Madica Expands North Africa Footprint with Investments in AI Startups Anavid and Hypeo AI

Madica, the pan-African investment initiative backed by Flourish Ventures, has announced new investments in two North African startups, Tunisia’s Anavid and Morocco’s Hypeo AI, marking its growing presence in the region’s fast-evolving artificial intelligence space.

The two startups, which reportedly received up to $200,000 each, represent Madica’s strategy of backing early-stage innovators tackling Africa’s emerging AI opportunities across diverse industries.

Madica’s model: beyond funding

Madica isn’t just another venture fund. It operates as a structured 18-month support program designed to nurture founders through hands-on mentorship, investor readiness, and access to networks across Africa’s tech ecosystem.

The initiative typically writes cheques of up to $200,000 per company, with a focus on pre-seed startups often overlooked by traditional VC funds. Backed by Flourish Ventures, Madica’s goal is to bridge the capital and capability gap for early African founders, especially those outside major tech hubs.

So far, it has backed several startups across fintech, healthtech, and mobility. Its latest North African portfolio move underscores how AI is becoming a frontier for African innovation.

Anavid: Tunisia’s AI-powered retail intelligence

Anavid, based in Tunisia, is building AI-powered computer vision systems that help retailers optimize in-store operations through automated video analytics. The platform detects shopper movement patterns, monitors shelf activity, and uses machine learning to reduce losses and improve layout decisions.

Tunisia has emerged as a quiet but strong player in applied AI, driven by its talent pool and growing startup ecosystem. Anavid’s technology offers a glimpse of how local AI startups are solving industry-specific problems rather than chasing global consumer AI trends.

While Madica’s specific cheque size and terms for Anavid haven’t been publicly disclosed, the startup fits squarely within the firm’s thesis: locally grounded innovation solving operational inefficiencies across African markets.

Hypeo AI: Morocco’s marketing intelligence play

From Casablanca, Hypeo AI is reimagining influencer marketing through artificial intelligence. The platform uses AI to connect brands with creators, predict campaign performance, and even generate AI-driven virtual brand ambassadors.

The startup previously attracted investment from Renew Capital, and local reports now list Madica among its backers. Though details remain undisclosed, the partnership signals a growing investor appetite for North African AI startups that merge technology with marketing and media ecosystems.

Hypeo AI claims to serve a network of over 60,000 creators, combining data analytics and automation to help brands manage digital campaigns more effectively across multiple platforms.

Fueling Africa’s AI Future

Madica’s move north comes at a time when African AI startups are gaining traction across sectors, from agriculture to healthcare and logistics. Yet most still struggle to attract structured early-stage funding.

By extending its portfolio to Tunisia and Morocco, Madica isn’t just diversifying geographically. It’s deepening its bet on AI as a key growth engine for African economies. These investments also position Madica as one of the few early-stage programs actively supporting North African founders beyond Cairo’s established tech scene.

As the continent’s AI momentum builds, programs like Madica could play a critical role in shaping how local startups compete in a global AI landscape still dominated by Western and Asian players.