Author: Tapiwa Matthew Mutisi

TikTok users can now effortlessly scroll through the ‘For You’ page on larger screens and foldable devices, thanks to a new update. The feature will be available worldwide and compatible with devices such as iPads and various foldable Android phones. Despite its traditional mobile-forward approach, the company promises to deliver…

Trevor Milton, the former CEO and disgraced founder of the electric truck startup, Nikola, was handed a four-year prison sentence for securities fraud on Monday. Judge Edgardo Ramo of the U.S. District Court in Manhattan delivered the sentence, concluding a years-long saga that once escalated Nikola stock by 83%, only…

TikTok, the video-sharing platform, has become the first non-gaming app to generate $10 billion in worldwide consumer spending, according to a fresh report. The report further anticipates that TikTok could pave its way to becoming the highest-grossing app ever. The report by app intelligence specialist data.ai lists four other apps…

Dozy Mmuobosi, also known as Mmobuosi Odogwu Banye, has been charged by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for allegedly defrauding investors. He reportedly inflated the financial performance of three of his firms, namely Tingo Group, Agri-Fintech Holdings, and Tingo International Holdings. The SEC claims that Mmuobuosi provided…

X (formerly known as Twitter) may be heading into 2023 with a new name, but the year’s end also brings renewed scrutiny and criticism for the company. The European Commission has declared its initiation of formal infringement procedures concerning X’s operations, paying particular attention to possible infractions of the Digital…

Adobe has decided to drop its $20 billion strategy to buy Figma as they have concluded that there’ll be no straightforward approval from the regulators in the UK and European Union. An agreement has been signed between the two parties resolving all matters related to the unsuccessful deal. Adobe will…

IBM intends to acquire two data integration assets from the German enterprise software company, Software AG, with a cash deal valued at €2.13 billion ($2.3 billion). The deal involves IBM obtaining ownership of StreamSets, a data integration platform that Software AG acquired just last year, and WebMethods, a platform Software…

Users of the Meta Quest virtual reality headset, including the original Oculus Quest, Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest Pro, and the latest model, Meta Quest 3, now have access to the basic Microsoft Office suite. As reported by Android Central, users can download applications like Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint…

Applications are open for the African Agri-tech Scale-Up Programme, which aims to help agri-focused and agri-adjacent ventures scale across the continent more quickly. The African Agri-tech Scale-Up Programme is the result of a partnership between Endeavor, AfricaGrow and FMO, the Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank, which aims to empower early-stage African…

African social entrepreneurs are invited to apply for the FINCA Ventures Prize, which offers grants up to US$70,000 for solutions aiming to alleviate global poverty. FINCA International, a non-profit microfinance organization combating poverty for over 40 years, operates FINCA Ventures. This impact investing arm supports early-stage companies in agriculture, financial…

South African cryptocurrency asset investment platforms Revix and BitFund have teamed up with Austria’s Coinpanion to launch a unique alternative investment platform called Altify. Altify is aiming to enable people to increase their wealth beyond the stock market through a varied set of alternative investment opportunities. These include asset classes…

The Anzisha Prize has opened applications for its latest edition, focusing this year on green entrepreneurs who combine innovation and sustainability. The Anzisha Prize aims to significantly increase the number of entrepreneurs in Africa that create job opportunities. The initiative advocates for assessing, implementing, and sharing models for identifying, training,…

The GSMA has announced a new initiative, the GSMA Humanitarian Innovation Fund, in collaboration with the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The fund aims to address humanitarian challenges in low and middle-income countries. Since 2017, the GSMA Humanitarian Innovation Fund has distributed over GBP5 million (US$6.3 million) to…

Nigerian social commerce startup, MAKA, has secured a pre-seed funding round of US$2.65 million to aid its expansion. The interactive platform was established in 2021 by CEO Diana Owusu-Kyereko. It uses live try-on hauls, reviews, and user-generated content to help users discover fashion products that suit their personal styles. The…

E3 is dead for good! The Electronic Entertainment Expo, previously regarded as the premier convention and media platform for the gaming industry, has been officially discontinued. E3, once the most significant trade show and annual showcase event in the video game industry, has been officially and permanently cancelled according to…

Eskom, the power utility company, has confirmed the appointment of Dan Marokane as its new CEO, reaffirming prior reports. His tenure would commence on 31 March 2024. Marokane is making a return to Eskom after being suspended along with three other top executives due to their stance against state corruption,…

E4E Africa, a venture capital fund based in South Africa focused on entrepreneurs, has announced the initial closing of its US$30 million E4E Africa Fund II. This fund was set up in July 2020, backed by the SA SME Fund, and E4E Africa has since made 11 investments from its…

Instagram is launching a new feature aimed at making Stories more interactive and fun. As of today, users can create their own templates for the “Add Yours” feature. Instagram states that this feature allows users to “craft and share their unique, customizable Add Yours templates, using GIFs, text, and gallery…

Google recently confirmed that, as part of its upcoming “Privacy Sandbox” initiative, it will begin restricting third-party cookies in Chrome from January 4, 2024. Initially, only a random one percent of Chrome users worldwide will have “Tracking Protection” activated in their browser, meaning that by default, third-party cookies will be…

Telkom has introduced a fleet of six electric vehicles (EVs), known as Telkom T-Connect vans, with the aim of enhancing customer service across South Africa. These vehicles are currently in the proof-of-concept phase, but it is expected that more will be rolled out in the future. According to Telkom, these…