In Nairobi’s vibrant tech ecosystem, 20 founders and six creators from across Africa are gathering for the launch of the Based Founders Fellowship (BFF) Africa, a programme redefining how innovation and creativity intersect across the continent.
Hosted by UTU Technologies and sponsored by Base, the Ethereum Layer 2 network from Coinbase, the 10-day programme feels less like a bootcamp and more like a catalyst.
The goal: equip on-chain builders to reshape how Africans send money, trade, farm, and create in the digital economy.
Launched in August 2025, BFF Africa focuses on builders who’ve already shipped. To qualify, startups need at least 1,000 on-chain users and active deployments in African markets.
Over the next week, fellows will refine prototypes, attend deep-dive sessions with VCs like a16z and Electric Capital, and pitch at Demo Day where investor interest is already high.
Africa captures barely 1% of global blockchain funding, yet it leads in creativity and mobile money use. The fellowship’s mission is clear: close that funding gap and build the next generation of on-chain businesses from the continent outwards.
The Builders: Founders Turning Code into Change
These 20 founders span Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Botswana, Cameroon, and beyond. Their startups are tackling problems that have defined African finance for decades including fragmented payments, opaque supply chains, and limited access to credit.
Here’s a glimpse at who’s building what:
These are not paper startups, but they’re already live or in pilot, proving that Africa’s on-chain economy is moving from theory to traction.
READ ALSO:Can Blockchain Partnerships Like Tether–Kotani Pay Finally Fix Cross-Border Friction?
The Creators: Storytelling the Movement
Innovation isn’t just about code; it’s about narrative. That’s where BFF’s six creators come in: community builders, storytellers, and marketers weaving culture into crypto.
- Abayomi Semudara (@semudaraabayomi, Nigeria): Product designer behind “60 Seconds Startup Pitch.”
- Aurelia Mutua (@mwikali_aurelia, Kenya): Co-founder of Decentrix Africa, building adoption pipelines.
- Dada Boipelo (@hvrmemoirs, Kenya): NFT marketer and African Meta Club co-founder.
- Kokocodec (@kokocodes, Nigeria): Base strategist and growth space host.
- Wanjiru Mwoka (@CryptoChic56, Kenya): NFT educator breaking down blockchain basics.
- Qin (@qingthecreator_, Nigeria): Visual storyteller and Creative Lead at Base West Africa.
Why This Moment Matters
Africa’s on-chain story is hitting a turning point. The continent has 40+ currencies, 50M+ mobile money users, and stablecoin volumes up 300% year-over-year. It’s a fertile testbed for crypto utility, not speculation.
Yet, major hurdles remain: fragmented regulations, liquidity gaps, and uneven investor confidence. BFF Africa aims to close that loop by connecting credible, market-tested founders to over $100 million in global VC interest.
As Eddie Kago, Base’s East Africa Growth Lead, told fellows during kickoff:
“It’s time to lock in, build at Base scale, and get founders funded.”
Already, early collaborations are forming with joint DeFi tools, and creator apps and localised remittance pilots hint at what Demo Day might reveal.
The Road Ahead
It feels like the start of something bigger from a generation of African builders refusing to wait for validation. Demo Day is coming. The prototypes are ready.
Base: Coinbase’s Layer-2 Blockchain Powering the Future of Web3
Base crypto is a secure and scalable Layer-2 network built by Coinbase to make on-chain applications accessible to everyone.
Through the Base Wallet app, users can easily connect to decentralised apps (dApps), manage digital assets, and explore the growing Base ecosystem.
The Base Ecosystem Fund supports early-stage developers and startups building innovative tools and services on the network. Investors and crypto enthusiasts track the Base crypto price and Base network coins to stay updated on market movements.
The Base token – Coinbase initiative represents Coinbase’s long-term vision of expanding blockchain adoption while maintaining security and transparency.
New users can Join Base app to start exploring Web3 experiences like DeFi, NFTs, and cross-chain transactions, all powered by Base’s efficient Ethereum Layer-2 technology.
Ronnie Paul is a seasoned writer and analyst with a prolific portfolio of over 1,000 published articles, specialising in fintech, cryptocurrency, and digital finance at Africa Digest News.
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