We examined the Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) retrievals of surface winds and enthalpy fluxes in African easterly waves that led to the formation of 31 Atlantic tropical cyclones from 2018–2021. Lag composites show a cyclonic proto-vortex as early as 3 days prior to tropical cyclogenesis. The distribution of enthalpy fluxes within the proto-vortex does not vary substantially prior to cyclogenesis, but subsequently, there is an increase in the upper extreme values. A negative radial gradient of enthalpy fluxes becomes apparent as early as 2 days before cyclogenesis. These results—based on a novel data blending satellite retrievals and global reanalysis—are consistent with recent studies that have found that tropical cyclone spin-up is associated with a shift of peak convection towards the vortex-core and a radially inward increase of enthalpy fluxes. They provide additional evidence for the importance of surface enthalpy fluxes and their radial structure for tropical cyclogenesis.