Billionaire tech entrepreneur Bill Gates has announced his decision to step down from the board of Microsoft to channel more of his time towards his more philanthropic projects. Gates wrote in a blog post, “Microsoft will always be an important part of my life’s work and I will continue to…
Author: Charity Mbaka
12 African entrepreneurs have been selected to join the 2020 cohort of the Westerwelle Young Founders Programme. The Westerwelle programme brings together promising entrepreneurs from developing and emerging economies for a six month mentorship programme and afford them the opportunity to participate in the Young Founder Conference in Germany. The Westerwelle…
SA-based Venture Capital firm, Newtown Partners has teamed up with logistics firm, Imperial, to launch a fund dedicated to investing in high-growth supply chain and logistics startups. The corporate venture fund plans to make an initial investment of US$ 20 million. Newtown Partners was founded in 2014 as the result…
Facebook has banned all ads for medical face masks in a bid to curb price gouging amid the widespread corona virus panic. Facebook’s Director of Product Management Rob Leathern, tweeted, “We’re monitoring COVID19 closely and will make necessary updates to our policies if we see people trying to exploit this…
Nigeria-based Pricepally has launched a group-buying platform that aggregates consumer food demand in urban cities and matches it with supplies directly from farmers and wholesalers. Pricepally, which launched in November 2019, aims to cut out middlemen by leveraging technology to aggregate demand via a sharing model. This subsequently saves the…
South Africa and UK-based mass public transport and data analytics firm WhereIsMyTransport, has raised $7.5m from Google, Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Liil Ventures, Nedbank and Global Innovation Fund and Goodwell Investments. The lead investor in its Series A round was Liil Ventures. The firm will use the funds to scale its…
Safaricom’s DigiFarm platform won the Best Mobile Innovation for Emerging Markets at the 2020 Global Mobile Awards (GLOMO). DigiFarm provides smallholder farmers with convenient access to services such as: discounted inputs, financing, and advice on best farming practice. Even better it works on any basic 2G enabled mobile phone. Safaricom…
The African Business Angel Network (ABAN), has partnered with Greentec Capital Africa Foundation to launch the Namibian Business Angel Investor Network (NABAN) in Namibia’s capital, Windhoek. The launch be held in Namibia’s Capital, Windhoek, between March 2nd & 3rd. It will include an informal session with various parties in the ecosystem,…
Glovo has set up Glover Technical Center enhance customer service and job creation. The new Nairobi center has created 75 jobs to locals, bringing Glovo’s employee count to a total of 1000 people. The Glover Center is expected to improve the efficiency of service for Glovo’s riders and consumers alike.…
SA bitcoin payments startup Centbee has raised funds from Amsterdam-based venture capital firm, Two Hop Ventures. This comes soon after SA venture firm Paper Plane Ventures’ exit from Two Hop. Centbee’s co-founders Lorien Gamaroff and Angus Brown launched the company in 2016; and unveiled its bitcoin cash wallet towards the…
Kenyan telco giant, Safaricom, is considering contracting Huawei to build its 5G network. Safaricom acting CEO, Michael Joseph, said, “We will use Huawei in 5G … What will we do in terms of the American statements about not using Huawei? We don’t have that situation in Africa.” The US government…
Larry Tesler, the computer scientist who invented the widely used “cut, copy and paste” has passed on at the age of 74. Tesler’s former employer, Xerox, announced his passing yesterday on Twitter. The tweet read, “The inventor of cut/copy & paste, find & replace, and more was former Xerox researcher…
Safariseat is a cheap, all-terrain wheelchair designed for people in rural areas in the developing countries. The project has raised 117,000 dollars to begin production in a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter. Safariseat is a project by Uji, a social enterprise aiming to help people break out of the poverty cycle.…
Google has given a million dollar grant towards the promotion of general internet safety in Africa. Google’s Be Internet Awesome program is operational in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa. The program is planning to expand its internet literacy programmes through partnerships with third parties like NGOs, educators, government agencies, schools…
Kenya’s WeFarm, Illuminum Greenhouses and Juhudi Kilimo have collectively raised US$ 856,000 in funding from Innovate UK. Innovate UK tasks the three startups with developing Africa’s first solar powered smart sensors, leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning technology. The three startups, with Innovate UK’s support, will build a low…
Tunisian taxi-scooter startup, IntiGo, has raised USD 300,000 from angel investors just three months after launch. According to Tunisian news agency, Il Boursa, IntiGo will channel the funds towards launching a food delivery service. In total, the angel investment brings IntiGo’s total funds raised to USD 600,000 in its lifetime.…
Global startup generator and early stage venture capital fund, Antler, has invested USD 100,000 into 4 startups that participated in its inaugural Nairobi cohort. Antler’s six month venture builder programme brings together entrepreneurs and links them up to prospective co-founders. Antler has invested USD 100,000 in exchange for 20% equity…
Google’s Head of Human Resources, Eileen Naughton, has resigned from the company. Naughton, who has worked at Google since 2006, became its Vice President of People in 2016. She will not leave the company, but will instead be transitioned to another role at the company at an undisclosed date. Google…
Vodafone is removing Huawei from the sensitive parts of its mobile network in the European Union (EU). The company was compelled to make the move after Britain restricted Huawei’s operations in its 5G roll out. Vodafone will adjust its partnership with the firm in compliance with Britains rules. Britain also…
Google has stepped back from its intention to purchase stake in the Lake Turkana Wind Farm in Kenya, due to continued project delays. As a result of Google’s action, Vestas Wind Systems is looking to sell 12.5% stake in the wind farm project. According to a Bloomberg report, a change…