
Tunisian AI Startup ClusterLab Secures Pre-Seed Funding Led by Instadeep CEO
ClusterLab, a Tunisian-born artificial intelligence (AI) startup headquartered in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has secured $600,000 in a pre-seed funding round.
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German development finance institution DEG (Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft) has confirmed it will commit $50 million to African Development Partners IV (ADP IV), the latest private equity vehicle managed by Development Partners International (DPI).
African Development Partners IV represents DPI’s fourth generation of growth-oriented private equity funds.
The vehicle aims to inject capital into mid-tier African companies that are positioned for expansion but lack sufficient access to equity finance.
Target sectors include healthcare, education, consumer goods (FMCG), retail, financial services, transport and logistics, reflecting DPI’s strategy to support a broad spectrum of industries that benefit from the continent’s rising consumer demand.
DPI has been active in Africa since 2007, deploying capital to a wide range of enterprises and accumulating a portfolio that spans more than three decades of investing in the region.
Its previous funds have backed established businesses and driven growth while seeking to deliver financial returns alongside developmental impact.
DEG’s investment in ADP IV is consistent with its broader mandate of financing private sector growth in emerging markets.
As a prominent development financier with expertise in climate and impact investing, DEG’s participation is expected to strengthen the fund’s capital base and encourage additional investors to commit to the vehicle.
Beyond providing capital, DEG’s involvement aligns with its strategy to promote environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards and to support investee companies in adopting best practices that can enhance sustainable development outcomes.
The transaction also reflects common objectives shared by development finance institutions to support job creation, improved corporate governance, and expanded access to markets in lower-income economies.
DEG’s commitment fits within its climate.impact.returns framework, which emphasizes investments that balance developmental impact with financial performance, while promoting environmental responsibility and social inclusion across portfolios in emerging economies.

ClusterLab, a Tunisian-born artificial intelligence (AI) startup headquartered in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has secured $600,000 in a pre-seed funding round.

KCB Bank Kenya has received a significant financial boost from British International Investment (BII), securing a $100 million Tier 2 capital facility aimed at expanding lending to climate-related initiatives and women-owned businesses.

Kenyan agritech startup Shamba Pride has secured a $3.7 million pre-Series A funding round.