Over the years the Nigerian economy has recorded its highs and lows, regardless of this, new businesses have been founded, grown and excelled. Existing businesses alike have also recorded their fair share of wins, growing and breaking more barriers. What this means is that across Nigeria, there is a booming market that many other businesses both within and outside the country look to collaborate with.
With the resilience of many businesses across the country, battling odd policies and harsh conditions alike,many of these businesses have continued to boom. While there’s an inexhaustible list of businesses within the country, here is a list of some of the top companies to work with in Nigeria.
1. Paystack
Paystack is a Nigerian fintech company that is modernising online and offline payments across Nigeria. With their goal to help Nigerians get paid by anyone and anywhere, they are simplifying payments one transaction after another. They provide a seamless paying experience and are notable for having worked with many notable international and Nigerian brands.
Founded in 2015 by Shola Akinlade and Ezra Olubi, this business has become trusted by well over 60,000+ businesses including federal businesses such as the Lagos Inland Revenue Service (IRS). With the recent acquisition by Stripe for a whooping $200M the company set a double standard as both the first Nigerian company to get into a world famous Incubator as well as sell out at a valuation of over $200M. The new acquisition by Stripe gives the company an edge in it expansion plans across Africa and definitely an ideal skill honing company for any Techie
Their consistency and constant drive towards modernisation of payments systems as well as setting the standard for innovation in payment gateways earns them a feature on this list.
2. Kobo360
Founded in 2016, this logistics company is dominating supply chain management. Through their logistics operation, they seek to unify Africa – their unifying theme being “Africa Rising”. Backed by global investors such as Goldman Sachs, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Y Combinator to mention a few, this Pan African e-logistics company is looking to create a Global Logistics Operating System (GLOS) that will power trade and commerce across Africa.
The startup is part of a growing e-logistics and transport space in Africa linking on-demand apps to mobile-based connectivity to move people and goods around the continent more effectively. Since its founding, the company has transported over 1500Mkg of goods, aggregated a fleet of over 10,000 drivers and trucks, for small, medium and large enterprises like Olam, Dangote Group, Unilever, Flour Mills, Lafarge and more.
With the company raising $20 million Series A round led by Goldman Sachs and $10 million in working capital financing from Nigerian commercial banks it has swiftly expanded operations across West and East Africa, launching its own driver working capital finance program, KoPay, KoboSafe insurance product and KoboCare: a suite of driver services from HMO packages to family tuition assistance.
Kobo360 is determined to build a global logistics operating system that will empower trade and commerce for Africa and emerging markets.
Their value of creativity, drive and disruption of the logistics and haulage industry in Nigeria earns them a well deserved spot on this list.
3. Flutterwave
Flutterwave has slowly but surely won its way into the hearts of many Nigerian businesses. Not only do they provide a seamless mode of payment for many businesses, but their flutter wave stores also allow businesses to put up their businesses at no cost consequently opening these businesses to a larger market. This fintech company founded in 2014, is helping Nigerians meet more people with different payment options.
Not only have they helped businesses and individuals access easy forex for trade through their barter virtual cards, but they have also helped many keep track of their expenses using spending limits, and site-specific cards to avoid unnecessary costs and even limit security risks and internet fraud. This Nigerian fintech company only recently announced a $170 million Series B funding, valuing the company over $1 billion and earning the company the first Nigerian fintech to achieve Unicorn status as well as it’s an exclusive partnership with Paypal to allow PayPal customers globally to pay African merchants through its “Pay with PayPal” feature and connecting African businesses with over 377 million PayPal accounts globally. This is definitely a dream company for developers, techies and other young professionals
The variety this company offers and their products that are consistently simplifying payments for businesses, earns them a spot on our list
4. Lifebank
Lifebank is another top company in Nigeria that should top your list of companies to work within Nigeria. Think of technology improving healthcare with logistics and you’ll get a good picture of Lifebank. Founded in 2016 by Temie Giwa-Tubosun, this healthcare technology logistics company is taking the loss of lives due to a delay in getting blood for blood transfusion out of the list of problems embattling Nigerians.
The company with operations in Nigeria and Kenya uses technology and a multi-modal distribution platform to deliver blood and oxygen to hospitals across the nation thereby making them available when and where they are needed. This earned them $250,000 Africa Netpreneur Prize by Jack Ma Foundation and also $225,000 in seed funding.
They not only help transport blood across the country, they also help to increase the awareness and participation of individuals in voluntary blood donation across the country through various blood drives.
Lifebank’s innovation and notable contribution to the Nigerian healthcare industry earns them a spot on this list.
5. 4point Property
4Point Real Estate is a well-established family-oriented property development company providing Nigerians with the highest level of service and professionalism in real estate development. They build and deliver affordable homes, optimizing the home delivery process from land acquisition at best price to maximizing the use of construction materials to reduce construction cost, thereby making houses more affordable to the average Nigerian.
The company, bootstrapped by CEO, Wale Olayanju in 2017 has facilitated billions in real estate transactions in less than 3 years of operations, and within the same period constructed and delivered over 100 units of both houses and land delivered to customers, while promoting low-interest, medium-term mortgage offers to further ease the homeownership process, making it less burdensome to purchase.
Their business integrity sets them apart as one of the most trustworthy property development companies in Nigeria, adopting an organizational culture that promotes fun at the workplace which has gotten the company several trends on social platforms.
In an industry severely plagued with aggressive competition, stratagem, insincerity and avarice, the ability to balance the combined plethora of trust, integrity, excellence and fun is by far an admirable quality for any organization, thus earning 4point Property a spot on our list
6. 54Gene
54gene is one of the most exciting and innovative startups to come out of Nigeria and Africa in recent times. Since launching in 2019, the startup’s premise to address the significant gap in the global genomics market quickly caught the attention of local and international media.
54gene is committed to pushing the inclusion of African genome in research. Often underrepresented, many Africans don’t get tailored attention in medicine and 54 gene is narrowing that gap. Driven by the fact that less than 3% of genomic data represented in research is from African populations, 54Gene since its founding has pioneered the harnessing of the large diversity of Africans, generating insights from it and applying it to understanding the science behind many diseases and provide precision medicine for Africans & the world at large.
The company has since raised $19.5 million in series A funding, grown its workforce to over 300 researchers, clinicians and geneticists across the continent and built a biobank facility in Lagos with sample holding capacity at 60,000 with targeted expansion at 500,000.
Versatility, intentionality & a trusted board earns this company a top spot on our list of startups to work with in Nigeria
7. TeamApt
TeamApt is a Nigerian fintech company that provides digital financial services solutions and payment infrastructure. Launched in 2015, the Lagos-based fintech company was formed to solve inefficiencies in Nigeria’s growing digital financial services market and has a variety of products, including payments service AptPay, digital banking solution Moneytor, and Profectus Robotics, a back-office automation solution.
The startup, which counts 100 per cent of the country’s commercial banks amongst its customers, secured a switching licence from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and raised $5.5 million in series A funding, now has more than three million customers and over 100,000 businesses across its various solutions and infrastructure.
Team Apt looks to empower underserved individuals & businesses in emerging and frontier markets with a range of financial services. They are committed to giving access to various financial services that allow individuals to manage their money more efficiently.
The company has been described by many as the company of financial happiness. If giving financial independence or in this case, financial happiness to people tickles your fancy, working with Team Apt is the way to go.
Team Apt’s contributions to narrowing the financial gap makes them a worthy competitor for a spot in this compilation.
8. LandWey
Landwey, a member of Oxygen Holdings, is committed to providing real estate solutions with guarantee and confidence. The company was established in 2015 by Forbes Under 30 CEO, Olawale Ayilara, rose against all odds to become one of Nigeria’s top real estate development companies in less than 3 years of operations, facilitating billions of Naira in real estate transactions annually.
The company that started its operations by acquiring land en masse and reselling in plots to home seekers and investors now works to disrupt and improve the status quo by creating technological solutions that provide seamless access to real estate and has pivoted its operations to construction of residential housing schemes for middle-income families. Asides from providing housing solutions, LandWey offers investment guidance to home seekers, helping them navigate the industry to acquire properties that guarantee the best returns.
The technological drive of Landwey clearly sets them apart from other real estate development companies, from the adopting automation technologies in their construction process in delivering heightened luxury experiences to their clientele, to leveraging proptech in their client acquisition processes.
If learning and understanding the complex relationship of real estate and technology is your aspiration, working with LandWey should be your preferred choice.
9. Piggyvest
Piggyvest is notable for being the wealth-building tracker for many millennials. They are offering individuals around the world a means to financial inclusion by showing them easier ways to save and invest.
PiggyVest (originally known as Piggybank.ng) was launched in 2016, as a savings product. Over the years, they have introduced innovative products, from savings tools like Safelock, Target and Group Savings, and PiggyFlex, to insurance products like AvonFlex, as well as TrackIt, which helps individuals and businesses in becoming more effective at financial management to grow their money confidently.
Since its launch, the company has secured over 2 million subscribers, $1.2 million in series A funding and acquired Gold microfinance bank. The company’s being led by CEO, Joshua Chibueze and COO, Odunayo Eweniyi exude youthful exuberance with the perfect culture for millennials and the young at heart. Thus earning it a feature on our list
10. Crowdyvest
Crowdyvest is a Nigerian business simplifying the journey of many Nigerians to financial independence. Their main goal is to help Nigerians build great savings and investment habits via products that put them on the path and give them a gentle nudge in the right direction.
Launched in 2019, Crowdyvest was created to provide all-in-one financial solutions for individuals and businesses to achieve short or long-term goals, allowing users to sponsor high-impact opportunities with high yields. Founded by Farmcrowdy CEO, Onyeka Akumah and four others, the platform was part of the EMFATO Holdings that also includes Farmcrowdy and Plentywaka, but has now become independent after securing investment from a group of investors led by now CEO, Tope Omotolani.
The startup recently pivoted its operations from crowdfunding to savings and launched the Crowdyvest Savings Platform to give savings options to over 10,000 already subscribed members on its platform.
Crowdyvest is heavy on facilitating impactful growth in line with the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals and encourages a work- fun culture for employees.
In conclusion, these companies are stable economy contributors, certified, licensed and make for a wonderful partnership or employment. While this list doesn’t contain all of the best companies in Nigeria, you’ll find the top companies to work for in Nigeria.
2 comments
Awesome write up. Keep it up
Cowrywise, Andela, CCHub, PAGA, Konga not on your list. Great writeup anyway.