Author: Tapiwa Matthew Mutisi

Back in August Facebook launched two 12-week accelerator programs for startups as the social juggernaut looks for new ideas and solutions to expand its commerce and connectivity efforts. Now eight innovative African tech startups, have been selected for the prestigious Facebook Commerce Accelerator Programme.  The 12-week non-equity virtual programme aims to…

Let’s agree, the web browser is arguably the most important piece of software on your computer. Why? Because you spend much of your time online inside a browser: when you search, chat, email, shop, bank, read the news, and watch videos online, you often do all this using a browser.…

WorldRemit, a global digital payments company, has launched an Africa-focused entrepreneurship programme in Kenya. The WorldRemit Entrepreneurs Programme will also be rolled out in three other African countries – Zimbabwe, Nigeria, and Ghana. The company says the programme is part of its commitment to create opportunities and facilitate development in Africa. Since…

Capitec has launched a new virtual banking card, which will allow the bank’s clients to shop more safely online. The bank said that the virtual card is a completely digital bank card that is saved on a client’s Capitec banking app. Like a physical card, clients can use it online,…

Chinese tech giant Huawei Technologies Co. and Ghana’s Ministry of Communications have launched the Rural Telephony Project which aims to provide voice and data services for more than 3.4 million people in underserved and unserved communities. The project was launched at the New Edubiase District in the Ashanti Region in…

Mastercard, a technology player in the global payments industry, and its strategic partner Network International, an enabler of digital commerce across the Middle East & Africa (MEA), have announced a collaboration to drive the adoption of commercial payments and solutions across the region. The collaboration will see the launch of…

Liquid Telecom, has announced their partnership with Zayo Group Holdings, Inc., a global leader of communications infrastructure. The partnership will see Liquid Telecom and Zayo leveraging existing networks for many of their customers who have operations in North America and Europe in addition to their African operations. Liquid Telecom’s Group…

Founded by Bridge for Billions, a company that manages, designs, and creates entrepreneurship programmes, has officially launched a Global Investors Network that aims to connect purpose-driven entrepreneurs with investment opportunities from around the globe.  They work hand in hand with entrepreneurs, companies, foundations, universities, and governments around the world to co-create…

Letsema, founded in 1996, is a 100% black-owned management consulting firm at the heart of a diversified investment group, providing a wide range of management consulting and advisory services to both the public and private sector in South Africa has received undisclosed funding from the Vumela Fund. Derek Thomas, CEO of Letsema Consulting…

A Stellenbosch-based technology investment group, Alphawave Group has received an R100-million investment from Kagiso Capital, an investment holding company.  Alphawave is a specialized technology investment group supporting businesses seeking to do things that are complex to replicate. As organizations require more information about the world, their products and their customers, our group provides…

The latest feature coming to WhatsApp is a real biggie, especially if you’re anything like us and utterly despise responding to messages. The “Read Later” function will be added in place of the Archived Chats feature and it does exactly what you think it will. Arriving in a beta test…

DStv is making significant changes to the way its online and app-based streaming works and the most recent of these changes is the removal of the DStv “Catch Up” category on the DStv website. This has now been replaced with new TV Shows, Movies, Sport, and Kids sections. DStv customers noticed…

MultiChoice has rolled out its new DStv Rewards programme, which gives subscribers the ability to earn discounts on DStv products. The company said that free package upgrades for qualifying subscribers are among the offers available. This rewards system was first announced in August 2020 and has now officially gone live…

Huawei Technologies Co. sold its Honor smartphone business to a Chinese government-backed consortium for an undisclosed amount, hiving off the entry-level devices arm after the Trump administration cut off its access to American technology. The consortium was formed by the Shenzhen Smart City Technology Development Group Co. and more than…

South Africa’s first on-demand bookings marketplace platform for small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs), iTorho, and a subsidiary of Torho Technologies has officially launched. Aiming to facilitate broader inclusion for local SMMEs, the new platform enables users to locate a skilled service provider in their immediate location. In addition, as an…

The raging war between TikTok and the US is still ongoing. TikTok has just been granted another extension to President Trump’s executive order requiring it to sell its assets in the US, after it claimed in an appeal petition that it had received no communication from the US government for…

The African Development Bank has collaborated with the Government of Uganda to sign a $500 000 (roughly UGX1.8 billion) grant agreement to support micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The aim of the grant is to drive business connections on the East African Crude Oil Pipeline Technical Assistance project. The Crude Oil Pipeline…

Honda is launching a new version of its Legend sedan that will take over for drivers on busy highways after the company got approval for its level 3 self-driving system in Japan. The Japanese government has touted the move as a “world first,” saying that it would make Honda the first…

Black Friday is a major shopping event each year, where consumers have traditionally flocked to retail stores to capitalise on massive specials and pre-Christmas deals. However, with Covid-19 fears still high and social distancing protocols in place, South African consumer behaviour has shifted away from physical stores and into the…

Vodacom Group has recently announced an interim dividend of 415cps, reaching up to 9.2% and the result covers the last 6 months that ended Wednesday, September 30, 2020. This got backed up by earnings from its integrated companies and the Safaricom dividend receipt. Vodacom’s revenue was up 7.8% to R47.8…