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HAVAÍC leads a R12 million investment in South African startup RNR
South African-born RNR provides truck fleet managers and truck OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) with on-demand breakdown support.
EIB Global announces $30 million investment in Seedstars Africa Ventures I, a VC fund for African entrepreneurs
Innovative businesses and start-ups across Africa will benefit from better access to risk capital thanks to a US$30 million equity investment by EIB Global in the Seedstars Africa Ventures I venture capital fund.
South African logistics startup Tripplo raises $1.8m funding to scale its operations
Tripplo has closed its seed funding extension round with $1.8m equity investment.
CENTA platform crosses 1m, becomes world's largest community of teachers
Centre for Teacher Accreditation recently launched its enhanced native app, CENTA.
South African payments startup Revio raises $5.2 seed round to grow coverage across Africa
Revio has announced a seed investment round of $5.2m.
South Korean edtech startup Mathpresso secures $8m to accelerate growth
Mathpresso has raised $8m from Korea's telecom giant, KT.
Irish Tech Challenge 2023 for tech startups launches in South Africa
The Embassy of Ireland in South Africa has opened applications for the Irish Tech Challenge 2023.
[Column] Richard Shaw: AI-ready cloud - How hyperscalers empower businesses to thrive in the digital age
Cloud computing has undergone evolution.
On-demand logistics and delivery startup Picup opens driver training centres in South Africa
Picup has launched its Driver Training Centres in Cape Town.
Upskilling startup AlmaBetter partners with Woolf to deliver accredited degrees to online learners
AlmaBetter has partnered with Woolf.
[Column] Nchaupe Khaole: Unlocking South Africa's technology investment potential
Technology enabled businesses and the solutions they develop represent growth.
World Bank awards 10 Southern African fintech startups with $5k each
10 Southern African fintech startups have each received $5,000 from the World Bank.
[Interview] Renate Swanepoel, COO, INC. Networking
Renate Swanepoel is an entrepreneur, global networker and inspirational speaker.
How payment technology is changing the rulebook on South African retail
The past few years have seen the proliferation of new methods of transacting.
Absa acquires minority stake in South African agritech startup Khula!
Absa Bank has acquired a minority stake in South African agritech startup, Khula!
South African healthtech startup Quro Medical raises $1.3m funding from Mineworkers
Quro Medical, the South African e-health startup has received a $1.3 million investment from leading investment firm the Mineworkers Investment Company (MIC).
South African healthtech startup Guidepost unveils chatbot for diabetic patients
South African healthtech startup Guidepost has unveiled an AI-powered chatbot to help citizens living with diabetes better manage their condition.
Africa’s mezzanine debt fund manager Vantage Capital exits Dynamic Bedding
Vantage Capital, Africa’s mezzanine debt fund manager, announced it has fully exited its investment in Dynamic Bedding, a South African specialist bed manufacturer and retailer.
[Interview] Joel Daniel, Founder, Solutions Platforms, Nigeria
Joel Daniel is the founder of Solutions Platforms, a company that grooms young people to succeed and have global relevance by leveraging its various programs designed to foster international education.
[Column] Marilyn Moodley: Conquering the biggest cloud adoption challenges with an effective strategy
As CIOs turn to the cloud to help streamline performance across key areas of operations, knowing exactly how to conquer the biggest cloud adoption challenges is more important than ever before.
South African healthtech startup Envisionit raises $1.65m to expand access to medical imaging
Envisionit Deep AI, a South African healthtech startup that uses AI to bridge the gap in diagnostic imaging, has raised $1.65 million to expand access to medical imaging.
[Column] Didi Onwu: Understanding youth entrepreneurship in Kenya - why fintech is an attractive sector
Boasting one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa, Kenya is on the rise to become a powerhouse of innovation on the continent. This is largely in part due to the country’s thriving culture of entrepreneurship and its significant startup ecosystem.
South African car subscription startup Planet42 raises $100m to break car accessibility barriers
South African car subscription startup Planet42 has raised $100 million in combined equity and debt funding.
Elgon Kenya partners with Ministry of Agriculture to reward young farmers
Agro input company Elgon Kenya has partnered with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Education to reward pupils and their teachers for participating in food production in a wider scheme that seeks to motivate school going children into farming.
[Column] Anna Collard: ChatGPT: What cybersecurity dangers lurk behind this impressive new technology?
It is now possible to use a publicly available artificial chatbot to generate a complete infection chain, possibly beginning with a spear phishing email written in entirely convincing, human-like language.
CcHUB launches $15m accelerator for edtech startups in Kenya and Nigeria
Co-Creation Hub (CcHUB), touted as Africa’s largest innovation and incubation hub, announced it is launching a $15 million accelerator program for targeting edtech startups.
IFC, DEG, Hollard, and Yellowwoods invest in South African insurtech startup Naked to boost insurance accessibility
IFC, the German Development Finance Institution (DEG), Hollard, and Yellowwoods, jointly announced an investment in South African insurtech company Naked to expand access to insurance products.
South African grocery delivery startup Yebo Fresh raises 4.5m pre-Series A funding to fuel expansion
Yebo Fresh, a South African grocery delivery startup has raised $4.5m in a pre-series A equity funding round.
South African digital lender Lulalend raises $35m Series B funding to accelerate growth
Lulalend, a South African digital lender offering funding options for businesses. has raised $35 million in Series B funding to accelerate the growth of its loan book and bring new solutions to the market.
Climate finance trading platform Senken raises $7.5m to streamline and expand carbon markets offerings
Senken, the climate finance trading platform of on-chain carbon credits, announced it has raised $7.5 million in new funding, the most significant capital raise in its industry, led by Obvious Ventures.
New Orleans edtech startup Pressto utilizes AI to revolutionize writing instruction
Edtech startup Pressto is releasing unprecedented teacher-driven product enhancements, including the incorporation of unique AI capabilities, at the Future of Education Technology Conference in New Orleans.
Oklahoma universities, Tulsa Innovation Labs partner to launch Canopy HealthTech
The University of Oklahoma, University of Tulsa, Oklahoma State University, and Tulsa Innovation Labs, announced the launch of Canopy HealthTech, a new multi-year initiative to accelerate the commercialization of virtual health innovations.
Maven Mentorship programme to equip teenagers with skills for the future
Former Principal Executive Director at Britam PLC Stephen Wandera has launched a mentorship programme aimed at equipping teenagers with the necessary skills to be prepared for the future.
Italian edtech startup Wyblo acquires college communication platform Clay to scale social learning
Wyblo, an Italian edtech startup creating tech to support the training industry, has acquired Clay, a Berlin-based startup that created a digital tool that helps instructors create a social classroom.
Fintech enabler Ukheshe secures Series A funding to accelerate international expansion
Ukheshe International, the UK-headquartered division of digital-first, Banking as a Service (BaaS) enabler Ukheshe, announced the conclusion of an investment agreement that will help accelerate its international expansion.
EG Capital announces anchor closing of its maiden fund to invest in startups across East Africa and Zambia
EG Capital, a growth-oriented private equity impact firm has announced the anchor closing of its first EG-Economic Empowerment Fund LP (EG-EEF), which will invest in medium-sized businesses.
South African early-stage VC firm 4Di Capital announces close of $25m seed fund
South African early-stage technology venture capital fund manager 4Di Capital has announced the close of $25 million seed fund.
[Column] Natalia Ahmadian: Four ways to accelerate tech transfer in Europe
The importance of university spin-offs has been recognized for decades. Several studies showed that Tech Transfer is beneficial for social welfare and entrepreneurial activity
AI startup Prof Jim auto-converts textbooks into cinematic lessons
Prof Jim is launching out of stealth with one of the first practical applications of generative AI in education. This technology transforms textbooks into visually dynamic online courses.
Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa lead fintech growth in Africa, Mastercard
A report by payment services company Mastercard has revealed that South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya are among the most vibrant fintech markets in the continent.
South African digital identity startup iiDENTIFii raises $15m growth capital to fuel expansion across Africa
Cape Town-based digital identity startup iiDENTIFii announced it has raised $15 million in growth capital to fuel its expansion across Africa.
South African Biometrics tech firm iiDENTIFii raises $15 million growth capital
iiDENTIFii’s face authentication technology securely authenticates users via their cellphones or PCs within seconds.
South Africa's home services startup SweepSouth closes $11m investment round led by Alitheia IDF
SweepSouth, an online home services platform with a presence across Africa has completed a $11 million investment round led byAlitheia IDF (AIF), Africa’s first and largest gender-lens private equity fund.
South African agritech disruptor AgriKool drives down food costs for consumers, increases profits for farmers
AgriKool, a South African e-trading platform, is connecting agricultural producers to buyers to facilitate the sale of products between retailers and farmers.
Finnish edtech startup Kide Science raises €1m bridge round to accelerate growth
Finnish edtech startup Kide Science announced it has raised €1 million, to support their new and exciting bid to expand from primarily science education, into all early years subjects.
South Africa’s student housing startup DigsConnect secures investment to spearhead international growth
DigsConnect.com, South Africa’s digital student accommodation platform, announced the closure of its Pre-Series A seed extension round after securing undisclosed multi-million rand investment.
Michigan-based edtech startup Alchemie earns $1m grant for accessible learning for STEM
Alchemie, an educational technology company based in Troy, Michigan, announced it has received a prestigious one-million-dollar Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grant from the Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences.
Live-streaming platform Elevate K-12 raises $40m Series C to address the growing national teacher shortage
Elevate K-12, provider of high-quality live-streaming instruction for US K-12 classrooms, has closed a $40 million Series C round of funding led by venture capital firm General Catalyst.
South Africa's Private equity fund PAPE acquires interest in fintech provider Entersekt
Entersekt, a global player in device identity and payment authentication, announced a new investment from PAPE Fund 3 (PAPE), a mid-market South African private equity fund.
[Interview] Michelle Matthews, Director, Viridian, South Africa
Following the rising levels of unemployment among young South Africans, the UK-South Africa Tech Hub Launch League initiative undertook a research project.
Tunisian edtech startup GOMYCODE raises $8m Series A funding to expand across Africa
Tunisian edtech startup GOMYCODE, raised $8.85 million in series A funding, one of the highest African funding this quarter to expand across Africa.
Nigerian edtech startup Afrilearn attracts UNICEF Innovation Fund
Nigerian edtech startup Afrilearn has emerged as the only Nigerian startup to join the latest cohort of the UNICEF Venture Fund.
Birmingham-based startup Astound raises $1m seed round to improve university access to corporate-sponsored research funding
Astound, a Birmingham-based startup, secured $1 million in seed funding to develop the first marketplace to allow research institutions and universities to easily find corporate sponsors.
South African edtech startup FoondaMate secures $2m seed funding to accelerate growth
FoondaMate, a South African edtech startup, has secured $2 million in seed funding to increase usage of its Whatsapp and Facebook-based learning chatbot throughout the globe.
South African on-demand startup ParkUpp secures community basements for car collectors
ParkUpp, a South African marketplace startup that connects owners of parking spaces with companies and individuals who need parking has secured 'collector community basements' in convenient locations across the country.
South African gold startup Nebü Gold develops a gold bullion investment you can wear
South African gold startup Nebü Gold, is the first African jeweller to give bullion investors the option of wearing elegant 24-karat investment-grade jewellery.
South African fintech firm Hello Pay launches new mPOS device for SMEs
South African fintech firm Hello Pay has launched a new high-end Android Mobile point-of-sale solutions (mPOS) for local merchants and SMEs.
Bridgestone Mobility Solutions joins Startup Autobahn as ‘anchor partner’
Bridgestone Mobility Solutions, Bridgestone EMIA’s business unit focused on developing and launching data-driven fleet, tyre and mobility solutions, has become an “anchor partner” of Startup Autobahn, a mobility-focused innovation network.
South African tech startup SmartWage raises $2m to bridge gap between enterprises and frontline employees
SmartWage, an innovative HR and communications technology startup, raised $2 million oversubscribed seed funding round to support its vision of transforming Africa’s workforce.
TR Tech, LocoNav unveil GPS, IoT and vehicle telematics solutions in South Africa
Integrated tech-services provider TR Tech and disruptive full-stack fleet-tech startup LocoNav have collaborated in South Africa to provide state-of-the-art GPS, IoT, and Vehicle Telematics solutions.
Swiss edtech startup Alphacruncher raises €1.45m for global rollout of research cloud workspace product
Swiss edtech startup Alphacruncher has raised €1.45 million funding from Austrian venture capital firm Alpine Equity, NGM, private investors and existing users, to enable the global rollout of its education and research cloud workspace product, Nuvolos.
South African fintechs Payflex and Merchant Capital launch cash advance solution for small retailers
Two South African fintechs, alternative lender Merchant Capital and buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) specialist Payflex, have launched a cash advance solution for small and mid-sized retail sector.
South African cryptocurrency exchange VALR raises $50m Series B funding to expand across the continent
VALR.com, a South Africa cryptocurrency exchange, announced it has raised $50 million, Africa’s largest ever crypto funding round, bringing the company`s valuation at $240 million.
Edtech startup Tutored by Teachers raises over $10m to bolster America's K-12 schools, close the opportunity gap for high-need students
EdTech startup Tutored by Teachers (TbT) announce it has raised over $10 million in Series A funding, led by GSV Ventures, to expand its teacher community.
South African fintech Troygold digitises R300b in Krugerrands allowing owners to use value for day-to-day transactions
South Africans have an estimated R300 billion in Krugerrands hidden in drawers and safes, unaware that they could be using the value of their gold to fund day-to-day financial transactions.
South African fintech startup Stitch raises $21m Series A funding to scale its operations
South African API fintech startup Stitch has raised a $21 million Series A funding round to scale its operations.
South African fintech Ukheshe achieves Level One B-BBEE rating
South African fintech, Ukheshe Technologies, has significantly improved its B-BBEE performance, becoming one of the only South African fintech enablers to achieve a Level One B-BBEE Contributor certification.
Docklands Ventures acquires South African proptech startup ParkUpp
Real estate investment company Docklands Ventures has acquired South African proptech startup ParkUpp for an undisclosed amount.
South African fintech startup CompariSure raises $980,000 pre-Series A funding to accelerate growth
South African fintech startup CompariSure, raised R15 million ($980,000) from Cape Town based HAVAÍC and 4Di in a pre-Series A funding round.
South African delivery startup Orderin raises $4.7m pre-Series B funding for expansion
South African B2B delivery-as-a-service (DaaS) startup Orderin has raised $4.7 million pre-Series B funding to scale its infrastructure and improve its last-mile delivery service.
[Kenya] Sankore announces pitch competition targeting blockchain startups
Nairobi-headquartered blockchain community Sankore is launching the Sankore Pitch Competition Tour (PCT) in Nairobi.
Dutch edtech startup Winc Academy raises $3m to train 20,000 IT professionals in Europe
Winc Academy announced a $3 million funding round led by Rubio Impact Ventures and Dutch Founders Fund to increase the steep growth of its education platform.
The University of Nairobi and Elgon Kenya to develop agriculture technology and innovation centre
The agriculture sector in Kenya has received a major boost following a partnership between two leading institutions to set up a technology and innovation centre, the first of its kind in East Africa.
Africa-focused edtech startup Edukoya raises $3.5m pre-seed round to accelerate growth
Edukoya, an Africa-focused online learning platform, has raised $3.5 million in a pre-seed round led by Target Global with strategic participation from angel investors including European and African founders.
Adanian Labs opens January 2022 cohort applications for its Venture Building Program
Adanian Labs has launched the Adanian Labs Venture Building Program call for startups for 2022. The program invites applications from tech entrepreneurs for the 2022 cohort of exceptional startups to join Adanian Labs in Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Nigeria and South Africa.
South African fintech firm Ozow raises $48m Series B round to accelerate growth
South African fintech firm Ozow raised $48 million Series B funding round led by Chinese internet giant Tencent. Other investors Endeavor Catalyst and Endeavor Harvest Fund participating also participated in the round.
Crypto Valley Venture Capital initiates investment strategy to build blockchain accelerator for African startups
African blockchain disruptors and early-stage startups have joined CV Labs Global Incubation Program Batch 03. The African contingent of incubatees is reflective of Crypto Valley Venture Capital’s (CV VC) global investment strategy.
South Africa's emergency marketplace startup AURA secures R62m Series A funding for global expansion
AURA, the African-based security and medical response marketplace secured R62 million in a Series A funding round, led by MultiChoice Group (MCG), KLT Holdings and Buffet Investments, positioning AURA favourably for its global expansion plans.
South African fleet-tech startup KeyTec and LocoNav enter Africa's video telematics market
South Africa fleet-tech startup KeyTec has partnered with LocoNav to capture the emerging and high-growth video telematics market throughout Africa.
South African fintech startupJumo raises $120 million to expand into new African markets
The latest funding round brings JUMO’s total funding raised to date to c$200 million. Prior investment rounds have included Leapfrog, Goldman Sachs, Finnfund, Proparco, Vostok Emerging Finance and Brook Asset Management.
South Korea-based Edtech startup Mathpresso secures strategic investment from Google
South Korea-based edtech startup Mathpresso has announced that it has received an investment from Google.
Private equity firm Evegreen acquires majority stake in edutech startup DreamBox Learning
TPG’s The Rise Fund will retain a significant minority stake and continue to be represented on the company’s Board of Directors.
South Africa based fintech startup SOLMate launches prepaid debit cards for consumers
In its ongoing effort to offer clients a fully-fledged financial ecosystem in their pockets, SOLMate has further enhanced its solutions with the launch of this new generation debit card.
South African e-Health startup RecoMed concludes $1.5m funding round to scale its online healthcare marketplace
RecoMed, the online healthcare marketplace and booking platform in sub-Saharan Africa concluded a highly successful funding round of $1.5 million with a strong and diversified group of leading local and international investors.
Indian education infrastructure startup Teachmint raises $78m Series B round to accelerate growth
Teachmint, the education infrastructure startup and the creator of India's largest teaching platform, raised $78 million in Series B round led by Rocketship.vc and Vulcan Capital.
Indian edtech startup ConveGenius raises $5m pre Series A funding to accelerate growth
Indian edtech startup ConveGenius AI has raised $5 million in Venture Capital funding to grow its conversational AI platform in India and South-East Asian markets.
South African fintech firm Ukheshe partners with Chipper Cash startup to accelerate rollout out of digital payment offerings
South African fintech firm Ukheshe Technologies has partnered with Chipper Cash to enhance and accelerate the rollout out of Chipper’s digital payment offerings.
Social learning startup Fiveable closes $10m Series A funding to fuel student-led online spaces
Fiveable, a social learning platform that has supported more than 7 million high school students since 2018, has raised $10 million in Series A funding led by Union Square Ventures with participation from Owl Ventures and Progression Fund.
South African fintech startup SOL announces rebrand with new virtual card offering
South African fintech startup SOLmate, an online payment platform that offers clients a digital wallet facility, has unveiled a new product offering together with an extensive rebrand and renewed corporate vision.
South African fintech firm Ukheshe partners with dzcard to expand digital payment solutions in Asia Pacific
South Africa“s fintech startup Ukheshe which has been on a rapid expansion to different markets has announced a new partnership with global next-generation card solutions and digital security company, dzcard.
FedTech leverages Converge, a startup studio event to expand access to deep tech
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science & Technology Directorate (S&T) is partnering with FedTech to provide equal and inclusive access to government and university-sourced next-gen deep technologies for entrepreneurs with diverse backgrounds.
UNest acquires Kidfund, the savings app designed for children
The acquisition of Kidfund will further accelerate UNest’s growth and deepen the company’s goal to simplify and streamline how parents save and invest for their kids’ future.
[Startup Interview] Dylan Pfeil, Co-Founder, Business Solutions Centre, South Africa
Business Solutions Centre is a South African-based telecommunication startup that has embraced a business model of providing a one-stop shop for all digital needs of clients.
Naspers Foundry leads $8.3m Series A investment in South African insurtech startup Naked
Naspers, through its early-stage tech investment vehicle Naspers Foundry, invested $8.3 million (R120 million) in Naked, the artificial intelligence (AI)-driven insurtech startup that offers full digital insurance to cars, homes, and valuables.
South African payments startup Yoco raises $83m Series C funding to accelerate growth
South African payments startup Yoco has raised a Series C funding round of $83 million (R1.23 billion) to accelerate product development and reach more merchants in South Africa and beyond.
[Startup Interview] Dimitri Kalamoudacos,Co-founder, Entrepreneur Suite, South Africa
Entrepreneur Suite is a South African startup targeting micro retailers with an application that records valuable sales information that is then served back to the business owner as demand forecasting suggestions which are designed to provide profiting opportunities.
LearnWorlds secures $32m in growth funding to help educators create and sell online courses
LearnWorlds, an all-in-one platform for creating and selling online courses, has secured a $32 million minority investment by global venture capital and private equity firm Insight Partners.
South African startup Omnisient raises $1.4m for global expansion
Omnisient, a secure data collaboration platform, has achieved its second raise this year totalling $1.4 million. The investments will be used to expand the Omnisient team, accelerate product development and drive international expansion.
Seven South African legal startups to pitch for €10,000 grant
The Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL) kicked off its annual global Innovating Justice Challenge in search of the region’s best justice-related social entrepreneurs in March this year.
Seoul-based edtech startup Mathpresso secures $50 million in Series C funding
Seoul-based edtech startup Mathpresso announced it has raised $50 million in a Series C funding round last week, bringing the company's total funding to $105 million.
South African fintech startup Ukheshe Technologies announces boostXB joint venture with ForexPeople
South African fintech startup, Ukheshe Technologies has partnered with ForexPeople, one of the country’s names in forex with over 20 years of experience, to seamlessly facilitate cross-border payments from South Africa into Africa.
South African delivery startup Picup introduces premium driver network for businesses
South Africa's crowdsource delivery tech startup Picup has introduced a premium service aimed at businesses that require drivers to represent their brand.
Catalyst Fund announces Circle of Corporate Innovators to accelerate startup-corporate partnerships
Global inclusive tech accelerator Catalyst Fund, managed by BFA Global, today formally announced its Circle of Corporate Innovators, with its first members, Fidelity Bank, Ecobank, Sterling Bank, Access Bank and the VFD Group.
GG4L acquires edtech startup Stackup
Global Grid for Learning (GG4L), announced the acquisition of Stackup, an edtech startup with a focus on learning outcomes in K-12 education.
Fintech startup The Beans announces $2m in funding to simplify the path to financial success
The Beans, a financial technology startup built for America's Caring Class, announced $2 million in funding, led by Precursor Ventures.
Base10 Partners raises advancement initiative to grow HBCU endowments and catalyze wealth creation
Building on their VC Diversity Pledge, Base10 Partners announced the raise of a new $250 million fund with the mission of aligning the success of technology companies with wealth creation for underrepresented minorities.
South African biotech startup LifeQ secures $47m in Series A funding
South Africa and US-based biotech startup LifeQ secured $47 million in Series A funding from One Bio Venture Studio, a Cape Town-based VC and several other investors.
South Korean AI startup Riiid raises $175m from SoftBank Vision Fund 2 to accelerate growth
Riiid Inc (Riiid), an AI education company and a member of Born2Global Centre, has raised $175 million investment from SoftBank Vision Fund 2.
AlphaCode announces four startups taking part in the second phase of its incubate programme in South Africa
AlphaCode has announced the four fintech startups that will be part of the second phase of the AlphaCode Incubate programme.
South African fintech startup Ukheshe expands into Asia-Pacific region
South African fintech startup Ukheshe Technologies announced it will be expanding its footprint into the Asia-Pacific region as it introduces innovative digital-first payment solutions.
UC Berkeley SkyDeck selects 17 companies for Batch 12 startup cohort
The new group of startups specializes in a wide range of industries including AI, life sciences, semiconductor chips, HR, robotics, and enterprise software. The acceptance rate for the new cohort was 1.3%.
DBSA launches second edition of the Youth Challenge in South Africa
The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), launched the second edition of the DBSA Youth Challenge, a competition aimed at harnessing innovative solutions from young people in South Africa to help address infrastructure challenges.
Dutch impact investment firm Goodwell Investments launches €50 million fund to support African SMEs
Goodwell V will build a new portfolio of companies across various sectors in Africa: at least a third will be invested in financial inclusion, a quarter in agriculture, and the remainder in mobility and other impact sectors such as education and healthcare.
Ericsson launches Graduate Programme in Kenya
The programme aims to grow the technical skills of the graduates, training them on the Ericsson technology, solutions and, delivery and providing them with an understanding of Ericsson’s processes, methods and tools.
Grindstone accelerator programme opens applications for South African startups
Applications for this year’s Grindstone’s accelerator programme are now open. Grindstone is an equity-free structured entrepreneurship development programme that assists high-growth innovation-driven SMEs in South Africa.
South African digital health startup Quro Medical secures $1.1m seed funding to accelerate growth
Quro Medical, a South African digital health startup, emerged from stealth mode to announce the closure of its seed funding round to accelerate growth for Africa’s first technology-driven Hospital at Home offering.
EdCraft startup raises $1m pre-seed round to expand its edtech platform in the U.S.
EdCraft, an early education platform launched by former McKinsey executives, raised $1 million from a group of Silicon Valley based angels. The startup aims to equip its students, aged 6-13, with essential 21st-century skills.
Cincinnati startups Abre and Pay Theory partner to transform education
Abre.io (Abre), and Pay Theory announced their partnership to help them better achieve their shared mission of breaking down socioeconomic and technical barriers to education.
SchooLinks startup lands $8.3m Series A for college, career success for diverse student population
SchooLinks, an Austin, TX startup founded by Forbes 30 under 30 entrepreneur Katie Fang to democratize access to modern career and college planning resources for the broader student population, raised an $8.3m Series A funding.
African Edtech startup Kabakoo receives funding from Zoom, launches first no-code training in Africa
Committed to democratizing access to tech education for the African youths, Kabakoo has launched the first no-code training in West Africa for a batch of twenty learners at its Bamako campus.
Edtech startup Quizizz raises $12.5m in Series A to empower teachers around the world
Quizizz, an edtech startup with a presence in India and the U.S., announced a $12.5 million Series A funding round led by Eight Roads Ventures with participation from GSV Ventures, Rocketship VC and existing investors Nexus Venture Partners.
Tech startup Mokusei offers 100% funding aid for individuals to cover their education and travel expenses
Incorporated on 17 Feb 2021, Mokusei Intelligence (Mokusei), is a social impact & education centric tech startup focused on developing AI/ML based algorithms and solutions.
Enygma Ventures targets Southern Africa women entrepreneurs with funding opportunities
Enygma Ventures, is looking for passionate women entrepreneurs to invest in. The venture capital fund was established by two successful women entrepreneurs who now invest in women entrepreneurs in Southern Africa.
Union Bank of Nigeria to support startups through UnionX Innovation Challenge
Union Bank, one of Nigeria’s foremost financial institutions, has unveiled the 2021 UnionX Innovation Challenge, as part of efforts to support young startups and boost innovation in the startup ecosystem.
HAVAÍC predicts bumper year for African tech startups
As one of South Africa’s most active Venture Capital investors, HAVAÍC says 2020 saw the commercial adoption of technology increase at unprecedented rates, as illustrated by the performance of HAVAÍC and its portfolio companies.
Blockchain startup Vaionex Corporation completes seed funding round with Two Hop Ventures
Vaionex Corporation, a blockchain startup founded by students from the University of Cambridge, announced it has completed a seed funding round with Two Hop Ventures, a Dutch venture capital firm focused exclusively on investing in Bitcoin SV startup.
Panoramic Ventures launches with $300m fund
Panoramic Ventures announced its formation through a partnership between highly successful entrepreneur and investor Paul Judge and BIP Capital.
Career development startup Careerist raises $1.25m in seed round at $21m market cap
Careerist (ex JobEasy), a Silicon Valley-based career development platform which adapts US labor to the new economy for a share of the future salary, has raised $1.25 million in seed financing.
African startup StarNews Mobile launches incubator for South African youths interested in digital film
StarNews Mobile launched its grassroots Youth Initiative incubator in partnership with Solutions on Point to empower young individuals interested in the digital film industry in South Africa.
South African VC firm Knife Capital launches 2nd 12J Venture Capital Fund
South Africa’s VC firm Knife Capital announced the launch of its second Section 12J Venture Capital Fund to allow new investors to participate.
Canadian edtech startup Wize raises $3m to enhance online learning experience
Wize, a fast-growing online education platform that delivers course-specific video tutorials and exam-like practice problems for high school, college, and university students across North America, announced it has raised $3 million in funding.
University of Chicago’s Polsky Center launches tech accelerator programme for early-stage startups
The Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Chicago has launched the Compass, a first-of-its-kind deep tech accelerator program for early-stage startups.
TransUnion partners with South Africa's fintech startup Fincheck to improve access to finance for consumers
Global information and insights company, TransUnion, has partnered with South Africa’s financial marketplace, Fincheck, to make credit application process easier and less frustrating for consumers.
The African youth powering a gaming revolution
As esports dominate modern entertainment industry as a fast growing sport, Kenya and South Africa youth continue to dominate the world of competitive video gaming.
[Startup Interview] Tony Botha, Managing Director, carbonTRACK Africa, South Africa
carbonTRACK Africa is a South Africa technology startup that seeks to create a world where energy is consumed sustainably, shared fairly and empowers all people. The ultimate goal is establishing an energy ecosystem that will close the gap between energy supply and demand.
[Startup Interview] Deon de Swardt, Co-Founder, Africa People Advisory Group, South Africa
Africa People Advisory Group is a South Africa Human Resource Advisory firm whose primary focus is to deliver consulting and product solutions to organizations operating in and across the African continent. The firm’s Co-founder Deon de Swardt explains the company’s business model and plans.
Edtech startup Sketchy announces Andrew Sugerman as President
Sketchy, an online education company that teaches complex concepts through visual memory techniques has named seasoned media executive, Andrew Sugerman, as President.
54gene, Kobo360, myFanPark, Sokowatch among 12 startups to win AppsAfrica Awards 2020
54gene, Kobo360, myFanPark and Sokowatch have been named among the 12 winners of AppsAfrica Awards 2020. The awards celebrates the best startups in mobile and tech from across Africa.
South Africa agritech startup Aerobotics raises funds for global expansion
FMO and Cathay AfricInvest Innovation have invested in Aerobotics, a South African AgriTech startup developing intelligent tools to the feed the world.
[Startup Interview] James Adebisi, Founder, Xpora Academy, Nigeria
Xpora Academy is a Nigeria-based e-learning platform that equips the youth with in-demand digital skills relevant to the present and future of work.
Industrial AI solutions startup MakinaRocks joins NVIDIA Inception
MakinaRocks, a startup based in Seoul and Silicon Valley, specializes in the emerging field of industrial AI software with a primary focus on anomaly detection and intelligent control technology.
Cincinnati-based startup Pay Theory launches new purpose-built payment solution for education
Pay Theory, a Cincinnati-based startup, launched a new payment processing platform with the mission of making school fees and payments straightforward for all involved parties: families, educators, and administrators.
South African tech startup LetMeIn.to raises R2.2m to scale its visitor and access management platform
South African tech startup LetMeIn.to raised R2.2 million in funding from an undisclosed impact investor to scale up and expand its visitor and access management platform.
South African startup myFanPark merges with Starsona to create a global celebrity engagement platform
South African startup myFanPark has announced its merger with Silicon Valley-based celebrity engagement platform Starsona.
Zimbabwe startup Phenomenon Technologies partners with MEL Science for applied learning solutions in Africa
Zimbabwean startup Phenomenon Technologies has partnered with global science kits giant MEL Science in a strategic move meant to enable applied science learning in Zimbabwe and Africa.
Tech startup Nestlings raises $1.5m to help international students through college application process
Nestlings, an online portal that guides international students through the process of applying to colleges in the US, Canada, and the UK, has raised $1.5 million in a Seed Round of funding from Candid Ventures.
South African fintech startup Ukheshe to acquire Oltio, strengthens partnership with Mastercard
South African fintech startup Ukheshe announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire Oltio, a mobile technology company that developed Mastercard’s QR payment service Masterpass in South Africa.
Dutch non-profit start-up Spacebuzz awarded four international Lovie Awards
ESA astronaut André Kuipers’ SpaceBuzz won four prizes during the 10th annual international Lovie Awards presentation: Two Jury Lovie Awards – Best Narrative experience and Virtual Reality – and two People’s Lovie Awards from public votes.
South Africa's MetroFibre Networx completes new capital raise from AIIM and STOA
African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM), Africa’s infrastructure-focused private equity fund managers, has acquired a minority equity stake in MetroFibre Networx, a South African open access fibre network operator.
AI Media Group launches Africa’s first AI-focused free investment matchmaking service for African startups
The AI Media Group has launched The Deal Room, Africa’s first artificial intelligence (AI) focused, free investment matchmaking service which aims to connect African AI focused startups to interested investors and venture capitalists (VCs).
Peer-to-peer solar leasing startup Sun Exchange announces African expansion in Zimbabwe
South African peer-to-peer solar leasing startup Sun Exchange marked its official expansion into sub-Saharan Africa with the first of three crowdsales for a multiphase, 1.9 megawatt (MW) solar-plus-storage project for Nhimbe Fresh.
[Startup Interview] Almasi Ndangili, Founder, Imarisha East Africa Productions, Kenya
Almasi Ndangili is the founder of Imarisha East Africa Productions Ltd, a Kenya-based talent academy promoting education through edutainment. The startup has invested in TV Shows, event organization, book launches, talent development, TV Script writing, Africanized animations, digital publishing and branding.
African startups more investible now than ever
Africa’s startups have never been more investible than now. There is a growing number of professional ‘super angels’ involved in record-breaking deals, and private equity investments have doubled since last year.
Mohammed VI Polytechnic University partners with Plug and Play to launch accelerator programme in Morocco
Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), an academic and research institution, has partnered with global innovation platform, Plug and Play, to launch an Open Innovation Hub in Morocco, with the support of OCP Group.
Paxful partners with African fintech startup Uhuru Wallet to ease money transfers
Crypto marketplace Paxful announced it is adding Uhuru Wallet as a payment method to its platform, to help provide easy access to the crypto economy for users in Southern Africa.
Nigerian CcHUB acquires Kenyan edTech startup eLimu
Kenya’s technology Incubation and Accelerator space iHub owned by Co-creation Hub (CcHUB) has announced the acquisition of edtech startup and digital educational content provider eLimu.
kathy ireland Worldwide expands health advocacy through partnership with tech startup mymedicalimages.com
Medical imaging technology startup mymedicalimages.com has partnered with kathy ireland Worldwide (kiWW) for a new, cutting-edge patient-centric medical image sharing platform.
[Algeria] Sonatrach invests in university incubator for startups
Algeria state owned oil company Sonatrach has partnered with the National Agency for the Promotion of Research and Technological Development Results (ANVREDET), to establish a university incubator for start-ups.
Sabio Group acquires Anana to extend customer experience capability
Sabio Group has acquired customer experience solutions specialist Anana. The acquisition supports Sabio’s goal to become the leading player across the European customer experience market.
German tech startup CloudRadar launches new data center in Johannesburg, South Africa
German tech startup CloudRadar is launching its cloud-based IT-monitoring service in South Africa, ahead of further global expansion, to help ensure IT stability for regional businesses in the face of rapid, pandemic-fuelled digitisation.
Unacademy acquires exam prep startup Coursavy
India edtech company Unacademy has acquired Coursavy, a platform for Union Public Service, UPSC exams preparation.
Mastercard announces Fintech Express to empower Middle East and Africa fintechs to launch and expand rapidly
Mastercard has launched Fintech Express in the Middle East and Africa (MEA), a program designed to facilitate emerging fintechs’ launch and expansion.
[Startup Interview] Marthinus Coetzee, CEO, iPTT Africa, South Africa
Iptt africa (pty) Limited, a South African telecommunications startup, solves the communication problems faced by many businesses and organizations in Africa through its italkptt platform that allows businesses to communicate from anywhere in Africa to anywhere in the world. The CEO Marthinus Coetzee elaborates.
Online sales program startup Virtanza closes $1m in private investment funding round
Sales2Job Academy, DBA Virtanza, an Orange County-based company that offers higher education a scalable sales training solution directly connected to employers, announced it has raised seed round funding totaling $1 million from private investors.
Sanbox acquires UK education startup Teachit
Sandbox, an operating platform for digital educational products and services has announced that it has acquired Teachit, a UK-based teacher resource provider from education charity AQA.
Early investors in 4IR startups set to reap rewards
Early investors in startups with exposure to the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) are benefiting from significant revenue growth despite the physical constraints introduced by governments’ responses to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Paris-based startup Klassroom raises $3m to expand from France to other countries including the U.S.
Klassroom, the Paris-based company that reinvents parent-teacher communication in pre-kindergarten and all elementary school grades, raised a $3 million seed round led by Bpifrance.
San Francisco edtech startup Springboard raises $31 million Series B funding
San Francisco edtech startup Springboard has raised $31 million in Series B funding led by Mark Sherman and Albert Bielinko from Telstra Ventures, Arrun Kapoor from SJF Ventures, and YB Choi from Vulcan Capital.
Moroccan learning startup KoolSkools raises $417,000 for local, international expansion
Moroccan learning platform KoolSkools has raised $417,000 from Maroc Numeric Fund II an unnamed business angel.The investment will be used to finance the development of KoolSkools both in Morocco and internationally.
Futuregrowth invests in South African online services disruptor startup SweepSouth
Futuregrowth has invested in SweepSouth, a disruptive online platform for booking, managing and paying for home cleaning, and now a variety of other services.
South African animation and gaming startup Sea Monster secures $1m funding
Animation, gaming and AR/VR company Sea Monster announced the conclusion of a $1m investment from FirstRand’s Vumela Fund.
[Startup Interview] Anton Herbst, CEO, Vincula Holdings, South Africa
Vincula Holdings, domiciled in Johannesburg South Africa, is a startup connecting employers, project sponsors, contractors, subcontractors and suppliers through a platform that also seeks to provide participants with worldwide and focused exposure to grow their market share.
Catalyst Fund announces seventh cohort of inclusive fintech startups
Catalyst Fund, the global inclusive fintech accelerator, has announced that six new fintech startups, from Nigeria, South Africa, Mexico and India are joining its existing portfolio of 31 companies.
[Startup Interview] Riaan Rautenbach, CEO, Live Fr8, South Africa
LIVE FR8™ is a South African startup that offers cargo suppliers and transporters improved and cheaper logistics services through cloud technology. Cargo suppliers and transporters connect directly.
[Startup Interview] Anton Janovsky, Founder, Giga Technology, South Africa
Giga Technology is a South African telecommunications startup involved in the manufacture and export of a host of communication technologies across Africa and Europe.
[Startup Interview] Katlego Malatji, CEO, ProjectOne Engineering, South Africa
Katlego Malatji is the CEO of ProjectOne, a South African based innovative engineering consultancy company that focuses on 4IR projects in manufacturing.
[Startup Interview] Seth Wessels, Co-Founder, Tungston Trading, South Africa
Tungston Trading based in South Africa is a business involved in the supply of cast iron range of products to the retail merchants for home improvements and plumbing.
Naspers Foundry invests R100 million in South African agri-tech startup, Aerobotics
Naspers announced a R100 million investment in agritech business Aerobotics, through its early-stage business funding initiative Naspers Foundry. Aerobotics is a subscription-based artificial intelligence (AI) company that provides intelligent tools for the agricultural industry to manage its crops.
Solar leasing startup Sun Exchange secures $3 million investment from ARCH for African market expansion
South African solar leasing startup Sun Exchange has secured a $3 million investment from ARCH Emerging Markets Partners’ Africa Renewable Power Fund (ARPF), marking the close of $4 million Series-A funding round.
CirrusHQ announces £400,000 investment, appointment of Alastair Mills as new Chairman to drive business growth in the UK
CirrusHQ, a leading Amazon Web Services (AWS) Advanced Consulting and Solution Provider partner, announced it has secured a £400,000 growth capital investment plus the appointment of Alastair Mills as the company’s new Chairman.
Dutch firm CNBB invests in South African employee engagement solution startup, Wyzetalk
Dutch investment company CNBB Venture Partners has made a multi-million euro investment in Wyzetalk, a fast-growing digital employee engagement company.
Finnish startup Kide Science raises €1.5m in seed round to accelerate international growth
Global early childhood science learning provider startup Kide Science has secured €1.5m funding in a seed round led by Sparkmind.vc, with selected existing investors including Zanichelli Venture also participating.
Flat6Labs Tunis hosts Fifth Demo Day, graduates 8 startups digitally
Flat6Labs Tunis celebrated it’s fifth Demo Day online, with 8 innovative startups presenting their businesses to hundreds of registered attendees.
[South Africa] Food delivery startup Zulzi raises $1.6 million to expand operations
Zulzi, a South Africa based on-demand delivery platform has bagged R30 million ($1.6 million) funding from an unnamed JSE-listed company, aimed to expand its operations.
[Startup Interview] Julius Masaba, Co-Founder, Ablestate, Uganda
Ablestate, a Ugandan startup works with businesses to point them to the right software developers while offering digital training to institutions of higher learning. In the process the startup is addresings youth unemployment in the East African nation.
[Startup Interview] Candace Knox, CEO, Fat Finger Technologies, South Africa
Fat Finger Technologies in South Africa offers an array of Information Technology services and solutions ranging from simple office networks to full cloud-hosted solutions to public facing networks with internet fail-over.
[Startup Interview] Razia Adam, CEO, Lwandle RNS Holdings, South Africa
Razia Adam is the founder and CEO of Lwandle RNS Holdings, a South African mining startup that has since 2015 been providing industry players digitization processes and systems in order to enable high production rates.
[Startup Interview] Daniel Greaves, CEO, Fuel to Fly, South Africa
Daniel Greaves is the founder and CEO of South Africa-based startup Fuel to Fly that offer boutique sales outreach services that are powered by advanced data analytics.
[Startup Interview] Elton Greeve, CEO, EMG Agri Solutions, South Africa
EMG Agri Solutions, a South African startup offers business planning, management consulting, strategic management, and specialized project management for agri-businesses. The focus is on providing farmers and agri-businesses with specialist advisory solutions.
[Startup Interview] Josephine Pretorius, Founder, Consolidated Marketing Services, South Africa
Josephine Pretorius is the founder and CEO of Consolidated Marketing Services, CMS, a South African startup offering marketing and PR services to clients predominantly in the energy and power infrastructure sector.
[Startup Interview] Mhlengi Ngcobo, CEO, CoffeMM, South Africa
CoffeeMM, a South African startup in the coffee business has been working with smallholder farmers in South Africa, Mozambique, Burundi and Zimbabwe to process their raw coffee for the retail market. Besides connecting them to international
[Startup Interview] Rich Cheary, CEO, PT SportSuite, South Africa
PT SportSuite is a South African company whose mission is to digitally disrupt the sporting industry’s media landscape by allowing sporting organisations to operate like commercially-minded modern media houses, while building
[Startup Interview] Lwazi Nongauza, Executive Director, BTN Mobile, South Africa
BTN Mobile is a South African digital telecommunications network that seeks to revolutionize the telecommunications landscape in the country and beyond while bridging the digital divide by making ICT services available to the underserved at a reasonable rate
Interviews.
[Interview] Caroline Mutuku, General Manager, Glovo, Kenya
Caroline Mutuku is Kenya's General Manager of multi-category app Glovo. Caroline joined Glovo in December 2022 from Swvl Kenya where she also served as the General Manager from December 2021. In this interview...read more here
[Interview] Renate Swanepoel, COO, INC. Networking
Renate Swanepoel is an entrepreneur, global networker and inspirational speaker that has helped thousands of people around the world to find their purpose. She has gained significant networking and communication...read more here
[Interview] Anne-Marie Chidzero, Chief Investment Officer, FSD Africa
Anne-Marie Chidzero is the Chief Investment Officer at the Financial Sector Deepening Africa (FSD Africa) Investments. In this interview, she talks about the risks and opportunities in backing Africa’s early-stage startups...read more here
[Interview] James Kilpatrick, Chair, Gravitilab, UK
Gravitilab is a "Space as a Service" business providing research, testing and qualification facilities to space agencies, government, academia and commercial enterprises. The company’s Chair and Chief Finance Officer...read more here
[Interview] Ramanjeet Singh, CEO, Woosper, USA
Woosper is a US-based digital advertising and marketing agency focused on creating experiences that help clients discover their place in the digital world. The CEO Ramanjeet Singh...read more here