Author: Staff Writer

Google announced that its AI powered Magic Eraser will now be available to more Pixel phones and Google One subscribers on Android and iOS. The Magic Eraser removes unwanted content from Google Photos images. Magic Eraser can detect unwanted content in your photos, like people in the background, power lines…

Planet42, a car subscription service, announced that it has raised $100 million in combined equity and debt funding to scale its operations globally. The $100 million is made up of an equity round of $15 million co-led by Naspers and ARS Holdings, with participation from existing and new shareholders, including…

Kenya’s HR startup, Workpay, announced that it has raised $2.7 million in a pre-Series A funding round to expand its services in 40 countries in Africa. The participants in this funding round included Launch Africa, Saviu Ventures, Acadian Ventures, Proparco, Fondation Botnar, Kara Ventures, Axian, P1 Ventures and Norrsken. In…

Neal Mohan is the new CEO of Google’s YouTube replacing Susan Wojcicki who stepped down after 25 years with the tech giant. Susan was one of the founding members of Google having worn many hats and done so many things: managed marketing, co-created Google Image Search, led Google’s first Video…

Ride-hailing startup, Bolt, has announced that it will be investing €500 million in Africa. According to the firm, the investments will be used to expand Bolt services in Africa and create opportunities for over 300,000 new drivers and couriers to join the platform in 2023. According to Founder and CEO,…

YouTube is a key platform for reaching your goals if you want to market a product or service, or if you’re a brand that wants to reach people. Videos with low production values and a viral style are no longer as popular as videos with high production values, created with…

Jumba, a Kenyan construction tech startup, has raised $4.5 million to scale its operations across the country. The funding round was led by LocalGlobe, with participation from Enza Capital, Foundamental, Seedstars International Ventures, Logos Ventures, SpeedInvest, First Check Africa and Alumni Angel Network. With the $1 million raised in a…

Co-Creation Hub (CcHub) will be launching a $15 million accelerator program named “The Edtech Fellowship Program” for 72 startups in Nigeria and Kenya over the next three years. The accelerator program is aimed at bolstering and enhancing the influence of edtech startups throughout Africa, while also aiding founders who provide…

Meta has launched a paid verification system called “Meta Verified” for Facebook and Instagram platforms. According to Mark Zuckerberg in a Facebook post yesterday, Meta Verified is “a subscription service that lets you verify your account with a government ID, get a blue badge, get extra impersonation protection against accounts…

African eCommerce giant, Jumia, posted a 22% gross profit in last quarter operations even though it still reported a loss of $49.8 million. This loss is a decrease by 41% year-over-year compared to last year operating loss figure of $84.7 million. The report shows a positive change in the fortunes…

Prince Boakye Boampong, the founder and CEO of Dash, has been temporarily suspended pending an investigation into financial impropriety. According to a Techcrunch report, the board however stated that it placed the CEO on “indefinite administrative leave on January 24, 2023, pending a forensic financial audit of the company,” and that the…

Naked Insurance, a South African Insurtech announced that it has raised $17 million in a Series B funding round led by International Finance Corporation (IFC). Other participants in the round include German Development Finance Institution (DEG) and earlier investors Yellowwoods and Hollard, South Africa’s largest privately-owned insurance group. The new…

Nigeria’s retail giant Access Bank and Connected Analytics, owners of ThankUCash, a leading rewards platform, have announced a new partnership tagged Access Rewards. Customers who use their bank cards on Access Bank POS at different retail locations or supermarkets will receive a 2.5% cash-back incentive on their purchases due to…

Cleantech startup Qotto announced that it has raised $8 million in a Series A funding round to expand its operations in existing markets – Burkina Faso, Benin and enter into Côte d’Ivoire. The funding round was led by Mauritius-based IBL Group, with The Off-Grid Energy Access Fund (FEI-OGEF), Cordaid and…

ARM Labs Lagos Techstars Accelerator, a Lagos-based program to build early-stage African fintech and proptech startups, has announced its inaugural class, made up of 10 Nigerian and 2 Kenyan startups. The selection procedure was demanding. In addition to submitting an application, the founders underwent multiple interviews with the Techstars international…

Two Nigerian startups, RiceAfrika Technologies, Wicrypt emerged winners in different categories at the recently concluded LEAP’s Rocket Fuel Startup Pitch Competition in Saudi Arabia. RiceAfrika Technologies, a technology-driven agricultural optimization startup, was named the global winner in the “Tech for Humanity Award” category and received $150,000. Wicrypt, a groundbreaking startup working towards…

Jendaya, a London-based but Africa-focused fashion eCommerce platform, has raised £1 million (~$1.2 million) in a pre-seed funding round to scale its fashion business. The pre-seed round of Jendaya saw investment from Sabi CEO Anu Adedoyin Adasolum and various angel investors. The company has also secured funding from Ada VC,…

GitHub, an Internet hosting service for software development and version control using Git, announced that it is laying off 10% of its workforce through the end of the company’s 2023 fiscal year. This translates to 300 employees. The CEO, Thomas Dohmke said that the layoff was done to enact “new…

Localbitcoins, one of the first peer-to-peer Bitcoin exchanges, announced that is shutting down operations citing challenges due to the “ongoing very cold crypto-winter.” LocalBitcoins was founded by Jeremias Kangas in 2012 in Helsinki, Finland. It provided a service matching Bitcoin buyers and sellers, with the coins held in escrow until…

In the vast realm of communication, storytelling has always held a profound significance, serving as a timeless art that transcends cultures and connects individuals on a deep, emotional level. In recent years, the integration of animation has emerged as a powerful catalyst, transforming storytelling into an immersive and captivating experience.…