Mogadishu now has its first motorcycle hailing app dubbed the ‘Go! App.’ The app was launched in May 1, 2019, with the aim of providing cut-rate and convenient transportation option in the city’s very active transport sector. The motorcycle ride-hailing service is in the interim starting out with 20 motorcycles,…
Author: Oluwasegun Olukotun
In the build up to its legislative elections on 28 April, 2019 the Republic of Benin reportedly shut down access to internet in the country. Interestingly,the elections had no contestants from opposition parties. According to Quartz Africa, research from the digital monitoring organization NetBlocks shows the country’s leading internet provider…
Nigeria has commenced the issuance of its new electronic passport (e-passport). The new Nigerian Passport is part of the new reforms approved by the Federal Government of Nigeria. It is a product of intensive review of the existing e-passport booklet which has been in circulation for over 10 years and…
Nigeria’s first hub for creatives Nicademia Hub has launched. Situated at No. 315 Herbert Macaulay Way, Sabo, Yaba, Lagos, the hub is uniquely designed and endowed with infrastructures for Nigerian entrepreneurs to help them develop their talents to global standards. Speaking on the launch of the hub, the founder, Valentine…
Mobile communication company Vodacom South Africa has officially launched a digital music platform dubbed ‘My Muze.’ The digital music platform was officially unveiled during the South African Music Awards nominees event. Vodacom’s venture into music service follows the announcement made by rival South Africa, MTN, on its digital music service,…
The fourth edition of the Africa Tech Summit London is scheduled to take place on June 11 during the London Tech Week. The event will serve to connect African tech leaders with investors, global ventures and business opportunities. Set to feature in this edition of the event providing insights are…
Nigeria Open Innovation Challenge powered by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) invites talented entrepreneurs, corporates, developers, etc that can change business-as-usual and bring a more efficient and effective solution to the challenges present in the water sector in Nigeria. The Japan International Cooperation Agency is a governmental agency that…
An Angel Investment Network ‘ The Benin Business Angel Network (BBAN) has launched in Benin. The Investment network seeks to connect entrepreneurs, investors and professionals in the state and in the diaspora for the purpose of funding and supporting start-ups based in Benin. The Network was inaugurated at the maiden…
As part of plans for the evolution of the state government into an eGovernment, the Plateau State government has launched a programme dubbed ‘code plateau’ to create a digital workforce. The Code Plateau programme is specially designed for young people seeking to pursue their career in Information Technology. The eight…
Applications are currently on for the F3 Female Focused Fintech Prize which recognizes the most innovative digital financial products that are narrowing the gender gap in financial inclusion. The latest World Bank Findex Report 2017 shows that a gender gap remained steady at 7% globally and 9% in developing countries…
New York-based nonprofit venture Acumen closed up on about $70 million funds to back companies delivering affordable and renewable energy to mostly poor consumers in East Africa. Founded by Jacqueline Novogratz the fund seeks to provide cheap power and competitive return. KawiSafi Ventures a subsidiary of Acumen seeks to bring…
Ghanaian based telecommunication company Surfline Communications Limited has partnered with the Ghana Library Authority (GhLA) to provide Wi-Fi to public libraries in Ghana. The major beneficiaries from the partnership will be library visitors in the Greater Accra Region. While addressing an audience in an event organized by both organizations, Hayford…
San Francisco Fintech startup Stripe has acquired an Ireland based FinTech startup, Touchtech Payments co-founded by Nigerian Shekinah Adewumi and Niall Hogan. Touchtech furnishes financial services companies with advanced Strong Customer Authentication technology (SCA). The Ireland based startup while announcing the acquisition through a statement said, “Today we’re thrilled to…
The Ugandan police force has revealed it will employ the use of a biometric solution connected to a centrally built database to combat crime. The new solution developed by Gemalto, an international technology company, will enabele Uganda’s police to electronically collect, store and process fingerprints, palm prints, and facial images.…
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) will be hosting the 12th edition of Startup Friday at Base, 7/8 Aguleri Street, Independence Layout, Enugu, Enugu state on 26 April 2019. Startup Friday is a forum specifically designed to grow an exchange community of investors, mentors and key players to ignite…
DHL Express has launched a new mobile and desktop shopping app dubbed the DHL Africa eshop to improve the online shopping experience for its Africa based consumers. The DHL Africa eShop is designed to enable customers to shop directly from more than 200 US- and UK-based online retailers, with all…
Kenyan Entrepreneur’s club Metta Nairobi in collaboration with What Design Can Do (WDCD), Social Enterprise NL and IKEA Foundation has inaugurated the Clean Energy Accelerator Program to provide participants with the necessary infrastructures to help them increase the scalability of their innovations. As part of the program, the startups involved…
The South-South/South-East Angel Investors Network (SSE Angels) has made its first investment since its launch in March 2018. The SSE Angels invested $5,000 and $20,000 respectively in Alphotazi Farms and GreenAge Technologies. The financial endowment made by the SSE Angels will see GreenAge Technologies become the most funded tech startup…
Nigerian mobile app Treestack has launched to enable students to access small loans with zero percent interest. Launched in February 2019 by Salaudeen Abdulrahman, Treestack gives students the opportunity to borrow cash with a zero percent interest rate with a primary condition that the student will handle all transaction charges…
Cathay Innovation in partnership with Tunisia-based private equity firm Africinvest is set to launch an African tech fund with the aim to raise $168 million. According to Co-founder Denis Barrier, the joint venture dubbed Cathay Africinvest Innovation Fund will concentrate on Series A to C-stage investments in African technology companies.…