Author: Tapiwa Matthew Mutisi

Octopus Energy Generation, the renewables investment arm of UK-based energy tech company Octopus Energy, has officially launched the Octopus Energy Power Africa Fund (OEPA)—a bold new initiative aimed at accelerating the clean energy transition across the African continent. The fund, which begins with an initial capital commitment of $60 million and targets a total…

Nairobi, Kenya — East African impact investment firm DOB Equity has announced the appointment of Jonathan Mukoro as an Investment Associate, reinforcing its commitment to supporting high-potential businesses across the region. Mukoro brings over seven years of experience in private equity and private lending, with a strong track record of working across key sectors such as agriculture, renewable energy,…

British International Investment (BII), the UK’s development finance institution, has announced the appointment of Sylvia Monthe as its new Coverage Director for Francophone West and Central Africa, a strategic move aimed at deepening the institution’s engagement and investment footprint across the region. In her new role, Monthe will be responsible for leading BII’s investment…

In a significant move to deepen cross-border investment collaboration, South Africa’s Public Investment Corporation (PIC) and the UK’s British International Investment (BII) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at accelerating joint investment efforts across the African continent. The agreement brings together one of Africa’s largest asset managers and the UK’s development finance institution, establishing a strategic framework…

Roomz.rent, a fast-growing co-living platform based in Cairo, has successfully closed a pre-seed funding round led by regional venture firm Qora71, with participation from a network of Middle East and North Africa (MENA)-based angel investors. The investment marks a significant milestone for the startup as it looks to scale its operations and expand its…

In a landmark moment for African tech innovation, Better Auth, an open-source authentication tool built by Ethiopian solo founder Bereket Engida, has secured $5 million in seed funding to accelerate its product roadmap and scale its infrastructure offerings. The round was led by Peak XV Partners (formerly Sequoia Capital India & Southeast Asia), with participation from Y…

Lesaka Technologies saw its share price jump by 17.1% on Friday morning after announcing a landmark agreement to acquire 100% of South African digital bank, Bank Zero Mutual Bank, in a deal valued at R1.091 billion. The R1.1 billion ($61.4 million) acquisition—pending regulatory approval—signals a pivotal evolution for Lesaka, transitioning…

Asset Chain, a Nigerian blockchain infrastructure startup, has officially launched its own Layer-1 (L1) blockchain network, purpose-built to redefine how Nigerians exchange both digital and real-world assets. Engineered for speed, security, and transparency, the platform offers a modern alternative to traditional financial systems and informal peer-to-peer (P2P) markets, eliminating the…

Ghanaian agritech startup Complete Farmer has secured a €2.2 million (approximately $2.5 million) investment from the European Union’s AgriFI initiative, marking a major milestone in the advancement of technology-driven agriculture and rural development in West Africa. The funding, managed by EDFI Management Company, will support the construction of agricultural fulfilment centres and the expansion…

The Takealot Group, South Africa’s leading e-commerce platform, has reported another financial loss for the 2025 fiscal year, but parent company Naspers remains optimistic, projecting that the group will achieve profitability within the current financial year. According to Naspers’ full-year results for the period ending March 31, 2025, Takealot Group delivered robust growth…

In a historic move that marks a turning point in Ethiopia’s economic trajectory, the country’s central bank has issued a long-anticipated directive allowing foreign banks and investors to formally enter its financial sector. This development is a cornerstone of Ethiopia’s broader economic liberalization agenda and follows the ratification of a…

Peach Payments, a leading South African fintech company headquartered in Cape Town, has officially launched its new point-of-sale (POS) device, the Digit Pro, targeting mid-sized and enterprise-level merchants. This marks a significant expansion of the company’s product suite, which already includes robust tools for online and mobile payment processing. Founded in…

Logidoo, a fast-growing logistics and cross-border trade platform based in Senegal, has announced a major expansion of its operations with the launch of a new trade corridor linking Belgium to West Africa through Morocco. This strategic move extends the company’s existing Casablanca–Dakar route, creating a seamless logistics bridge between Europe,…

Shoptreo, a rising Nigerian e-commerce startup, has successfully secured a new round of funding—details of which are undisclosed—to accelerate its mission of bringing locally crafted artisanal products to the global marketplace. At the heart of Shoptreo’s innovation is its commitment to unlocking economic value within Nigeria’s informal markets and underserved…

In a strategic move to deepen its footprint in the fintech space, Nigeria’s diversified financial services firm BAS Group has acquired a majority stake in Zuvy, a fast-growing local startup specializing in invoice financing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). While the exact financial terms of the deal remain undisclosed, BAS Group now…

In a bold move to strengthen the local digital economy, the South African government — through Proudly SA and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) — is set to launch two new eCommerce platforms on July 1, 2025. These platforms, Shop Proudly SA (for consumers) and the Market Access Platform (MAP) (for businesses), aim to promote locally…

Visa, the global leader in digital payments, in collaboration with Absa, one of Africa’s largest diversified financial services groups, has officially opened applications for the She’s Next programme — a flagship initiative aimed at supporting and uplifting women-led businesses in South Africa. The She’s Next programme is designed to foster a more…

African tech startups are now invited to apply for the Afreximbank Flagship Accelerator Programme, a high-impact initiative designed to empower visionary entrepreneurs building scalable solutions that enhance intra-African trade. Spearheaded by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), the programme seeks to identify and support startups developing innovative technologies that address key challenges…

Developers, innovators, and entrepreneurs across the continent are invited to apply for the Hedera Africa Hackathon 2025, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at harnessing blockchain and distributed ledger technologies (DLT) to address Africa’s most pressing challenges. This year’s hackathon, powered by the Hashgraph Association — a Swiss non-profit dedicated to accelerating global adoption of…

Elon Musk’s satellite internet service, Starlink, has officially resumed accepting new customer subscriptions in Nairobi and surrounding counties in Kenya, following a seven-month suspension that began in November 2024. The freeze affected high-demand regions including Kiambu, Machakos, Kajiado, and Murang’a. According to Starlink, the pause was necessary due to a…