Cameroon’s digital startup ecosystem in 2025 presents a compelling narrative of resilience, focused growth, and increasing institutional support, even as it navigates significant headwinds in global venture capital and local infrastructure. With its young, tech-savvy population and strategic regional position, the nation remains a vital hub for digital innovation in Central Africa.
The Ecosystem in Numbers: A Stable Climb
While not matching the explosive growth rates of Africa’s ‘Big Four’ (Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, and Kenya), Cameroon’s startup scene shows crucial stability and sector-specific acceleration.
| Metric | 2024 Data | 2025 Outlook | Data Source/Context |
| Global Ranking | #114 (StartupBlink, 2024) | Stable/Minor Improvement | Ranked 2nd in Central Africa, indicating regional importance. |
| Total Startups (Estimated) | Approx. 42 (StartupBlink) to 101 (GSMA) | Continued Growth (Conservative) | Discrepancy shows the challenge in tracking the informal economy. |
| SME Creation (ECPC Registered) | 21,132 new SMEs (2024) | Projecting a greater than 7.5% increase | Broader SME base is the feeder for digital innovation. |
| Leading Sector | Fintech (Approx. 35% of tech startups) | Fintech and Healthtech | Reflects high mobile money penetration and critical social needs. |
| Top Startup Cities | Douala (stronger by 22%) > Yaoundé | Maintained Dual-City Focus | Douala for commerce, Yaoundé for administration/policy. |
Source: StartupBlink, MINPMEESA (2024 Statistical Yearbook), GSMA, Fe/male Switch
Sector Focus: Fintech Dominance
The Fintech sector continues to be the most active and attractive for investment, mirroring broader African trends. Companies like CamPay, PaySika, and Diool are revolutionizing digital payments and online banking, crucial in a country where formal bank account penetration remains low. Similarly, Healthtech is a rising star, driven by startups like Giftedmom and Waspito, leveraging mobile technology to bridge the gap in healthcare access. The Edtech and AgriTech sectors, though smaller, are showing significant potential, as seen with firms like Edutech Hub Africa and AgroConnect CM, capitalizing on the country’s young population and agricultural backbone.
Funding and Investment Landscape
Access to financing remains a major challenge, consistent with the global “VC winter” that saw venture capital deals in Africa fall by about 52% between 2022 and 2024.
- Venture Capital (VC) Scarcity: Cameroon’s ecosystem struggles to secure early-stage funding compared to its continental peers. Startups often rely on self-funding and informal savings/credit cooperatives for initial capital.
- Targeting High-Quality Deals: Despite the overall drop in deal count across Africa, the median deal value has continued to climb, suggesting that investment is becoming more selective and focused on high-quality, scalable startups that can demonstrate solid traction and governance.
- Policy Support: Government policies, such as the introduction of tax exemptions for certain startups, are an important form of non-dilutive support. However, only an estimated 23% of startups have reported receiving institutional support, indicating a gap in program outreach and efficacy.
Institutional and Regulatory Shifts in 2025
The government is actively pushing for digital transformation, which both creates opportunities and introduces new compliance requirements.
Government-led Digital Initiatives
- NDS30 Alignment: The National Development Strategy for 2030 (NDS30) explicitly targets Information and Communications Technology (ICT) investment, aiming to improve national productivity through technology.
- New Compliance Rules (Decision of April 2025): The introduction of a National Electronic Communications Aggregation Platform (NECAP) is a significant development. This aims to:
- Enhance interoperability among digital platforms (Fintech, E-commerce, etc.).
- Mandate security certifications from the National Agency for Information and Communication Technologies (ANTIC).
- Create regulatory clarity for all digital platforms, though this also increases the administrative burden for small, newly formed companies who must now navigate new approvals.
Lingering Infrastructure Challenges
Despite the digital ambitions, fundamental infrastructural and institutional weaknesses persist, impacting the startup’s ability to scale:
- Connectivity and Infrastructure: Cameroon ranked last globally on the 2024 Fiber Development Index. Poor internet quality outside major cities limits market reach for digital services.
- Logistics: The absence of a standardized fixed address system and inadequate transportation infrastructure severely hampers the growth of e-commerce and delivery-focused startups.
- Bureaucracy: Starting a foreign-owned limited liability company in Douala can take around 82 days, a timeline longer than regional and global averages, highlighting the need for continued administrative streamlining.
Conclusion: Opportunity Amidst Headwinds
The Cameroonian digital startup ecosystem in 2025 is defined by its strong foundations in high-demand sectors like Fintech and Healthtech, fueled by a young, ambitious population. While the global venture capital market remains tight, and local challenges in infrastructure and bureaucracy demand attention, the proactive steps by the government to formalize and secure the digital space—as seen with the NECAP initiative—could provide the structured environment necessary for mature startups to scale. The path to becoming a dominant African tech hub will depend on the government’s ability to turn policy intentions into tangible improvements in connectivity, logistics, and access to capital for early-stage ventures.