Author: Tapiwa Matthew Mutisi

Absa Group has opened its user-friendly procurement portal, allowing Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) to apply and be verified as suppliers. This opportunity means that SMMEs, currently the drivers of our post-pandemic economy, will be able to search for and network with corporate suppliers and win tenders that previously would not…

Cape Town – Not-for-profit social enterprise Harambe Youth Employment Accelerator has partnered with SiMODisA and South African tech startup Clickatell to launch DigiLink, an incubator programme that aims to upskill unemployed youth to enter the tech economy and secure long-term employment. The partnership is backed by an industry-level coalition focused on the mutual interests of all…

Google has launched a series of programmes that aim to support the growth and recovery of African SMEs in the continent. The new initiative titled “International Small Business Month” will roll out several programmes this month. Mojolaoluwa Aderemi-Makinde, Google’s head of brand and reputation for Africa explains that the programmes…

Huawei recently launched its own HarmonyOS mobile operating system on its handsets on Wednesday as it adapts to having lost access to Google mobile services two years ago after the United States put the Chinese telecommunications company on a trade blacklist. Huawei announced that about 100 Huawei smartphone models will…

Amazon Founder Jeff Bezos is set to be the first billionaire in space! In a Monday morning Instagram post he revealed that he will be flying to space on the first crewed flight of the New Shepard, the rocket ship made by his space company, Blue Origin next month, together…

South African-based cybersecurity startup Sendmarc has secured an undisclosed amount of funding in an investment round led by Kalon Venture Partners with contribution from Endeavor South Africa‘s Harvest venture Capital II fund. Clive Butkow the CEO of Kalon Venture Partners comments on the funding round injected into the innovative local tech…

Vodacom Business Africa (VBA) remains committed to supporting the ambitions of multinational businesses across the African continent, regardless of the global disruptions to businesses due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The business landscape is ever-changing; competitive barriers are disappearing making the speed and agility to market critical components in the digital…

Comparison website Hippo.co.za has launched South Africa’s first free online comparison portal that assists local businesses in searching fiber-to-the-business (FTTB) connectivity packages and prices based on their location. Bradley Du Chenne, CEO of Hippo.co.za explains that the platform aims to ensure that business owners are able to access affordable options. “With many businesses trying…

AfricArena, in partnership with Délégation Générale à l’Entreprenariat Rapide des Femmes et des Jeunes, Senegal Government ( DER/FJ) and ITC United Nations #FastTrackTech Africa project has announced that the West Africa Summit will take place in Dakar, Senegal from 22 to 23 June 2021.  Papa Amadou Sarr, General Delegate of…

SA fintech startup Mortgage Market has been nominated in the prestigious 2021 African Banker Award under the category of “Innovation in Financial Services Award”.  As the only South African company nominated under the category of “Innovation in Financial Services Award”, The fast-growing local fintech has been nominated for its innovative financial offering…

The Department of Small Business Development has launched The Township and Rural Entrepreneurship Programme (TREP). The programme aims to promote and integrate business opportunities in townships and rural areas. TREP aims to create platforms that provide business support infrastructure and an environment where entrepreneurship can thrive and grow. The initiative will be…

Based in Germany, The Federal Development Ministry (BMZ) has launched DeveloPPP Ventures, a programme that aims to empower Kenyan startups by providing entrepreneurial support and a grant of up to €100 000. The funding will reportedly be distributed by  DEG – Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH via a matching-funds model. DEG provides grant funding to…

Classic 1027 has partnered with Sum of 21 to launch The Small Business Booster Programme with an aim to assist local businesses. The funds raised through the Enterprise and Supplier Development grant will be provided to selected SMMEs. The funding will be used towards marketing and branding campaigns to support local SMMEs. Janhendrik Oosthuizen,…

SA fintech startup Cumulate has partnered with Discovery Bank to launch an advanced online financial education platform called Worth. Gary Kayle, CEO of Worth highlights the importance of financial education in empowering individuals. “Worth is Discovery Bank’s financial education partner, and we’ve relished working with the Discovery team as they build the world’s first shared-value…

Abuja-based AgriTech startup Thrive Agric has launched a one-year project that aims to support 50 000 smallholder farmers that grow rice, maize, and soybean in Nigeria. The initiative forms part of the agritech’s commitment to strengthening value chains in the country. The programme is being supported and conducted in collaboration with…

Dream-VC Fellowship, a Venture Capital Institute, has launched a new fellowship programme that is dedicated to providing more access and opportunities to traditionally underrepresented individuals in the African VC space. Cindy Ai, cofounder of Dream VC explains the importance of growing the number of young African investors and what role…

Ugandan Fintech Emata that gives farmers access to digital and affordable financial products has been announced as the winner of the Best Catapulter Award at the end of the CATAPULT: Inclusion Africa 2021 digital bootcamp. The award was announced at the end of CATAPULT: Inclusion Africa’s digital pitching ceremony held on 27…

Shares of Samsung Publishing Co., the second-largest shareholder in the producer of “Baby Shark,” viral YouTube song soared on Wednesday after a tweet by Telsa CEO Elon Musk about the viral children’s song. Shares of Samsung Publishing in South Korea soared more than 10% at one point during regular trading…

Going to grab a bite at a Tesla burger joint soon? Well, it looks like Tesla CEO Elon Musk might be serious about opening a 1950s-style diner at a Tesla Supercharger station after Tesla filed a new trademark for its brand under restaurant services as the automaker is expected to…

A leading video e-learning platform in the MENA region, Almentor.net has secured $6.5-million in a funding round led by Partech with participation from Sawari Ventures, Egypt Ventures, and Sango Capital. According to reports, the recent raise of funding brings the total financing that the company has garnered since its inception…