Author: Tapiwa Matthew Mutisi

Worldcoin, the startup co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, is undergoing a significant rebranding by shedding the “coin” from its name. The company is pivoting its focus away from cryptocurrency and towards the enhancement of its identity verification technology. In line with this shift, the startup has also revealed an…

Stripe, a prominent payments company, has completed the acquisition of the stablecoin platform Bridge in a landmark deal valued at $1.1 billion, as reported by TechCrunch founder Michael Arrington. This transaction stands as the most significant acquisition within the cryptocurrency sector to date. Michael Arrington confirmed the completion of the…

Premier Bank, a leading financial institution in Somalia, has partnered with Mastercard and Tappy Technologies to unveil Tap2Pay, a groundbreaking payment solution designed to enhance the payment experience for consumers in Somalia. This innovative service leverages near-field communication (NFC) technology to embed payment capabilities into everyday accessories like eyeglasses, rings,…

inDrive, a global ride-hailing service provider, has recently expanded its operations to Lusaka, Zambia, positioning itself as a strong competitor against established players like Bolt and Yango in the local market. In a strategic move to attract drivers and gain a foothold in the Zambian market, inDrive has declared that…

PaidHR, an innovative Nigerian startup specializing in HR management solutions, is currently engaged in negotiations with potential investors to secure a seed funding round of $1.5 million. This financial move comes on the heels of a successful $500,000 funding round in February 2023, which saw contributions from a diverse group…

In 2024 so far, Kenya 🇰🇪 ($437m, 31%) and Egypt 🇪🇬 ($373m, 27%) come out on top with a combined 58% of all the funding raised by start-ups in Africa. For both of them, it is their highest share of funding on record since 2019, but since the start of 2024, only one startup…

I think in the past day, I’ve sent more than 100 messages on WhatsApp. I talked about everyday things like family stuff, work, and just chatting with friends. All the messages were private, safe, and facilitated by WhatsApp’s robust servers, strategically located in data centers across the globe. Operating such…

Mira Murati, who previously held the position of Chief Technology Officer at OpenAI, made headlines last month when she announced her decision to leave the company. In a recent development reported by Reuters, Mira Murati is actively engaged in securing venture capital funding for her new venture in the artificial…

The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) is spearheading an ambitious initiative to revolutionize the nation’s payment infrastructure with the introduction of the Fast Payment System (FPS). This groundbreaking system aims to facilitate instantaneous financial transactions across a wide array of financial entities, including banks and payment service providers (PSPs). The…

In a detailed LinkedIn statement dated Thursday, October 17, 2024, Dr. Abasi Ene-Obong, the co-founder and former CEO of the African genomics firm 54gene, addressed the speculation and rumors that have been swirling since his resignation from the company. He took this opportunity to correct the record regarding his exit…

Aya Data, an emerging AI consultancy firm based in Ghana, has successfully secured a seed investment of $900,000. This funding, comprising both debt and equity components, is earmarked for the expansion of the startup’s two innovative products, AyaGrow and AyaSpeech, as well as for the recruitment of additional skilled personnel.…

One of the top 10 fintech contenders in the Milken-Motsepe Fintech Prize competition is set to secure a $1 million grand prize at the Milken Institute’s Global Conference, which will take place in Los Angeles in May. The Milken Institute, in partnership with the Motsepe Foundation, recently revealed the 10…

During Lenovo’s annual Tech World innovation summit, a significant partnership was announced between Lenovo and FIFA, positioning Lenovo as the Official FIFA Technology Partner. This premier sponsorship encompasses the FIFA World Cup 2026™, set to take place across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, as well as the FIFA Women’s…

Nigerian entrepreneurs and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are being called upon to submit their applications for the Sterling Bank Green Innovation Challenge. This initiative is focused on providing financial support to businesses that are actively involved in creating innovative solutions within the agricultural sector, clean technology, or social enterprises…

Safaricom, Kenya’s leading telecommunications provider, has forged strategic alliances with Cloudflare, a renowned international web infrastructure and cybersecurity company, and Copycat, a prominent business technology provider in Africa. This collaboration is designed to fortify Kenyan businesses against contemporary cyber threats and data breaches. The core objective of this partnership is…

GoMetro, a company originally established in South Africa and now based in London, specializes in providing B2B software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions for fleet management. It has recently been awarded a significant grant of GBP147,000 (approximately US$191,000) from the UK Freight Innovation Fund. This fund is managed by the UK Department of…

JPMorgan Chase & Co. recognized as the world’s largest bank, has announced the appointment of former Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) executive, Sailepu Montet, as its new Country Manager for Kenya. This strategic move is part of the bank’s ongoing efforts to expand its presence in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), a…

SpaceX’s Starlink division has submitted a formal request to the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for authorization to make significant enhancements to its satellite broadband service, Starlink. This move is aimed at achieving gigabit-per-second internet speeds, a goal that was initially set in 2016. The proposed upgrades would mark a…

Linda Ndungu, the General Manager of Bolt Kenya, has announced the implementation of an advanced trip anomaly detection system designed to enhance the safety of its ride-hailing services. This sophisticated system enables the company to monitor all ongoing trips in real-time, ensuring immediate detection of any irregularities. Should a trip…

Jumia Technologies AG, a prominent African eCommerce platform, has made a strategic decision to discontinue its operations in South Africa and Tunisia as part of a company-wide resource optimization initiative. The planned shutdown by the end of 2024 is aimed at redirecting the company’s focus towards regions with higher growth…