Author: Tapiwa Matthew Mutisi

Yellow Card, a prominent cryptocurrency exchange in Africa, is actively pursuing regulatory approval from Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This initiative follows closely on the heels of the company securing a Crypto Asset Service Provider (CASP) license in South Africa last month. Nigeria is a significant hub for cryptocurrency…

Moove, a fintech startup originating from Nigeria, has forged a strategic partnership with Waymo, Alphabet’s self-driving vehicle division, to manage fleets of autonomous vehicles in Phoenix, Arizona, and Miami, Florida. This collaboration underscores Moove’s innovative revenue-based vehicle financing model and its ambitious global expansion strategy. Moove has secured substantial funding…

Seedstars Africa Ventures I, a venture capital fund dedicated to early-stage African startups, has achieved a significant milestone by securing a $42 million first close. This accomplishment was announced at the 2024 Africa Investment Forum in Rabat, highlighting a strong commitment to fostering innovation and job creation across the continent.…

Tanzanian startup ClickPesa has introduced ClickPesa MFI, a comprehensive financial platform specifically designed for microfinance institutions (MFIs). This platform aims to enhance the services provided to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and women-owned businesses. Founded in 2016 by Richard Lema and Rick Groothuizen, ClickPesa specializes in offering a range of…

Tunisian startup Konnect, a trailblazer in digital payment solutions across North Africa, has successfully secured funding from Renew Capital to facilitate its expansion efforts. Established in 2021 and holding a license from the Central Bank of Tunisia, Konnect provides a comprehensive suite of payment solutions, including seamless payment links, e-commerce…

Sudan’s National Telecoms Corporation (NTC) and telecommunications provider Sudatel have formed a strategic partnership to provide much-needed connectivity to relief workers operating in the war-torn country. This collaboration aims to address the severe communication challenges that have plagued Sudan since the onset of the crisis in early 2023. The partnership…

Internet search giant Google has announced the appointment of Kabelo Makwane as its new country director for South Africa. Makwane is set to assume his new role early in the New Year, starting on January 6. Makwane succeeds Dr. Alistair Mokoena, who served as Google South Africa’s country director from…

TelCables Nigeria, a subsidiary of Angola Cables, is set to establish a new point of presence (PoP) at the Lagos Rack Centre facility. This strategic move aims to provide low-latency interconnectivity and cloud access across West Africa, significantly enhancing the region’s digital infrastructure. Fernando Fernandes, CEO of TelCables Nigeria and…

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) of Nigeria has initiated an investigation into the telecommunications giant MTN Nigeria following numerous consumer complaints regarding poor service quality. In a statement released this week, the FCCPC announced that the investigation would be conducted from December 3 to December 5. During…

On Thursday, Safaricom, a leading telecommunications company in Kenya, announced that its mobile money service, M-PESA, had reached a significant milestone of 34 million customers as of November. In an official statement, Safaricom highlighted that this achievement underscores the company’s dedication to enhancing the financial well-being and prosperity of individuals…

Global shared mobility platform Bolt has extended its Bolt Accelerator Programme to South Africa, following its successful implementation in Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya. According to a statement, the economic empowerment initiative is now seeking 10 start-ups for seed funding across South Africa. A seed fund of €20,000 (approximately R380,000) has…

A new player, eGroupX, has entered the South African financial and telecommunications sector, offering a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) service alongside a suite of other offerings. The fintech and connectivity group, which has established offices in Kenya, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and Angola, has now expanded its presence to South Africa.…

Former cryptocurrency leader Alex Mashinsky has pleaded guilty to two fraud charges. The founder and CEO of Celsius Network was initially indicted on seven criminal counts in 2023, which included charges of fraud, conspiracy, and market manipulation. While Mashinsky entered a not guilty plea at the time, he has now…

Meta has officially confirmed its ambitious plans to harness nuclear power to fuel its data centers across the United States. The company announced that it is now accepting proposals from nuclear energy developers, aiming to add between one and four gigawatts of nuclear energy capacity starting in the early 2030s.…

Vizio has officially become a part of the Walmart corporate empire. The retail giant announced on Tuesday the completion of its $2.3 billion acquisition of the TV manufacturer, marking a significant expansion into the smart TV and advertising sectors. With this acquisition, Walmart has not only added a prominent TV…

The National Association of Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS) is gearing up to take legal action against the proposed 5% excise duty on telecom services. The case is currently in court, with the next hearing scheduled for March 13, 2025. In preparation, NATCOMS plans to convene this Wednesday to organize a petition…

President Joseph R. Biden has announced a substantial increase in humanitarian assistance, pledging over $1 billion to address the urgent needs arising from food insecurity and various crises affecting refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and vulnerable communities across 31 African countries. This significant funding announcement was made during President Biden’s…

Tanzanian fintech startup Tunzaa, known for its groundbreaking payments API that facilitates e-commerce transactions through installment plans, has successfully secured funding from Warioba Ventures to support its growth and expansion efforts. Tunzaa’s platform provides consumers with flexible installment payment options, making it easier for them to access a wide range…

MTN Group has announced the appointment of Sandile Gwala as an independent non-executive director, effective from 1 January. Gwala is the co-founder and chief executive officer of SoluGrowth, a business consultancy firm that caters to both local and international clients. He brings a strong educational background to the role, holding…

Moroccan urban mobility startup Enakl has secured $1.4 million in pre-seed funding to further its mission of providing safer, smarter, and sustainable collective transport solutions for daily commutes, both locally and internationally. Founded in September 2023 by Samir Bennani and Charles Pommarede, with Ahmed Omrane later joining as associate CTO,…