Author: Tapiwa Matthew Mutisi

Equator, a venture capital firm focused on Africa, has successfully raised $55 million for its inaugural fund dedicated to supporting early-stage climate tech startups across the continent. This fund aims to address the unique challenges faced by companies working to combat climate issues, particularly those that struggle to secure early-stage…

Silver Box, a company based in the Middle East that specializes in investing in technology products and services, has successfully acquired Mobius Motors Kenya, a struggling automaker that had recently announced plans to shut down. This acquisition comes six months after Mobius faced significant financial difficulties, including unpaid debts, disputes…

South African Internet of Things (IoT) startup Sensor Networks, specializing in insurance technology, has announced a strategic partnership with Ariston, the world’s largest manufacturer of geysers, to introduce advanced smart water heating solutions to South African households in 2025. Founded in 2015, Sensor Networks has developed a unique “smart geyser”…

Tizeti, a prominent internet service provider in West Africa and a YCombinator-backed company, is making significant strides in expanding its fiber optic network. In a remarkable feat, the company has installed over 150,000 meters of fiber in key urban centers such as Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Accra within just three…

Nigerian food delivery startup Chowdeck has announced a significant reduction in its contract workforce, cutting it by 68% as part of a strategic initiative to streamline operations and enhance efficiency. Despite experiencing rapid growth over the past year, the company clarifies that these layoffs are not indicative of financial difficulties…

Adenia Partners, a private equity firm focused on Africa, has announced the appointment of Franck Falézan to the investment committee of both Adenia Capital IV and its latest flagship fund, Adenia Capital V, which has recently been oversubscribed. Franck Falézan brings a wealth of experience to his new role. As…

Standard Bank, recognized as the largest bank in Africa by assets, is preparing to host its inaugural African Markets Conference (AMC) in Cape Town later this month. This event marks a significant milestone in the bank’s efforts to enhance integration and facilitate smoother business operations across the continent. Luvuyo Masinda,…

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has announced a proposed commitment of up to $75 million to the Helios Investors V fund, which includes a co-investment envelope of $50 million. This significant financial backing underscores the IFC’s commitment to fostering growth in Africa’s dynamic investment landscape. Helios V is a pan-African…

Revolut, a leading neobank with a remarkable valuation of $45 billion, has announced its plans to investigate potential opportunities in South Africa’s dynamic digital banking landscape. A spokesperson for the company commented, “South Africa is a market we are evaluating, and one we see as attractive, with the potential to…

Access Bank, in collaboration with Visa, has officially launched the innovative Tap to Phone service in Nigeria, marking a significant advancement in the realm of contactless payments. This new offering empowers merchants to accept payments seamlessly using their NFC-enabled Android smartphones, transforming them into fully functional payment terminals. According to…

Zipline, a pioneering drone delivery company, is set to revolutionize healthcare logistics in Nigeria by extending its operations to five additional states. This strategic expansion aims to improve the distribution of medical supplies, including vaccines, blood products, and essential medications, particularly in remote and underserved areas of the country. Having…

As EVs present a cleaner and more sustainable alternative to traditional internal combustion engine vehicles, innovative startups are capitalizing on the growing popularity, technological advancements, cost-effectiveness, and environmental benefits of EVs. One such startup, Everlectric, based in Pretoria, is at the forefront of this movement by offering full maintenance leases…

ORA Technologies, a superapp based in Morocco, has successfully raised $1.9 million in a pre-Series A funding round, led by local investment firms Witamax and Azur Innovation Management. This latest funding round brings the total amount raised by ORA Technologies to $4.4 million since its establishment in 2023, showcasing the…

The Emerging Africa & Asia Infrastructure Fund (EAAIF), managed by Ninety One, has announced a significant funding contribution of $45 million to CrossBoundary Energy. This investment is aimed at facilitating the expansion of renewable energy solutions, including solar, wind, hybrid energy systems, and battery energy storage systems (BESS), in regions…

The establishment of Africa’s largest distributed renewable energy provider has taken a significant step forward as Kenyan regulators have approved Ignite Power’s acquisition of ENGIE Energy Access. This deal, valued at an undisclosed amount, underscores the intensifying competition to electrify the continent. The Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) has granted…

Food delivery platform Talabat Holding has successfully completed the acquisition of InstaShop, a prominent online grocery delivery marketplace in the region, from Delivery Hero. The deal, valued at $32 million, was disclosed in a regulatory filing on Thursday. This strategic move is part of Talabat’s ongoing expansion efforts within the…

In a groundbreaking initiative poised to transform mobile connectivity for Nigerian travelers, EMOSIM, a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) supported by EMO MEDIA Ltd, has announced a strategic partnership with Tata Communications Services. This collaboration will introduce travel eSIMs to the Nigerian market, offering a more economical alternative to traditional…

Frustrated by the steep commissions charged by leading ride-hailing platforms, a collective of Nigerian drivers has introduced SimpliRide, a local app designed to rival established services such as Uber, Bolt, LagRide, and InDrive. In contrast to these competitors, SimpliRide utilizes a subscription model, imposing a flat daily fee of ₦500…

Egyptian artificial intelligence startup Widebot has successfully secured $3 million in pre-Series A funding to advance the development of an Arabic large language model (LLM). Originally established in Cairo, Widebot has since relocated its operations to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The company is focused on creating “AQL Mind,” a generative AI…

CI Capital, a prominent diversified financial services group, has partnered with Compass Capital for Financial Investments, an Egyptian alternative investment manager, to launch the C3 Capital Fund 1. This fund aims for a target size of EGP 3 billion (approximately $59.2 million) upon its final close and is focused on…