Author: Tapiwa Matthew Mutisi

Invest International, the Dutch development finance institution, has committed a €15 million investment loan to Namibia Berries, a fast-growing agribusiness focused on blueberry cultivation in north-eastern Namibia. The funding will support the expansion of the company’s operations along the Kavango River, enabling it to scale production and strengthen its export…

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed a €20 million investment into the newly launched Amethis Europe Expansion Fund, a private equity vehicle designed to support the international growth of European small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), particularly those expanding into Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. The fund will provide…

Anda, a mobility technology platform based in Angola, has secured €3 million in seed funding to accelerate its mission of formalizing the country’s vast informal motorcycle taxi sector. The round was co-led by European venture capital firms Breega and Speedinvest, both known for backing high-growth startups across emerging markets. Founded…

Digital banking institution TymeBank has announced a leadership transition set to take effect on 1 January 2026, with Cheslyn Jacobs stepping into the role of Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Karl Westvig. Westvig, who has served on the bank’s executive team since 2023, will remain involved in an advisory capacity to…

MyBitSecure, a South African agritech and cybersecurity startup, has launched a cutting-edge smart IoT farming system designed to help African farmers modernize their operations while protecting them from emerging digital threats. The solution integrates connected sensors, flow meters, and real-time data dashboards into existing irrigation systems, enabling farmers to monitor…

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a financing package worth $14.54 million to support the development of the Garneton North 20MW solar power project in Zambia’s Copperbelt Province. This strategic investment is aimed at strengthening Zambia’s renewable energy capacity and advancing the AfDB’s broader electrification goals across the continent.…

AfricInvest, a leading pan-African private equity firm, has acquired a significant minority stake in Arrow Holding, a fast-growing HR technology and staffing group with operations spanning Africa and the Middle East. The investment, made through AfricInvest Fund IV, is aimed at supporting Arrow’s digital transformation strategy and fueling its expansion…

EDFI ElectriFI, the European Union–backed initiative focused on accelerating access to clean energy in emerging markets, has announced a $1 million reinvestment in GOGO Electric, a Ugandan electric mobility startup. The funding will support the expansion of GOGO’s battery-swap infrastructure, a key component in the company’s mission to electrify public…

Ethiopian Airlines has announced a strategic expansion of its partnership with Chapa Financial Technologies, one of Ethiopia’s leading fintech innovators, to introduce a groundbreaking payment option for its customers. For the first time, travelers can now purchase airline tickets and services using local ATM debit cards, marking a significant milestone…

Enterprise AI startup Velents.ai has successfully raised US $1.5 million in a new funding round, marking a significant milestone as it unveils Agent.sa, a pioneering Arabic-speaking AI employee designed specifically for organizations across the Middle East. The funding round drew interest from a group of prominent angel investors, including senior…

The African Development Fund (ADF), the concessional financing arm of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), has approved a loan of $73.31 million to enhance science and technology education across Kenya’s public universities. This funding marks a significant step in the second phase of the Support to Higher Education, Science…

Social networking platform Bluesky has reached a major milestone, surpassing 40 million users, and is now preparing to roll out a new feature: “dislikes”. This upcoming beta test aims to enhance personalization across the platform’s Discover feed and other content streams by allowing users to signal what they prefer to…

Pesapal has officially launched Drive, a cutting-edge digital platform designed to transform how businesses across East Africa manage fuel consumption and fleet operations. This innovation arrives at a critical time when companies are increasingly burdened by fuel theft, transaction fraud, and inefficient manual tracking systems, issues that significantly inflate operational…

Mirova, the sustainable investment affiliate of Natixis Investment Managers, has announced the addition of three new catalytic investors to its flagship Sustainable Land Use strategy: the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Global Affairs Canada, and The Coca-Cola Foundation. These new partners join a growing coalition of backers…

When Chioma Nnanna set out to solve her own marketing headaches, she didn’t imagine it would lead to building Socella, an AI-native platform designed to transform how small businesses manage social media. What began as a personal frustration has evolved into a startup that blends artificial intelligence, automation, and design…

German development finance institution DEG has announced a $25 million investment in Helios V, the fifth private equity fund managed by Helios Investment Partners. The commitment underscores DEG’s continued support for private capital mobilization in Africa, particularly in sectors critical to the continent’s long-term development. Helios V is focused on…

South African fund manager Resolve has announced the acquisition of Tiletoria, one of the country’s leading tile and bathroom specification businesses. The deal was executed through Resolve Private Equity Fund I, in partnership with Tiletoria’s management team, marking a strategic investment in South Africa’s industrial and infrastructure sectors. Founded in…

Cape Town-based investment firm Inspired Evolution has been appointed as the manager of Zafiri, a newly launched investment vehicle aimed at expanding access to electricity and clean cooking solutions across sub-Saharan Africa. The initiative seeks to address one of the region’s most persistent challenges: the lack of long-term equity financing…

Private equity firm Appian Capital Advisory, in partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), has announced the launch of a new $1 billion investment fund aimed at accelerating the responsible development of critical minerals, metals, and mining-related projects in emerging markets. The initiative is anchored by IFC, which will contribute…

Standard Bank, Africa’s largest bank by assets, has announced a major milestone for its Angolan subsidiary, Standard Bank Angola, which has received approval to open a correspondent banking account with J.P. Morgan, the world’s largest bank by market capitalization. This landmark development marks Angola’s formal reintegration into the global financial…