Wimbart at 10: The PR firm shaping Africa’s $20bn tech narrative

Wimbart has spent the past decade helping define how Africa’s fast-growing technology sector is seen by the world, positioning itself at the center of a narrative that has drawn more than $20 billion in startup funding since 2015.

Founded in 2016 by Jessica Hope, the London- and Lagos-based consultancy has grown into a key behind-the-scenes player for African startups, venture capital firms and institutional investors seeking international visibility. Its client roster includes companies such as M-KOPA, Andela, MaxAB and Ventures Platform.

The firm’s rise tracks a decade of rapid growth in Africa’s tech ecosystem, which has attracted more than $20 billion in startup funding since 2015 and produced globally recognised unicorns. As capital flows increased, so did the need for structured communication strategies around funding rounds, acquisitions, regulatory crises and cross-border expansion.

Energy, ambition and intensity have defined the company’s approach, Hope said, pointing to a decade of helping founders shape narratives that resonate beyond local markets.

That role has become more critical as global investors demand clearer governance, transparency and positioning from African startups competing for funding with peers in Asia and Latin America.

Wimbart’s expansion reflects that shift. The firm now operates with a 15-person team across two continents and has worked with more than 230 clients in nearly 20 countries, including core markets such as Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa and Egypt. Its early-stage offering, Wimbart Lite, was introduced in 2016 to support startups that lack in-house communications capacity.

The company has also leaned into content as a strategic tool. Its 2025 podcast, ‘The Wimbart Way’, features interviews with ecosystem figures such as Omobola Johnson, Iyin Aboyeji and Tomiwa Aladekomo, reflecting a broader trend of narrative-building within Africa’s innovation economy.

The anniversary comes at a time when African startups face a more cautious funding environment, rising investor scrutiny and pressure to demonstrate profitability. In that context, communications firms are playing a larger role in shaping perception, managing crises and positioning companies for global partnerships.

Wimbart’s trajectory underscores a broader shift: as Africa’s tech ecosystem matures, storytelling is no longer a support function but a strategic asset, one that can influence valuation, investor confidence and market entry.

With African startups increasingly targeting international markets, the firm’s cross-border model may offer a template for how communications agencies evolve alongside emerging market innovation hubs.