Author: Staff Writer

As we approach 2025, the African tech landscape is poised for significant transformation. Africa is having a rapidly growing tech ecosystem that is attracting global attention. The continent’s unique challenges and opportunities have positioned it as an exciting frontier for innovation. From mobile payments to AI-driven solutions, here’s what to…

As the calendar flips to 2025, Apple TV+ is giving viewers a gift to kick off the new year in style: a free weekend of streaming from January 3 to January 5. For three days, anyone with an Apple ID can access the streaming service’s entire library on any device…

In a significant move to bolster female entrepreneurship across Africa, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Goldman Sachs have announced a new partnership with nine African banks to expand the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women initiative. IFC Launched in 2008, this program aims to provide women entrepreneurs worldwide with access to…

ChatGPT, Sora, and OpenAI’s developer-facing API experienced a significant outage on Thursday, lasting over four hours. OpenAI reported the issue began around 8 p.m. WAT, and services gradually started coming back online around midnight. This marks the second outage for ChatGPT this month. During the downtime, InnovationVillage got error messages…

In a landmark move set to reshape Japan’s auto industry, Honda and Nissan have announced plans to merge under a single holding company by 2026. This bold step aims to counter the mounting challenge posed by Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers and global EV leaders like Tesla, highlighting the urgent…

Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba has officially launched its operations in Morocco, marking a pivotal step in its strategy to establish a presence in Africa. The move is aimed at empowering Moroccan businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), to expand their reach into international markets, with a significant focus on…

In a significant achievement for the messaging giant, Telegram has officially crossed into profitability, marking 2024 as a milestone year. According to a recent X post by CEO Pavel Durov, the platform has not only seen explosive growth in its subscriber base but also demonstrated its ability to generate substantial…

Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter) has revealed a global price increase, resulting in a higher cost for Premium+ users in Nigeria. Nigerians will now pay N34,000 per month, up from the previous rate of N22,550, translating to a 51% increase. According to “X” in a blog post, it updated the…

PBR Life Sciences, a groundbreaking healthcare startup, has announced its $1 million pre-seed funding round backed by a host of prominent investors, including Launch Africa Ventures, Microtraction, Kaleo Ventures, Octerra Capital, Marula Square, XA Africa, ARM Labs, and Techstars. This announcement was made by CEO, Ayodeji Alaran in a LinkedIn…

After months of decline, Nigeria’s mobile subscription base has rebounded, reaching 157.3 million active lines in October 2024, up from 154.6 million in September. This recovery marks a significant milestone for the telecommunications sector, which has faced challenges stemming from regulatory audits and the implementation of the NIN-SIM linkage policy.…

OpenAI has expanded access to its AI language model, ChatGPT, by introducing new features that allow users to interact via phone calls and WhatsApp messaging. Currently available only in the United States, this initiative aims to make ChatGPT more accessible, especially to those who may not have access to traditional…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has unveiled new policy directives aimed at enhancing Nigeria’s cashless economy by regulating cash-out transactions conducted by Point of Sale (POS) agents. Effective immediately, the policy sets clear limits on daily and weekly withdrawals to streamline agency banking operations, reduce fraud, and promote electronic…

South Africa’s digital infrastructure provider, Host Africa, has announced its acquisition of Nigerian web hosting company GO54, formerly known as WhoGoHost. This strategic move underscores Host Africa’s ambitions to expand its footprint across Africa and position itself as a key player in the continent’s growing digital services sector. The deal,…

The Democratic Republic of Congo has filed lawsuits against Apple Inc. in both France and Belgium, accusing the tech giant of utilizing minerals looted from the African nation in its products. The legal action, initiated by Congo’s legal team, targets Apple’s subsidiaries in these European countries over the alleged contamination…

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has been hit with a €251 million fine by Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC) in response to a 2018 security breach that affected millions of users worldwide. The breach, disclosed in September 2018, was the result of a vulnerability that allowed unauthorized access to…

Strive Masiyiwa’s Cassava Technologies has raised $310 million, comprising a $90 million equity investment round from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, Google, and Finnfund, as well as a $220 million debt refinancing for one of its subsidiaries, Liquid Intelligent Technologies. With this $90 million equity investment, these new investors…

Tyme Group, a leading digital banking innovator operating across Africa and Southeast Asia and backed by South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe, has secured $250 million in its Series D funding round, propelling its valuation to $1.5 billion and firmly establishing it as one of the region’s notable fintech unicorns. It…

The second annual Global Survey on Crypto and Web3, conducted by Consensys in collaboration with YouGov, highlights an upward trajectory in global cryptocurrency and Web3 adoption. While awareness and ownership of digital assets have grown globally, the report sheds particular light on Nigeria and South Africa as emerging powerhouses in…

Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses continue to evolve, offering cutting-edge features that redefine wearable technology. The latest v11 software update brings three exciting functionalities: Live AI, Real-Time Translations, and Shazam Integration. While Live AI and translations are accessible to members of Meta’s Early Access Program, Shazam is available to all users…

After three years of operating quietly under the radar, African fintech startup Juicyway is emerging from stealth mode, revealing impressive growth figures and a bold new direction. The company has also raised $3 million in a pre-seed funding round led by P1 Ventures, an early-stage African investor, with additional participation…