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Stripe expands to the Middle East with UAE launch

Stripe expands to the Middle East with UAE launch

The global online payments company, Stripe, has chosen Dubai for its first expansion into the Middle East and North Africa. The launch comes after the introduction of its private beta in the country a few months ago. Stripe’s expansion to the Middle East has been in the works since

Egyptian fintech startup, Paymob closes a record breaking $18.5 million Series A to drive its expansion

Egyptian fintech startup, Paymob closes a record breaking $18.5 million Series A to drive its expansion

Cairo-based fintech, Paymob has announced today the close of a record-breaking $18.5 million Series A round led by Global Ventures, with participation from Egyptian investment fund A15 and the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank FMO. The round includes $15 million in fresh capital and $3.5 million that came as

Over 533 million users affected in the Facebook Data Breach and how you can secure yours if you are affected

Over 533 million users affected in the Facebook Data Breach and how you can secure yours if you are affected

On Saturday, the individual data of more than 533 million Facebook users were distributed in an online platform designed for cybercriminals. According to Business Insider, the uncovered information includes individual data of more than 533 million Facebook clients from 106 nations, including the telephone numbers, Facebook IDs, complete names, areas,

Mastercard, Uber renews partnership to boost payment digitalisation and financial inclusion in MEA Region

Mastercard, Uber renews partnership to boost payment digitalisation and financial inclusion in MEA Region

Mastercard and Uber have renewed their long-term partnership by implementing a new strategic initiative that will focus on digital payments and advancing financial inclusion in the Middle East and Africa (MEA). Through this partnership, Uber will be able to drive digitization across its business operations by leveraging Mastercard’s single

GSMA announces winners of the Innovation Fund for Mobile Internet Adoption and Digital Inclusion Grant

GSMA announces winners of the Innovation Fund for Mobile Internet Adoption and Digital Inclusion Grant

The GSMA has today announced the winners of the GSMA Innovation Fund for Mobile Internet Adoption and Digital Inclusion grant. The fund which was launched in April last year was created to open up opportunities for innovative start-ups and SMEs to address the key barriers of accessibility, affordability, digital skills,

Japanese firms rate Kenya as the top investment location in the continent

Japanese firms rate Kenya as the top investment location in the continent

Kenya has been rated the most attractive destination for Japanese firms looking to make investments in Africa. According to a survey conducted by the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) on Japanese-affiliated companies in Africa. According to the Survey, East Asian affiliated firms rated Kenya highly because of its position as

Everyshop Launches in South Africa

Everyshop Launches in South Africa

Online business altogether affects business expenses and efficiency. E-Commerce has an opportunity to be generally embraced because of its straightforward applications. Along these lines, it has a huge monetary sway. Electronic Business gives the capacity of purchasing and selling items and data on the web and other online services. Electronic

Canva reaches $15billion valuation after raising $71billion in new funding round

Canva reaches $15billion valuation after raising $71billion in new funding round

Australia-based Design startup, Canva, announced on Tuesday 6th of April that it has raised $71 million in new funding led by T. Rowe Price and Dragoneer at a $15 billion valuation. Other investors who took part in the round include previous investors, Blackbird Ventures, and Skip Capital. Canva, which says

Enygma Ventures Announces Funding Call for Female Entrepreneurs in Africa

Enygma Ventures Announces Funding Call for Female Entrepreneurs in Africa

Enygma Ventures, a US venture capital company that invests in selected startups and SMEs in Africa has taken up the challenge to assist female-founded businesses and entrepreneurs in Africa. Enygma Ventures is a unique purpose-driven investment fund, led by award-winning entrepreneurs that have been scaling businesses in Africa, Europe, and

Applications open for Jack Ma’s Africa’s Business Heroes competition

Applications open for Jack Ma’s Africa’s Business Heroes competition

Jack Ma’s Foundation flagship philanthropic program in Africa which annually awards 10 outstanding finalists with a share of a US$1.5 million grant is here again. This is the third that Africa’s Business Heroes competition will be creating a platform that African startups can showcase their talent

Clubhouse launches payments for creators, plan to roll out Android App soon

Clubhouse launches payments for creators, plan to roll out Android App soon

Audio-chat platform, Clubhouse has announced the introduction of a payment feature that will allow users to tip their favorite speakers or creators on the platform. In what the company described as the “first of many features”, this new feature will allow creators to receive payment directly on the Clubhouse app.

Egyptian VC firm, Algebra Ventures launches $90M fund for startups in Egypt

Egyptian VC firm, Algebra Ventures launches $90M fund for startups in Egypt

Cairo-based Venture Capitalist firm, Algebra Ventures, has today announced the launch of its $90 million investment fund. This is coming on the heels of a $54million investment fund that was closed 4years ago. With this new funding round, the firm hopes to have raised $144million when this second fund closes

Sparkle launches feature to empower SMEs

Artificial Intelligence

Sparkle launches feature to empower SMEs

Sparkle, a Nigerian Fintech company has launched its Sparkle Business– a platform to help Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) access products and services necessary for the digital enhancement of their businesses. Since SMEs form the highest employers of labor in Nigeria, they must be afforded all necessary opportunities needed for

Egypt based Sawari Ventures Receives $69 million Funding

Egypt based Sawari Ventures Receives $69 million Funding

Cairo based venture capitalist firm Sawari Ventures announced that it closed a $28m funding from Misr Insurance Group, Kuwait Investment Authority’s Ekuity, National Bank of Egypt, Banque Misr, Banque du Caire, and Suez Canal Bank, after it had previously raised $41 million from the European Investment Bank and other

14 Ghanaian startups selected for MEST Express Accelerator

14 Ghanaian startups selected for MEST Express Accelerator

The Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST)- a pan-African training programme, seed fund and incubator for technology entrepreneurs in Africa, providing critical skills training in software development, business and communications, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, has announced the admission of 14 startups for the first 2021 cohort of

$1.2million Worth of Funding Launched by The African Enterprise Challenge Fund

$1.2million Worth of Funding Launched by The African Enterprise Challenge Fund

The African Enterprise Challenge Fund(AECF) recently launched a USD1.2 million worth of innovation fund. The AECF is a development institution that helps businesses and startups alike to be more creative with their ideas. They aim to make available sustainable incomes in Africa, especially in the rural and marginalized

Pricepally has raised a six-digit pre-seed funding round to help it consolidate its early growth

Pricepally has raised a six-digit pre-seed funding round to help it consolidate its early growth

Though Nigeria boasts as the largest economy in Africa with a GDP of about USD$441billion, the country has not been without its own challenges. Over the last five years, the country has survived two recessions that have occasioned a surge in the inflation rate of the country. This has

Enygma Ventures Partners with Startup Circle

Enygma Ventures Partners with Startup Circle

The need for business-building capability both at the entrepreneur and investor level increases the need for more venture capitalist and accelerator firms in Africa. Because most startups lack appropriate strategies and business plans, management and organization, cash flow and financial skills, internal systems, and governance, venture capitalist firms provide them

South African security tech startup, AURA, expands to the UK

South African security tech startup, AURA, expands to the UK

Weeks after launching its East African office in Kenya, South African-based security tech start-up and medical platform, AURA, announced it would be expanding its product offering globally, starting with the UK market. This expansion will see the innovative South African startup offer its state-of-the-art security response services to support the

Airtel Africa Receives $100 million Investment from MasterCard

Artificial Intelligence

Airtel Africa Receives $100 million Investment from MasterCard

Two week after TPG’s Rise Fund invested $200m in Airtel Africa, the company has announced that it will receive an extra $100m from global payments provider MasterCard. In a statement released, Airtel Africa and MasterCard have “extended commercial agreements and signed a new commercial framework which will deepen their

Nedbank, two other SA Banks launch Apple Pay for users

Nedbank, two other SA Banks launch Apple Pay for users

Digital mobile payment platform Apple Pay is now available in 3 South African Banks namely Nedbank, Absa, and Discovery Bank. The platform which was quietly launched in the country makes South Africa the first country in Africa to get Apple Pay support. The new Apple Pay feature is a secure,

NALA expands remittance services to East Africa

NALA expands remittance services to East Africa

In Tanzania, mobile money services can be relatively difficult to use due to unstable internet and high service fees. Africa still remains the most expensive continent to send money to, due to convoluted payment systems and lack of infrastructure. Benjamin Fernandes noticed this as a national television host while building

Uganda’s Tugende secures $3.6M funding to meet the demand for its asset finance products

Uganda-based technology-enabled asset finance company Tugende announced today that it has secured $3.6 million in a Series A extension round. According to the company, this new funding follows the $6.3 million raised in November 2020 that was led by Toyota Tsusho investment fund Mobility 54. This brings Tugende’

Accelerex Secures License to offer Ghanaians more Digital Payment Options

Frontline pan-African fintech company, Accelerex Ghana, has hit a new milestone, by securing an enhanced Payment Service Provider (PSP) license from the Bank of Ghana (BoG), under the Payment Systems and Services Act, 2019 (Act 987). This makes Accelerex Ghana the only fintech organization currently within the enhanced PSP category

African startups can now apply for Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC) 2021

African startups can now apply for Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC) 2021

The Extreme Tech Challenge XTC is the world’s largest social innovation startup competition which has been enabling innovators unleash their full potential. It offers startups and innovators global visibility by offering a platform to pitch their startups to thousands of tech leaders and investors at regional and global competitions.