- The Senegalese government recently announced fresh restrictions on internet access starting Monday. The move aims to curb the spread of hateful messages on social media, according to the country’s communications minister Moussa Bocar Thiam. The latest shutdown follows opposition leader Ousmane…
- Two years ago, Etornam Fianoo-Vidza set out to learn Swahili but found online materials ineffective. This experience motivated the French and Spanish teacher to start her interactive language learning platform, Spiika, to help provide more engaging resources. Unlike other apps limited to offering…
- Nigerian healthcare is grappling with the challenging issue of counterfeit and substandard medicine, as emphasized in a recent report by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). The report estimates that around 15% of medicines sold in Nigeria fall into this…
- Access Bank South Africa and Jacaranda FM have jointly announced the return of Womenpreneur Her Perfect Pitch for its second year to promote female entrepreneurial growth and innovation. The competition targets women entrepreneurs who have been in business for at least one year, offering them an…
- Micro, Small, and Medium-sized firms (MSMEs) hold significant importance in the Nigerian economy, accounting for more than 60% of GDP growth and playing a crucial role in job creation. Nonetheless, many of these enterprises operate informally, which challenges their access to digital tools and…
- Ugandans are currently experiencing exceptionally high-speed internet access like never before. This development is made possible by MTN Uganda, a prominent African telecommunication company that recently launched the country’s inaugural 5G internet connection. MTN Uganda’s journey towards 5G began…
- According to Christopher Ball, co-founder of Finch Technologies, the open banking sector is projected to surpass a total market value of $123.7 billion by 2031. For South African banks to maintain a competitive advantage over their global counterparts, they must embrace open banking fully. This…
- Opay, a prominent fintech heavyweight focusing on emerging markets, is contemplating growth in the Egyptian market. This move comes after it reportedly sought a license to form a digital bank in North Africa. Mahmoud Khedr, the Head of Business Development and Strategic Partnerships at Opay,…
- BasiGo, a Kenyan startup specialising in electric mobility, recently unveiled its plans to venture into the Rwandan market as part of its growth strategy. This development comes on the heels of the formation of BasiGo Rwanda Ltd, a subsidiary dedicated to facilitating the transition of the public…
- In Kenya, Zuri Health has acquired further investment from Five35 Ventures. This additional funding will empower the expansion of its innovative healthcare platform, thereby assisting more individuals. Five35 Ventures, an initial-phase venture capital firm, focuses on backing entrepreneurs who…
- According to a recent study conducted by the B2B payment platform, Duplo, Nigeria, Kenya, and Ghana are all behind South Africa in terms of electronic bank transfer usage and the speed of processing invoices. However, Kenya stands out with its dominance in payment automation and mobile money…
- WhatsApp, the widely-used messaging service, has introduced a new feature allowing users to capture and distribute personal videos of up to 60 seconds directly within their conversations. The company believes this will enhance communication methods on its platform. The new feature will be…
- Recent advancements in artificial intelligence have facilitated integration across countless industries. Google is reportedly testing an AI system capable of automatically generating news articles by processing current event information. Dubbed “Genesis” internally, the tool was pitched to major…
- The Kenya National Library Service (KNLS) has officially unveiled the country’s inaugural virtual library, VTabu. The $1.7 million digital platform was launched at the Maktaba Kuu national library in Nairobi by Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Youth, Sports and Arts, Ababu Namwamba. VTabu grants…
- A new IBM study reveals that top executives across Africa are turning to groundbreaking technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing to accelerate advancement and give their organisations a competitive edge. But fully unlocking the promise of these tools requires establishing…
- Cryptocurrency platform Patricia Technologies Limited has announced a new partnership with cybersecurity leader Deimos Cloud Security. The collaboration aims to transform how Patricia protects customer assets and enhance security measures against escalating cyber threats. With the rise of data…
- Smile Identity, the African ID verification and KYC startup has rebranded as Smile ID alongside major product upgrades and a refreshed brand image. The rebranding aims to match Smile ID’s expanding vision for multifaceted KYC services in Africa. Since 2017, Smile ID has completed over 75 million ID…
- TikTok has introduced a new text-only post format, opening fresh avenues for written creative expression on the wildly popular app. This text option allows users to post short stories, poems, recipes, and other narratives, providing a dedicated space for the textual flair often contained in video…
- A leading global brokerage firm has introduced fintech scholarships in Kenya to support outstanding tech students. Exness is partnering with the United States International University (USIU) to provide scholarships covering tuition and living costs. The awards aim to back talented Kenyan youth…
- The Kenyan government now requires taxation on income earned by freelancers on popular online work platforms like Upwork. Previously, Kenyans able to find freelance jobs on sites like Upwork could earn an untaxed income. However, Upwork has recently updated its terms for Kenyan users, stating that…
- In Kenya, the public transportation sector is leading the transition to electric vehicles (EVs), contrary to trends in developed nations where private cars dominate EV adoption. Kenyan startups developing electric buses and motorbikes for public transit are enabling this shift as the country aims…
- Across Africa, health supply chains face immense burdens, leaving most citizens forced to seek medications from private companies. However, the continent’s fragmented manufacturing and distribution networks impact drug availability, pricing, and quality. Now, African governments are collaborating…
- Clafiya, a Nigerian health tech startup, recently secured a substantial amount of $610,000 in a pre-seed funding round. The primary objectives behind this funding are directed toward accelerating product development and facilitating staff expansion. Several prominent investors actively participated…
- In today’s digital landscape, the proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) and chatbots, such as ChatGPT, has made it increasingly challenging to distinguish between humans and AI entities. This surge in fake virtual identities and bots has raised significant privacy and security concerns for…
- Elon Musk, who acquired Twitter last year, has been hinting at the possibility of turning the platform into an all-encompassing “everything app,” akin to China’s WeChat. The plan includes merging Twitter with another company called “X Corp.” With Elon Musk at the helm, Twitter is currently…
- With a substantial mobile phone user base and a rising demand for smartphones, Nigeria faces significant challenges in establishing a domestic mobile phone manufacturing industry. Despite having more than 320 million SIM cards and over 220 million active mobile connections, the country has not…
- MyCover.ai, a Nigerian insurtech startup, has raised a pre-seed funding round worth US$1.25 million. The funding round was spearheaded by Ventures Platform, with additional participation from Founders Factory Africa and Techstars. Established in 2021, MyCover.ai is committed to addressing the…
- The push towards ultra-broadband technology in Senegal has accelerated, particularly with the emergence of 5G. The country strives to meet the rising demand for broadband connectivity and the changing digital consumption habits sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic. Sonatel, an offshoot of Orange, a…
- The issue of women’s health care, especially regarding menstrual and reproductive health, has historically been a somewhat overlooked niche within the startup ecosystem of African healthcare, even though there has been a growing call for heightened attention in this sphere. However, recent progress…
- South African businesses striving to extend their reach beyond the African continent to Europe and the United States frequently encounter a maze of complications. According to the McKinsey Global Payments report released last year, these enterprises grapple with formidable obstacles within the…
- The Africa Climate Summit (ACS) and the Annual Africa Climate Week 2023, two significant events co-hosted by the Republic of Kenya, are set to occur from 4 to 6 September in Nairobi, Kenya. The ACS will bring together Heads of State and Government, policymakers, civil society groups, the private…
- Apple is reportedly developing artificial intelligence tools to compete with OpenAI, Google, and other tech giants. The company has created an internal chatbot called “Apple GPT” and plans to make a significant AI-related announcement next year without a determined consumer strategy. To build large…
- As the landscape of digital payments rapidly transforms, the ascension of mobile wallets, touch-free transactions, and blockchain-based initiatives is evident. Attendees will get an in-depth view of the emerging trends in digital payment and their potential role in facilitating financial…
- Investors are showing great interest in technology-enabled businesses in South Africa, viewing them as opportunities for growth and innovation. Nchaupe Khaole, Chief Investment Officer of the Mineworkers Investment Company (MIC), highlighted that technology companies and startups in South Africa…
- Nestled within the bustling city center of Braamfontein, ALX Tech Hub aims to equip South African youths with the digital skills necessary for employment opportunities. ALX South Africa’s General Manager, Divesh Sooka, says that collaboration is important: “Government, civil society, and the…
- Egypt’s tech ecosystem is making significant strides in achieving financial inclusion, primarily driven by the rising popularity of digital wallets and cards. Despite this progress, cash continues to dominate the payment landscape in the country. To promote digital payment adoption further, the…
- Startup Wise Guys, an accelerator program, has recently opened applications for its SaaS (Software as a Service) Accelerator Program in Africa. The primary objective of this program is to support local SaaS companies in achieving success by equipping them with the necessary resources to overcome…
- Elon Musk-owned Starlink, a satellite internet service, aims to extend its reach across Africa. As per its official website, Starlink is presently accessible in 54 countries worldwide and caters to approximately 1.5 million active customers. Expanding its coverage to Kenya, Elon Musk-owned Starlink…
- Nigeria, a rapidly growing economy in Africa, is witnessing a strong interest among businesses in leveraging cutting-edge technologies to propel their growth strategies. As per Equinix’s 2023 Global Tech Trends Survey findings, 47% of Nigerian businesses are actively adopting interconnection…
- Twenty Ghanaian startups has completed the UNICEF StartUp Lab Accelerator and collectively received funding of $445,000. These twenty outstanding Ghanaian entrepreneurs graduated from the program after completing a six-month intense accelerator program focused on business and product development.…
- The West African region is witnessing the emergence of a pipeline of innovative renewable energy projects, contributing to the advancement of sustainable solutions. To showcase these developments, the upcoming MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power conference, organized by Energy Capital & Power and taking…
- Kenya has been actively addressing tax leaks for the past few months, resulting in significant progress. The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has not only met but exceeded its targets, achieving a remarkable 6.7% increase in the financial year of 2022/2023. Compared to the 2018/2019 financial year,…
- Apple Pay has officially launched in the country, providing a convenient payment option for customers. Apple updated its regional website to confirm that two major banks in Morocco, Crédit immobilier et hôtelier (CIH) and Crédit Agricole Group of Morocco (CAM) Bank, now support Apple Pay. CIH Bank’…
- HealthDart, a promising start-up based in South Africa, is dedicated to revolutionizing the national healthcare system by implementing technology-driven solutions. Inefficiencies within the public healthcare system in the country, such as long waiting lists and time-consuming clinic queues, have…
- Chapa, the leading payment solution provider in Ethiopia, has partnered with Telegram, one of the world’s most popular messaging apps. This partnership will allow merchants on Telegram to accept payments from their customers without having to leave the app. This is a significant milestone for…
- Kenyans have taken to Twitter using the hashtag Maandamano to voice their protests against the high cost of living in the country. These demonstrations have not only caused disruptions in public transportation but have also affected businesses offline. On Wednesday, July 12, a significant protest,…
- Uganda’s parliament has approved the imposition of a 5% levy on the revenues earned by foreign digital companies, including Facebook (Meta), Twitter, Amazon, and Netflix. The move aims to generate tax revenue from these companies for their operations in the country. Failure to comply with the tax…
- Airtel Kenya has officially launched its 5G network, becoming the second telecom operator in the country to introduce the next-generation technology. The rollout follows months of testing and comes after Safaricom introduced 5G services in October 2022. Earlier this year, Airtel Kenya expanded its…
- Africa is poised to become the fastest-growing region in terms of fintech revenue, according to a recent report by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and QED Investors. The report, titled “Global Fintech 2023: Reimagining the Future of Finance,” predicts that Africa’s fintech market, led by countries…
- Moove, a Nigerian mobility fintech firm, has acquired an extra $8 million in funding from Absa Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB), bringing its total capital from the bank to $28 million. This latest investment follows a previous funding round in June 2022, where Moove received $20 million from…
