- Due to insufficient storage and handling, 37% of food produced in Sub-Saharan Africa is wasted, equating to 120-170 kg per individual per year. Similarly, it is claimed that 50% of all vaccinations worldwide are wasted due to cold-chain breaches. A Nigerian company called Figorr, formerly called…
- Ayoba, the African super app backed by MTN Group, has passed 25 million monthly active users as it celebrates its fourth anniversary. Ayoba is a super instant messaging app released in 2019 and owned by MTN. It gives private peer-to-peer messaging that is encrypted from end to end. The platform…
- When Google, also known as “AI-first” company, puts all of its weight behind the technology, you know that the AI race is entirely on.last week, the search giant held its yearly developer event, Google I/O, which showed how aggressively it wants to adopt and use the technology in most, if not all,…
- Nigeria will make a giant strand on blockchain technology with the recent national blockchain policy. But the West African nation will not welcome crypto anytime soon—blockchain policy or not. Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, On May 3rd, announced the approval of a national…
- MusicLM, Google’s AI that makes music, is now open to the public. But users must sign up for a line before using this new tool. Also, the data that users make while using the app will be used to train the AI system even more. Google made MusicLM, an AI-powered tool that can turn words […] More
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- Startupbootcamp Afritech and the DER.FJ has started a program in Dakar called “Startup Accelerator.” They are working together to invite top technology companies from all over Africa. This startup cohort will receive assistance in essential areas such as finance, management, and marketing. While…
- The European Investment Bank (EIB) has given €40 million ($43.4 million) to Wingcopter, a German startup specializing in making drones to deliver medicine and food to remote places. The investment will come in the form of “quasi-equity,” which means that some of it will be in the form of stock,…
- The power of artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly significant, and tech companies are taking notice. ChatGPT has become the go-to AI chatbot for many, prompting other tech giants, such as Microsoft and Samsung, to integrate AI into their brands. In a recent announcement, Slack…
- Planet42 is a South African-based start-up that has raised over $150m, offering a unique kind of financing for cars. It differentiates itself from competitors, such as Autochek and Moove, by renting used cars to customers on a subscription basis, with an option to buy. Since its launch in 2017,…
- Webfleet, Bridgestone’s fleet management solution, is expanding its services to the South African Development Community (SADC). This expansion has led to a recent partnership with Kgare Digital to provide high-end tech skills and jobs in Botswana, making it the third portion in the African market…
- Vodacom, the largest mobile network operator in Mozambique, has announced the launch of Mozambique’s first 5G network. The company plans to deploy 5G services at selected sites in Maputo, Matola, the central area of Nampula, downtown Nacala, Munhava, Maquinino, and Chipanga neighborhoods, Beira,…
- South Africa’s data mobile network operator, Rain, has expanded its network to break into the voice service market. They will now offer high-quality voice calls, data, and sms throughout the country. Titled “The rainOne” package, this service combines home internet, data, and voice services into…
- Kenya plans to grow its internal revenue and narrow its fiscal deficit by introducing new taxes targeted at the digital economy. It is also aimed at managing the ongoing cash crunch. If the proposal in the finance bill is corrected, then the taxes will be implemented from July 1st in the coming…
- Treepz, formerly a bus-hailing platform, has introduced a unique solution in the automobile space. The relaunch of their car-sharing model in Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, and Ghana is set to provide car owners in these countries the chance to rent out their vehicles for as low as N30,000 to even N90,000…
- Nomba has achieved a remarkable feat in tech by transitioning from an AI chatbot to a company. This venture capitalist-backed-up company is now valued at $150 million. Nomba, formerly Kudi.AI, was launched in 2017 as a simple solution model to help non-tech-inclined individuals navigate digital…
- Kenya proposes a special tax system for Employee Share Ownership Plans (ESOPs) to encourage innovation in its startup environment. The Finance Bill for 2023 proposes a “deferred tax” system, which means that taxes on shares given to workers should be put off until certain events happen. These…
- According to a corporate statement, Exit MENA, an investment platform created in 2022, has received the final securities promotion and underwriting license from the Egyptian Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA). The license allows Exit MENA to grow its services and offer additional investment…
- Bolt, the ride-hailing behemoth, has pledged €2.5 million to enhance gender diversity and encourage more women to enter the ride-hailing sector with its new “Women at the Wheels” campaign. In March 2023, a poll of 2,000 women in Europe and Africa showed that only 7.2% thought about driving as a way…
- Speedtest Intelligence says that in Q1 2023, Starlink in Jamaica was the fastest satellite provider in the Caribbean, with speeds of 83.79 Mbps. This was faster than all fixed broadband providers in Jamaica, and Starlink and Viasat were faster than all providers combined in the Dominican Republic.…
- The French development finance organization Proparco has invested $5 million into an early-stage venture capital fund that DisrupTech Ventures runs. This is to help Egypt’s fintech sector grow and make it easier for people in the country to get financial services. DisrupTech Ventures wants to give…
- In a blog post, Microsoft said that it is making ChatGPT-powered Bing available to the public.The company’s AI-powered search engine was first available in Limited Preview with a waiting list. It is now in Open Preview, which means everyone can use it. Also, the software giant has added more smart…
- Zone, Africa’s first regulated blockchain network for payments, has been crowned the Financial Times and Statista’s Fastest Growing Companies in Africa category winner. The company is the first blockchain startup in Africa and one of just a handful of Nigerian fintechs to make a list. The yearly…
- Tanzanian biotech company NovFeed has emerged as the winner of the Milken-Motsepe Prize in Agritech. The competition is meant to encourage technological advancement towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs NovFeed beat out 3,300 other contestants from 105 countries on six continents to…
- Every day, South African mobile users run out of mobile data, which means that a lot of their digital marketing doesn’t work because they don’t have enough data. Nicholas Bednall, the chief commercial officer of MoyaApp, a well-known mobile start-up in South Africa, has raised this. According to…
- This week, the Federal Executive Council of Nigeria approved a national blockchain policy, making it the newest government to do so. Isa Pantami, the minister of communications and digital economy for a West African country, said that blockchain technology would help make sure data is correct and…
- The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has started a new system called the Kenya Quick Response Code Standard 2023 (KE-QR Code Standard 2023) to encourage mobile payments and internet transactions in the country. The project aims to enable different financial institutions in the country to work together.…
- Tarabut Gateway, the leading open financial platform in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), received $32 million in an investment round known as Series A. Tarabut Gateway is the MENA region’s first and largest regulated Open Banking platform, serving as an AISP (Account Information Service…
- After getting $330 million in a Series F funding round, Zipline, a company that uses drones to transport medical supplies and blood, is now worth $4.2 billion. reta Even though most startup unicorns don’t have better valuations in the current market, the South San Francisco-based company was able…
- Sun King, an off-grid energy company, has bought PayGo Energy, a leader in pay-as-you-go technology for clean cooking, to help families in Africa and Asia switch from wood and charcoal cookstoves to ones that are cleaner and safer. Sun King wants to make various clean cooking products that LPG,…
- The ever-increasing abundance of fintech services in the African Market has only created a problem that must be solved. The problem is a fraud, and it is because of this that Smile Identity has acquired Inclusive Innovation, the founding company of Appruve. Smile Identity is an African-based…
- Bolt seeks to curb the impersonation of drivers by introducing a new selfie verification feature. The new feature is being implemented across South Africa by Bolt operating drivers, which will also help improve passenger safety. Driver impersonation is a significant problem the ride-hailing…
- Twitter’s new Partnership with eToro is set to usher in a new dimension to the microblogging app. Users can now access real-time trading information on various assets and make informed investment decisions. eToro is an online trading and investment platform that provides real-time information on…
- Nigeria has increased its number of Internet Service Providers to a total of 258 after licensing 19 new companies recently. This increase in Internet service providers is projected to boost the penetration of broadband services to 70% by 2025. However, ISPs complain of tough competition from…
- Telegram, the instant messaging app, has introduced new features to improve user experience. First launched in August 2013, this messaging app has constantly threatened WhatsApp as the predominant platform. For telegram, some of their features are not as limited in size or capacity as with Whatsapp…
- The Amalgamated Union of App-based Transport Workers of Nigeria (AUATWON) has threatened to embark on a million-man protest. This decision resulted from Bolt and Uber’s intent to revoke driver’s licenses. The AUATWON, which was established sometime this year, is a union that represents all ride-…
- Egypt’s vast population and strategic location have generated considerable demand for auto financing and cars. 2021 recorded over 215,000 vehicles sold in Egypt, thus creating job opportunities for thousands of individuals in Egypt and registering Egypt as a prime market for car financing services…
- In partnership with Oando Plc, Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has stated that the first set of electric buses will be added to the Lagos Mass Transit Master Plan. The new electric buses are a big deal for the city’s public transportation system because they can go 280 km on a full charge.…
- Kenya is looking to capitalize on the recent uptick in the value of Bitcoin, the most widely used cryptocurrency in the world, despite having been in a prolonged decline. Kenya just put out new rules that say cryptocurrency platforms must pay a 1.5% tax on the commissions they get from the more…
- In partnership with the National Bank of Angola (BNA), the pan-African mobile network operator Africell has started its “Afrimoney” mobile money service in Angola. This move comes after a pilot phase, and Africell thinks that the new platform will “digitize” the country’s informal economy and “…
- According to a study by International Data Corporation (IDC), workstation shipments in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) dropped sharply in the second half of 2022. This was because there was a lot of business uncertainty at the time. But as demand picks up, the market will likely bounce…
- Spleet, a Nigerian proptech firm, has partnered with Repit, a rental support specialist based in the United Kingdom. Repit helps people move by assisting them in finding a place to live, arranging viewings, helping with references, negotiating paperwork, and giving tips on getting settled. This…
- The African Development Bank and AFRICA Fintech Network have signed a partnership agreement for a $525,000 grant to set up the Africa Fintech Hub (www.AfricaFintechNetwork.com). This online portal will be a one-stop shop for all fintech activities in Africa. The Africa Digital Financial Inclusion…
- A new report by the International Data Corporation (IDC) says that the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region will spend $30.3 billion on IT and business services in 2023. This is a 5.0 percent increase from the $28.9 billion spent in 2022. A study says that the area’s growth is due to its stable and…
- Capria Ventures, a venture capital company focusing on early-growth startups in the Global South, has announced the first close of its $100 million Fund II. The fund intends to invest in 20-25 technology businesses in Africa, India, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. OIP Investment…
- Adaverse is a joint effort between EMURGO Africa and Everest Ventures Group. It is a venture capital company that has invested in a real estate technology company called HouseAfrica. HouseAfrica uses blockchain technology to make owning land easier for African people. Other well-known investors…
- Orange Fab Cameroon is pleased to announce the opening of the application process for the startup acceleration program. The program is meant to help digital startups in Cameroon improve their goods or services and make a plan for making more money, getting more attention, and growing. Orange Fab…
- According to the Sunday Mail, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has revealed intentions to launch a gold-backed digital currency as legal tender as part of the country’s intervention to help stabilize the Zim dollar. The local currency, This follows the RBZ’s announcement in August 2022 that it…
- Altech Group, based in the DRC, has gotten $18 million in loans and grants from the Energy Entrepreneurs Growth Fund (EEGF), Triple Jump, and Rabobank to grow its solar energy sales and distribution across the country. Altech was started in 2013 and now has 4,500 workers and sales agents who serve…
- Yango’s suspension in Cameroon in February left a vacancy in the ride-hailing market, but a startup named OnGo is attempting to fill that void. Ongo, made by local engineers and Cameroonians living abroad, launched its digital car reservation service with drivers and taxis on April 17. This makes…
- The Internet of Things (IoT) has been one of the most significant technological advances in recent years. It has given companies and organizations access to real-time data they’ve never had before, made them more efficient, and helped them make better decisions. As the Internet of Things (IoT)…
