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Published: 06-04-2018 16:44:00 | By: Nico Scherphuis | hits: 3893918 | Tags:









Fintech startup Zebec debuts in Japan with payroll and payments solutions
Published: 09-01-2024 | 15:58:36 | By: Bob Koigi
This strategic move not only marks Zebec's continued global expansion but also underscores its commitment to fostering collaborative financial innovation worldwide.








Japanese semiconductor firm EdgeCortix closes $20m to accelerate AI capabilities
Published: 04-10-2023 | 15:11:00 | By: Pie Kamau
EdgeCortix announced the closing of a $20m funding round.


Five Kenyan cleantech startups selected for JICA’s Project NINJA accelerator
Published: 19-09-2023 | 12:11:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Five Kenyan cleantech startups have been selected for the 3rd cohort of JICA.


Japanese startup Josys raises $93m Series B funding to revolutionize global IT operations
Published: 06-09-2023 | 09:33:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Josys announced a successful Series B funding round of $93 million.


Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Venture Capital joins Israeli startup nT-Tao's Series A funding round
Published: 04-09-2023 | 14:00:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Venture Capital has joined nT-Tao's Series A funding round.


Tokyo's dynamic ecosystem for a startup company and its global impact, Plug and Play
Published: 12-07-2023 | 11:15:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Tokyo, Japan is an economic powerhouse with its thriving business landscape.


Pegasus Tech Ventures launches $100m fund with Japanese chemicals and life science company Denka
Published: 27-01-2023 | 11:34:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Pegasus Tech Ventures (Pegasus), a global venture capital firm that is headquartered in the Silicon Valley, has established a $100 million corporate venture capital fund with Denka.


Japan headquartered drone and Urban Air Mobility startup Terra Drone raises $14m funding to accelerate growth
Published: 25-01-2023 | 09:59:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Terra Drone, a drone and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) technology provider, has raised $14 million in funding from Wa'ed Ventures, the venture capital arm of the biggest oil producer in the world, Aramco.


Japanese home health lab startup Bisu collaborates with Polaris Dawn to develop new ways to monitor astronaut health
Published: 05-12-2022 | 11:36:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Traveling in space leads to bone loss, muscle loss, and an increased risk of kidney stone formation, often starting within the first 24 hours of spaceflight as calcium levels in bone and tissue decrease.


Plug and Play Japan selects 74 startups for its Winter/Spring 2023 Batch accelerator program
Published: 05-12-2022 | 10:36:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Global innovation platform, Plug and Play Japan has selected 74 startups from Japan and overseas for the Winter/Spring 2023 Batch accelerator program which will be carried out from December 2022 to March 2023.


Japanese startup TIER IV launches commercial autonomous driving software platforms for multiple operational design domains
Published: 07-11-2022 | 08:55:00 | By: Pie Kamau
TIER IV, an open source autonomous driving startup, announced it has launched commercial autonomous driving software platforms "Pilot.Auto" and "Web.Auto".


Japanese startup SUN METALON raises $5.6m funding to democratize metal 3D manufacturing
Published: 25-10-2022 | 13:36:00 | By: Pie Kamau
SUN METALON, a Japanese startup developing a metal 3D printer, announced the procurement of $5.6 million in its pre-series A funding round.


Japanese foodtech startup Yo-Kai Express partners with IPPUDO and TableMark to bring ramen and udon dishes to its autonomous restaurant platform
Published: 05-09-2022 | 14:01:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Yo-Kai Express announced new partnerships with TableMark and Chikaranomoto, to jointly develop and market varieties of new udon and ramen menu options.


Japanese healthtech startup Ubie raises $26.2m Series C funding to fuel business growth in Japan and the U.S.
Published: 22-08-2022 | 12:33:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Ubie, a Japanese healthcare AI startup with a mission to develop a healthcare guide for everyone, announced it has raised $26.2 million in the 1st round of Series C funding.


Taiwanese martech startup Wavenet raises $3m series B round to expand in Japan and North America
Published: 12-08-2022 | 12:11:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Taiwanese marketing technology (martech) startup Wavenet, announced the raise of $3 million in series B round, to expand its operations to Japan and North America, and hire more international talents to join the team.


Japanese open-source autonomous driving startup TIER IV launches $300m green autonomous driving project
Published: 19-07-2022 | 13:51:00 | By: Pie Kamau
TIER IV, an open-source autonomous driving startup, announced it has received a grant from the Green Innovation Fund Projects (GI Fund) for research and development of autonomous driving software platforms.


Japanese healthtech startup Ubie launches AI-powered symptom checker in the U.S.
Published: 26-04-2022 | 12:11:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Ubie, Inc., a healthcare AI startup with the mission to develop a healthcare guide for everyone, has launched in the United States an AI-powered symptom checker that allows users to enter symptoms and discover related diseases.


U.S.-based food tech startup Yo-Kai Express launches autonomous restaurant platform in Japan
Published: 08-04-2022 | 13:16:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Yo-Kai Express, a Silicon Valley-based food tech startup announced the official debut of the Yo-Kai Express autonomous restaurant platform in J.R. East Tokyo.


Plug and Play Japan kicks off 3rd Smart Cities accelerator program in Osaka and Tokyo
Published: 29-03-2022 | 13:48:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Plug and Play Japan has selected 25 startups from Japan and overseas for their accelerator program that promotes open innovation in Smart Cities theme. From the Batch 3 program, it will expand and operate at two locations, Tokyo and Osaka.


Japanese SocialGood App raises $14.2m for patented crypto back platform
Published: 08-03-2022 | 10:57:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Japanese SocialGood App, which gives users cryptocurrency rewards for shopping, has raised $14.2 million in Series A funding from a venture capital firm.


Energy-efficient AI semiconductor startup EdgeCortix closes over $8m Series A funding
Published: 01-03-2022 | 11:58:00 | By: Pie Kamau
EdgeCortix the AI-focused fabless semiconductor company, announced the closing of over $8 million in series A funding.


Japanese powerhouses mixi and DAZN partner to create a sports NFT marketplace on Flow
Published: 07-02-2022 | 12:04:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Media powerhouse mixi, Inc. and global sports streaming service DAZN Japan Investment GK today announced that DAZN MOMENTS, a sports NFT marketplace, will launch on Flow, a Web3 platform designed for consumer-friendly applications.


JICA’s NINJA Accelerator completes 2nd Demo Day in Kenya, sends delegation to Silicon Valley
Published: 31-01-2022 | 14:10:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Shamba Pride, Saada Tech, Kijenzi, M-Paya Energy, and MyMovies.Africa are the five startups that shined during the 2nd Demo Day of the NINJA Accelerator in Kenya.


English cyber security startup CultureAI raises $4m seed round to measure and mitigate human cyber security risk
Published: 30-11-2021 | 13:59:00 | By: Pie Kamau
CultureAI, the human cyber security platform founded by professional hackers, announced the closing of a $4 million Seed round to fuel its rapid growth.


[Startup Interview] Sophie Tarif, Nina van Boxtel, Founders, BOETIEK, Netherlands
Published: 30-11-2021 | 13:57:00 | By: Bob Koigi
BOETIEK, a Dutch startup, works with local boutiques and brands to increase audiences and increase online sales. The platform offers a wide range of products and services from latest fashion trends to new online boutiques and concept stores.


[Startup Interview] Dave Withers, CEO, Vertis, USA
Published: 30-11-2021 | 13:53:00 | By: Bob Koigi
Vertis is a US-based startup that leverages billions of data points and proprietary data science to help business leaders implement data-driven talent and location strategies.


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.


Wellington-based metal casting startup Foundry Lab emerges from stealth, raises $8m Series A round
Published: 30-11-2021 | 12:43:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Digital metal casting startup Foundry Lab emerged from stealth, announcing a $8 million Series A raise led by Blackbird and showcasing its ability to create functional metal parts in less than a day.


French high-tech startup PlanetWatch selects city of Miami to deploy air quality monitoring network
Published: 30-11-2021 | 12:26:00 | By: Pie Kamau
PlanetWatch, the world's first decentralized indoor and outdoor air quality monitoring network built on the Algorand blockchain, has selected the city of Miami to deploy a network of its sensors citywide.


Canadian startup OutPoint raises $1.2m to help high-growth brands improve paid marketing effectiveness
Published: 26-11-2021 | 11:13:00 | By: Pie Kamau
OutPoint, an automated media mix modeling (MMM) platform, announced it raised $1.2 million in pre-seed funding to transform how high-growth consumer brands measure paid media effectiveness and diversify marketing investments.


Axelar secures investment from Crypto.com Capital to bolster its efforts to connect blockchain ecosystems
Published: 26-11-2021 | 11:00:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Axelar, the universal interoperability network connecting all blockchain ecosystems, applications, assets, and users, announced it has secured a strategic investment from Crypto.com Capital, the investment arm of cryptocurrency giant Crypto.com.


Lithuanian peer-to-peer crypto-asset swapping startup 123swap closes $210k seed round
Published: 26-11-2021 | 10:45:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Lithuanian peer-to-peer crypto assets swap platform123swap Finance announced it closed $210k seed round funding from a number of angel investors, including Becker Venture Capital and Steven Becker.


Estonian startup Gelatex raises €1.2m seed round for affordable and scalable manufactured cell-cultured meat
Published: 26-11-2021 | 10:06:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Estonian startup Gelatex announced it raised €1.2m seed round for affordable and scalable manufactured cell-cultured meat, making it cheaper than ever.


Croatian AI startup Mindsmiths receives $1.4m seed funding to develop and expand its ASS platform
Published: 26-11-2021 | 09:18:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Globally awarded Croatian AI startup Mindsmiths received $1.4 million in seed funding from Feelsgood investment fund which supports companies with proven positive social impact.


Chinese gaming and entertainment startup Talon closes $5m Series A funding to accelerate growth
Published: 25-11-2021 | 12:31:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Talon, the Hong Kong headquartered competitive gaming, entertainment and culture brand announced it has secured $5 million in equity capital in its Series A financing round.


KingsCrowd partners with Backstage Capital to educate new generation of startup investors
Published: 25-11-2021 | 11:51:00 | By: Pie Kamau
KingsCrowd, the online private market's first and only data-driven ratings and analytics platform, has reached a strategic partnership with Backstage Capital, to educate a new generation of startup investors.


Bio-material tech startup Cruz Foam closes $2.5m seed funding to accelerate circular protective packaging solutions
Published: 25-11-2021 | 11:32:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Cruz Foam, a mission-driven sustainable materials company, announced it has closed $2.5 million in seed funding in a raise led by At One Ventures to enable the transition toward a circular economy.


Robotics startup HaptX raises $4m investment from Crescent Cove Advisors to accelerate expansion
Published: 25-11-2021 | 11:14:00 | By: Pie Kamau
HaptX, the provider of realistic haptic gloves for VR and robotics, announced it has secured a $4 million credit facility from Crescent Cove Advisors, bringing HaptX's Series A funding to $28m, and the company's total funding to $35m.


Agritech startup FarmSense receives $2.2m SBIR funding for development of biosecurity measures against native and invasive pests
Published: 24-11-2021 | 08:27:00 | By: Pie Kamau
FarmSense, the agritech startup and creator of Smart Flight Sensors, announced it has been awarded Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funds in the amount of more than $2.2 million.


Brazilian fintech startup TruePay raises $32m Series A funding for team and product development
Published: 24-11-2021 | 08:15:00 | By: Pie Kamau
TruePay, a Brazilian startup whose innovative payment solution helps small and medium sized retailers have free and secure access to credit, has raised $32 million in Series A funding led by Addition.


Miami-based VC firm Borderless Capital closes $10m PLANETS.Fund to build green data economy on Algorand
Published: 24-11-2021 | 08:00:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Borderless Capital, the Miami-based venture capital firm dedicated to the Algorand ecosystem, announced the closing of PLANETS.Fund, a $10 millionn fund focused on building a green data economy.


Kigali-based agriculture startup AflaSight, partners launch innovative projects to improve maize quality in Rwanda
Published: 24-11-2021 | 07:49:00 | By: Pie Kamau
The World Food Programme, IFC, Kigali-based agriculture startup AflaSight, and research firm Vanguard Economics launched innovative projects to help farmers and grain traders reduce the prevalence of aflatoxins in crops and grains in Rwanda.


Toronto-based mobility startup Treepz expands to East Africa, acquires Uganda's Ugabus
Published: 24-11-2021 | 07:40:00 | By: Pie Kamau
In a bid to digitize the public transportation system and provide safer, reliable and comfortable commute options across Africa, Toronto-based shared mobility company Treepz, announced its acquisition of a similar Ugandan bus company Ugabus.


Africa-based cryptocurrency exchange Busha raises $4.2m seed round to deepen its market positioning
Published: 24-11-2021 | 07:34:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Africa-based cryptocurrency exchange Busha, raised $4.2 million seed round led by Jump Capital. Cadenza Ventures, Blockwall Capital, CMT Digital, Greenhouse Capital, Raba Capital, and other investors also participated in the financing round.


Israeli foodtech startup Imagindairy closes $13m seed round to advance animal-free dairy
Published: 23-11-2021 | 08:08:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Imagindairy, a foodtech company creating milk proteins identical to those from cows, announced completion of a $13 milion seed round, led by MoreVC, a leading seed stage investor in Israel managing $275 million across three funds.


Crowd Capital joins FinHealth US 2021 accelerator program for early-stage startups
Published: 23-11-2021 | 07:46:17 | By: Pie Kamau
Crowd Capital has been selected to participate in FinHealth US 2021. This will enhance Crowd Capital's mission to offer families facing financial hardship.


Fintech startup and shareholder loyalty pioneer TiiCKER launches Android app
Published: 23-11-2021 | 07:36:00 | By: Pie Kamau
TiiCKER hit the trifecta with the addition of an Android app to its web and iOS portals, giving America's estimated 130 million retail investors instant access to loyalty rewards.


Kenyan gaming startup Usiku Games develops Africa’s first mobile football game
Published: 23-11-2021 | 07:28:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Kenyan gaming startup Usiku Games unveiled an amateur football mobile game to promote outdoor physical activities and encourage sportsmanship among youths in East Africa.


South African fintech firm Ozow raises $48m Series B round to accelerate growth
Published: 23-11-2021 | 07:07:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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.


Seattle-area startup Lassen Peak raises $10m seed funding for weapons search technology
Published: 19-11-2021 | 12:58:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Seattle-area startup Lassen Peak announced the completion of Seed financing of $10 million with Alpha Intelligence Capital, Lauder Partners, Orbit Venture Partners, and other strategic seed investors participating in the investments.


Virginia medtech and sportstech startup OxiWear closes pre-seed funding round at $1.25m
Published: 19-11-2021 | 12:26:00 | By: Pie Kamau
OxiWear announced it successfully closed a pre-seed funding round at $1.25 million, oversubscribed above its goal of $750,000.


World's innovation platform Plug and Play launches in Basel, Switzerland
Published: 19-11-2021 | 12:11:00 | By: Pie Kamau
The largest innovation enabler in the world, Plug and Play, announced the launch of a new office in Basel, Switzerland, in partnership with the first Founding Partner, uptownBasel.


Israeli Medical device startup Filterlex closes $6m Series A1 investment to accelerate CAPTIS cardiovascular clinical program
Published: 19-11-2021 | 11:57:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Filterlex Medical, a cardiovascular medical device startup, announced it completed a $6 million series A1 investment round from private healthcare investors.


London-based healthcare startup Gravitiq raises $55m seed round to expand portfolio of e-Commerce healthcare brands
Published: 19-11-2021 | 11:33:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Gravitiq, the doctor-founded and led healthcare brand aggregator, announced the close of its seed funding round, raising a total of $55 million.


Crypto Valley Venture Capital initiates investment strategy to build blockchain accelerator for African startups
Published: 18-11-2021 | 10:32:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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.


GROWMARK and CHS launch Cooperative Ventures to drive technology advancements for agritech startups
Published: 18-11-2021 | 10:20:41 | By: Pie Kamau
GROWMARK and CHS announced the formation of Cooperative Ventures, a new capital fund that will focus on creating advancements in breakthrough technologies for the agriculture industry.


Nigerian healthtech startup Helium acquires doctor booking platform Meddy
Published: 18-11-2021 | 09:38:43 | By: Pie Kamau
Helium Health (Helium), the healthcare technology provider in Africa, announced it has completed the acquisition of Meddy, the GCC-based doctor booking platform, which has operations in Qatar and the U.A.E.


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 logistics AI startup Amphorica partners with Swiss investor Falco Capital to accelerate growth
Published: 18-11-2021 | 09:14:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Falco Capital and Amphorica jointly announced the closing of a capital investment and cooperation agreement. As part of the agreement, Amphorica appoints Falco Capital partner Peter Salzer, as Director of the company's board.


Illumina and Sequoia Capital select first startups to join Genomics Incubator in China
Published: 18-11-2021 | 08:56:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Illumina and Sequoia Capital China, an investment firm, jointly announced the selection of the first two startup companies joining the Sequoia Capital China Intelligent Healthcare Genomics Incubator, Powered by Illumina.


Israeli femtech startup illumigyn partners with Peramare Pharmaceuticals to bring innovative gynecological imaging platform to Nigeria
Published: 17-11-2021 | 15:22:31 | By: Pie Kamau
illumigyn, world's first remote gynecological imaging platform, announced its new distribution agreement with Peramare Pharmaceuticals Nigeria, to deploy 5,000 Gynescopes in Nigeria by 2026.


Robert Bosch Venture Capital GmbH joins Variantyx's $26m Series C funding round
Published: 17-11-2021 | 12:20:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Robert Bosch Venture Capital GmbH, the corporate venture capital company of the Bosch Group, has completed an investment in Variantyx, to improve personalized oncology treatment.


Indonesia's Hypefast emerges from stealth mode as the largest house of e-Commerce native brands in Southeast Asia
Published: 17-11-2021 | 12:01:14 | By: Pie Kamau
Hypefast, Southeast Asia's (SEA) largest house of e-Commerce native brands, announced it has grown its portfolio to more than 25 brands and has been achieving full profitability.


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.


Firmware security startup NetRise emerges from stealth with $6.8m seed round
Published: 17-11-2021 | 11:26:00 | By: Pie Kamau
NetRise, the company solving the world's firmware security problem, has emerged from stealth by closing their $6.8 million Seed Round led by Miramar Digital Ventures, with Sorenson Ventures, DNX Ventures and multiple strategic angels.


AI-informed physical security startup Hakimo raises $4m seed round
Published: 17-11-2021 | 11:06:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Hakimo, an AI platform designed to bring cybersecurity-like tools to the physical security industry, announced $4 million seed funding.


Finnish heathcare startup Valo Tx raises €11m to advance PeptiCRAd immunotherapy platform into the clinic
Published: 16-11-2021 | 13:22:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Valo Therapeutics Oy (Valo Tx), the developer of novel, adaptable immunotherapy platforms for cancer and infectious diseases, raised €11 million in an oversubscribed Pre-IPO funding round.


Japanese VR startup HIKKY raises $57m Series A funding to expand its services domestically and abroad
Published: 16-11-2021 | 12:59:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Virtual reality (VR) startup and organizers of VR events in the world HIKKY raised 6.5 billion yen ($57 million) in an initial stage of its Series A funding 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.


Kenyan fintech startup Kwara launches regional offices to reach SACCOs across the country
Published: 16-11-2021 | 11:24:54 | By: Pie Kamau
Kenyan fintech startup Kwara opened regional offices in the Western, Central, Rift Valley and Coastal regions of Kenya as part of its expansion in the country.


South Africa's emergency marketplace startup AURA secures R62m Series A funding for global expansion
Published: 16-11-2021 | 11:18:18 | By: Pie Kamau
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.


Home fashion startup Modern Matter raises $1.2m seed round to accelerate growth of its e-Commerce platform
Published: 11-11-2021 | 11:58:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Modern Matter, a design company and manufacturer of decorative and architectural hardware, raised $1.2 million in seed capital. Modern Matter collaborates with leading designers to develop exclusive hardware designs for luxury homeowners.


Healthtech startup Sigrid Therapeutics raises $8.4m from US, Irish and Swedish investors for diabetes breakthrough
Published: 11-11-2021 | 11:25:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Swedish healthtech startup Sigrid Therapeutics is set to prevent two of the world's biggest health challenges, type 2 diabetes and obesity with its SiPore15® powder.


Investor Advisor Seed Ventures closes first round
Published: 11-11-2021 | 11:04:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Investor Advisor Seed Ventures (IA Seed Ventures) announced the first closing of its new venture fund with investments in five companies. These deals mark the beginning of active investment for this new network of accomplished investors.


South African fleet-tech startup KeyTec and LocoNav enter Africa's video telematics market
Published: 11-11-2021 | 10:49:00 | By: Pie Kamau
South Africa fleet-tech startup KeyTec has partnered with LocoNav to capture the emerging and high-growth video telematics market throughout Africa.


Kenyan Mental health startup Shamiri Institute raises $1m, expands to the rest of Africa
Published: 11-11-2021 | 10:36:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Shamiri Institute, a Kenyan mental health startup has raised $1 million in funding from the Templeton World Charity Foundation to tackle the scourge of mental health in Kenya and the rest of the African continent.


Community knowledge sharing startup 7th Ave raises $2.5m seed round
Published: 03-11-2021 | 13:17:00 | By: Pie Kamau
7th Ave, a knowledge sharing platform for Black professionals, creatives, entrepreneurs, and students announced a $2.5 million seed round to create a space where mindful discovery, discussion, and community take place.


Compliance startup Laika raises $35m Series B to help companies ace security audits
Published: 03-11-2021 | 12:54:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Laika, the industry's first unified compliance-as-a-service platform, announced it has closed $35 million in Series B funding led by J.P. Morgan Growth Equity Partners with participation from PayPal Ventures.


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.


Indian full-stack agritech startup DeHaat raises $115m Series D round
Published: 03-11-2021 | 12:18:00 | By: Pie Kamau
DeHaat, the technology-based platform offering end-to-end agricultural services to farmers in India, announced it has raised $115 million in Series D funding, led by Belgium based investment firm Sofina and Lightrock India.


Romanian startup Flip lands €1.5m from Prosus-owned eMAG, plans CEE leadership in refurbished products
Published: 03-11-2021 | 12:02:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Flip, a Romanian startup in the Recommerce market, landed the first eMAG Ventures accelerated investment worth 1.5 million euros and targets the leading position in Central and Eastern Europe.


Israeli medical device startup Innoventric wins Horizon Europe Grant, secures $14m Series A investment
Published: 02-11-2021 | 13:24:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Israeli medical device startup Innoventric, secured $14 million through its Series A financing, including the prestigious Horizon Europe Grant for the sum of €2.5 million.


Berlin-based investment platform Moonfare raises $125m Series C to accelerate global growth
Published: 02-11-2021 | 13:03:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Moonfare, the digital private equity investment platform for individual investors, raised $125 million in Series C funding, led by New York-based Insight Partners, to continue to develop innovative investment solutions and accelerate its international expansion.


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.


Four Ghanaian startups join the Catalyst Fund Inclusive Digital Commerce accelerator
Published: 02-11-2021 | 12:01:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Four startups from Ghana have joined The Catalyst Fund Inclusive Digital Commerce Accelerator, a programme that supports innovators building digital commerce solutions.


Kenyan-based payroll startup Workpay expands to Nigeria
Published: 02-11-2021 | 11:34:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Workpay, a Nairobi-based YC graduate, is expanding its operations to Nigeria. The cloud-based workforce management startup will now offer Core HR, Payroll, and employee record services to organizations in the country.


JICA kicks off 2nd Cohort of its NINJA Accelerator in Kenya
Published: 28-10-2021 | 16:35:00 | By: Pie Kamau
The NINJA Accelerator in Kenya, powered by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in partnership with Double Feather Partners, Deloitte Tohmatsu and Kenyan implementation partner GrowthAfrica, is kicking off its 2nd cohort with five tech-enabled Kenyan startups.


Japanese startup Autify raises $10m Series A to advance software testing automation through no-code solution
Published: 06-10-2021 | 13:29:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Autify, a no-code AI-powered software testing automation platform, announced today that it has raised $10 million in Series A funding. Leading the round is World Innovation Lab (WiL).


Tokyo-based AI startup Attuned launches writer fellowship on Substack
Published: 29-06-2021 | 13:52:39 | By: Pie Kamau
Attuned, a Tokyo-based tech startup that uses psychology and AI to track intrinsic motivation and boost employee engagement, announced the launch of a global writing competition on digital newsletter-publishing platform Substack.


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.


Kenyan fintech startup Kwara selected for Japan-led Ninja Accelerator programme
Published: 06-05-2021 | 10:56:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Digital banking platform and fintech company Kwara has been selected for the first cohort of the Ninja Accelerator programme in Kenya.


U.S.-based food tech startup Yo-Kai Express expands partnerships with Japan
Published: 26-04-2021 | 13:16:00 | By: Pie Kamau
While restaurants and small businesses everywhere have struggled to survive the pandemic, U.S.-based foodtech startup Yo-Kai Express (YKE) has leveraged its technology and ideas to evolve and transform its business models to broader platforms.


Japanese startup Paidy raises $120m in Series D round
Published: 06-04-2021 | 15:36:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Paidy Inc., Japan's "Buy Now, Pay Later" (BNPL) service provider, announced it completed the Series D round of funding, raising a total of $120 million.


Australian AI startup HIVERY partners with JR East Water Business to optimize vending machines in Japan
Published: 16-12-2020 | 15:52:24 | By: Pie Kamau
Retail AI pioneer, HIVERY and JR East Water Business, have agreed to rollout HIVERY Enhance, an AI-driven vending machine optimization solution, to 6,000 vending machines across East Japan Railway's train stations.


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.


Toyoda Gosei Invests in Tohoku University startup Ball Wave
Published: 01-12-2020 | 13:47:49 | By: Bob Koigi
Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. has invested in Ball Wave Inc., a startup from Tohoku University that develops practical applications of ball SAW sensors.


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.


Toyota AI Ventures invests in Canadian robotic kitchen startup YPC Technologies
Published: 21-10-2020 | 11:50:09 | By: Pie Kamau
Toyota AI Ventures, Toyota's early-stage venture capital fund, announced its investment in YPC Technologies, a robotic kitchen startup based in Montreal, Canada.


Alfa Bank, Plug and Play collaborate on innovation in Fintech
Published: 30-09-2020 | 14:39:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Along with 80 other financial institutions across the United States, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Milan, Paris, Abu Dhabi, Shanghai, Singapore, and Tokyo, Alfa Bank will join Plug and Play's global ecosystem.


Virtual reality startup Nanome partners with Fujitsu to bring drug design software to Japanese market
Published: 15-09-2020 | 08:28:00 | By: Pie Kamau
San Diego-based virtual reality (VR) startup Nanome, has entered into an agreement with Fujitsu to bring their signature product, an immersive scientific design and collaboration platform to the Japanese market.


Kenyan startup PayGo Energy announces strategic investment from Saisan
Published: 21-07-2020 | 15:25:00 | By: Pie Kamau
PayGo Energy, an Energy Access Ventures portfolio company, has secured a strategic investment from Saisan, a leading Japanese energy company.