5 notable rebrands of 2025 in the African tech scene

Tech startups rebrand just as music artists do to reflect growth and a new direction or shifting identities due to possible legal issues. Think 2face Idibia to 2Baba, Kizz Daniel to Kiss Daniel, and Buju to BNXN.

Rebranding helps companies shed outdated perceptions and build trust, attract fresh audiences, and expand into new verticals or markets.

Last year, the African tech and startup ecosystem witnessed five rebrands. From Whogohost to GO54, Topset to Lingawa, Founders Factory Africa to 54Collective, Vodafone Ghana to Telecel Ghana, and Bendada.com to Condia.

This year is no different. Condia has identified five notable rebrands in 2025, amidst nine shutdowns.

Payhippo rebranded to Rivy

In March 2025, SME lender Payhippo rebranded to Rivy, pivoting into clean-energy financing.

The rebrand was unveiled alongside a $4 million pre-Series A round (split evenly between equity and debt) to fund its new mission of financing solar power systems and other renewable energy solutions for households and SMEs.

Rivy introduced A dual marketplace connecting 250+ solar vendors and installers to customers, financing products designed to reduce the high upfront cost of energy systems, and infrastructure expansion backed by climate-focused investors such as All On and EchoVC Eco.

CEO Dami Olawoye said Rivy represents a deeper commitment to Africa’s clean-energy transition. “Sunlight and brilliance,” the meaning behind the name, captures the company’s goal of powering Africa’s future through accessible, innovative financing.

From Nucleus Africa to RIGO

In July 2025, Nucleus Africa (formerly NucleusIS Africa) rebranded to RIGO Incorporated, marking its expansion from a health-tech startup into a full-blown healthcare ecosystem builder.

Unveiled at a Lagos event, the rebrand followed the acquisition of a microfinance bank and introduced a new two-part operational structure of RIGO Finance and RIGO Tech.

CEO Kayode Odeyinde said the rebrand represents a shift from solving isolated health insurance issues to building the infrastructure the entire sector lacks. He emphasised that the company is “building infrastructure in places where even electricity is not guaranteed,” addressing deep-rooted challenges such as hospital cash-flow gaps, pharmacy inventory financing, and slow HMO payments.

He described the identity as “redefining what’s possible for healthcare in Africa.”

From 9mobile to T2

In August 2025, Nigeria’s least prominent telecom operator, 9mobile rebranded to T2, its second major identity shift after the 2017 change from Etisalat Nigeria.

This followed its acquisition by Lighthouse Telecoms in 2023 and came with sweeping strategic changes: a new board, the appointment of Obafemi Banigbe as CEO, and a major network-modernisation deal with MTN Nigeria. A shift toward becoming a digital-first, cloud-native telecom brand, and a phased rollout to ensure seamless continuity for existing customers.

CEO Banigbe called it “the beginning of a bold new chapter,” stressing that the change goes beyond a logo. It represents a transformation in how T2 will serve Nigerians.

Chairman Thomas Etuh added that the move is driven by a desire to “reclaim all lost grounds.”

Geegpay became Raenest Personal

In October 2025, Raenest, the cross-border fintech that raised $11 million Series A, changed the name of its consumer solution, Geegpay, to Raenest Personal, while its business solution, previously named Raenest, became Raenest Business.

The rebrand came with a redesigned platform and features, including stablecoin wallets (USDC and USDT), Raenest Fasttrack, and Raenest Tags. It also revealed plans to expand into the US and Francophone Africa. They unveiled all these at their annual event, Raenest Exchange.

CEO Victor Alade said the rebrand reflects Raenest’s evolution from solving personal freelancer payment issues to providing a comprehensive global financial identity. The goal, he said, is to give users “one identity and one future” while enabling Africans to manage money globally without geographic barriers.

Moni, rebranded to Rank

In November 2025, YC-backed fintech Moni officially rebranded to Rank, signifying its transition from a community-based lending platform into a full financial institution.

The rebrand came with the acquisition of AjoMoney, a digital group-savings platform, and Zazzau Microfinance Bank (now Rank Microfinance Bank). This gave Rank a regulated foundation for deposits, expanded services, and direct integration into the Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS).

CEO Femi Iromini said the Rank identity reflects a commitment to helping Africans “move up the economic ladder.” He described it as “a new chapter in our mission to make prosperity common,” built on community, trust, and shared progress.