Author: Tapiwa Matthew Mutisi

South Africa’s Department of Communications and Digital Technologies has initiated the process of formulating a national artificial intelligence (AI) policy by releasing a policy framework. This marks the initial phase in crafting comprehensive AI guidelines for the nation. The department has set a deadline for the conclusion of the formal…

Just a week after Mobius Motors, the Kenyan automaker with financial backing from Playfair Capital, announced its closure, the company has received a lifeline in the form of an acquisition proposal from an as-yet-unnamed buyer. Nicolas Guibert, a director at Mobius, issued a statement indicating that on August 14, the…

The South African Competition Commission has conditionally sanctioned the acquisition of Octotel, a local fibre network operator, by a consortium led by African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM). The consortium also includes STOA, a French infrastructure and energy investor, and Thebe Investment Corporation, a South African investment firm. This approval is…

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has announced its decision to allocate a $10 million junior equity investment from the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) to the KawiSafi II Fund. This strategic investment aims to bolster local enterprises that are actively involved in developing and scaling up projects with…

Canal+ is on the verge of significantly increasing its ownership in the Mauritian digital pay-TV provider MC Vision, with plans to boost its share from the current 37% to a commanding 75%, subject to the green light from regulatory bodies. This strategic move would elevate Canal+ to the status of…

AliExpress, the global e-commerce platform owned by the Alibaba Group from China, is poised to expand its operations into Ethiopia, as indicated by Dr. Abiyot Bayu, the Senior Advisor to Ethiopia’s Minister of Innovation and Technology. An official statement regarding this development is anticipated to be released shortly. This move…

The Eastgate Shopping Centre is on track to claim the title of having the largest registered rooftop solar installation in Africa, with the project’s completion slated for the end of this year. This grand project involves the fitting of over 13,000 solar panels, which will span an impressive area of…

AfriLabs, the expansive network of technology innovation hubs across Africa, has achieved a significant breakthrough in its quest to drive innovation throughout the continent. The network has recently been inducted as a member of the International Telecommunication Union Development (ITU-D) Sector, marking a notable recognition of its efforts. This development…

Zambian technology startups are being called upon to participate in MentorPitch, a comprehensive 12-week mentorship initiative. This program is specifically tailored for startups that have progressed beyond the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) phase and are now focused on expanding their early adopter customer base and gearing up for angel investment.…

StartupSouth, the premier startup gathering in the South-South and South-East regions of Nigeria, is set to hold its eighth iteration in the bustling city of Port Harcourt on October 3-4. Since its inception in 2015, StartupSouth has been a beacon for entrepreneurs, innovators, and investors, drawing them from various parts…

Recently, the Anzisha Prize, a distinguished accolade that spotlights young African entrepreneurs for their exceptional ability to innovate and evolve their businesses, announced its latest cohort of winners. The grand finale of this annual event was held in Johannesburg, South Africa, where four remarkable entrepreneurs—Mathias Yabe, Nzinga Antonio, Sharon Alyorneku,…

Open Startup, a non-profit organization committed to nurturing innovation and entrepreneurial skills, has announced the launch of the second edition of its GROW program, a comprehensive initiative designed to propel promising African startups towards expansion and facilitate their access to capital. As an entity that champions entrepreneurship, education, and intercultural…

Schoolap, an ed-tech platform originating from the Democratic Republic of Congo, is on a mission to revolutionize the educational landscape in Africa. In a significant move to further this mission, Schoolap has recently inaugurated a new branch in Kenya. This marks a pivotal moment for the company as it ventures…

NeoNomad, a South African startup, has unveiled a pioneering web application, Africa’s first hybrid exchange platform, designed to tackle the critical challenges of financial inclusion, elevated transaction costs, and limited access to banking services across the continent. The innovative NeoNomad app introduces the ZARcoin (ZARC), a South African stablecoin that…

The third edition of the Irish Tech Challenge South Africa has selected seven promising South African tech startups for a program designed to create synergistic relationships between South African entrepreneurs and Ireland’s renowned technological expertise, capitalizing on Ireland’s status as a global tech hub. The annual Irish Tech Challenge is…

South African entrepreneurs are encouraged to apply for the upcoming intake of the SAB Foundation’s Tholoana Enterprise Programme. This initiative targets small business owners with significant growth potential who are dedicated to advancing both their personal development and business success. Since its inception in 2015, the Tholoana Enterprise Programme has…

In a notable shift within the executive ranks of MTN’s MoMo Payment Service Bank (PSB), Eli Hini, the CEO, and Elsa Muzzolini, the Chief Commercial Officer, have both departed from the fintech company. Elsa Muzzolini has since embarked on a new journey as the CEO of M-PESA Ethiopia, a mobile…

The Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) initiative, now in its fifth year, has announced the selection of fifty promising entrepreneurs from across the African continent as finalists. Supported by the philanthropic efforts of the Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Philanthropy, the ABH competition is dedicated to recognizing and nurturing the continent’s…

dLocal, a payment platform originating from Uruguay that specializes in cross-border transactions, has formed a strategic alliance with iTransfer, a company focused on money remittance services. This partnership aims to tackle the complexities and challenges, such as currency volatility, that are often encountered with cross-border payments in emerging economies. The…

Egyptian consumer credit fintech company Lucky ONE has successfully secured $3 million through a convertible bond funding round, with the strategic goal of expanding its credit platform and paving the way for its entry into new markets within the region over the forthcoming two-year period. The investment round garnered support…