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Published: 06-04-2018 16:44:00 | By: Nico Scherphuis | hits: 3859488 | Tags:





















Insurtech startup QuoteWell comes out of stealth, raises $15m Series A funding round
Published: 25-10-2023 | 12:00:00 | By: Pie Kamau
QuoteWell has announced the launch of its brokerage operations.


Dublin-based Kota raises €5m to enable employers to cover employees’ benefits
Published: 25-10-2023 | 10:15:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Kota, an all-in-one platform to automate insurance, has raised €5m seed round.


German insurtech Getsafe acquires French startup Luko to expand its European presence
Published: 17-10-2023 | 13:09:09 | By: Pie Kamau
Getsafe has entered into an agreement to acquire French insurtech Luko.


French insurtech startup Orus raises €11m funding to expand its services in Europe
Published: 11-10-2023 | 11:43:00 | By: Pie Kamau
French insurtech startup Orus has raised €11 million in Series A funding.


Insurtech startup Allium secures $750k funding to revolutionize insurance data analytics
Published: 04-10-2023 | 13:39:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Allium Data announced the close of $750k pre-seed funding round.


Kayna insurtech raises €1m to revolutionize small business insurance
Published: 21-09-2023 | 12:56:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Kayna insurtech has closed a €1m pre-seed funding round.


Kenyan insurtech startup Turaco acquires Ghana’s MicroEnsure
Published: 20-09-2023 | 12:57:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Turaco, the Kenyan insurtech startup, has acquired MicroEnsure Ghana from MIC Global.


[Introducing Vouch Horizon] A new approach to insurance for scale-stage startups
Published: 01-09-2023 | 10:47:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Vouch, a pioneer in business insurance for VC-backed startups, unveils Vouch Horizon.


Irys Insurtech closes $3.5m seed round to take on legacy competitors
Published: 25-08-2023 | 11:27:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Irys Insurtech has closed a seed funding round of $3.5 million.


Medicare startup MyPlanAdvocate acquires Eversurance to grow the health insurance market
Published: 17-08-2023 | 13:02:00 | By: Pie Kamau
MyPlanAdvocate (MPA), has announced the acquisition of Eversurance.


Berlin-based insurtech startup SureIn closes €4m designed for Europe's SMBs
Published: 15-08-2023 | 11:00:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Berlin-based insurtech startup SureIn has closed a €4 million Seed round.


Functional Finance raises $8m to expand operational efficiency for the insurance industry
Published: 07-08-2023 | 14:45:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Insurtech startup Functional Finance secures $8m in seed capital.


Startupbootcamp AfriTech opens cohort 4 of its ASIP accelerator program
Published: 17-07-2023 | 10:24:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Startupbootcamp AfriTech has opened applications its ASIP accelerator program.


1Fort raises $2m to automate and simplify cyber insurance for businesses
Published: 28-06-2023 | 10:16:00 | By: Pie Kamau
1Fort has completed a successful $2 million pre-seed round financing.


Federato raises $25m Series B funding to continue catalyzing insurance's "AI moment"
Published: 27-06-2023 | 18:03:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Federato has raised $25 million in Series B funding led by Caffeinated Capital.


Chatbots with fraud detection software are revolutionizing underwriting, Plug and Play
Published: 14-06-2023 | 16:38:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Chatbots are dramatically reshaping the insurance industry.


Web3 and the rise of the digital asset investor, Plug and Play
Published: 07-06-2023 | 15:23:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Web3 is a more decentralized system for sharing data and managing digital assets.


Travel insurtech startup Faye lands $10m Series A funding
Published: 26-05-2023 | 10:48:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Travel insurance startup Faye, announced it has raised $10 million in Series A funding.


Five tech startups join Northwestern Mutual Black Founder Accelerator program
Published: 05-05-2023 | 16:51:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Northwestern Mutual, in partnership with gener8tor, announced the addition of five promising tech startups to its innovative Black Founder Accelerator program.


Insurtech startup Turaco and Airtel Money launch low-cost hospital cash insurance product in Uganda
Published: 23-03-2023 | 12:06:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Kenyan and Ugandan insurtech startup Turaco, has partnered with Airtel Mobile and Prudential Assurance to launch a low-cost hospital cash insurance product with Funeral Benefit. 


Hong Kong insurtech startup Bowtie appoints James Lau as Independent Non-Executive Director
Published: 02-03-2023 | 09:58:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Bowtie, Hong Kong’s first virtual insurer, announced the appointment of James Lau to its Board of Directors as an Independent Non-Executive Director.


Hong Kong insurtech startup Bowtie revolutionalizes traditional insurance industry with technology
Published: 28-02-2023 | 12:44:00 | By: Pie Kamau
In today’s digital age, many industries have begun to introduce emerging technologies to develop innovative services. The transformation and upgrading of the insurance industry is also in full swing.


IFC, DEG, Hollard, and Yellowwoods invest in South African insurtech startup Naked to boost insurance accessibility
Published: 17-02-2023 | 09:54:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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.


Insurtech startup Lami joins forces with Unchorlight to provide insurance covers for Boda Boda riders in Kenya
Published: 17-02-2023 | 07:59:18 | By: Pie Kamau
Digital insurance provider Lami Technologies is partnering with Unchorlight Kenya (UNK), to provide boda boda riders in the country with access to suitable and reliable insurance covers. 


Insurtech startup OpenEyes emerges from stealth with $23m Series A funding
Published: 15-02-2023 | 14:14:00 | By: Pie Kamau
OpenEyes, an insurtech company serving commercial automotive fleets, today emerged from stealth with $18 million in Series A funding led by global software investor Insight Partners and Pitango First.


RIMAC Seguros joins Plug and Play's health platform in Silicon Valley
Published: 25-01-2023 | 10:45:00 | By: Pie Kamau
RIMAC Seguros, an insurance company in Peru with 3 million customers, has entered into a strategic partnership with Plug and Play Tech Center, the world's corporate innovation platform based in Silicon Valley.


Business-focused insurtech Coverdash announces launch after oversubscribed seed round
Published: 24-01-2023 | 12:37:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Coverdash, a fully-digital business insurance startup providing simplified insurance solutions to businesses of all shapes and sizes, announced the company's official launch and the closing of an oversubscribed seed funding round.


5 key insurance industry trends in EMEA region according to Plug and Play
Published: 23-01-2023 | 13:50:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Insurance industry trends over the past year have been significant, especially across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region.


Insurance provider Vouch acquires lending startup Level to scale tech-driven underwriting systems
Published: 12-01-2023 | 08:42:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Vouch, an insurance provider re-thinking business insurance for the technology industry, announced it has acquired lending startup Level and its team of engineers.


Philly-based insurtech startup Propeller Bonds raises $6.4m seed funding to accelerate growth
Published: 11-01-2023 | 10:00:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Philly-based insurtech Propeller, announced it has raised $6.4 million in seed funding led by a consortium of industry partners.


Insurtech startup Surround Insurance raises $2.5m seed round to help cconsumers navigate life’s transitions
Published: 25-11-2022 | 08:59:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Insurtech startup Surround Insurance announced that it has closed a $2.5 million seed round led by MassMutual through the MM Catalyst Fund.


Vouch partners with Capsule to support startups internationally
Published: 10-11-2022 | 14:11:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Capsule, a specialist insurance provider to high-growth companies in the UK, announced a partnership with Vouch, a San Francisco-based insurance platform that provides business insurance for high-growth technology startups in the US.


Intelligent digital coworkers startup Roots Automation raises $10m Series A funding round to accelerate growth
Published: 04-11-2022 | 09:11:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Roots Automation, the creator of advanced, intelligent Digital Coworkers for the insurance industry, announced the closing of $10 million in a Series A round of funding.


Insurtech Otonomi raises $3.4m to build a first-to-market blockchain-powered parametric cargo platform
Published: 19-10-2022 | 11:02:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Insurtech startup Otonomi announced it has closed a $3.4 million oversubscribed funding round, to build a first-to-market blockchain-powered parametric cargo platform.


Cyber insurance startup Elpha Secure startup raises $20 million funding to boost offerings
Published: 11-10-2022 | 14:14:16 | By: Bob Koigi
The funding round will help drive business growth across broker networks and evolve Elpha Secure’s product features to better equip small and midsize businesses to defend against cyberattacks and their consequences with end-to-end protection and response.


Capacity trading startup Stere closes $5m seed to expand tech-driven solutions for the insurance sector
Published: 26-09-2022 | 15:42:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Stere, a capacity trading platform specializing in capacity sourcing and unique digital capabilities for embedded insurance partners and MGAs, announced it has closed a $5 million funding round.


Kenyan agricultural insurtech startup Pula appoints Michael Joseph as Board Chair
Published: 22-09-2022 | 10:28:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Former Safaricom CEO Michael Joseph has been appointed as Board Chair of a Kenyan agricultural insurtech startup Pula.


Kenyan insurtech startup Turaco secures $10m funding to drive insurance adoption
Published: 16-09-2022 | 09:58:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Turaco, the insurtech driving mass market insurance adoption, has announced the close of a $10 million Series A equity round led by AfricInvest, via the Cathay Africinvest Innovation Fund.


Missouri-based insurtech startup iCover raises $5m pre-Series A funding to accelerate growth
Published: 06-09-2022 | 12:18:00 | By: Pie Kamau
iCover, a Missouri-based insurtech startup that provides an algorithmic underwriting and QUI based eApp Service for life insurance companies, raised $5 million in pre-Series A funding. 


FMO partners with SBC AfriTech to support next generation of early-stage African tech startups
Published: 30-08-2022 | 13:28:00 | By: Pie Kamau
FMO has partnered with a pan-African tech accelerator, Startupbootcamp (SBC) AfriTech, for the third installment of the Africa Startup Initiative Accelerator Program which is designed to scout skill and scale early-stage tech startups in Africa.


Insurtech startup Ledgebrook raises $4.2m to provide best-in-class quoting experience to wholesale brokers
Published: 17-08-2022 | 15:28:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Ledgebrook, a Boston-based insurtech startup, announced it raised $4.2 million in seed funding to build out its operations with the goal of writing its first policies in Q4 2022.


Kenyan insurtech startup Lami Technologies raises $3.7m to expand across Africa
Published: 05-08-2022 | 11:40:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Kenya-based insurtech startup Lami Technologies has raised a $ 3.7 million seed extension to expand its insurtech product across Africa.


French insurtech startup Orus raises €5m to reinvent professional insurance for SMEs
Published: 20-07-2022 | 10:29:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Orus, the insurtech company for small businesses, announced it has raised €5 million from Frst, Partech, Portage Ventures and around twenty business angels.


Insurtech startup Spot raises $33m funding to ramp up partnerships, offer affordable coverage for customers
Published: 30-06-2022 | 14:50:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Spot, the tech startup offering on-demand injury insurance, announced it has raised $33 million in funding, including $25 million in equity and $8 million in debt.


Kenyan insurtech startup mTek secures $3m funding for expansion across the country
Published: 21-06-2022 | 14:06:00 | By: Pie Kamau
On the heels of a recent $1.50 million (KSh 170 million) investment, Kenyan insurtech startup mTek has secured an additional $3 million (KSh 340 million) investment, through both debt and equity from African-focused fintech platform, Finclusion Group.


Insurtech startup INSTANDA raises $45m to fund its next phase of growth
Published: 20-06-2022 | 12:49:00 | By: Pie Kamau
INSTANDA, the no-code core insurance platform provider has announced the closing of its $45 million fundraising led by Toscafund, one of Europe’s leading Growth Equity investment firms for financial services companies.


Insurtech startup ETAP secures $1.5m pre-seed funding to drive car insurance penetration in Africa
Published: 26-04-2022 | 11:55:00 | By: Pie Kamau
ETAP, an insurtech startup that makes it easier to buy and claim insurance, has secured $1.5 million in pre-seed funding to grow its team and drive the adoption of much-needed car insurance across Africa.


U.S. insurtech startup Honeycomb gains approval to write policies in Wisconsin
Published: 14-04-2022 | 11:49:00 | By: Pie Kamau
The Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance has given insurtech startup Honeycomb approval to write policies statewide.


Latinx insurtech startup Sigo Seguros raises $5.4m seed funding to accelerate growth
Published: 08-04-2022 | 14:07:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Sigo Seguros, the insurtech startup determined to close the insurance gap within Latinx and immigrant communities, announced it has raised $5.4 million in its seed funding round, co-led by Listen Ventures and Chingona Ventures.


NSI Insurance Group acquires majority stake in insurtech startup HoneyQuote
Published: 23-03-2022 | 16:03:51 | By: Bob Koigi
HoneyQuote’s machine learning algorithm matches users with property insurance carriers in real-time. Its proprietary search engine allows consumers to shop and purchase homeowners' insurance online.


Insurance startup Asteya launches new product offering on its technology-first platform
Published: 16-03-2022 | 11:28:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Asteya, an income insurance technology company whose mission is to provide financial health and wellbeing by transforming the income insurance space, announced the launch of its additional product offering, Accidental Death.


German investor CommerzVentures closes €300m third fund to support European fintech and insurtech startups
Published: 01-03-2022 | 12:52:00 | By: Pie Kamau
CommerzVentures, the specialist fintech investor, announced its third €300m fund, to go towards supporting early and growth-stage companies in the fintech and insurtech sectors.


Insurtech startup ennabl raises $4m to transform insurance brokerage
Published: 21-02-2022 | 14:48:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Insurtech trailblazer ennabl has secured a $4 million seed round investment. Led by Vine Ventures with additional private participants, this investment will be used to expand the company's platform.


Casava secures $4m pre-seed funding to provide micro insurance for millions of Nigerians
Published: 04-02-2022 | 09:41:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Casava, Nigeria's digital insurance company has secured $4 million in pre-seed funding to provide affordable and accessible insurance products for millions of Nigerians.


Kenyan insurtech startup Lami acquires Bluewave Insurance Agency
Published: 04-02-2022 | 09:33:06 | By: Pie Kamau
Kenyan insurtech startup Lami Technologies has acquired Bluewave Insurance Agency, another Kenyan-based insurtech startup, for an undisclosed amount.


F-Prime Capital launches F-Prime Fintech Index to track the performance of disruptive fintech startups
Published: 01-02-2022 | 13:27:00 | By: Pie Kamau
F-Prime Capital announced the launch of The F-Prime Fintech Index, designed to track the performance of disruptive fintech companies enabling the delivery of core financial services across payments.


Horizon Technology Finance leads $50m venture loan facility to fintech and insurtech startup, Autonomy
Published: 25-01-2022 | 15:15:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Horizon Technology Finance Corporation announced it led a $50 million venture loan facility to Autonomy, a completely digital mobility offering that provides consumers with an affordable way to get access to a vehicle without long-term debt.


U.S. and Israel-based insurtech startup Honeycomb raises $15.4m Series A round
Published: 24-01-2022 | 15:39:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Insurtech startup Honeycomb announced it has raised $15.4 million in a Series A funding round led by Ibex Investors.


Kenyan ride-hailing startup MARAMOJA opens its API to fintechs and insurtechs
Published: 13-01-2022 | 11:14:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Kenya's ride-hailing platform MARAMOJA Transport has opened its API to local fintechs and Insurtechs. Through a new partnership with Switchlink Africa, service providers will be able to connect with MARAMOJA's drivers and customers.


Nashville-based worker’s compensation startup InsurePay secures Series B investment, buys Split Limit Studios
Published: 12-01-2022 | 11:48:00 | By: Pie Kamau
InsurePay, an Insuretech Property and Casualty (P&C) billing and payments platform, including workers' compensation insurance premium billing and payments has secured a Series B investment.


Kenyan smallholder farmers insulated from weather vagaries by picture-based insurance
Published: 14-12-2021 | 12:00:00 | By: Bob Koigi
A climate-smart crop insurance scheme introduced in Kenya has come to their rescue by combining satellite data and smartphone imagery to provide farmers with much needed protection.


Heritage enters strategic partnership with insurtech startup Slide to accelerate growth
Published: 30-11-2021 | 13:40:22 | By: Pie Kamau
Heritage Insurance, a super-regional property and casualty insurance holding company, announced it has entered into a strategic partnership with Slide, a startup InsurTech P&C carrier led by Bruce Lucas, Heritage's former Chairman and CEO.


Fort Ross Ventures announces first closing of $200m late-stage fund
Published: 18-11-2021 | 09:31:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Fort Ross Ventures, an international venture-capital firm focused on startups in the U.S. and Israel, announced the $100 million first closing of its late-stage fund.


Israeli startup EasySend raises $55.5m to help enterprises build, maintain digital customer journeys with its no-code platform
Published: 17-11-2021 | 11:41:00 | By: Pie Kamau
EasySend, a no-code digital customer journey platform announced a $50.5 million Series B funding round led by Oak HC/FT. Existing investors Vertex IL, Intel Capital, and Hanaco Venture also participated in the round.


BrokerTech Ventures accelerator opens for 2022 cohort applications
Published: 16-11-2021 | 12:32:00 | By: Pie Kamau
BrokerTech Ventures (BTV), the industry's first broker-led convening platform and accelerator program focused on delivering innovation to the insurance broker industry, has opened the application window for its 2022 BrokerTech Ventures Accelerator program.


London-based insurtech startup Collective Benefits announces $10m investment from Prosus
Published: 03-11-2021 | 12:31:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Collective Benefits, an insurance and benefits marketplace for independent workers, announced a $10 million investment from Prosus Ventures, the venture investing arm of Prosus, one of technology investors in the world.


Mployer Advisor secures $1.6 million funding to transform insurance broker marketplace
Published: 02-11-2021 | 15:26:20 | By: Bob Koigi
This new round of funding will enable Mployer Advisor to deploy new features on its platform, hire additional leadership roles and expand its insurance broker and carrier network.


Kenyan fintech startup Kwara partners with Lami Technologies to give SACCO members access to insurance products
Published: 02-11-2021 | 12:18:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Kenyan digital banking fintech startup Kwara has partnered with insurance technology company, Lami Technologies, to provide SACCO members with affordable and transformational insurance products.


Insurance startup Branch partners with SimpliSafe to offer proactive protection, affordable home ssecurity to its members
Published: 15-10-2021 | 11:43:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Branch, the startup that pioneered instantly-bundled home and auto insurance, announced a partnership with SimpliSafe, maker of security systems, to offer its members significant discounts on their home insurance.


Insurtech startup VOOM raises $15m to provide usage-based insurance to underserved mobility segments
Published: 05-10-2021 | 16:17:00 | By: Pie Kamau
VOOM, creators of innovative insurance products for underserved mobility segments, announced $15 million in funding to expand its usage-based insurance model to additional mobility verticals.


Insurtech startup NEXT Insurance renews commitment to small businesses with integrated strategic rebrand
Published: 16-09-2021 | 12:13:00 | By: Pie Kamau
NEXT Insurance, the digital insurtech company transforming small business insurance, announced its strategic rebrand which will integrate small business owners from across the country into every part of the company's business, culture and ethos.


Israeli insurtech startup Vesttoo joins NVIDIA Inception to further develop AI-based technologies
Published: 07-09-2021 | 15:38:30 | By: Pie Kamau
Israeli insurtech startup Vesttoo announced it has joined NVIDIA Inception, a program designed to nurture companies revolutionizing industries with advancements in AI and data sciences.


Insurtech startup Slope Software raises $2m to grow its actuarial modeling platform
Published: 31-08-2021 | 13:23:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Slope Software, the Atlanta insurtech startup that is modernizing actuarial modeling for insurers, announced a $2.0 million investment led by Tech Square Ventures, an early-stage investment firm.


Autonomous vehicle insurtech startup Koop Technologies raises $2.5m seed round
Published: 24-08-2021 | 15:22:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Koop Technologies, an insurance technology startup specializing in autonomous vehicle and robotics risks announced its $2.5 million seed funding.


Insurtech startup NEXT Insurance participates in Amazon Insurance Accelerator to provide access to affordable General Liability coverage
Published: 10-08-2021 | 11:47:00 | By: Pie Kamau
NEXT Insurance, the digital insurtech company transforming small business insurance, announced it is participating in Amazon Insurance Accelerator, providing Amazon sellers looking to buy insurance with instant quotes at competitive rates.


Naspers Foundry leads $8.3m Series A investment in South African insurtech startup Naked
Published: 06-08-2021 | 14:07:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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.


Hong Kong-based insurtech startup YAS MicroInsurance features in TOP 10 of Plug and Play Insurtech Batch 5 startups
Published: 22-07-2021 | 11:55:14 | By: Pie Kamau
Hong Kong-based next-generation Insurtech startup YAS MicroInsurance, has been featured as one of the TOP 10 of the Insurtech Batch 5 in Plug and Play APAC, a well-known global startups accelerator and innovation platform.


BimaLab accelerator programme launches to support Insurtech startups in Kenya
Published: 22-07-2021 | 11:41:25 | By: Pie Kamau
FSD Africa, the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) and Tellistic Technology Services have launched BimaLab, a KES 5.3 million accelerator programme designed to support insurance startups in Kenya.


Kenyan insurtech startups benefit from IRA, Prudential innovation hub
Published: 22-06-2021 | 12:29:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Three Kenyan insurtech startups each received Ksh 1.25 million in cash awards from an innovation hub steered by the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) in collaboration with Prudential Life Assurance and other partners, to promote insurance inclusivity.


Plug and Play Japan selects 91 Startups for its Summer/Fall 2021 Batch
Published: 01-06-2021 | 11:28:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Global Innovation Platform, Plug and Play Japan has selected 91 Japanese and international startups into its Summer/Fall 2021 Batch, which will be carried out from June to September 2021.


B2B insurtech startup Boost raises $20m Series B to enhance insurance market accessibility
Published: 21-05-2021 | 13:09:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Boost Insurance, the B2B digital insurance platform, announced the completion of a $20 million Series B financing round to fuel growth of its platform, new product development and partner marketing.


HONK supports insurance startup Branch with digitally-driven roadside assistance solutions
Published: 12-05-2021 | 12:15:00 | By: Pie Kamau
HONK Technologies, the digital platform connecting drivers and towing professionals, announced it is supporting Branch, the startup that pioneered bundling home and auto insurance online.


Kenyan insurtech startup Lami Technologies raises $1.8m in seed funding
Published: 06-05-2021 | 10:49:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Lami Technologies, a Kenyan insurance technology (insurtech) company that aims to democratize insurance products and services for low-income Kenyans, has raised $1.8 million in seed funding.


Insurtech startup Branch Insurance expands home and auto coverage to Colorado and Oklahoma States
Published: 29-04-2021 | 10:13:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Branch Insurance, the startup that pioneered bundling home and auto insurance online, announced its expansion to Colorado and Oklahoma States.


Detroit-based fintech startup Signal Advisors raises $16m to build end-to-end platform for independent financial advisors
Published: 27-04-2021 | 11:06:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Signal Advisors, a tech-enabled distributor of annuities and life insurance, announced a $10 million Series A led by General Catalyst, which closed in December 2020.


Plug and Play Korea launches in Seoul
Published: 27-04-2021 | 10:20:47 | By: Pie Kamau
Global innovation platform, Plug and Play, announced the launch of its new office in Seoul, Korea, to primarily focus on corporate innovation in the areas of Financial Services and Smart Cities and expects to expand to other industries in the future.


Insurtech startup Brella raises $15m Series A for national expansion of supplemental health insurance solution
Published: 26-04-2021 | 14:15:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Brella Insurance announced it has raised a $15 million Series A funding round led by Brewer Lane Ventures to bring Brella's modern supplemental health solution to employers nationwide.


Insurtech startup OKO raises $1.2m to bring innovative insurance to smallholder farmers across Africa
Published: 23-04-2021 | 09:21:00 | By: Pie Kamau
OKO, an insurtech startup that provides inclusive agricultural insurance to secure farmers’ income across Africa, closed a seed investment round of $1.2 million, led by Newfund and ResiliAnce.


Telecel Group launches applications for Africa startups accelerator programme
Published: 14-04-2021 | 15:47:19 | By: Bob Koigi
The Program helps startups achieve 18-24 months of growth in just three months. Now, the next generation of early-stage African tech startups disrupting a wide range of industry sectors are being sought.


Plug and Play selects 154 startups for the Summer 2021 Batches
Published: 02-04-2021 | 10:31:34 | By: Bob Koigi
During the three months of the program, the selected startups will participate virtually in networking events, mentor sessions, focus weeks, and private dealflow sessions.


Insurtech startup Curacel secures $450K pre-seed funding to drive insurance inclusion in Africa
Published: 30-03-2021 | 12:53:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Curacel, an AI-powered platform for claims processing and fraud management in Africa, raised a $450,000 pre-seed funding in a round led by Atlantica Ventures and Consonance.


Plug and Play adds NJM Insurance to its growing network of insurtech corporate partners
Published: 19-03-2021 | 12:38:05 | By: Pie Kamau
Plug and Play, the global innovation platform for corporations and startups, is adding NJM Insurance Group (NJM), a property and casualty insurer in the Mid-Atlantic region, to its growing network of insurtech corporate partners.


Venture Noire launches new cohort program following $1.3m grant from Walton Family Foundation
Published: 17-03-2021 | 14:40:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Venture Noire, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting Black and minority entrepreneurs, announced the recipient of a multi-year grant from the Walton Family Foundation for a second consecutive year, totaling $1.3 million.


BrokerTech Ventures adds Zurich North America to its premiere agency and insurance company portfolio
Published: 16-03-2021 | 14:15:54 | By: Pie Kamau
BrokerTech Ventures (BTV), the industry's first broker-led convening platform and accelerator program, announced the addition of its newest carrier, Zurich North America, to the platform.


Insurtech startup Zelros raises $11m Series A funding to bring AI-powered responsible insurance distribution to North America
Published: 25-02-2021 | 08:27:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Zelros, the industry's first AI-driven platform dedicated to advancing insurance distribution, announced the successful close of an $11 mllion Series A financing round, bringing the company's total funding to date to $16.5 million.


Insurtech startup InsurePay secures $5m Series A investment round to accelerate growth
Published: 18-02-2021 | 09:30:00 | By: Pie Kamau
InsurePay, a workers' compensation administration and insurance premium billing platform for insurance providers, announced it has completed a $5 million Series A round of financing.


WNS partners with insurtech startup By Miles for the world’s first connected car insurance
Published: 17-02-2021 | 14:42:27 | By: Bob Koigi
WNS Assistance has announced a new partnership with By Miles, an insurtech startup and motor Managing General Agent (MGA), to manage claims for a first-of-its-kind connected car insurance policy using the real-time data of the vehicle.


Insurtech startup TrustLayer raises $6.6m to expand its insurance verification and compliance platform
Published: 15-02-2021 | 16:08:00 | By: Pie Kamau
TrustLayer, the collaborative risk management platform, announced it has completed a $6.6 million seed round of financing.


Nationwide doubles down on venture capital efforts, expands investment fund to $350m
Published: 12-02-2021 | 10:58:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Nationwide announced the expansion of its venture capital investment fund to $350 million, to be directed into high-growth potential insurance and financial services startups that directly advance Nationwide's strategy.


Insurtech startup Marble secures $2.5m seed round, launches first digital wallet and rewards for insurance
Published: 11-02-2021 | 10:17:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Marble, the first digital wallet and loyalty platform for insurance, announced $2.5 million in seed round funding.


Gentem Health startup closes $10m Series A financing to streamline and accelerate insurance reimbursements
Published: 10-02-2021 | 12:36:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Gentem Health, a Silicon Valley-startup focused on helping private practices thrive financially, raised a $10 million Series A financing round, bringing total investment to $13.7 million.


Plug and Play invests in Israeli insurtech startup Vesttoo
Published: 10-02-2021 | 12:17:10 | By: Pie Kamau
Plug and Play, the global innovation platform that has funded companies such as Dropbox, PayPal and N26, has joined Vesttoo as a shareholder through an equity investment.


Insurtech startup Joshu raises $3.7m seed round to digitize and modernize commercial insurance
Published: 27-01-2021 | 09:08:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Joshu, an insurtech company that helps insurance carriers launch online distribution channels, announced it closed $3.7 million in seed funding led by Blumberg Capital.


Arbol closes Series A raise, adds Mubadala Capital Ventures to its investment group
Published: 20-01-2021 | 10:46:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Insurtech platform Arbol Inc. announced it has closed its Series A fundraising round with commitments totaling nearly $7 million. Arbol's Series A round was oversubscribed and completed at a significant increase in valuation from its initial seed round.


InsurTech NY announces global Early-Stage InsurTech Competition 2021
Published: 07-01-2021 | 11:49:00 | By: Pie Kamau
InsurTech NY has opened the application window for its annual 2021 InsurTech Early-Stage Competition, to award $200,000 in prizes to three winning teams. Startups will compete for the title of the company with the most commercial potential.


Healthcare startup Centivo raises $34m to help employers deliver affordable, high-quality healthcare to their employees
Published: 08-12-2020 | 13:36:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Centivo, a new type of digital health plan that is built to save 15% or more compared with traditional insurance carriers and is easy to use for employers and employees, announced it has raised $34 million in Series B funding.


Cinch Home Services partners with insurance technology startup GloveBox to simplify home management
Published: 04-12-2020 | 13:37:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Cinch Home Services (Cinch), provider of home service solutions, has partnered with GloveBox, an insurance technology that allows policyholders to manage all of their insurance in a single, centralized digital platform.


Plug and Play Japan selects 103 startups for its Winter/Spring 2021 Batch accelerator program
Published: 03-12-2020 | 14:16:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Plug and Play Japan has selected 103 startups in IoT, Fintech, Insurtech, Mobility, Brand & Retail, Hardtech & Health, and newly launched vertical, Smart Cities, for the Winter/Spring 2021 Batch accelerator program.


[Column] Patrick Ndegwa: Celebrating startups and digital businesses that are uplifting African communities
Published: 30-11-2020 | 15:39:17 | By: Pie Kamau
The digital economy has opened up many opportunities for global businesses. Large enterprises and small businesses have seen increased profits and enhanced productivity due to digital innovation.


Biometrics startup Levels raises $12m seed round to mainstream Biowearables, improve metabolic health
Published: 30-11-2020 | 15:01:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Levels, the first biowearable system to provide real-time feedback on how your diet impacts your health announced a $12 million seed round led by a16z, one of Silicon Valley's top venture capital firms.


New manufacturing startup JTEC Energy announces the close of its initial seed round
Published: 30-11-2020 | 14:33:00 | By: Pie Kamau
New manufacturing startup JTEC Energy announced it closed on an initial seed fundraising round, to hire additional scientists and engineers in order to accelerate the development of the the company.


CerraCap Ventures, Exfinity Venture Partners join forces for new growth
Published: 30-11-2020 | 13:48:00 | By: Pie Kamau
CerraCap Ventures and Exfinity Venture Partners announced their global strategic partnership integrating CerraCap's unique Sales & Scale model with Exfinity's stated vision helping develop global enterprise startups leveraging the Indo-US corridor.


25 African tech startups qualify for Seedstars regional competition
Published: 30-11-2020 | 13:27:39 | By: Pie Kamau
25 African tech startups have qualified for the Seedstars World Competition 2020. The startups are among the 94 from emerging markets that were selected to advance to the regional stage of the competition.


South Korean AI startup lululab secures Series B funding led by Netmarble
Published: 30-11-2020 | 13:18:39 | By: Pie Kamau
AI startup lululab, a member company of Born2Global Centre, has successfully attracted Series B funding from Netmarble, Korea's leading game developer, as well as from other companies.


South Korean startup Autonomous a2z raises $1.9m for autonomous driving solution
Published: 26-11-2020 | 11:12:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Autonomous a2z, a member company of Born2Global Centre and Sejong Technopark, received a seed investment of $1.9 million from angel investments by individuals and partner corporations.


Tech startup Nestlings raises $1.5m to help international students through college application process
Published: 26-11-2020 | 10:52:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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.


SEED SPOT wins $300k EDA grant in partnership with Canyon Angels
Published: 26-11-2020 | 10:34:00 | By: Pie Kamau
SEED SPOT and Canyon Angels will train 180 angels to grow the robust investing community in Arizona and create more access to early-stage funding for entrepreneurs with a focus on EdTech, MedTech, and CleanTech.


Genomic medicines startup Metagenomi closes $65m led by Leaps by Bayer and Humboldt Fund
Published: 26-11-2020 | 10:17:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Metagenomi, a next generation gene editing company launched by UC Berkeley scientists in 2018, successfully completed a $65 million Series A financing round and emerged from stealth mode.


ITIDA, AUC Venture Lab kick off Startup Launchpad to enrich Egyptian entrepreneurship ecosystem
Published: 25-11-2020 | 16:02:00 | By: Pie Kamau
ITIDA (IT Industry Development Agency) and AUC Venture Lab announced their collaboration on Startup Launchpad, a capacity-building program that empowers entrepreneurs as they launch their technology startups.


Nigerian mobility startup Plentywaka expands car-hailing service in Delta State
Published: 25-11-2020 | 15:52:20 | By: Pie Kamau
Nigerian mobility startup Plentywaka, announced the launch of a new car-hailing service, Wakacab in Asaba and Warri Delta State, borne out of the need to expand and improve on the limited transport links in southern Nigeria.


Life science startup Correlia Biosystems closes $7m Series A to enable product launch
Published: 25-11-2020 | 15:23:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Correlia Biosystems, a Berkeley, CA based life science startup, announced it has closed a $7 million Series A financing round with select global investors.


Early-stage venture firm MGV Capital announces initial closing of its new Capital Fund
Published: 25-11-2020 | 15:09:42 | By: Pie Kamau
Early-stage venture capital firm, MGV Capital Group, announced it has held an initial closing of its new fund, MGV Capital Fund, to invest in early stage software technology companies.


Equinix invests $55m to build its third data center in Osaka, Japan
Published: 25-11-2020 | 14:48:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Equinix, the world's digital infrastructure company, announced an initial investment of $55 million to build its third International Business Exchange (IBX) data center in Osaka, Japan.


Contour Venture Partners closes oversubscribed $82m fourth seed fund
Published: 24-11-2020 | 13:32:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Contour Venture Partners, a New York City based seed stage venture capital firm, announced the closing of Contour Venture Partners IV with $82 million of capital commitments, exceeding its target of $75 million.


Food & beverage e-commerce startup Feast & Fettle raises $1.2m to expand into Massachusetts and Connecticut
Published: 24-11-2020 | 13:10:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Feast & Fettle, a premium, fully-prepared meal delivery service based out of Rhode Island, announced the closing of a $1.2 million Seed round led by Salem Capital Management.


Singapore-based Plano wins world's most innovative healthtech startup
Published: 24-11-2020 | 12:45:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Up against 64 global healthtech startups, Plano has emerged as the winner of Galen Growth's World's Most Innovative Healthtech Startup 2020 Award.


Biotech startup Mekonos raises $4.6m for its gene engineering platform
Published: 24-11-2020 | 12:09:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Mekonos, a biotech company launching the first-of-its kind system-on-a-chip (SoC) for targeted ex vivo gene engineering, announced it has completed a $4.6 million financing round.


Israeli consumer intelligence startup Konnecto closes $3.5m seed round, launches 'Reveal & Disrupt'
Published: 23-11-2020 | 16:19:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Konnecto, the consumer intelligence platform enabling brands to gain visibility into the earliest stages of the consumer journey, announced the completion of a $3.5 million seed round, led by TPY Capital.


Fintech startup Credit Key closes $33m Series A financing, expands footprint in B2B payments
Published: 23-11-2020 | 16:00:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Credit Key, the B2B e-commerce payments solution, closed $33.85 million in total series A financing to support growth with participation from Greycroft, Bonfire Ventures, Loeb.nyc and other investors.


African fintech startup Chipper Cash raises $30m backed by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos
Published: 23-11-2020 | 15:02:00 | By: Pie Kamau
African fintech startup Chipper Cash has secured a $30 million Series B funding round led by Ribbit Capital with participation of Bezos Expeditions, the personal venture capital fund of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos.


South African fintech startup Ukheshe to acquire Oltio, strengthens partnership with Mastercard
Published: 23-11-2020 | 07:53:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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.


Kwik Delivery startup partners with Total on e-commerce fulfilment and delivery service in Nigeria
Published: 23-11-2020 | 07:44:26 | By: Pie Kamau
Nigerian e-commerce startup Kwik Delivery has partnered with Total Nigeria, to develop an e-commerce fulfilment and delivery service in Nigeria.


Venture Noire announces second fundraising cycle to support minority owned businesses
Published: 20-11-2020 | 13:18:50 | By: Pie Kamau
Venture Noire, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting Black and minority entrepreneurs, announced the completion of its initial program funded by a grant from the Walton Family Foundation.


South Korea's StradVision joins NVIDIA Inception program as premier partner
Published: 20-11-2020 | 12:59:59 | By: Pie Kamau
StradVision has joined NVIDIA Inception, a virtual accelerator program designed to nurture companies that are revolutionizing industries with advancements in AI and data sciences.


GR0 launches SEO studio for direct-to-consumer startups
Published: 20-11-2020 | 12:47:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Digital marketing agency GR0 has officially launched a startup studio located in the Playa Vista area with a main focus in organic growth for direct-to-consumer startups.


Bamboo Capital, Government of Madagascar, World Bank launch $40m energy access fund for Madagascar
Published: 20-11-2020 | 12:32:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Bamboo Capital Partners has been appointed by the Government of Madagascar and the World Bank as the international fund manager for the Off-Grid Market Development Fund, a $40 million renewable energy access fund.


African tech startups secure funding from Orange Ventures MEA Seed Challenge
Published: 19-11-2020 | 11:19:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Six African tech startups and one Jordanian startup have secured funding from Orange Ventures Africa & Middle East.


Dakota Johnson joins sexual wellness startup maude as Co-creative Director & Investor
Published: 18-11-2020 | 15:20:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Sexual wellness startup maude announced that Dakota Johnson will be joining the category-defining sexual wellness brand as co-creative director and investor.


Porsche Ventures invests in AI startup Drivably's breakthrough inventory technology
Published: 18-11-2020 | 14:28:47 | By: Pie Kamau
Drivably, an advanced AI company that helps dealers acquire private party inventory from the right markets at the right price, has received an investment from Porsche Ventures to help Drivably further develop its technology and expand its footprint.


South Africa's MetroFibre Networx completes new capital raise from AIIM and STOA
Published: 18-11-2020 | 11:25:26 | By: Pie Kamau
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.


Ibnsina Pharma acquires 75% stake in Egyptian health and beauty products startup 3elagi
Published: 18-11-2020 | 10:25:12 | By: Pie Kamau
Ibnsina Pharma signed an agreement to acquire 75% stake in Egyptian health and beauty products startup 3elagi Tech, a platform that links pharmacies with patients to order medicines and cosmetics online.


Readout Health startup partners with Apollo Health for management of neurodegenerative disease
Published: 17-11-2020 | 14:10:20 | By: Pie Kamau
Readout Health, a digital biomarker startup, announced partnership with Apollo Health, a health technology leader in neurodegenerative medicine.


Berlin startup DigiWhat launches international B2B case studies standard
Published: 17-11-2020 | 13:37:27 | By: Pie Kamau
Berlin startup DigiWhat launched international B2B case studies standard to simplifiy marketing, matchmaking and lead generation efforts for tech companies, venture builders and events.


UAE fintech startup Sarwa unveils next gen Sarwa X, announces partnership with Saxo Bank
Published: 17-11-2020 | 13:09:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Sarwa, online investment advisory platform for young professionals has unveiled its next-generation Sarwa X, a new product powered by a strategic partnership with Saxo Bank, a Fintech and Regtech specialist focused on multi-asset trading and investment.


Burges Karkaria joins AI startup Censia as CTO
Published: 17-11-2020 | 12:23:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Burges Karkaria, former Chief Technology Officer of Enterprise at Intel Corporation, has joined Bay Area startup Censia, a provider of talent intelligence, recruiting and workforce management technology, as CTO.


[Startup Interview] Jon Cooper, CEO, Life.io, USA
Published: 17-11-2020 | 12:14:00 | By: Bob Koigi
Life.io is a US-based startup that helps companies accelerate the development of their end-to-end digital client experience with the Life.io Solution Suite: Grow, Engage and Empower. Jon Cooper the startup’s co-founder and CEO elaborates.


Swiftarc Ventures invests in biosafety startup R-Zero to fast-track its UV-C disinfecting device
Published: 16-11-2020 | 13:43:11 | By: Pie Kamau
Swiftarc Ventures, an early and growth stage Venture Capital firm focused on the next generation of Consumer and Consumer Health disruptors, has made its first portfolio investment in biosafety startup R-Zero.


Chinese autonomous truck startup Inceptio Technology raises $120m to accelerate volume production
Published: 16-11-2020 | 13:24:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Inceptio Technology, an autonomous truck company, announced a $120 million funding led by Contemporary Amperex Technology, developer and manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries.


Bridge for Billions launches Global Investors Network to connect entrepreneurs with investment opportunities
Published: 16-11-2020 | 13:06:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Bridge for Billions has launched its Global Investors Network, which aims to help make the investment ecosystem accessible to all promising purpose-driven ventures.


Africa-focused VC fund Outlierz Ventures invests in three Nigeria startups
Published: 16-11-2020 | 12:56:28 | By: Pie Kamau
Africa-focused Morocco-based B2B VC fund Outlierz Ventures has announced new investments into three Nigerian startups - Bamboo, Youverify and Healthlane.


AI Media Group launches Africa’s first AI-focused free investment matchmaking service for African startups
Published: 16-11-2020 | 12:45:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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).


Bentley Systems commits $100m venture funding to accelerate infrastructure digital twins
Published: 13-11-2020 | 14:13:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Bentley Systems, the infrastructure engineering software company, announced the establishment of Bentley iTwin Ventures to invest in promising technology companies addressing the emerging opportunity for infrastructure digital twin solutions.


Dairy snack startups compete for $200,000 in Real California Milk Snackcelerator
Published: 13-11-2020 | 12:06:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Ice cream infused with vegetables, to-go premium cheese snacks, decadent chocolate mousse and flavored paneer make up the finalists announced in the Real California Milk Snackcelerator product innovation competition.


Blackbaud Social Good Startup Program supports emerging companies to drive innovation
Published: 13-11-2020 | 11:39:07 | By: Pie Kamau
Blackbaud, cloud software company powering social good, is accepting applications for the Blackbaud Social Good Startup Program, a unique, yearlong program designed to drive innovation.


Digital investment platform Clim8 smashes target for latest funding campaign by 600%
Published: 13-11-2020 | 11:14:00 | By: Pie Kamau
As interest in sustainable investing continues to grow apace, Clim8 Invest (Clim8), a digital investment platform that help consumers invest exclusively in companies focused on tackling the climate crisis, has raised a further £2.4 million in funding.


British fintech startup ilumoni raises $450,000 to transform borrowing behaviours, help people repay debt
Published: 12-11-2020 | 13:34:00 | By: Pie Kamau
ilumoni, the fintech startup helping people to borrow better, save on unnecessary interest and time in paying off debts has raised $450,000 pre-seed investment backed by Move Ventures.


Tech startup Roots Automation secures $3.2m to expand AI capabilities, accelerate customer acquisition
Published: 12-11-2020 | 13:17:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Roots Automation, the NYC-based Digital Coworkers as a Service company, has raised a $3.2 million seed round led by Vestigo Ventures.


October Startup Sentiment Index shows three-month trend in advancing startup timelines
Published: 12-11-2020 | 12:57:50 | By: Pie Kamau
The number of respondents agreeing that now is a good time to start a business reached a three-month high at 60.6% in October.


Medtech startup Immertec partners with Orthopaedic Foundation to demonstrate effectiveness of VR surgical training
Published: 12-11-2020 | 12:42:56 | By: Pie Kamau
Orthopaedic Foundation has partnered with medtech startup Immertec, to conduct research to evaluate the effectiveness of VR for remote surgical training.


Peer-to-peer solar leasing startup Sun Exchange announces African expansion in Zimbabwe
Published: 11-11-2020 | 15:13:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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.


Remote selling startup Demoflow secures $1.6 m seed round to build additional key product features
Published: 11-11-2020 | 14:31:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Collaborative remote selling platform Demoflow announced its Seed Capital raise of $1.6 million led by FirstMile Ventures with other major participants including Slack Fund, RTP Seed, Next Frontier Capital and Heroic Ventures.


Nearly 60% of startup founders say operating costs are their top spending priority in the first quarter
Published: 11-11-2020 | 14:03:00 | By: Pie Kamau
While the long-term economic effect of the COVID-19 pandemic is still unknown, the remote work period has forced startups to adjust their spending priorities, according to a new survey from Clutch, a B2B ratings and reviews platform.


Social podcasting startup Bitcast partners with Podcast Notes for joint launch of new iOS clipping app
Published: 11-11-2020 | 13:52:49 | By: Pie Kamau
Los Angeles based social podcasting platform Bitcast has partnered with Podcast Notes, a publisher in the podcast space, for the launch of a new iOS app that lets listeners 'Magically Clip, Collect and Share the best moments in Podcasts'.


Chicago startup qReveal launches affordable QR code menu and price list solution
Published: 10-11-2020 | 12:31:56 | By: Pie Kamau
Responding to the challenging scene of a myriad of health and safety protocols facing restaurants and other businesses, Chicago startup qReveal has launched a platform that builds easy to use QR code menus and price lists.


Former Bitcoin.com CEO launches Sonic Capital, Asia's first tokenized venture investment fund
Published: 10-11-2020 | 12:19:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Former Bitcoin.com CEO Stefan Rust announced the launch of Sonic Capital, Asia's first venture capital and impact investment fund to be tokenized on the blockchain.


[Startup Interview] Almasi Ndangili, Founder, Imarisha East Africa Productions, Kenya
Published: 10-11-2020 | 11:57:00 | By: Bob Koigi
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.


Tech startup Cellwize secures $32m Series B financing to expand its global footprint
Published: 10-11-2020 | 11:33:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Cellwize, a global leader in mobile network automation and orchestration, announced a $32 million Series B funding round in its parent company, Cellwize Wireless Technologies, led by Intel Capital and Qualcomm Ventures.


Israeli cybersecurity startup ReSec Technologies raises $4m Series A funding for expansion
Published: 10-11-2020 | 09:51:00 | By: Pie Kamau
ReSec Technologies, a cyber security company that protects organizations from file-based malware threats, announced the completion of its $4 million Series A round of financing.


Mastercard co-innovates with 10 new fintechs to reshape the future of commerce
Published: 10-11-2020 | 07:30:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Mastercard has welcomed 10 fintechs from around the world to participate in its startup engagement program, Start Path, to scale the future of commerce.


Kenyan fintech startup Kwara launches Customer Success Traineeship Program for university graduates
Published: 09-11-2020 | 15:24:05 | By: Pie Kamau
Kwara, a digital banking platform in Kenya announced the launch of a Customer Success Traineeship Program. The program is part of the company’s broader agenda to build capacity for rising young Kenyan professionals.


Swedish fintech startup Payer launches beta test program to revolutionize customer registration in B2B e-commerce
Published: 09-11-2020 | 14:51:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Financial Services startup Payer has developed a new registration product that revolutionizes how customer relationships are made between companies online.


Nigerian HR startup SeamlessHR raises seven-figure funding to expand across Africa
Published: 09-11-2020 | 09:30:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Nigeria’s HR startup SeamlessHR has closed a seven-figure deal as it seeks to expand across other African markets.


African startups more investible now than ever
Published: 09-11-2020 | 09:20:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 09-11-2020 | 09:13:33 | By: Pie Kamau
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.


Swiss biotech startup Memo Therapeutics raises €13.9m to support clinical development of potent antibodies
Published: 06-11-2020 | 14:13:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Swiss biotech startup Memo Therapeutics AG, an innovator in the field of antibody discovery and immune repertoire analysis, announced it has raised €13.9 million in Series B financing.


Kenyan agritech startup Farmers Pride raises $220k funding from Gray Matters Capital’s coLABS
Published: 06-11-2020 | 13:15:00 | By: Pie Kamau
US-based impact investor Gray Matters Capital announced its funding in Kenya's agritech startup Farmers Pride, a one stop e-commerce platform that connects village level farmers to quality inputs, services and information.


Dublin-based travel tech startup TripAdmit secures €500,000 funding for international expansion
Published: 05-11-2020 | 15:51:00 | By: Pie Kamau
TripAdmit, Dublin based travel tech startup that provides sales and distribution solutions for tours and activities, has secured €500,000 funding from investors, including the backing of Enterprise Ireland’s High Potential Start Up unit.


Dutch biotech startup Salvia BioElectronics receives FDA Breakthrough Device Designation for innovative neurostimulation solution
Published: 05-11-2020 | 15:30:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Salvia BioElectronics, a neurostimulation platform targeting chronic migraine, announced that the U.S. FDA has granted Breakthrough Device Designation for its implantable neurostimulation system to address chronic migraine.


Armenian AI startup Podcastle raises $1.75m seed round to create next-gen podcast platform
Published: 05-11-2020 | 14:37:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Podcastle, a company developing podcast creation tools for amateur and professional podcasters and a streaming platform for listeners, announced a $1.75 million seed funding led by Sierra Ventures.


Paxful partners with African fintech startup Uhuru Wallet to ease money transfers
Published: 04-11-2020 | 11:49:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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.


Human API startup raises over $20m funding to scale consumer-controlled health data ecosystem
Published: 04-11-2020 | 11:20:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Human API, company empowering consumers to connect and share electronic health data with companies they trust, announced it has raised over $20 million in Series C funding, to scale consumer-controlled health data ecosystem.


Travel booking startup Tripbnb.com uses AI to link travelers and accommodation quickly
Published: 04-11-2020 | 10:53:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Taiwanese travel booking startup Tripbnb.com is helping domestic accommodation providers draw up new business strategies and the country's travel industry had to enhance their technical standards with AI-based systems.


AI startup ATLAN Space raises $1m Series A funding from Maroc Numeric Fund II for expansion
Published: 04-11-2020 | 09:27:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Aerial vehicle Artificial Intelligence startup ATLAN Space has raised $1m Series A funding from Maroc Numeric Fund II with participation from Hilmi Law Firm and Cadex Group, for business expansion.


Nigerian CcHUB acquires Kenyan edTech startup eLimu
Published: 04-11-2020 | 08:46:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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.


Imperial partners with Kenyan logistic startup Lori Systems to expand e-logistics technology solutions across Africa
Published: 04-11-2020 | 08:37:29 | By: Pie Kamau
Imperial, an African and European-focused provider of integrated market access and logistics solutions, announced an investment in and partnership with Lori Systems to expand its cutting-edge e-logistics technology solutions across Africa.


Nigerian rental financing startup Kwaba secures funding from Ingressive Capital for expansion
Published: 03-11-2020 | 15:42:27 | By: Pie Kamau
Ingressive Capital, a $10 million VC fund targeting early-stage startups across Sub-Saharan Africa, announced its investment in Nigerian rental financing startup Kwaba.


German startup 4tiitoo launches NUIA Full Focus, smart software for natural eye contact in video calls
Published: 03-11-2020 | 12:47:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Munich-based startup 4tiitoo (forty two), which specializes in gaze control of computers, launched NUIA Full Focus, a software that creates natural eye contact with conversation partners in video calls intelligently and without artificial image adjustments.


Procter & Gamble Ventures brings Innovation Challenge online for CES 2021
Published: 03-11-2020 | 12:22:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Following the success of its first-ever Virtual Innovation Challenge in June, P&G Ventures, the early-stage startup studio within P&G, is now accepting submissions for its next virtual pitch competition.


Cleantech startup Skeleton Technologies joins European Clean Hydrogen Alliance
Published: 03-11-2020 | 11:57:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Estonian cleantech startup Skeleton Technologies has joined the European Clean Hydrogen Alliance, an initiative of European stakeholders who want to engage and contribute to the deployment of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen.


Estonian cleantech startup Skeleton Technologies raises €41.3m from European entrepreneurs
Published: 03-11-2020 | 11:24:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Skeleton Technologies, global cleantech 100 company and largest European manufacturer of ultracapacitor-based energy storage, has completed a €41.3 million financing round.


[Startup Interview] Joris van Lierop, founder, The Content Exchange, Netherlands
Published: 03-11-2020 | 06:37:00 | By: Bob Koigi
The Content Exchange is a Dutch startup that targets editors, publishers and freelancers by offering them a content market place where they can do business with each other directly. The startup’s founder Joris van Lierop explains.


Next-generation consumer products startup The Naked Market closes $6m seed funding round
Published: 02-11-2020 | 15:51:00 | By: Pie Kamau
The Naked Market, San Francisco-based CPG brand, has closed $6 million seed funding round, with participation from several investors.


Fintech startup ORSNN launches whole-loan trading platform to beta
Published: 02-11-2020 | 15:33:00 | By: Pie Kamau
ORSNN, a fintech startup that builds end-to-end solutions for managing and trading loan portfolios, launched a private beta platform that provides financial institutions with a low-cost, transparent, and automated loan-trading system.


Nestlé USA acquires food delivery startup Freshly
Published: 02-11-2020 | 15:11:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Nestlé announced it has acquired food delivery startup Freshly, fresh-prepared meal delivery services in the U.S. The deal values Freshly at $950 million, with potential earnouts up to $550 million contingent to the successful growth of the business.


MENA healthtech startup Vezeeta expands into Kenya
Published: 02-11-2020 | 14:45:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Middle East and North Africa (MENA) healthtech startup Vezeeta has expanded its footprint into Kenya by launching a platform that will enable Kenyans access doctors from their smart phones.


BrokerTech Ventures accelerator opens for 2021 cohort applications
Published: 29-10-2020 | 12:29:55 | By: Pie Kamau
BrokerTech Ventures, first broker-led convening platform and accelerator focused on delivering innovation to the insurance broker industry, has opened the application window for its 2021 BrokerTech Ventures Accelerator program.


Insurtech startup Next Insurance and Intuit QuickBooks integrate to provide seamless coverage for small businesses
Published: 26-10-2020 | 16:35:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Next Insurance, digital insurtech company transforming small business insurance and Intuit have teamed up to simplify the insurance purchasing process for millions of small businesses.