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What Zanzibar Silicon Valley means for Zanzibar and other African governments?

What Zanzibar Silicon Valley means for Zanzibar and other African governments?

On Tuesday, August 30, the Government of Zanzibar announced the launch of ‘Silicon Zanzibar’ in partnership with Wasoko, a B2B e-commerce Company formerly headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya. The Wasoko innovation hub is developed to create an abode for tech companies across Africa. Previously known as Sokowatch, it was named Africa’

South African startup Trabel Launches its “NoPBX” Technology in Namibia

Telecommunication

South African startup Trabel Launches its “NoPBX” Technology in Namibia

A partnership with TelePassport Communications has allowed South African company Trabel to offer its NoPBX PBX-over-GSM service in Namibia. Utilizing only their current cellphones, any business can set up their switchboard, select their own phone numbers, and be operational in minutes using Trabel’s NoPBX platform. According to Trabel, the

UberEats Will No Longer Deliver in Parts of Soweto Due to Safety Fears

UberEats Will No Longer Deliver in Parts of Soweto Due to Safety Fears

Following growing safety concerns and threats to its business and delivery drivers, food delivery service, UberEats has planned to stop serving some areas of Soweto, South Africa’s largest metropolis. South of Johannesburg’s Soweto will no longer receive deliveries from UberEats starting on September 5, the company’s South

South African Gym Management Startup Octiv Secures Series A Funding

South African Gym Management Startup Octiv Secures Series A Funding

Octiv, a South African software platform for gym management, has secured an eight-figure Series A fundraising round from one of the top venture capital firms, Knife Capital. An executive from BVNK also made an angel investment in the round. Octiv will be able to scale customer service levels to keep

VerifyMe Launches New Digital Identity, Create Customer Analysis Tool

VerifyMe Launches New Digital Identity, Create Customer Analysis Tool

VerifyMe, a Nigerian identity verification startup, has revealed its new product, QoreID, a reserved identity and analytics tool for business-to-business linking platforms. This newly launched platform is designed to provide API structures and data assistance which will link businesses to people along with their information across the continent. Developed for

Flutterwave Obtains Switching And Processing Licence From CBN

Flutterwave Obtains Switching And Processing Licence From CBN

Nigerian fintech, Flutterwave, has obtained a switching and processing licence. Granted to the fintech by the Central Bank Of Nigeria, the SP licence has been said to be one of the most valuable processing licenses of the CBN. With this licence, Flutterwave can procure switching and card processing transaction services

Shezlong, Egypt’s Foremost Psychotherapy Platform, Expands to South Africa, Evolves into “Upright”

Shezlong, Egypt’s Foremost Psychotherapy Platform, Expands to South Africa, Evolves into “Upright”

Shezlong, now Upright, MENA’s foremost and largest psychotherapy platform has announced the opening of its business in South Africa under the name “Upright” as part of its strategic expansion plan. The choice of South Africa is not unconnected to the existence of a market in mental health therapy. Several

Visa Appoints New Head Of West Africa Region.

Visa Appoints New Head Of West Africa Region.

Visa, a digital payment platform and card payment network, has appointed a new Head for its West Africa region. The appointed, Andrew Uaboi is going to be in charge of the development and execution of the company’s growth strategy in West Africa, he will also lead the company’s

RiseBack Edtech platform offering Undergraduate & Graduate Degree Programs Launched for the African Students and Professionals

RiseBack Edtech platform offering Undergraduate & Graduate Degree Programs Launched for the African Students and Professionals

After successfully launching the Edtech platform, which offers students in the USA affordable college degrees in India and America, social entrepreneur Dr. Tausif Malik has now launched RiseBack for African professionals and students. RiseBack is one of the first and only Edtech startups to offer undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

How Fintech Entrant into Egypt is Improving the Traditional Banks' Offerings

How Fintech Entrant into Egypt is Improving the Traditional Banks' Offerings

Egypt’s transformational legislation, combined with the impact of Covid-19, resulted in a 230% increase in cashless payments in the North African country in 2021 and a remarkable growth rate of 300% in investment funding in the same year. The country’s financial sector is now a toss-up between fintech

MTN Group Appoints Christian Bombrun New Digital Platforms Chief

MTN Group Appoints Christian Bombrun New Digital Platforms Chief

According to MTN Group, Christian Bombrun will begin serving as CEO of its Digital Platforms on 1 September 2022. Minnie Harris, who has been playing the part since April 2022, will now be replaced by the incoming CEO. The operator stated that Harris, who has been wearing two hats for

MoNo Launches Telco API, For Unbanked Consumers Data Gathering

MoNo Launches Telco API, For Unbanked Consumers Data Gathering

MoNo, a Nigerian fintech startup, has announced the launching of its new product, a telecommunication application programming interface (API) to enable businesses to collate unbanked consumer data having previously received user’s consent. The new product will allow businesses to leverage substitute data concepts to compel financial inclusion, thereby making

MetroWatt and Huawei launch R2,800 per Month Solar Power Rentals

Renewable Energy

MetroWatt and Huawei launch R2,800 per Month Solar Power Rentals

In order to combat load shedding, MetroWatt and Huawei have partnered to offer solar power system leases starting at R2,800 per month. A larger system is also available for R3,800 per month. According to MetroWatt CEO Laurent Pieton, the alliance between MetroWatt and Huawei is exclusive to South

Black Umbrellas incubation lounge launched in KZN to Empower Youth and Startup Entrepreneurs

Black Umbrellas incubation lounge launched in KZN to Empower Youth and Startup Entrepreneurs

Black Umbrellas has announced the launch of the Black Umbrellas incubation lounge at Regent Business School at the Durban campus. The opening of the incubation lounge will make it simple for KwaZulu-Natal startup entrepreneurs to get the help they need to expand their businesses. This is the second of three

Kenya's Fintech, Pezesha, Raises $11 Million Dollars Pre-Series A Round

Kenya's Fintech, Pezesha, Raises $11 Million Dollars Pre-Series A Round

Pezesha, a Kenyan-based fintech startup has raised Eleven Million US dollars ($11 Million) in a pre-Series A equity-debt round and likewise expanded into Rwanda, Nigeria and come Francophone countries on the continent. The round was led by Women’s World Banking Capital Partners II and had the participation of the

Zapper and Stitch Partner to Allow Users Scan Payments Directly from Linked Bank Accounts

Contactless Payment

Zapper and Stitch Partner to Allow Users Scan Payments Directly from Linked Bank Accounts

South African safe and low-cost contactless payment channel, Zapper, has announced that users can now link their bank accounts in the app to pay retailers by scanning a QR code. With the help of the Stitch LinkPay application programming interface, the business has enabled Instant EFT payments. Previously, Zapper customers

Wasoko launches Wasoko Innovation Hub in partnership with Zanzibar Government

Wasoko launches Wasoko Innovation Hub in partnership with Zanzibar Government

In collaboration with the government of Zanzibar, Wasoko, the largest B2B e-commerce network in Africa, has opened the “Wasoko Innovation Hub.” The new Hub, which is located in Fumba Town, Zanzibar, will be home to over 500 forward-thinking engineers, product managers, UX designers, and researchers from Africa and around the

Cape Town’s VoiceMap Produces Walking Tour for Trevor Noah’s January 6 insurrection Show

Cape Town’s VoiceMap Produces Walking Tour for Trevor Noah’s January 6 insurrection Show

The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, an American political comedy program, has teamed up with VoiceMap, a startup based in Cape Town, to create an interactive self-guided walking tour that takes visitors through the events of the Washington, D.C., uprising on January 6, 2021. VoiceMap, a mobile app and

Saudi Arabia Launches Attaa Digital Hackathon in Egypt

Attaa Digital Hackathon

Saudi Arabia Launches Attaa Digital Hackathon in Egypt

The government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has announced the launch of the Attaa Digital Hackathon in Egypt, an initiative aimed at strengthening ties with academic institutions and universities in the Arab world. The three-day event began yesterday, August 29th, 2022, and will last until August 31st. The organizers

Stake, a Dubai-Based Digital Real Estate Platform, Raises $8M Pre-Series A to Expand into Egypt and KSA

Stake, a Dubai-Based Digital Real Estate Platform, Raises $8M Pre-Series A to Expand into Egypt and KSA

Stake, a Dubai-based digital real estate fintech platform, has raised $8 million in an oversubscribed pre-series A round. MEVP, and BY Ventures led the investment round with participation from Vivium Holding, and Combined Growth Real Estate. The startup has now raised a total of $12 million since its launch in

Risevest CEO Advised To Step-down After Alleged Misconduct

Risevest CEO Advised To Step-down After Alleged Misconduct

It has been reported that co-founder and CEO of Nigerian startup, Risevest, Eke Urum, has been advised to step down from the position he occupies in the company. The advice comes from an investigative panel set up by the startup’s investors. This action was reportedly made known through an

Vodacom launches VodaLend Cash Advance for underbanked customers

Financial Inclusion

Vodacom launches VodaLend Cash Advance for underbanked customers

Vodacom has introduced VodaLend Cash Advance, a tool that enables its clients to obtain small, quick cash loans. The mobile network provider claimed that the inclusion was intended for underbanked customers who require easy and quick access to money. Customers of Vodacom can access the product through VodaPay, which offers

KarmSolar, Egypt’s Leading Clean Energy Tech Startup, Announces New Minority Stake Round

KarmSolar, Egypt’s Leading Clean Energy Tech Startup, Announces New Minority Stake Round

KarmSolar, Egypt’s leading private power utility and solar energy company, has announced a new minority stake round to fund internal and regional expansion plans. However, this comes three years after the company announced a $25,000,000 investment from EDF Renewable Energy on November 25, 2019. The United States-based

Kenya Telcom Giant, Safaricom, Launches in Ethiopia

Kenya Telcom Giant, Safaricom, Launches in Ethiopia

Safaricom, One of Kenya’s leading telecommunications outfits, has launched its services in East Africa, Ethiopia, with activity in selected locations. The telcom had obtained a licence to operate in the profitable Ethiopia market as of July 2021. A year after obtaining the licence, it was revealed that Safaricom would

Boomkit, Nigerian Music-tech Secures 10k Users With Continental Expansion Plan

Boomkit, Nigerian Music-tech Secures 10k Users With Continental Expansion Plan

Boomkit, a music-tech startup in West Africa, Nigeria has revealed that it has acquired a user base of Ten thousand users, a feat that encourages its plans to expand continental-wise. The music-tech is a digital platform via a mobile application that assist Independent Nigerian artists to distribute their art and