Author: Staff Writer

Seven high-growth startups from across the continent have been selected to join the third cohort of Investing in Innovation Africa (i3), a pan-African initiative supporting visionary companies reshaping access to pharmacy care. Backed by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and leading global health stakeholders, the program is channeling resources…

Ghanaian clean energy startup Kofa is taking a bold step toward transforming urban energy access in Africa with its recent $8.1 million pre-Series A funding round. With plans to expand its AI-driven battery-swapping network across Ghana and Kenya, the company is redefining how energy is delivered to motorcycles, households, and…

WhatsApp has joined the ranks of the world’s most-used apps, surpassing 3 billion monthly users, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced during the company’s Q1 2025 earnings call. The achievement solidifies WhatsApp’s role as a cornerstone of Meta’s consumer engagement, AI strategy, and growing business services portfolio. Founded in 2009 and…

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) and TLG Capital have raised $75 million in the first close of the TLG Africa Growth Impact Fund II (AGIF II), delivering a major boost to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Africa and helping to protect jobs on the continent. Anchored by IFC’s Distressed…

Salad Africa, a rising fintech specializing in embedded lending, has teamed up with Glovo, the popular multi-category app, to deliver a game-changing boost for small businesses in Nigeria. Together, they’re rolling out an innovative SME financing program aimed at giving Glovo partners quick and easy access to working capital —…

Meta has launched its own standalone AI app, powered by the new Llama 4 model — and it’s a big move toward creating a more personal, smarter AI experience for everyone. Announced at Meta’s LlamaCon event, this new app brings Meta AI out of the shadows of WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook,…

Aruwa Capital Management, a female-founded and led investment firm based in Lagos, has announced it has raised 90% of its $40 million target for its second fund—Aruwa Capital Fund II—as investor appetite grows for gender-lens and impact-focused investing in Africa. The early-stage growth equity fund manager is doubling down on…

Ghanaian fintech firm Zeepay has secured $18 million in senior secured debt funding to strengthen its working capital and accelerate its expansion across Africa’s booming mobile money and cross-border payment markets. The financing, arranged by South Africa-based advisory firm Verdant IMAP, reflects rising investor confidence in Zeepay’s role as a…

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has announced an expanded three-year global partnership with TECNO, the innovative technology brand, to tackle education gaps among refugee children and youth across Africa. Building on five years of successful collaboration, the two organizations have launched the initiative “Together We Can Bring Education to African…

OpenAI has unveiled a major update to ChatGPT’s search capabilities, aiming to create a more personalized and seamless online shopping experience for users. Announced on Monday, the new feature is now available in ChatGPT’s default AI model, GPT-4o, and will be accessible globally to all users — including Free, Plus,…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed all banks operating in the country to adopt the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) and commence originating transactions under the new framework, as part of efforts to deepen intra-African trade and improve cross-border payment efficiency. According to a statement on Monday…

In a strategic move to expand its footprint in grassroots financial services, C-One Ventures Platform (C-One) has announced plans to invest in and acquire the licences, technology, and select assets of Bankly, a prominent Nigerian microfinance bank and fintech company. The agreement, which remains subject to regulatory approval from the…

Elon Musk’s ambitions in artificial intelligence are about to reach new heights. According to Bloomberg News, XAI Holdings — the newly merged entity combining Musk’s AI startup xAI and social media platform X (formerly Twitter) — is reportedly in talks to raise $20 billion in new funding. If successful, the…

Despite cooling investor enthusiasm for African B2B commerce startups, OmniRetail has defied the trend with a $20 million Series A equity raise. Led by Norfund and Timon Capital, the funding round positions the Lagos-based platform for aggressive expansion across Nigeria, Ghana, and Ivory Coast, while deepening its focus on embedded…

For over two decades, Google Search has been the undisputed gateway to the world’s information. Whether users needed directions, definitions, news updates, or shopping advice, they instinctively turned to the familiar search bar. But over the past year, a major shift has quietly been underway: more people are beginning to…

Vodafone Business and Maroc Telecom have announced a new strategic partnership aimed at expanding digital services and connectivity solutions for enterprise and public sector customers in Morocco. The collaboration builds on Vodafone’s existing alliance with Emirates Telecommunications Group (e&), which owns Maroc Telecom. Under the newly signed Memorandum of Understanding…

The Nigerian Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal has upheld the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission’s (FCCPC) $220 million fine against Meta Platforms Incorporated and WhatsApp LLC, affirming the regulator’s authority and actions on nearly all disputed issues. In a ruling delivered by a three-member panel led by Honorable Thomas…

MTN Group has confirmed that it recently experienced a cybersecurity incident that led to unauthorized access to personal information of some customers in certain markets. It however did not list the affected markets. The company emphasized that its core network, billing systems, and financial services infrastructure were not affected and…

The African Private Capital Association (AVCA) and the Private Equity and Venture Capital Association of Nigeria (PEVCA) have officially joined forces, combining their strengths to expand investment opportunities and deepen private capital flows within Nigeria and across West Africa. The merger blends AVCA’s strong track record in market research, advocacy,…

Just a few years ago, the metaverse was the next big thing. Tech giants poured billions into building immersive virtual worlds. Executives changed their job titles, startups rebranded overnight, and Facebook became Meta. From gaming to education, from retail to real estate, the metaverse was pitched as the future of…