Author: Staff Writer

Meta has made its latest announcements at the annual Connect event, placing a bold emphasis on AI glasses as the company’s next big leap in personal technology. With new product launches, feature upgrades, and partnerships, Meta is signaling its vision of a future where artificial intelligence and immersive experiences are…

In the hype-filled world of AI startups, Rulebase is taking a decidedly unglamorous route: automating the back-office operations that keep financial institutions compliant and efficient. The Y Combinator-backed startup, founded in 2024 by Nigerian engineers Gideon Ebose and Chidi Williams, has secured a $2.1 million pre-seed round led by Bowery…

TikTok has transformed social media from a video-sharing app into a global marketplace of attention. Beyond viral dances and challenges, it has pioneered an ecosystem where fans reward creators with virtual gifts — animated icons bought with real money. Some gifts cost only a handful of coins, but at the…

Less than two years after setting the world alight with her 93-hour cook-a-thon, Nigerian chef Hilda Baci has raised the bar again—literally. On September 12, 2025, in partnership with food brand Gino, she unveiled the largest ever serving of Nigerian-style jollof rice: 8,780 kilograms, officially confirmed by Guinness World Records…

By linking low-cost remittances with credit-building tools, Kredete is scaling across 40+ African markets while expanding to Europe and North America. Kredete, a fast-growing fintech platform dedicated to empowering African immigrants, has raised $22 million in Series A funding to accelerate its global expansion and broaden its suite of financial…

mPharma, the Pan-African healthcare-technology company known for innovating in medicine supply, has confirmed a major leadership transition. Effective September 1, 2025, Kwesi Arhin, FCCA, becomes CEO, replacing co-founder Gregory Rockson, who is stepping down from the role. This appointment is notable: Kwesi Arhin is the first non-founder to lead mPharma…

At his recent wedding, Mr Eazi received a powerful nod from none other than Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man. Dangote revealed that the Afropop star–turned–entrepreneur has businesses in 17 countries, a statement that underscores how Mr Eazi has redefined what it means to be a creative in Africa. He isn’t…

Nigeria is Africa’s most exciting—but also one of its most unforgiving—startup markets. On one hand, you have 220+ million people, a booming youth population, and world-class success stories like Flutterwave, Paystack, Andela, and Moniepoint. On the other hand, you’re staring at unstable power supply, patchy internet, FX volatility, and regulation…

In a move that sounds like the plot of a sci-fi novel, Albania has become the first country in the world to appoint an AI-generated minister. Prime Minister Edi Rama introduced Diella—a virtual assistant powered by artificial intelligence—as the country’s new overseer of public tenders and government contracts. “Diella is…

Nigeria’s quest to expand energy access has received a significant boost with the announcement of a new $7.5 million financing facility for Odyssey Energy Solutions, a technology platform driving distributed renewable energy projects across emerging markets. The facility, provided by British International Investment (BII) – the UK’s development finance institution…

African startups raised a combined $117 million in August 2025, continuing the continent’s growth momentum even after a record-breaking July. Although the August total was smaller compared to July’s $555 million, the month still showcased a healthy mix of venture equity and growth capital across sectors such as clean energy,…

Airtel Africa has officially broken ground on what will become the largest data centre in East Africa, a 44MW facility located in the Tatu City Special Economic Zone (SEZ) outside Nairobi. Through its data centre subsidiary, Nxtra, Airtel is positioning itself as a key driver of Africa’s digital transformation by…

South African fintech startup Float has raised $2.6 million (R46 million) in new funding as it accelerates efforts to reshape how consumers use credit cards. The round was co-led by Invenfin and SAAD Investment Holdings, with participation from Lighthouse Venture Partners and existing backers, including Platform Investment Partners. The capital…

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has moved decisively to clarify its position on the taxation of social media influencers, a rapidly growing segment of the country’s digital economy. With influencers increasingly shaping consumer behavior and commanding significant marketing budgets, SARS has placed them firmly under its tax compliance spotlight.…

Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, is preparing to make a landmark move into South Africa with the launch of its first branded stores later this year. This development marks a new chapter in Walmart’s African journey, signaling renewed confidence in a market long regarded as both challenging and promising. The…

In early September 2025, the Nepalese government ignited a political storm by banning 26 major social media platforms—including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn, Reddit, and Snapchat—for failing to comply with new rules requiring local registration and oversight. While TikTok and Viber remained accessible, having met government criteria, the sweeping…

Accion, a nonprofit dedicated to building a fairer financial system, has announced the final close of a $61.6 million venture fund aimed at supporting early-stage fintech startups tackling financial exclusion. The new vehicle, Accion Venture Lab Fund II, LP, marks the evolution of the organization’s decade-long investment strategy and has…

The European Commission has once again taken aim at Google, this time handing the tech giant a €2.95 billion fine (about $3.5 billion) for antitrust violations in its advertising business. Regulators in Brussels concluded that Google unfairly favored its own ad exchange, AdX, within its publisher ad server and its…

inDrive, the ride-hailing company that disrupted markets with its bidding-based pricing model, is making a bold shift toward becoming a “super app” for frontier economies. The California-headquartered company is widening its scope from mobility to everyday essentials, beginning with a grocery delivery launch in Kazakhstan. The move reflects a larger…

Nigeria’s pension industry has recorded a major milestone as Leadway Holdings Limited (“Leadway”), one of the country’s most diversified financial services groups, announced the acquisition of 100% equity interest in Pensions Alliance Limited (PAL), a leading Pension Fund Administrator (PFA). The transaction involves the transfer of ownership from FSDH Holding…