Author: Tapiwa Matthew Mutisi

Thinkroom, in collaboration with The Oracle Group, has announced the launch of the Oracle Innovate Lab, a dynamic new initiative designed to accelerate the growth of early- and growth-stage entrepreneurs in Eswatini. This founder-centric programme is designed to equip local business leaders with the tools, mentorship, and strategic guidance needed to…

LemFi, a fast-growing fintech startup specializing in international payments, has officially launched its services in Egypt, marking a significant step in its mission to provide affordable and reliable cross-border financial solutions. With an already strong footprint in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and across Europe, this expansion further…

Ride-hailing company Bolt has announced a significant reduction in offline trips — rides conducted outside the app’s full oversight — with a 42% decline recorded over the past three months. This development was shared during a Public Safety Summit hosted by the company in Lagos, Nigeria, where Bolt also highlighted a sharp increase in the…

The Public Investment Corporation (PIC) has increased its equity stake in Telkom, effectively restoring the South African government’s majority control over the telecommunications company. This development marks a significant reversal, less than a year after the state relinquished its controlling interest. In a shareholder notice issued on Thursday, 10 July, Telkom confirmed a change…

Phatisa’s Food Fund 2 has finalized the sale of its stake in Deltamune, a South African-based vaccine manufacturer specializing in animal health, to Vaxxinova International, a global player in the animal health sector and a subsidiary of the Germany-based EW Group. While the financial terms of the transaction remain undisclosed, the deal marks a…

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Proparco, the private sector financing arm of the French Development Agency (AFD), have jointly announced an equity investment of up to $50 million in Helios Sports and Entertainment Group (HSEG)—a dedicated investment platform focused on the growth of Africa’s sports, media, and entertainment sectors. This strategic investment aims to accelerate…

Kenyan subscribers to DStv will face higher monthly bills starting August 1, as MultiChoice Kenya implements another round of price increases, continuing a trend that has seen regular hikes over the past five years. The new pricing structure will see subscription fees rise by 4% to 7% across all residential packages. The Premium package, DStv’s top-tier…

The Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST), a pioneer in tech entrepreneurship education and startup acceleration across Africa, has officially opened applications for its newly reimagined MEST AI Startup Programme. This initiative marks a bold step forward in equipping African tech talent to lead in the rapidly evolving field of artificial…

The Switzerland-based SECO Startup Fund (SSF), a long-standing initiative aimed at supporting entrepreneurship in developing regions, is entering a new chapter. Now co-managed by Seedstars, the fund is preparing to deploy CHF 5 million (approximately US$6.3 million) into high-potential startups across emerging economies, including Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Eastern…

Roqqu, a Nigerian cryptocurrency exchange, has announced the acquisition of Flitaa, a Kenya-based crypto startup, marking a significant step in its strategic expansion into East Africa. This acquisition provides Roqqu with immediate access to Kenya’s growing fintech ecosystem and represents its first operational footprint in the region. Founded in 2019, Flitaa has built…

Leta, a fast-growing Kenyan startup specializing in logistics software, has officially launched operations in Ghana, marking its seventh market expansion across Africa. This milestone follows a successful $5 million seed funding round in March 2025, underscoring the company’s ambition to become a leading logistics technology provider on the continent. Founded…

Development Partners International (DPI), a premier pan-African investment firm, together with a consortium of its co-investors, has entered into a definitive agreement to invest $190 million in Alameda Healthcare Group, one of Egypt’s foremost private healthcare providers. The investment will be structured as a minority equity stake and will primarily…

Global investment firm Carlyle has entered into a definitive agreement to divest its portfolio company, Safety SA, to Centre Testing International (CTI), a leading global provider of testing, inspection, certification, and training (TICT) services. The financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed. The transaction is expected to be…

In a significant regulatory reversal, South Africa’s Competition Tribunal has conditionally approved Vodacom’s R13.2 billion acquisition of a minority stake in Maziv, the parent company of Dark Fibre Africa (DFA) and Vumatel. The deal, previously blocked in 2024 due to competition concerns, will now proceed under a stringent set of behavioural and investment-related conditions designed to safeguard market…

South African fintech startup Stitch has announced the acquisition of Efficacy Payments, a licensed digital payments company, in a move that significantly strengthens its position in the country’s financial infrastructure landscape. This marks Stitch’s second strategic acquisition in six months, following its January 2025 purchase of ExiPay, and positions the company as one of…

Kholo Capital Mezzanine Debt Fund I has committed R200 million (approximately $11.2 million) in mezzanine growth funding to Bayport South Africa, a leading provider of financial wellness solutions. The investment will support the expansion of Bayport SA’s Financial Wellness Solutions Programme, a transformative initiative aimed at tackling the country’s widespread issue of employee over-indebtedness. Bayport…

In a significant boost to Africa’s clean transportation sector, the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank FMO has approved a loan of up to $1 million to Zembo Motorcycles, a Ugandan-based electric mobility company. The funding is aimed at accelerating the company’s mission to provide sustainable, affordable, and efficient transport solutions in East Africa. Founded with a…

Following the success of its inaugural cohort, the RevUp Women Initiative has officially launched its Nigeria Edition, reaffirming its commitment to empowering women-led businesses across Africa. This expansion aims to provide targeted support to 150 women entrepreneurs in Lagos, Abuja, and Abia, with a strategic focus on agribusiness and e-commerce—two sectors with high potential for scalable…

Swypex, an Egyptian fintech startup offering an all-in-one financial management platform, has unveiled a groundbreaking product: Egypt’s first approval-based limits card. This innovative solution is designed to modernize how businesses manage and control corporate spending, offering a new level of precision, transparency, and operational efficiency. Founded by Ahmad Mokhtar, Tarek Mokhtar, and Sasan Hezarkhani,…

Knife Capital, a leading South African venture capital firm, has marked its 15th anniversary by announcing new Series A investments in two high-growth South African startups: Sticitt, a fintech innovator in school payments, and Optique, a disruptor in the optometry space. Founded in 2010, Knife Capital is a pan-African VC firm with a mission to accelerate the…