An electric-motorbike company helps Benin's startups raise $345 million in nine months

Startups in Benin raised $345 million in the first nine months of 2026, powered largely by Spiro, an electric motorbike and battery-swapping company founded in Benin and Togo, which secured a $215 million investment this year. Spiro has put 100,000 electric vehicles on roads across seven African markets, supported by 2,500 battery-swap stations, and sustains about 6,000 direct and indirect jobs. Its backers say they are investing in clean, affordable transport that riders can use every day.

SDG 8 · Decent work and economic growth — Mechanism: market force