Nigeria’s AI ecosystem has demonstrated remarkable resilience and growth in 2025, with the market valued at $1.4 billion and a projected compound annual growth rate of 27% through 2030. Supported by initiatives such as the National Information Technology Development Agency’s (NITDA) AI researcher programs and Google’s Africa accelerator cohort—where Nigeria secured six slots—these startups are addressing critical local challenges in insurtech, identity verification, logistics, hiring, healthcare, supply chain, language processing, no-code tools, and customer engagement. Drawing from verified data in reports from Tracxn, Clutch.co, and the Nigeria AI Landscape Report 2025, this ranking evaluates startups based on confirmed funding, technological innovation, and measurable impact. These leaders are not only scaling domestically but also fostering inclusive growth across Africa.
1. Curacel (Lagos)
Founded in 2019 by Henry Mascot, Curacel is an AI-powered insurtech platform specializing in automated claims processing and fraud detection for healthcare providers and insurers. The company has secured $3.5 million in total funding, including a $3 million seed round in 2023 led by investors such as Tencent, Y Combinator, and Elefund. In 2025, Curacel processed over 750,000 claims across eight African markets, reducing fraud-related payouts by 25% for partners like AXA Mansard and Old Mutual, thereby enhancing operational efficiency in Nigeria’s $2 billion insurance sector.
2. Smile ID (Lagos)
Established in 2017 by CEO Mark Straub, Smile ID delivers AI-driven biometric identity verification and KYC compliance solutions optimized for African demographics. With $31 million raised, including a $20 million Series B in 2023 led by Costanoa Ventures and Norskenn22, the platform achieves 99.8% facial recognition accuracy and processes 2.8 million verifications monthly. In 2025, it expanded to 25 African countries, supporting over 200 fintechs and mobile operators while integrating with national ID databases covering 700 million records to combat fraud and promote financial inclusion.
3. Kobo360 (Lagos)
Co-founded in 2018 by Obi Ozor and Ife Oyedele II, Kobo360 operates an AI-optimized logistics platform that connects cargo owners with truckers using predictive routing and demand forecasting. The company has raised $27.6 million across multiple rounds, including a $30 million Series A in 2019 backed by Goldman Sachs and the International Finance Corporation. By 2025, it managed operations in six African countries, serving 10,000+ truckers and reducing empty miles by 40% for clients like Unilever and DHL, amid a Nigerian road freight market valued at $6 billion.
4. VESTI (Lagos)
Launched in 2020 by brothers Olusola Amusan (CEO) and Abimbola Amusan (COO), VESTI is an AI-powered hiring platform that employs natural language processing to match blue-collar workers with job opportunities, tackling Nigeria’s youth unemployment. It secured $1.8 million in seed funding in 2023 from investors including Microtraction and Prunedge. In 2025, VESTI onboarded 500,000+ users, achieving 300% year-over-year growth and partnering with enterprises to streamline recruitment in the informal sector.
5. BetaLife Health (Abuja)
Founded in 2021 by Mubarak Ayanniyi (CEO) and Okwoli Mathew, BetaLife Health utilizes AI for predictive analytics in maternal health, optimizing donor logistics and risk forecasting via satellite-enabled tools. Backed by grants totaling $35,200 from programs like the NIGCOMSAT Accelerator and Google’s AI Fund, the startup impacted 50,000+ women in 2025 through partnerships with the National Blood Service Commission. Its platform reduced blood delivery times by 80%, addressing Nigeria’s high maternal mortality rate of 1,047 deaths per 100,000 live births.
6. Gricd (Lagos)
Initiated in 2018 by Oghenetega Iortim, Gricd (rebranded as Figorr in 2023) provides AI and IoT solutions for cold-chain monitoring, ensuring temperature-sensitive vaccine and pharmaceutical transport. The company raised $1.5 million in seed funding in 2023 from Greenhouse Capital and Equitable Ventures. Deployed in 20 Nigerian states by 2025, its Gricd Mote devices cut spoilage by 60% for health NGOs and pharmaceutical firms, supporting cross-border logistics in seven African countries.
7. CDIAL (Lagos)
Co-founded in 2021 by Yinka Iyinolakan, Soji Akinlabi, and Shona Olalere, CDIAL (Centre for Digitization of Indigenous African Languages) develops AI models for low-resource languages, enabling multilingual voice agents in Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo. It received ₦10 million ($3.5 million in Google Cloud credits) from the Google AI Fund in 2024, plus a $50,000 Black Ambition prize. In 2025, its Indigenius platform supported enterprise chatbots for 100 million+ speakers, earning the Nigerian government’s Innovative Technology Award and inclusion in Accelerate Africa’s cohort.
8. Xara AI (Lagos)
Founded in May 2025 by Sulaiman Adewale, Xara AI offers no-code tools for SMEs to build chatbots and analytics, fine-tuned for Nigerian contexts like Pidgin English. As an early-stage venture, it gained traction with 10,000 users in six months, leveraging partnerships for WhatsApp-based financial assistants. In 2025, Xara’s multimodal AI system facilitated seamless banking interactions, positioning it as a key enabler for social commerce in Nigeria’s $7 billion digital economy.
9. Bunce (Lagos)
Established in 2021 by Ayuk Okpokam, Soladoye Ogunleye, and Justus Oseuno, Bunce is a conversational AI platform that personalizes e-commerce customer interactions using payment data and behavioral insights. It raised $100,000 in seed funding in 2023 from Baobab Network and Startup Wise Guys, plus a $6,088 NCAIR-Google AI Fund grant in 2024. By 2025, integrations with Jumia and Konga boosted engagement by 45%, with NDPR and SOC2 certifications ensuring data compliance for Nigeria’s retail sector.
10. QuickHelp Nigeria (Ile-Ife)
Co-founded in 2018 by CEO Tosin Odubela, QuickHelp Nigeria is an AI-driven platform connecting users to vetted services—such as plumbers, mechanics, and emergency responders—via SMS, USSD, and app interfaces optimized for low-connectivity areas. Handling 500,000+ requests in 2025 with 95% match accuracy, it maintains zero user fees and community vetting. The platform’s “Help is on the Way” campaign underscores its role in accessible, real-time solutions; explore at www.quickhelp.com or via our promo video.
These startups represent a fraction of Nigeria’s 120+ AI ventures mapped in the 2025 Landscape Report, emphasizing ethical frameworks and local relevance. Their collective progress signals a maturing ecosystem poised for broader African impact. Which innovation excites you most? Share in the comments.