Yamify Secures $200,000 Pre-Seed Funding to Build AI Infrastructure in Africa

Yamify, a developer-first AI platform that enables businesses and freelancers to quickly launch AI solutions, has announced the close of a $200,000 pre-seed funding round. With $100,000 already committed from early Paystack backer Felix Anane, the capital will accelerate Yamify’s mission to foster hands-on AI innovation across Africa.

Founded by Luc Okalobé, a former Silicon Valley engineer with experience at top tech firms like IBM and TikTok, Yamify is tackling the challenge of local AI infrastructure head-on. The platform allows for one-click deployment of AI environments and applications—like n8n and AI-powered WordPress—on GPU-powered clusters. These clusters, or “YAMs,” are hosted in local data centers, ensuring high performance, low latency, and data residency compliance.

Yamify is taking a unique, community-led approach by leveraging open standards and local billing solutions to make AI more accessible. This strategy distinguishes it from other African AI startups, such as Cerebrium, which focuses on large-scale model training. Yamify’s platform is designed for freelancers, startups, and web agencies, allowing them to launch AI agents and workflows in seconds.

The company, which is part of Google for Startups and Nigeria’s Itana Free AI Zone, has already gained significant traction. Since entering private beta in July 2025, it has secured over 1,500 developers and startups on its waitlist from major African tech hubs like Lagos and Johannesburg. The newly raised funds will be used to launch the Model Context Protocol (MCP), a tool designed to help users quickly turn ideas into functional AI prototypes.

Luc Okalobé, Yamify’s founder, emphasized the company’s vision, stating, “Africa should not wait to be included in the AI wave – we should build it.” Yamify is actively involved in the local tech ecosystem, organizing hackathons and workshops to support developers and help Africa become a leader in responsible AI adoption.