Startups
Internet cafes help Botswana close the digital divide
Kefilwe, a 25-year-old marketing graduate who doesn’t have a job, can use the internet for an hour at Unique Solutions, an internet café in Francistown, Botswana’s second-largest city, for 15 pulas ($1). She wants to apply for Chema-Chema, a government scheme that gives 500 million pulas ($37 million) to people who want to start their […]
Modupeoluwa OlalereShesha’s journey to becoming a local e-hailing challenger
Shesha is a South African startup that wants to change the established e-hailing landscape, dominated mainly by international giants like Uber and Bolt, by offering a local alternative that considers local conditions. Shesha was created because “it became apparent that“—not only from a customer perspective, where safety and understanding of local needs weren’t always high […]
Modupeoluwa OlalereTRIFIC SEZ, ONESPACE, Chanzo Capital launch COSSA to scale startups
Chanzo Capital, an investment and growth capital business that focuses on high-tech startups and scaleups, and the Two Rivers International Finance and Innovation Centre Special Economic Zone (TRIFIC SEZ) have teamed up to create the Chanzo ONESPACE Startup and Scaleup Accelerator (COSSA). The ONESPACE programme will target digital startups that are prepared to expand their […]
Felicia AkindurodoyeLaunch Africa Ventures invested $4.3m in 16 startups
Launch Africa Ventures, an early-stage investment company, has made 133 investments through its first fund and has now invested US$4.3 million in 16 startups from across the continent as part of its second fund. This company was first introduced in July 2020 by Zachariah George and Janade du Plessis, with chairperson Margaret O’Connor on the […]
Staff WriterNoki Noki Services set to improve Pan-African Logistics With $3M funding
With a $3 million investment from Uma Ventures, Congolese logistics firm Noki Noki Services has significantly raised its pan-African growth aspirations. Originally started three years ago by Jonathan Yanghat, Noki Noki has quickly become a significant force in the logistics industry, managing around a billion CFA francs (~$1.67 million) in transactions. Serving the rising need […]
Hauwa Ali AbdulBlord Group CEO receives award
Blord Group CEO, Linus Williams, has been decorated with the Northern Heroes Award by the Northern Youth Association of Nigeria. The award is a significant recognition of the path that the Blord Group of Companies has taken. Reacting to the award, Linus noted that It is proof of the strength of perseverance, unflinching persistence, and […]
Felicia AkindurodoyeBreega Launches $75m Africa Fund
The first African fund, “Breega Africa Seed I,” was launched by Breega and is one of the fastest-growing early-stage funds in Europe. Its goal is to become the premier early-stage investor in African Startups. Breega, a Paris-based investment firm with offices in London and Barcelona, closed its first fund in 2015 and now manages $700 […]
Staff WriterGhana Legendary Foods wins Runner-Up at FoodTech World Cup
Legendary Foods, an innovative Ghanaian food startup, achieved a remarkable feat by securing second place at the prestigious FoodTech World Cup. This esteemed global competition brought together cutting-edge applications and innovative solutions aimed at addressing pressing challenges in the food system. Legendary Foods impressed the judges and audience alike with their groundbreaking approach, showcasing their […]
Staff WriterLagos Allocates N1bn Seed Fund for Startups
Under the leadership of the visionary Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State has made significant strides in supporting early-stage firms and fostering scientific innovation. A testament to this is the allocation of N1 billion in initial funding to the Lagos State Science, Research, and Innovation Council (LASRIC) by the government. Governor Sanwo-Olu highlighted the significance of […]
Hauwa Ali AbdulEmpowering South African Startups: Apply Now for develoPPP Ventures
develoPPP Ventures is a new investment initiative created by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). This scheme is offered to South African companies. In addition to providing financial returns, the develoPPP Ventures program assists South African small and growing businesses (SGBs) […]
Modupeoluwa OlalereAmazon to Invest $230 Million to Back 80 Startups in Early Stages
To help AI startups in their early stages, Amazon has announced a capital investment of $230 million in the form of Amazon Web Services (AWS) loans. Eighty startups worldwide will be part of the programme, which aims to support the development of innovative AI technologies by offering free hardware and prototypes. Each startup will have […]
Hauwa Ali Abdul4Di Capital’s Strategy for Investing in African Startups
Cape Town-based venture capital company 4Di Capital is launching its third venture fund to invest in promising African entrepreneurs from seed to Series A. 4Di Capital, founded in 2009, is a leading venture capital firm in Southern and Eastern Africa. The organisation is noted for its entrepreneurial leadership team, which has built companies. Read also: […]
Modupeoluwa OlalereThiqa, Paymenow partner for Uganda’s on-demand wage payments
A growing trend in Africa sees employers offering on-demand payments, bypassing traditional payday schedules. Ugandan startup Thiqa Digital Finance and South Africa’s Paymenow are collaborating to introduce earned wage access (EWA) solutions to Uganda’s government employees, making Uganda a pioneer. Thiqa Digital Finance Paymenow Revolutionising Payments Earned Wage Access (EWA) allows employees to access a […]
Ibukunoluwa Josephine BankoleGhana-Based Kofa’s Cost-Effective Batteries Powers West Africa
Ghanaian startup Kofa, known for its innovative battery network solutions and e-motorcycles, is making significant strides in the clean-tech sector. The company has revealed plans to expand its groundbreaking battery-swapping system to Kenya and Togo with a high-capacity battery system called Kore2. This battery is versatile and caters to a wide range of applications. The […]
Hauwa Ali AbdulGoogle supports 24 AI Healthcare Startups
Google for Companies has revealed the 24 startups chosen to participate in the Growth Academy AI for Health initiative in 2024. Supporting innovative companies using artificial intelligence (AI) to transform healthcare services and medical research is the program’s primary goal across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). The chosen startups demonstrate how AI may […]
Staff WriterWFF Startup Innovation Awards opens for agri-food companies
Startups in the African agri-food sector are encouraged to apply for the World Food Forum WFF Startup Innovation Awards, an international competition that aims to recognise and reward entrepreneurs and innovators using technology to drive the long-term improvement of food production and distribution systems. With the help of XTC, the World Food Forum (WFF) Startup […]
Felicia AkindurodoyeAccelerate Africa launches Investor Portal
Accelerate Africa (AA) introduced an investor portal on Friday. The goal of this portal is to make it easy for investors to find all the startups that have taken part in AA’s programmes. The Chief Technology Officer of Future Africa, Ismail Olasunkanmi, disclosed this on his LinkedIn page. Accelerate Africa, with headquarters in Yaounde, Cameroon, […]
Felicia AkindurodoyeKenyan Startup Gro Intelligence Shuts Down
A few months ago, the board dismissed Sara Menker, the CEO and founder of the agricultural data platform Gro Intelligence. Despite obtaining emergency capital in March 2024, the New York and Nairobi-based company will close. AgFunderNews said on Friday that the company could not secure additional funding from current and potential investors despite the March […]
Staff WriterPatoranking Foundation Launches $500,000 Tech Scholarships
Africa’s tech capabilities have just been enhanced by an innovative step taken by the non-profit Patoranking Foundation, which is dedicated to advancing the continent via entrepreneurship, education, and empowerment. The Patoranking Foundation Tech Scholarships, valued at $500,000, are being introduced by the Foundation in collaboration with ALX Africa, a distinguished provider of tech training. This […]
Staff WriterKenyan startup: GoBEBA expands to 4 new cities
GoBEBA, a Kenyan startup, intends to expand into four more cities over the next two years before moving to East and Central Africa. The company claims to be reinventing Africa’s utility supply chain to help provide the infrastructure that can handle the continent-wide explosion in urban growth. GoBEBA is an online retailer of significant refillable […]
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