotiating position. “Our platform helps normalize exit planning as part of responsible business stewardship and makes the process accessible to founders across the continent,” he added.
The Maasai platform is designed to be an all-in-one solution for buyers, sellers, and portfolio managers. It offers tools to streamline the exit process, including valuation assistance, due diligence support, and a verified marketplace where startups can be bought and sold. For sellers, the platform provides confidential listing capabilities and buyer verification, ensuring that transactions remain secure and that startups are matched with serious, qualified buyers who understand the unique value of their business.
The platform offers buyers and investors access to pre-screened opportunities, detailed analytics, and centralized management of M&A pipelines. This approach aims to reduce friction in the acquisition process and encourage more strategic investments that can drive growth and innovation across Africa’s tech sector.
Co-founder Izin Akioya highlighted the importance of the platform’s intelligence and M&A Customer Relationship Management (CRM) features. “Maasai’s CRM and intelligence tools will enable portfolio managers to combine access to M&A deal flow with centralized exit optimization tools and just-in-time risk management,” she explained. “By consolidating the M&A opportunity across Africa, we are expanding the market and setting the stage for secondary trades on the continent.”
Akioya pointed out the platform will arrive when Africa’s investment landscape changes significantly. Active investors on the continent fell by 34.3% in 2024, dropping from 527 in 2023 to 346 in 2024. Moreover, data from Startup Graveyard revealed that among African startups that closed their doors in 2024, a staggering 45% cited lack of funding as the primary reason for failure. These challenges have highlighted the urgent need for a structured approach to exit planning and market consolidation, which Maasai Technologies hopes to address head-on.
The platform’s design reflects Maasai’s commitment to supporting founders through every stage of the exit journey. From initial valuation assessments to final transaction execution, the platform provides tools that simplify complex processes and reduce the risk of missteps that can derail deals. Maasai emphasizes that exit planning should be considered an integral part of every startup’s growth strategy, not merely a last resort in times of crisis.
Cole explained that by embedding exit planning into the business model from the outset, founders can approach potential deals from a position of strength. “You’ll be approaching your exit from a position of strength, not desperation,” he said. “That’s a game-changer in Africa’s tech landscape.”
Beyond the immediate benefits for individual founders, Maasai’s platform is also expected to play a broader role in strengthening the African startup ecosystem. The platform aims to recycle talent and capital, create opportunities for secondary trades, and foster a more mature and sustainable market environment by providing a reliable and transparent marketplace for acquisitions.
Akioya also emphasized that Maasai Technologies is committed to addressing the key challenges faced by African founders during acquisitions. “Proper documentation, accurate valuation, and finding the right buyers who understand the unique potential of African startups have historically been significant hurdles,” she said. “Maasai’s platform is designed to address these challenges head-on and make the entire process easier, faster, and more founder-friendly.”
With strategic exits becoming an increasingly important component of Africa’s evolving tech landscape, Maasai’s new platform is poised to fill a much-needed gap. As investors and founders alike look for pathways to navigate the challenges of a shifting market, Maasai Technologies is betting that its solution will become a cornerstone of Africa’s M&A ecosystem.
Maasai Technologies is positioning itself at the heart of Africa’s tech future, offering a platform and a shift in mindset. The hope is that by making exit planning as much a part of the entrepreneurial journey as fundraising, the platform can help build stronger, more sustainable businesses. It aims to empower founders to unlock value and create legacies beyond just one startup.
As Africa’s startup ecosystem matures, the need for structured exits and transparent marketplaces has never been more apparent. Maasai Technologies’ new platform signals a timely and much-needed response to this demand, setting the stage for a new era of strategic exits that could redefine how startups scale, grow, and ultimately succeed on the continent.
With a focus on empowering founders, building investor confidence, and fostering long-term growth, Maasai Technologies’ platform could be the catalyst Africa’s startup scene has been waiting for. As founders across the continent look to the future, the message is clear: successful exits aren’t just a possibility—they’re a key part of Africa’s tech success story.
