African PR Firm Launches Lite Service for Early Startups

Getting noticed as an early-stage startup in Africa just got easier, thanks to a new service designed specifically for founders who need help telling their story but can't afford full-scale PR campaigns.

Wimbart, an award-winning public relations agency that has worked with over 180 African tech companies across 20 countries, launched Wimbart Lite this month. The service targets pre-seed and early-stage startups that have raised under $1 million.

Maria Adediran, who joined Wimbart when African tech was still small and "$1 million felt like a massive milestone for the whole ecosystem," will lead the new division. She brings over a decade of experience working with companies from early ventures to unicorns like Andela and M-KOPA.

The service works differently than traditional PR agencies. Instead of requiring monthly retainers, Wimbart Lite offers a menu-based approach with three options: announcing milestones and partnerships, building founder profiles through interviews and articles, or coordinating fundraising communications.

Jessica Hope, Wimbart's founder and CEO, explained the timing. "Wimbart was built in the trenches with African tech founders before the market had fully caught up with their vision," she said. The new service addresses a gap for companies that need occasional PR support rather than full-time representation.

The Ripple Effect

This launch comes at a crucial time for African startups. As the continent's tech ecosystem matures, competition for investor attention and media coverage has intensified. Early-stage companies now face scrutiny much earlier in their journey than before.

Adediran sees Wimbart Lite as a way to level the playing field. "Early-stage teams are put under the microscope much earlier," she noted. "Wimbart Lite exists to turn real work and traction into a clear, credible story the ecosystem can understand and trust."

The service even includes a 15 percent discount for venture capital portfolio companies, making it easier for investors to support their entire roster of startups. This means more African founders can access professional storytelling resources that help them attract investment and build their brands.

With nearly a decade of experience navigating complex news cycles across Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and Egypt, Wimbart understands what makes African startup stories resonate. Now they're making that expertise accessible to founders at the very beginning of their journey.