Author: Tapiwa Matthew Mutisi

Applications are now open for the 15th edition of the Orange Social Venture Prize (OSVP) in Africa and the Middle East, a prestigious initiative designed to foster social innovation and promote entrepreneurship across the region. Since its inception in 2011, the OSVP has been dedicated to recognizing and rewarding innovative…

Botswana has made a significant advancement in the realm of space technology with the successful launch of its inaugural satellite, BOTSAT-1. This landmark achievement not only marks a pivotal moment for the nation but also positions Botswana among a growing cohort of African countries that are increasingly investing in space…

Telkom Kenya has successfully secured a $4.4 million grant aimed at developing Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN) technology, with contributions of $3 million from Rakuten Symphony and $1.4 million from Airspan Networks. This strategic investment is designed to enhance mobile connectivity, reduce infrastructure costs, and promote flexible network architectures…

Global B2B payment platform Nilos has announced its strategic expansion into West Africa, specifically targeting the Ivory Coast, Senegal, Benin, and Togo. This move aligns with the company’s mission to simplify cross-border transactions by introducing instant payouts in the West African CFA franc (XOF) and integrating mobile money services, thereby…

Standard Bank of South Africa Limited (SBSA) is excited to announce the successful closing of a $250 million seven-year unsecured loan from the International Finance Corporation (IFC). This significant funding will enhance Standard Bank’s initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable development through green financing. The allocated funds will primarily support green…

The Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) has announced a strategic partnership with the African Guarantee Fund (AGF) and FSDH Merchant Bank Limited to launch applications for its flagship AWIEF Growth Accelerator Programme. This initiative is designed to enhance access to finance and markets for women-owned and women-led small…

Centi, a Switzerland-based fintech company, has announced an exciting new collaboration with Yellow Card, a prominent pan-African cryptocurrency exchange. This partnership enables Centi users in Europe to transfer funds to 20 African nations, significantly enhancing Centi’s presence on the continent. With this collaboration, Centi expands its reach from eight to…

The Ethereum layer-2 protocol, Lisk, has announced a significant milestone with the successful completion of its first cohort of the Blockchain Incubation Hub training program, which saw 23 African startups graduate. Following this achievement, Lisk is now accepting applications for the second cohort, set to commence on May 19, 2025.…

The Competition Commission of South Africa has formally recommended that the Competition Tribunal approve Vumatel’s acquisition of Herotel, albeit with specific conditions aimed at ensuring open access and transparent service terms. This strategic consolidation is expected to empower Vumatel to expand its fibre network into South Africa’s secondary cities and…

Nigeria has entered into a significant agreement worth $200 million with WeLight, a pan-African Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE) company, to implement a network of renewable mini grids. This initiative is designed to deliver reliable electricity to millions of residents in rural communities and those living in the outskirts of urban…

Flutterwave, recognized as Africa’s foremost payments technology company, has recently received approval from the Bank of Ghana to offer inward remittance services in Ghana. This significant development underscores Flutterwave’s unwavering commitment to streamlining payment processes and unlocking a multitude of opportunities across the African continent. The fintech landscape in Ghana…

d.light, a prominent provider of solar energy solutions in Africa and India, has been selected to participate in the Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) programme. This significant initiative, set to launch in March, aims to enhance electricity access for 17.5 million Nigerians through renewable energy sources. The DARES…

Nissan announced on Tuesday that Ivan Espinosa, the company’s Chief Planning Officer, will assume the role of CEO starting April 1, bringing an end to weeks of speculation regarding the successor to Makoto Uchida, who has led the troubled Japanese automaker. Uchida has faced mounting pressure to resign due to…

Nigerian payments infrastructure company Zone has reported facilitating transactions exceeding ₦1 trillion (approximately $660 million) on its blockchain network from November 2022 to December 2024, as stated by CEO Obi Emetarom. Zone stands out as the only blockchain financial institution in Nigeria licensed to offer switching and processing services. It…

Tunisia has officially launched the Unified Arab System for Diploma Authenticity Verification, joining forces with other Arab nations to streamline the process of diploma validation. Initiated on February 28, 2025, as part of Tunisia’s broader digital transformation agenda, this innovative system enables agencies and recruiters to efficiently verify diplomas issued…

Verto, a fintech company specializing in global payments and cross-border transactions, has launched the Verto Global Business Award to support early-stage businesses in their efforts to expand beyond local markets and engage with the global economy. This initiative comes at a time when the World Trade Organization reports that 29%…

Nsano Ltd, a leading pan-African fintech firm, has announced the launch of a regional office in Rwanda, marking a significant expansion of its presence in East Africa. This development comes on the heels of the company receiving approval from the National Bank of Rwanda, which has granted Nsano Payment Aggregation…

IvoryPay, a blockchain-powered payment and remittance platform designed to facilitate stable cryptocurrency payments for businesses across Africa, has successfully secured a strategic investment from Hedera, a leading decentralized ledger network. This partnership marks a significant step forward for IvoryPay as it aims to enhance its payment infrastructure and expand its…

The Milken Institute and the Motsepe Foundation have officially announced the three teams that have advanced to the final round of the prestigious Milken-Motsepe Fintech Prize. This competition is dedicated to recognizing innovative solutions that enhance financial inclusion for small businesses operating in emerging and frontier markets. With a total…

Cikü Mugambi has joined DOB Equity, a private equity fund based in the Netherlands that focuses on investments in East Africa, just months after stepping down from her position as CEO of Kobo360, a logistics startup. According to her LinkedIn profile, Mugambi has been with the Dutch family office for…