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Kenyan green entrepreneurs mark Day of Zero Waste with festival
The Fest culminated a week-long digital campaign dubbed #BeatPlasticPollution aimed at addressing the plastic pollution menace in Mombasa.
[Kenya] Livestock sector players review investment opportunities, challenges in unique forum
With the demand for livestock products projected to grow by up to 50% by 2030, there’s a clear opportunity for strategic investments to drive growth and innovation in the sector.
Kenya startups raised the highest amount of funding in Africa in 2023, report
For some time now, Nigeria has always received the biggest share of startup investments, however, in 2023, Kenya overtook the West African country, gaining the highest amount of tech funds on the continent.
EIB Global announces $30 million investment in Seedstars Africa Ventures I, a VC fund for African entrepreneurs
Innovative businesses and start-ups across Africa will benefit from better access to risk capital thanks to a US$30 million equity investment by EIB Global in the Seedstars Africa Ventures I venture capital fund.
Kenyan climate tech startup Amini raises $4 million seed funding raises to accelerate growth into new sectors
Amini’s successful raise follows a $2 million pre-seed funding round that closed in March 2023. The pre-seed round was led by Pale Blue Dot, backed by Superorganism who also participated in this seed round alongside new investors such as Satgana.
[Kenya] Mombasa innovators showcase green innovations during the royal visit
Mombasa’s young innovators addressing marine plastic pollution caught the attention of King Charles III and Queen Camilla during their royal visit to Kenya.
[Column] Christopher Saul: Kenya’s AI revolution can happen with the IT you already have
AI is set to become the most prolific and impactful technology trend in the world.
STHL East Africa bets on demand for power tools to grow revenues
German power tools manufacturer, STIHL East Africa, has reported a significant increase in revenue in its first year of operation since upgrading its marketing office to a fully-fledged sales subsidiary.
Lipa Later announces close of Sh500 million privately placed debt issuance
According to the company, the journey to empower Kenyan consumers with convenient and accessible financing options has been met with enthusiasm from customers and the private capital markets.
Kenyan insurtech startup Turaco acquires Ghana’s MicroEnsure
Turaco, the Kenyan insurtech startup, has acquired MicroEnsure Ghana from MIC Global.
Five Kenyan cleantech startups selected for JICA’s Project NINJA accelerator
Five Kenyan cleantech startups have been selected for the 3rd cohort of JICA.
STIHL East Africa set to introduce battered powered products
STIHL East Africa has announced plans to introduce battery powered products in the East African Market as the firm celebrates its one year anniversary in the region.
The place of Kenyan startups in growing the medtech sector
Investment in the medical devices segment of Africa’s startup space has the potential to hit $259 billion by 2030. Currently, the sector has attracted $500 million in investments.
Kenyan healthtech startup Zuri Health secures additional investment from Marula Square
Zuri Health has secured additional investment from Marula Square.
Safaricom Shareholders approve two new subsidiaries to invest in Kenyan tech start-ups
These significant developments, approved at Safaricom’s 15th Annual General Meeting (AGM), represent a momentous step towards supporting tech entrepreneurs, fostering innovation, and fortifying Safaricom's role as a key enabler of the Kenyan tech community.
Kenyan households bet on food MSEs for affordable meals
An estimated 60 per cent of rural and urban Kenyan households access their daily meals from micro/small enterprises (MSEs) at local markets.
Kenyan healthtech startup Zuri Health raises undisclosed funding from Five35 Ventures
Kenyan healthtech startup Zuri Health has raised an undisclosed amount of funding.
Kenyan agritech startup Kyosk acquires KwikBasket, expands into fresh produce market
Kenyan agritech startup Kyosk, is expanding into the African fresh produce market.
Kenyan e-Health startup MYDAWA raises $20m funding from Alta Semper Capital
MYDAWA has received $20m capital injection from private equity investor.
Kenyan fashion e-Commerce startup ShopZetu raises pre-seed funding to fuel growth of its marketplace
Kenyan fashion e-Commerce startup ShopZetu has raised $1m pre-seed funding.
Kenyan startup MESH grows to reach 150,000 young entrepreneurs
Kenyan startup MESH, announced it has reached 150,000 members.
Kenyan mobility startup Stima secures €100k investment
Stima Mobility has secured €100,000 investment from DEG Impulse.
[Column] Patrick Ndegwa: Journey to the centre of the cloud; why Kenya should store data locally
Kenyan businesses are migrating to the cloud en masse.
[Interview] Caroline Mutuku, General Manager, Glovo, Kenya
Caroline Mutuku is Kenya's General Manager of multi-category app Glovo.
Fintech firm LemFi expands diaspora remittance services to Kenya
LemFi announced it has formally launched its diaspora remittance services in Kenya.
[Kenya] Entrepreneurs tackling marine plastics problems feted
The awards, which showcased the most effective solutions to tackle Mombasa’s marine plastics problem, were the culmination of a six-month initiative funded by USAID and Global Affairs Canada.
[Column] Mukesh Bector: A simple place to start if you’re lagging on digital transformation
Digital transformation: we’ve all heard the phrase a thousand times.
Nigeria's regtech startup Youverify launches its full cycle compliance solutions in Kenya
Youverify has officially entered the Kenyan market.
[Column] Joanne Mwangi – Yelbert: Entice more women in tech to bridge skills gap and bolster growth
Incredible improvements in tech are rapidly reshaping our world.
STIHL EA to invest Sh100 million to boost local manufacturing
Power tools manufacturer STIHL East Africa has announced it will invest Sh100 million in local accessories manufacturing every year as it seeks to localise its product development in the region.
Kenya's B2B e-Commerce startup Wasoko expands to Zambia
Wasoko has revealed plans to invest over $1 million in Zambia. The B2B retail and e-Commerce made this announcement while announcing its official entry into the Southern African country.
Nigerian fintech startup Grey expands into Kenya
Nigerian fintech startup Grey has picked Kenya as its East African Hub as it expands operations in the largest economy in the East African Community.
Mobile app points Ugandan stakeholders to reliable fisheries data
Trained data collectors consult with fishers to update the easy-to-use app with data such as fish catch quantity, type of fishing nets and boats used, and how much money the fishers expect to earn.
The Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council appoints Elgon Kenya MD for advisory role
The Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, CWEIC, has selected agro input company Elgon Kenya as its strategic partner and appointed its Managing Director Dr. Bimal Kantaria to its global advisory council.
GRASP fellowship invests in African women researchers
The Kenyan women, and others selected for the GRASP Fellowship, are set to participate in a series of interventions, including leadership and mentoring training, designed to enable them to become more effective policy practitioners
Factor[e] Ventures launches a new venture studio to transform the African startup ecosystem
Delta40 focuses on technology-driven energy, agriculture, and mobility ventures led by diverse, experienced founders.
Insurtech startup Turaco and Airtel Money launch low-cost hospital cash insurance product in Uganda
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.
[Column] Veerakumar Natarajan: How tech can help stimulate micro economies
Technological progression plays a crucial role in fostering economic growth. A lack of access to technology can hinder local economies, particularly in developing countries such as Kenya and other African nations.
[Column] Didi Onwu: Understanding youth entrepreneurship in Kenya - why fintech is an attractive sector
Boasting one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa, Kenya is on the rise to become a powerhouse of innovation on the continent. This is largely in part due to the country’s thriving culture of entrepreneurship and its significant startup ecosystem.
Elgon Kenya partners with Ministry of Agriculture to reward young farmers
Agro input company Elgon Kenya has partnered with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Education to reward pupils and their teachers for participating in food production in a wider scheme that seeks to motivate school going children into farming.
[Interview] Mikhail Marchenko, Co-founder, JuicyScore, Kenya
Mikhail Marchenko is the Co-founder of JuicyScore, which recently launched its operations in Kenya. JuicyScore offers anti-fraud and risk management solutions to digital lenders, insurance companies, e-commerce and classifieds.
CcHUB launches $15m accelerator for edtech startups in Kenya and Nigeria
Co-Creation Hub (CcHUB), touted as Africa’s largest innovation and incubation hub, announced it is launching a $15 million accelerator program for targeting edtech startups.
Insurtech startup Lami joins forces with Unchorlight to provide insurance covers for Boda Boda riders in Kenya
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.
Kenyan fintech startup Power Financial raises $3m seed funding to accelerate growth
Power Financial Wellness, a Kenyan fintech startup that seeks to advance the financial well-being of its customers has secured a $3 million seed funding.
Mombasa Plastic Prize selects 60 Kenyan innovators to tackle plastic pollution along the coastline
Aged 18-25, the finalists are grouped into 15 teams and are now in a race to be one of the top three teams to win over KES 7 million of cash prizes. The first-place team will take home KES 3.5 million.
Africa’s mobility startup eWaka secures $540K loan from SECO to accelerate growth
Kenyan mobility solutions provider eWaka has secured a $540K loan from the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) of the Swiss Confederation.
Kenyan government drops fraud charges against Nigerian fintech Flutterwave
The Kenyan government has dropped charges of financial impropriety against Flutterwave, according to a new report by Bloomberg.
Kenyan rural Internet Service Provider Mawingu raises $9m to scale its operations across the country
Rural Internet Service Provider (ISP), Mawingu has raised $9 million in Series B funding to scale its operations across Kenya.
[Startup Interview] Don Okoth, General Manager, Sendy, Kenya
Don Okoth is General Manager for Kenyan Fulfillment and Logistics startup Sendy. In this interview, he talks about the current state of logistics in Kenya and beyond, including Sendy's role in shaping the industry.
Kenyan healthtech startup Zuri Health raises funding to expand across Africa
Kenyan healthtech startup Zuri Health announced it has raised an undisclosed amount of funding from Moroccan VC UM6P Ventures. The funds will be used to support Zuri’s growth and expansion across Africa.
Workstyle Africa and SNDBX launch entrepreneurship centers in East Africa
Serviced office space provider, Workstyle Africa, has partnered with SNDBX International, a business growth ecosystem, to open five one-stop-shop entrepreneurship centres and workspaces in East Africa.
Mobility startup BasiGo and AVA to assemble 1,000 electric buses in Kenya
BasiGo, the Kenyan-based electric manufacturer has partnered with the Associated Vehicle Assemblers (AVA), to assemble its buses in the country.
Kenyan fintech startup Kwara raises $3m seed extension
Kenyan fintech startup Kwara has raised a $3 million seed extension. The new investment was led by existing backers DOB Equity, Globivest and the founder of Kobalt Music.
Maven Mentorship programme to equip teenagers with skills for the future
Former Principal Executive Director at Britam PLC Stephen Wandera has launched a mentorship programme aimed at equipping teenagers with the necessary skills to be prepared for the future.
Kenya to host sixth edition of continental agriculture expo
Kenya will host the 6th edition of Africa Agri Expo in February 2023 , endorsed by Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development aimed at bringing the entire agricultural value chain under one roof.
The Kenya Trade Network Agency launches trade facilitation tool
The Trade Facilitation Platform facilitates trade in Kenya by reducing delays and lowering costs associated with clearance of goods at the Kenyan borders, while maintaining the requisite controls and collection of levies, fee and duties, where applicable, on imports and exports.
African tech startup SeamlessHR picks Nairobi as its East African Hub
Nigeria’s tech startup SeamlessHR has launched its offices in the Kenyan market, choosing Nairobi as its East African Hub.
Identity verification startup Verified.Africa launches in Kenya
Verified.Africa, the pioneer of ID verification, document verification and digital KYC compliance solutions, announced it has launched in Kenya.
Canadian B2B automotive trading startup TRADE X opens new trading facilities in Kenya
TRADE X, a B2B cross-border automotive trading platform based in Ontario, Canada, announced it has opened a new Kenyan trading corridor, which includes both a shared bonded warehouse in Mombasa and an office in Nairobi.
Agroforestry startup Propagate raises $10m Series A funding to accelerate growth
Propagate, a commercial agroforestry platform, has closed a $10 million Series A led by Belgium-based The Nest.
Chinese web3 startup Viide shows ambition to leverage advertising through Decentralized Screen Network
Viide, a web3 startup has shown its ambition to leverage the value of web3 advertising in China through its Decentralized Screen Network.
Second Century Ventures expands REACH program to Latin America, opens applications for 2023 program
Second Century Ventures, the strategic investment arm of the National Association of Realtors, announced the expansion of the award-winning REACH technology growth program to Latin America.
Kenyan fintech startup Hisa unveils realtime stocks trading
Fintech startup Hisa has launched an application that allows Kenyans to invest in the stock market directly from their phones using mobile money.
Nigerian fintech startup Pivo raises $2m seed round to accelerate growth
Nigerian fintech startup Pivo, announced the closing of $2 million seed round with participation from Precursor Ventures, Vested World, Y Combinator, FoundersX and existing investor, Mercy Corp Ventures.
Cyndx launches Valer to generate faster and more accurate startup valuations
Cyndx, an AI-powered search and discovery engine built to simplify deal origination, has announced the launch of Valer, the company's new corporate valuation tool.
[ Lithuanian Unicorns] An insatiable hunger to prove their talent drives Lithuanian startups' growth
Smashing its records year by year, Lithuania's startup ecosystem has proved that there're no limits to growth. According to Dealroom.co, over the last five years, it has accelerated 16.6 times and is now valued at €10 billion.
Israeli foodtech startup ChickP raises dairy-free ice cream to new heights
ChickP Protein, a food-tech startup, has introduced chickpea protein isolate for plant-based ice cream. Protein from this ancient crop zeroes in on the non-dairy category to make a tasty plant-based frozen dessert.
Speech AI startup Deepgram completes $47m Series B round to define the future of speech understanding
Speech AI startup Deepgram announced it has raised $47 million in equity funding led by Madrona, with Alkeon participating as a new investor, to define the future of speech understanding.
Canadian SaaS startup Produce8 closes $6m investment to accelerate growth in the future of workforce analytics
Produce8, a startup SaaS company aiming to reduce distractions and increase productivity for distributed and digital-first teams, announced $6 million in funding to support strategic growth.
Belgian coliving startup Cohabs joins forces with real estate investors to accelerate growth
Cohabs, a Brussels-based company specializing in coliving, announced the entry into its capital of three new institutional investors: Ivanhoé Cambridge, Belfius Insurance, and the real estate arm of the Belgian Sovereign Fund (SFPIM - Real Estate).
Medical device startup Nyra Medical closes $20m Series A financing for its transcatheter heart valve repair technology
Nyra Medical, a medical device company that is developing a novel transcatheter mitral valve repair technology, announced the closing of a $20 million Series A financing.
Heidelberg-based FundaMental Pharma launches with €10m seed financing to advance a First-in-Class neuroprotectant
FundaMental Pharma (FundaMental), a preclinical neuroscience company spun out of Heidelberg University, announced it has launched with €10 million in seed financing led by BioGeneration Ventures (BGV).
eureKARE co-leads €5m seed investment in Biomemory which is advancing cutting-edge DNA-based data storage solutions
eureKARE, an innovative investment company for disruptive synthetic biology applications, announced it has co-led a €5 million seed funding round in Biomemory.
MyMonty calls to all banks, MNOs and startups: the time for digitization is now!
In 1998, Mountasser Hachem founded Monty Holding, which has since become a giant in the telco sector, achieving unprecedented global penetration.
New Adevinta Ventures report reveals that B2B Marketplaces outperform other tech segments in VC funding
Adevinta Ventures, the early-stage investment arm of Adevinta, an online classifieds specialist, is launching a new B2B marketplaces report.
Insurtech startup Surround Insurance raises $2.5m seed round to help cconsumers navigate life’s transitions
Insurtech startup Surround Insurance announced that it has closed a $2.5 million seed round led by MassMutual through the MM Catalyst Fund.
Global startups accelerator Luminate partners with Silicon Catalyst to speed development of emerging technologies
Luminate NY, the global accelerator for startups developing optics, photonics, and imaging (OPI) enabled technologies, announced it has formed a strategic partnership with Silicon Catalyst.
Berlin-based AI-powered startup Faircado raises €500K to transform E-commerce into Re-commerce
Faircado, a Berlin-based startup that provides the first AI-powered second-hand shopping assistance, announced it has raised €500,000 in a pre-seed round led by BackBone Ventures.
Check Point Software launches accelerator hub for Israeli cybersecurity startups
Check Point Software Technologies, the provider of cybersecurity solutions globally, has launched its CyberUp program, an initiative that will support Israel’s growing network of cybersecurity startups.
Tanzanian CPG startup Ramani raises $32m to digitize supply chains
Ramani, a Tanzanian startup focused on consumer-packaged goods (CPG) supply chains, has raised $32 million in Series A debt-equity funding to introduce new financial services as it expands its operations.
MadKudu platform secures $18m to accelerate adoption of product-led growth
MadKudu, the Product-Led-Growth (PLG) leader disrupting the software industry, announced today its $18 million Series A led by Felicis.
Rosotics raises $750,000 pre-seed round for novel approach to heavy industry 3D printing
Rosotics, innovators in additive manufacturing, announced $750,000 in pre-seed funding led by Draper Associates.
Beverage startup Hangobi raises capital on StartEngine to accelerate growth
Beverage startup Hangobi announced it is raising capital on SearchEngine to expand its footprint beyond NYC, bringing its healthy drinks to the masses.
[Startup Interview] Assim Gupta, CEO, Closeloop Technologies, USA
Among the solutions it offers include website development, chatbots, ecommerce apps and mobile app development.
London-based workforce management startup Surfboard raises $5m seed round to accelerate growth
London-based startup Surfboard announced it has raised a $5 million seed round. The investment will advance Surfboard's mission of making work more human through building collaborative software.
[Column] Natalia Ahmadian: Four ways to accelerate tech transfer in Europe
The importance of university spin-offs has been recognized for decades. Several studies showed that Tech Transfer is beneficial for social welfare and entrepreneurial activity
[Interview] Jennifer Feaster, Speaker, YouTube Creators Festival
Jennifer Feaster is a Managing Partner at Age Africa, an agency that combines data and creativity to develop performance driven YouTube channels, with unique content optimized for success.
Rutgers MBA alumna Hannah Redmond realizes dream of being an entrepreneur as venture takes off
Hannah Redmond kept retrieving lessons from her MBA classes at Rutgers Business School as she built her startup, Happy Box, from an idea to a ranking on Inc.'s list of fastest-growing companies.
Kenyan supply chain and logistics startup Leta secures $3m pre-seed funding to accelerate growth
Leta, the supply chain and logistics startup driving distribution optimization, announced the close of $3 million Pre-Seed equity round.
Kenya to host international poultry expo next year
Demand for poultry products is on the rise in Kenya driven by an emerging middle-class created in existing and new urban settlements as a result of devolution.
Mental health-tech startup Resilience Lab raises $15m to address the U.S. systemic mental health access crisis
Resilience Lab, a mental health-tech company enabling communities of clinicians to collaborate to improve patient access and outcomes, announced it has raised $15 million in Series A funding.
Swiss Web3 payment startup DePay partners with WooCommerce to bring payments to online merchants
Swiss Web3 payment startup DePay, announced it is joining forces with the self-hostable, open-source eCommerce plugin WooCommerce, pushing decentralization further and providing merchants with the ability to have customers send payments directly to their own wallets.
Canadian B2B automotive trading startup TRADE X opens a trade route in Ghana
TRADE X, a B2B cross-border automotive trading platform with its headquarters in Ontario, Canada, announced it has opened a new trade route in Ghana, strengthening the company's presence in Africa.
Kenyan agritech startup Stable Foods raises $600k funding to grow its climate smart smallholder platform
Stable Foods, a Kenyan agritech startup offering a host of solutions to small-scale farmers, has raised $600k funding round, to build out its climate smart smallholder food production platform.
Modus expands to Sub-Saharan Africa with launch of $75m Africa-focused fund
Modus, a Venture Platform operating in MENA comprising VC funds, Venture Builders, and a Corporate Innovation arm, has announced the launch of Modus Africa – a $75 million SDG-focused VC fund that will invest in Africa’s boldest startups.
IBM announces five members selected for its Sustainability Accelerator programme
IBM has announced five global non-profits as new members of the Sustainability Accelerator programme. The programme is a global pro bono social impact program which seeks to help marginalized communities.
London-based Vektor AI raises $2.5m pre-seed round to democratize tech talent’s access to professional career advice
Vektor AI, an online platform for one-to-one mentorship and professional career enhancement, announced it has raised a pre-seed round of $2.5 million led by leading early-stage European VC firms.
Big data startup OneSchema raises $6.3m funding round to make ingesting CSV data magical for developers
Big data startup OneSchema announced a $6.3 million funding round led by General Catalyst, with participation from Sequoia Capital, Y Combinator, Elad Gil and Contrary Capital.
Paris-based sustainable deep tech startup FAIRMAT completes €34m Series A round
Fairmat, the Paris-based sustainable deep tech startup pioneering the recycling of advanced materials, announced it has completed its Series A funding round at a total of €34 million.
Silicon Catalyst names EXOKĒRYX as newest portfolio company admitted to the incubator
Silicon Catalyst, the world's only incubator focused exclusively on accelerating semiconductor solutions, announced that EXOKĒRYX has been accepted into the Silicon Catalyst Incubator program.
Pathway Homes partners with social impact technology startup Savi to address student loan debt
Pathway Homes (Pathway), a real estate platform with a mission to create more homeowners, announced it is partnering with impact tech company Savi to offer a tool to help Pathway customers manage their debt burden.
Austrian deep-tech startup Sarcura closes €7m to develop next-generation cell therapy manufacturing platform
Austrian deep-tech startup Sarcura announced the closing of an oversubscribed €7 million Seed Plus funding round to develop a next-generation cell therapy manufacturing platform.
Montreal-based BoostSecurity exits stealth with $12m seed funding to secure the software supply chain
BoostSecurity, the developer-first, zero friction DevSecOps automation platform that builds trust into every step of the software supply chain, has emerged from stealth with $12 million in seed funding.
Silicon Valley startup ArmorCode secures $14m Series A investment to scale AppSecOps platform
ArmorCode, the pioneer in AppSecOps, announced it secured a $14 million Series A investment led by Ballistic Ventures, the venture capital firm solely focused on backing cybersecurity startups.
Milken Institute and Motsepe Foundation announce $2m prize competition in green energy
The Milken Institute and the Motsepe Foundation, launched the Milken-Motsepe Prize in Green Energy, a $2 million prize competition to reward entrepreneurs and innovators.
SE Ventures announces €500m Fund II to accelerate climate and industrial tech startups
SE Ventures announced a €500 million Fund II establishing the firm as one of the largest VCs focusing on climate and industrial technology.
[Startup Interview] Ganesh Verma, Founder, MoogleLabs, Canada
MoogleLabs is a Canadian startup that leverages emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, Blockchain, DevOps, and Metaverse to come up with innovative solutions that help companies become more cost-effective.
[Startup Interview] Neeraj Gupta, Founder, Salonist, Singapore
Neeraj Gupta the founder of Singapore-based startup Salonist explains the inspiration behind setting up the business.
GhanaWeb, Age Africa Agency sponsor YouTube Creators Festival in Ghana
Ghana’s leading online media platform, GhanaWeb, and Age Africa Agency, the foremost YouTube agency with a Multi-Channel Network (MCN) in Africa, are co-sponsoring the second edition of the YouTube Creators Festival.
Belgian health monitoring startup IntelliProve raises €1m to accelerate growth
Belgian health monitoring startup IntelliProve, announced receiving €1 million in investment from The White and Yellow Cross (Dutch: Wit-Gele Kruis), VLAIO, imec.istart Fund and other private investors to fund its market expansion and product development.
Healthtech startup Weo launches smart bottle that amplifies water's health benefits via electrolysis
Weo, a healthtech startup using biotechnology to alter water at the molecular level, announced its official launch of the Weo Bottle, the first-ever portable water bottle that uses electrolysis to enhance the water you drink with the touch of a button.
Healthtech company CardieX acquires wearable sensor startup Blumio
CardieX , a global health technology company focused on cardiovascular disease, today announced that it has acquired all the assets of Blumio, a Silicon Valley based developer of advanced algorithms and technology for cardiovascular sensors.
AI startup Prof Jim auto-converts textbooks into cinematic lessons
Prof Jim is launching out of stealth with one of the first practical applications of generative AI in education. This technology transforms textbooks into visually dynamic online courses.
Demand for seamless, convenient way of shopping increase growth of e-Commerce in Africa
The electronic commerce (e-Commerce) transaction of goods and services between business-to-consumer (B2C), business-to-business (B2B), consumer-to-consumer, and consumer-to-business, has become rampant in this digital age.
Mobility startup BasiGo secures $6.6m funding to accelerate electric bus uptake in Kenya
BasiGo, the first company to introduce electric buses into Kenya, has announced $6.6 million in new funding led by Mobility54.
Global innovation platform Plug and Play to launch crypto and digital assets innovation platform
Global innovation platform Plug and Play, together with founding partners Visa, AllianceBlock, The INX Digital Company, IGT, and Franklin Templeton, has announced the launch of their new Crypto and Digital Assets program.
European software investment firm Round2 Capital completes first closing of €100m software lending fund
European software investment firm Round2 Capital has completed the first close of its second software lending fund with €62 million, expanding its total assets-under-management to €115 million.
Mobile game startup Luckmon raises $1.3m pre-seed round to bring popular casual games reward platform
Luckmon, a casual mobile game development startup based in Irvine, California, has officially announced its early-round pre-seed fundraising has closed on a whopping $1.3 million.
Full-service marketing agency Suite Innovators launches to drive exponential growth for health and wellness tech startups
Suite Innovators announced the launch of its boutique marketing agency dedicated to driving unprecedented levels of growth and acclaim for health, wellness, and fitness technology startups.
Burns & Levinson names Robert Chow as Co-Chair of Venture Capital and Emerging Companies Group
Burns & Levinson announced that partner Robert Chow has been named Co-Chair of the firm's Venture Capital & Emerging Companies Group.
Singapore-based VentureBlick launches global search for healthcare startups
VentureBlick, a fundraising platform matching healthcare startups with medical investors, has launched its worldwide search to identify promising healthcare startups for the medical community to evaluate, advise, and fund.
Katapult launches startup accelerator in Kigali, Rwanda
Katapult Africa announced the launch of its Accelerator program in Kigali, Rwanda, welcoming 9 companies to the Katapult portfolio.
London-based zero-trust enterprise browser SURF launches out of stealth with seed investment round
New zero-trust enterprise browser SURF, announced it has launched out of stealth with an investment round led by 11.2 Capital, Okta Ventures, Mango Capital and security-focused Angel investors.
Ultra-convenient healthy meals startup Proper Good closes seed funding to bring absurdly delicious products
PROPER GOOD, an ultra-convenient home-delivered food service company that offers nutritious prepared meals made with simple and high quality ingredients, announced the closing of $3.5 million in seed funding.
SaaS startup ProsperStack raises $2m seed round to accelerate growth
ProsperStack, a pioneeer in cancellation flow software boasting the ability to reduce subscriber churn by up to 30%, announced the closing of $2 million Seed round, led by Sandalphon Capital.
Gen-Z founded Voyce.Me closes seed round at $2.5m led by Torch Capital
Voyce.Me, a first-of-its-kind manga and webtoon creator platform founded by 21-year-old Dylan Telano, closed a seed round at $2.5 million led by Torch Capital.
ACRE Africa targets Kenyan farmers with climate smart insurance
Insurance can help cushion smallholder farmers from crop and financial losses that occur as a result of climate change, yet many are reluctant to invest in such schemes. But why?
Silicon Valley based IoT startup MODE announces new funding to accelerate growth
MODE, a Silicon Valley based IoT solutions provider, announced it has raised funds from Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic), a corporate venture capital (CVC) fund jointly managed with SBI Investment.
Nigerian money app Kuda launches in the UK
Nigerian money app Kuda, announced it is launching in the UK as part of a global expansion drive with a view to serving the cross-border transfer needs of UK-based Nigerians.
Israeli DevOps startup Port raises $7m to build an internal developer portal that fits any engineering organization
Israeli DevOps startup Port announced it had raised $7 million in seed funding for its comprehensive builder-based internal developer portal. The seed round was led by TLV Partners.
Service industry career platform WorkTorch raises $2.2m additional funding and rebrand from QuickHire
WorkTorch, a fast-growing service industry career platform, announced a $2.2 million seed round, led by Tenzing Capital out of Wichita, Kansas.
Swedish startup Finch secures €2.5m funding to spearhead the shift from manual to generative workflows in the AEC industry
Swedish startup Finch announced it has secured €2.5 million funding to spearhead the shift from manual to generative and data-driven workflows in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry.
Kenyan logistics startup Sendy raises funding from Japanese VC MOL PLUS to accelerate growth
Kenyan fulfillment and logistics startup Sendy, announced it has received funding from MOL PLUS the Corporate Venture Capital of Japanese transport firm Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL).
Digital solutions startup Bantoo joins the Smart Africa Alliance
The Smart Africa Alliance announced it has welcomed digital solutions platform Bantoo to the alliance, to advance technological developments in the continent.
Biotech startup Avstera Therapeutics closes seed round to advance its lead programs targeting solid tumors
Avstera Therapeutics, a biotechnology company based in the Philadelphia area, has announced the completion of its seed round to advance its lead cancer programs geared towards targeting solid tumors.
Vouch partners with Capsule to support startups internationally
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.
Dutch fintech venture Yabx expands into Nigeria
Yabx, a fintech venture headquartered at Netherlands, announced its foray into Nigerian markets with a mission to democratize credit across the country with its digital lending offerings.
Startup Wise Guys selects the second batch of participants for Africa-dedicated fund
Startup Wise Guys (SWG), Europe’s startup accelerator and one of its most active investment funds, has selected the second batch of participants for its €7.5 million fund for African startup investment.
Climate tech VC firm Satgana announces first closing of its fund with €30m target size
Climate tech venture capital firm Satgana announced the first closing of a target €30 million VC fund to back the next generation of purpose-driven entrepreneurs building the Future of Earth.
Munich-based startup Flowers Software secures $3.2m in seed to bring enterprise-grade workflow automation to SMBss
Flowers Software, an organizational management system that helps SMB companies improve their processes, announced it has raised $3.2 million in seed funding.
Chef-led startup meez raises $11.5m to place recipes at the heart of hospitality
meez, the first-of-its-kind digital professional recipe tool, announced it has closed a $11.5 million Series A funding round led by Craft Ventures with participation from Struck Capital.
Fintech startup Fordefi raises $18m seed round to launch institutional DeFi wallet and security platform
Fordefi, a financial technology and software company, announced a $18 million seed round and the public launch of its institutional MPC wallet built for transacting on decentralized applications (dApps).
EQT Ventures III closes Europe's largest venture capital fund committed to early-stage tech startups
EQT has closed Europe's largest venture capital fund committed to early-stage tech startups. EQT Ventures III (the "Fund" or "Ventures III") closed with total commitments of €1.1 billion.
500 Global launches its Pan-African accelerator Manager Bootcamp in Kenya
Venture capital firm 500 Global, has partnered with Germany’s economic development agency Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GIZ and its Make-IT in Africa initiative, which fosters the growth of Africa’s innovation ecosystems.
CardinalStone Capital Advisers announces $6m investment in Nigerian healthtech startup AfyA Care
West African private equity fund manager, CardinalStone Capital Advisers (CCA), has announced a $6 million investment in Nigeria's healthtech startup AfyA Care.
Paris-based startup Mytraffic raises €30m Series B to provide digital intelligence to brick-and-mortar operators
Paris, France-based startup Mytraffic, a SaaS offering detailed insights on any location in Europe, has raised €30 million Series B funding round led by AXA Venture Partners.
Stellantis invests in Africar Group to create Auto24, African used vehicle startup
Africar Group and Stellantis have announced the launch of Auto24 activities in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
Nigerian lending startup Payhippo acquires Maritime Microfinance Bank
Nigeria’s credit-led SME fintech Payhippo has acquired Maritime Microfinance Bank (MFB), a financial institution specializing in saving products, demand deposits, and investments as well as micro and SME loans
Impact Venture Capital portfolio company Alef unveils Alef flying car, the only drivable flying car with vertical takeoff and landing
Alef Aeronautics, an advanced technology company creating alternative transportation solutions for surging traffic trends, introduced the Alef "Model A", the only flying car with street driving and vertical take-off.
Israeli cybersecurity startup Wib raises $16m investment to accelerate growth, tackle rising API security problem
Wib, the cybersecurity startup pioneering a new era in API security, announced a $16 million investment led by Koch Disruptive Technologies (KDT).
Jobtech Alliance launches startup accelerator programs to improve livelihoods in Africa
The Jobtech Alliance, an ecosystem-building initiative around inclusive jobtech in Africa has launched two programs; the Catalyst Jobtech Accelerator and the Jobtech Innovation Lab.
French battery startup Verkor raises more than €250m financing for its innovation centre
French battery startup Verkor announced it has raised more than €250 million, for the inauguration of its R&D lab, an integral part of the Verkor Innovation Centre.
Neurotech startup Roga launches novel wellness solution to combat stress and burnout
Neurotech company Roga, has officially launched its first stress-relieving wellness device Roga Life, for orders worldwide.
Vue Storefront wins best e-Commerce and retail startup at The Europas Tech Startup Awards 2022
Vue Storefront, a technology company that develops software for businesses to create fast, modern and high-performing online storefronts, was crowned a winner at The Europas Tech Startup Awards 2022.
Japanese startup TIER IV launches commercial autonomous driving software platforms for multiple operational design domains
TIER IV, an open source autonomous driving startup, announced it has launched commercial autonomous driving software platforms "Pilot.Auto" and "Web.Auto".
Cooperative Ventures announces first investment in agritech startup Sabanto to improve sustainability
Cooperative Ventures, a venture capital fund formed by North America's agricultural cooperatives, announced its first investment in Sabanto, a hardware and software company.
UK-based hospitality tech startup Journey completes £5m growth capital raise
Journey Hospitality has secured £5 million growth capital investment. The funds, from private equity firm Averroes Capital, will enable Journey to deliver its vision to revolutionise e-Commerce for the hospitality industry.
Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa lead fintech growth in Africa, Mastercard
A report by payment services company Mastercard has revealed that South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya are among the most vibrant fintech markets in the continent.
YEGO ride-sharing platform from Rwanda launches in Kenya
YEGO Global, a ride-sharing platform from Rwanda has entered the Kenyan market to take on Uber and Bolt through its subsidiary - YEGO Mobility Kenya.
3nets concludes $11m seed round for multi-cloud workload portability solution
3nets.io, a Delaware corporation, announced the conclusion of $11 million seed round at a post-money valuation of $20 million.
Intelligent digital coworkers startup Roots Automation raises $10m Series A funding round to accelerate growth
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.
Application security startup Apiiro raises $100m Series B funding round to accelerate growth
Apiiro, the pioneer in Cloud-Native Application Security, announced a significant Series B round of $100 million led by General Catalyst with participation by Greylock and Kleiner Perkins.
Berlin-based startup Crowd.dev raises €2.2m to launch the open-source platform for community-led growth
Berlin-based startup Crowd.dev announced it has raised €2.2 million to improve how developer-first businesses harness online communities.
Vienna-based startup Orderlion raises $4m funding to scale the global B2B food supply chain
Vienna-based startup Orderlion announced the successful closing of $4 million in preSeries A funding, including a mix of equity and debt financing, bringing the total amount of investments raised to $7.5 million since the company’s inception.
Zest AI secures over $50m growth capital to advance the next generation of AI-automated underwriting
Zest AI, the leader in automating underwriting with more accurate and inclusive lending insights powered by AI, announced that the company has raised over $50 million in a new growth round.
Brex partners with Techstars to accelerate growth for early-stage founders
Brex announced its partnership with Techstars, a global investment business that provides access to capital, one-on-one mentorship, and customized programming for early-stage entrepreneurs.
Girls in Tech Startup Challenge 2022 now open for female entrepreneurs
Girls in Tech, a global nonprofit working to erase the gender gap in tech, has launched the Girls in Tech Startup Challenge 2022, the organization's signature entrepreneurship pitch competition.
New York startup Scent Lab personalizes the fragrance industry with immersive digital experiences and AI-tech
Scent Lab announced the launch of its online platform that’s changing the way consumers shop for fragrance. Scent Lab is the first digital destination that leverages immersive video experiences and AI tech.
Telehealth startup Options MD raises $3.8m pre-seed funding to expand its mental health platform
Options MD, a telehealth startup providing high-quality care for treatment-resistant depression (TRD), announced $2.35 million in funding, bringing the total pre-seed funding to $3.8 million.
Oslo-based compliance automation startup Kosli raises $3.1m seed round led by Heavybit
Kosli, the developer tools startup based in Oslo, Norway, has closed a $3.1m seed round led by Heavybit to solve dynamic change monitoring and continuous compliance.
Medtech device startup MedCrypt raises $25m Series B funding round to accelerate growth
MedCrypt, the proactive cybersecurity solution provider for medical devices, announced its $25 million Series B funding round.
Globo partners with American startup HeadSpin to improve User Experience of Smart TVs
LatAm media group Globo, announced a strategic partnership with HeadSpin, the developer of a data science driven digital experience intelligence platform used to provide flawless digital experiences.
Kenyan fintech startup Tanda announces agency banking entry in Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania
Kenyan fintech startup Tanda announced plans for agency banking entry in Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania to accelerate growth within the East African markets.
Kenyan home furniture startup MoKo raises $6m to accelerate growth
Kenyan home furniture startup MoKo announced it raised $6.5 million in a Series B funding round, which is a combination of debt and equity.
Kenyan start-up unveils diabetic friendly cookies
Gerassimos Fourlanos, Founder, Ofelos Limited says, the cookies are targeted to consumers with diabetes or pre-diabetes, along with other medical conditions where blood sugar levels need to be monitored.
Kenyan startup Kyosk Digital expands to Uganda
Kyosk Digital Services aims to address some of the challenges that vendors of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs) go through in sourcing products and restocking their outlets.
APA insurance unveils new payment plan for comprehensive car insurance
The comprehensive car insurance payments are made over 12 months which allows clients to spread the cost over the course of a year.
Kenyan agricultural insurtech startup Pula appoints Michael Joseph as Board Chair
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
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.
[Startup Interview] Tesh Mbaabu, CEO, MarketForce, Kenya
Tesh Mbaabu is a serial entrepreneur who lives to blend commerce and technology. He is the Co-founder and CEO of Kenyan-based B2B platform for retail distribution of consumer goods and digital financial services in Africa today, MarketForce.
Waya digital banking startup for African immigrants goes official
Waya, a Kenyan and US-based fintech startup has announced the official launch of its full-service digital bank and money transfer app targeting the African Diaspora.
Kenyan fintech startup Pezesha raises $11m to expand across Africa
Pezesha, a Kenyan fintech that has built a platform where small and medium enterprises can access funding, has raised $11 million in a pre-series A equity and debt funding.
Kenyan B2B e-Commerce startup Wasoko opens innovation hub in Zanzibar
Wasoko (formerly Sokowatch), an African B2B e-Commerce startup that leverages technology to transform the informal retail supply chain, announced the official launch of the “Wasoko Innovation Hub” in partnership with the Zanzibar government.
Kenyan startups raised $820m in VC funding in the first half of 2022, data
Kenya has secured an enviable position among the most competitive innovation and investment destinations in Africa. The country’s attractiveness has seen Big-Tech companies troop in to set shop in the capital, Nairobi.
[Startup Interview] Collins Kathuli, Co-founder and CEO, Kyanda, Kenya
Kyanda is a Kenyan fintech startup that offers Digital Financial Services to businesses, SMEs and citizens.
UK-based Medi-science International partners with Kenyan healthtech startup Afya Rekod to enhance healthcare delivery
UK-based Medi-science International and Kenyan healthtech startup Afya Rekod have announced a strategic collaboration to transform healthcare delivery through improved access to personal health data.
Kenyan e-Logistics startup Lori Systems raises funding from Google to facilitate expansion efforts
Kenyan e-logistics startup Lori Systems which operates across East Africa, announced it has raised an undisclosed amount of Round B funding from Google, to facilitate the company’s expansion efforts.
Kenyan agritech startup IProcure secures $10.2m Series B funding to accelerate growth
iProcure, Africa’s tech and data-driven agricultural inputs supply company, announced the close of a $10.2 million Series B funding round that raised debt and equity from a diverse group of international investors.
German manufacturer The Stihl Group enters Kenyan market
The subsidiary dubbed Stihl East Africa will be its Eastern Africa hub servicing countries that include Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, DRC, Rwanda, and Burundi among others.
Kenyan mobile commerce startup Copia unveils manufacturing unit for sugar and rice production
Copia Global, a Kenyan-based mobile commerce platform has unveiled a new manufacturing unit to enhance its output of affordable sugar and rice to the Kenyan market.
Kenyan insurtech startup Lami Technologies raises $3.7m to expand across Africa
Kenya-based insurtech startup Lami Technologies has raised a $ 3.7 million seed extension to expand its insurtech product across Africa.
Kenyan-based startup FaidiHR secures funding, eyes expansion
The startup, which offers digital human resource solutions to African companies, said they would use the investment to expand their business in East Africa, eyeing entry into Uganda, Tanzania and DRC.
Kenyan wealth-tech startup Ndovu partners with Tulix to empower Africa’s diaspora to invest back home
Africa’s wealth management platform Ndovu has announced a strategic partnership withTulix, an Antler & Catalyst Fund portfolio company.
Kenyan startup unveils multi -company single log-in cloud solution for HR -payroll consultants
The multi-company log-in module allows an individual consultant or company to manage centralized data, which facilitates payroll processing, pay slip, and report generating for different clients, under one account.
Kenyan healthtech startup AfyaRekod launches Universal Patient Portal for worldwide health data mobility management
Kenyan-based AfyaRekod launched the fully automated Universal Patient Portal – a block-chain driven technology that will transform the face of patient care across Africa and the World.
Nigerian fintech startup Mono launches in Kenya
Mono, a Nigerian fintech startup that builds open banking infrastructure to enable access to customer financial data and bank payments for digital businesses in Africa, announced it has expanded its services to Kenya.
Nigerian Lab testing startup HealthTracka raises $1.5m funding for expansion to Kenya and Ghana
Nigerian at-home lab testing startup HealthTracka has raised $1.5 million in funding to expand its operations into Kenya and Ghana. The pre-seed funding which was led by Ingressive Capital.
Kenyan startup unveils innovation that supervises spending for dependents
A Supervised Payment is a Digital Escrow Payment sent by a guardian to a dependent with the former setting the parameters of funds usage and the app supervising the actual use of the funds by the dependent.
Yearly funding for Kenyan start-ups to hit Sh100 billion by 2025
In the first three months of 2022, Kenyan Startups raised Sh48 billion venture funding more than the country did in all of 2021 where start-ups raised Sh41 billion.
Kenyan insurtech startup mTek secures $3m funding for expansion across the country
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.
AfricArena partners with FMO to accelerate tech startups in Ghana, Morocco and Tanzania
AfricArena, the African series of tech events, announced a partnership with FMO Ventures Program, the Rise Open Innovation Challenge, which focuses on accelerating the growth of startups looking to improve the state of Africa.
Kenyan fintech startup Power Financial Wellness partners with Penda Health to extend healthcare services to users
Kenyan fintech Power Financial Wellness has signed a partnership agreement with private healthcare solutions provider, Penda Health, to see both companies mutually benefit from their tech services.
Kenyan E-health startup Maisha Meds hits 1000 active facilities, expands to Nigeria
Kenyan digital pharmacy network Maisha Meds announced it has reached1,000 active facilities, making it one of the largest digital pharmacy networks in sub-Saharan Africa.
Nelson Maina: Betting on agriculture for economic transformation in Kenya
The gathering of experts drawn across the divide came amidst rising concerns over escalating costs in both production and consumer goods, an environment that doesn’t favour food security.
Kenyan fintech startup Hisa joins the NVIDIA Inception Programme
Hisa App, a Kenyan mobile investment platform that allows anyone in Kenya to invest in U.S. stocks and ETFs using mobile money, announced it was selected to join the NVIDIA Inception programme.
Pan-African fintech app Bamba raises $3.2m seed funding to scale growth
Kenyan fintech startup Bamba secured $3.2 million in seed funding to scale its app and build out its team. Venture capital firm 468 Capital led the round with participation from Presight Ventures.
Nelson Maina: Taming fertilizer prices to boost food security in Kenya
Kenya’s cost of living has hit unprecedented highs with prices of basic commodities being out of reach for many citizens.
realme addresses internet coverage gap with affordable smartphones
Phone manufacturer realme has captured the Kenyan market by making smartphones affordable hence closing a widening internet coverage gap, despite huge investments in high-speed internet across Africa.
Kenyan healthtech startup Zuri launches Whatsapp chatbot to democratize access to healthcare
Kenyan healthtech startup Zuri Health has launched a WhatsApp chatbot for its users across the country.
Glovo announces winners of its tech startup pitch competition in Kenya
On-demand delivery platform Glovo has announced the winners of its tech startup pitch competition in Kenya.
Kenyan farmer finds fortunes in herbs farming
The herbs and spices farming has captured international markets while creating a new age farming renaissance in an area that has traditionally been synonymous with farming of traditional low yielding crops.
Kenyan electric vehicle startup Opibus rebrands to ROAM
Kenya’s leading electric vehicle (EV) maker Opibus has changed its name to ROAM. The company was among the earliest entrants into the local electric vehicle manufacturing sector.
Kenyan mobile commerce startup Copia appoints former Amazon Executive to its Board
Copia Global, a Kenyan-based mobile commerce platform has announced the appointment of former Amazon executive Jason Murray to its Board.
Kenya-focused social e-Commerce startup Elloe raises over $1m in pre-seed round
Elloe, a US-based social e-Commerce startup focused on Kenya and emerging markets, announced the raise of an undisclosed amount in pre-Seed funding. Investors for the round were led by Philippines’ Mad Ventures, Inc.
AliExpress Co- Founder Tom Gong appointed CTO of Kenyan BNPL company Lipa Later
Tom Gong, Co-Founder AliExpress and former Technical Program Manager for Google Wallet, will be joining Lipa Later as the new Chief technology Officer effective March 2022.
Kenyan social commerce startup Tushop raises $3m pre-seed funding to accelerate growth
Tushop, a Kenyan social-commerce platform that enables group-buying of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs), announced it has raised $3 million in pre-seed funding, led by 4DX Ventures.
On-demand transport platform Bolt launches 2nd edition of its Women in Tech internship program in Kenya
On-demand transport platform Bolt announced it has rolled out the second edition of its Women in Tech internship program in Kenya.
Konza Technopolis and ASSEK sign MoU to support startups in Kenya
Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA) and the Association of Startups and SME Enablers in Kenya (ASSEK) have signed an MoU to enhance innovation and support startups in Kenya.
Lipa Later selects Hotpoint as new retail partner
Lipa Later, a payment option that allows customers to purchase commodities through affordable monthly instalments has on-boarded Hotpoint as a new retail partner. Hotpoint appliances is Kenya’s premier supplier of Home Appliances and Electronics.
Kenyan fintech 4G Capital raises $18.5m Series C funding to scale lending to MSMEs
Kenyan fintech credit provider 4G Capital has raised $18.5 million in Series C funding from global private equity firm Lightrock.
Kenyan e-Commerce startup Sokowatch raises $125m, rebrands to Wasoko
Kenyan based B2B e-Commerce startup Sokowatch has raised a $125 million Series B equity round, the largest venture financing round ever raised for a non-fintech startup in Africa.
EV startup BasiGo flags off first electric buses in Kenya
Nairobi headquartered e-mobility startup BasiGo flagged off the first electric buses in the country for passenger use.
[Kenya] Applications for 5th cohort of Standard Chartered Bank's Women in Tech program open
The Standard Chartered Bank has opened applications for the 5th cohort of its Women in Tech incubator program.
On-demand delivery platform Glovo launches pitch competition for early-stage tech startups in Kenya
On-demand delivery platform Glovo has launched a pitch competition targeting early-stage tech startups in Kenya that are delivering value to SMEs.
GE Healthcare partners with Kenyan healthtech startup Afya Rekod to simplify access to medical records in Africa
GE Healthcare and Kenya-based startup Afya Rekod have announced a collaboration that seeks to transform care delivery through improved access to personal health data in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa.
Kenyan foodtech startup Kune starts commercial operations in Nairobi
Kenyan foodtech startup Kune has officially launched commercial operations with four meal hubs located in strategic locations in Nairobi.
Kenyan retail tech startup MarketForce raises $40m Series A to scale up super app for Africa’s informal merchants
MarketForce, the Nairobi-headquartered B2B platform for retail distribution of consumer goods and digital financial services in Africa, announced the closing of a $40 million Series A round.
Wealthtech startup Ndovu launches in Kenya
Wealthtech startup Ndovu officially launched in Kenya. Founded by Radhika Bhachu, Ro Nyangeri, and Gianpaolo De Biase, Ndovu is an investment platform that provides easy access to financial markets.
Kenyan insurtech startup Lami acquires Bluewave Insurance Agency
Kenyan insurtech startup Lami Technologies has acquired Bluewave Insurance Agency, another Kenyan-based insurtech startup, for an undisclosed amount.
Kenyan healthtech startup Afya Rekod raises $2 million in seed funding to scale across Africa
Afya Rekod has seen interest from various health parties in Africa, Europe, Asia and the United States increase significantly since its launch in April 2020.
Kenyan logistics startup Amitruck raises $4m seed funding to accelerate digital solutions across Africa
Kenya-based digital trucking logistics startup Amitruck has announced it has secured $4 milllion in a seed funding round that had the participation of investors from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the U.S.
JICA’s NINJA Accelerator completes 2nd Demo Day in Kenya, sends delegation to Silicon Valley
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.
Call for startups to Pitch Live at 2022 Africa Startup Summit in Nairobi, Kenya
Africa Tech Summit has opened applications to the 2022 edition of Pitch Live at the fourth Africa Startup Summit.
Online platforms lift the fortunes of Kenyan artists
Kenyan artists have not been left behind and are embracing digital platforms with impressive results.
Swedish-Kenyan electric vehicle tech startup Opibus launches first electric bus designed and developed in Africa
Swedish-Kenyan electric vehicle technology startup Opibus has introduced the first all-electric bus in Kenya as well as the first African designed electric bus ever.
Kenyan mobile commerce startup Copia raises $50m to ramp up African expansion
Kenyan-based mobile commerce platform Copia Global raised $50 million in a Series C equity round led by Goodwell Investments.
Kenyan fintech startup Zanifu closes $1m seed financing round to accelerate growth
Kenyan fintech startup Zanifu announced it has successfully closed a $ 1 million seed financing round to scale its business and improve on its platform.
Kenya's Poa Internet announces first close of $28m financing round by Africa50
Poa Internet and Africa50 announced the completion of Africa50’s equity investment into Poa. This funding is part of the $28 million financing round led by Africa50.
[Kenya] Sankore announces pitch competition targeting blockchain startups
Nairobi-headquartered blockchain community Sankore is launching the Sankore Pitch Competition Tour (PCT) in Nairobi.
Kenyan BNPL startup Lipa Later secures $12m funding to expand across Africa
Lipa Later, one of it’s kind buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) company operating in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Nigeria, has raised $12 million from a consortium of investors.
Kenyan ride-hailing startup MARAMOJA opens its API to fintechs and insurtechs
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.
African scientists make a case for home grown research on continent’s food systems
A storytelling event organized by African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD), saw four accomplished African researchers working on agriculture and food security share their personal journeys in agricultural research, and discuss how they are working to transform farming on the continent.
Kenyan fintech startup Paylend raises $2m seed investment to accelerate growth
Paylend, a Kenyan fintech startup focused on providing access to finance and digitizing MSMEs in Kenya announced it has raised $2 million seed investment from Next Chymia Consulting HK Limited.
Kenyan fintech startup Tanda inks deal with Twiga Foods to enable vendors vend its digital financial services
Kenya’s fintech startup Tanda announced a new partnership with Twiga Foods that will see Twiga vendors become a one-stop-shop for a variety of digital and financial services offered by Tanda.
The University of Nairobi and Elgon Kenya to develop agriculture technology and innovation centre
The agriculture sector in Kenya has received a major boost following a partnership between two leading institutions to set up a technology and innovation centre, the first of its kind in East Africa.
Kenyan tech startup Wowzi raises $3.2m seed funding to expand across Africa
Kenyan tech startup Wowzi has raised $2 million in seed funding to expand its digital marketplace across Africa.
African mobility fintech Moove enters Kenyan market, broadens vehicle financing to bikes and trucks
Moove, an African mobility fintech, has launched operations in Nairobi, its first city in East Africa and sixth on the continent.
Kenyan smallholder farmers insulated from weather vagaries by picture-based insurance
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.
Adanian Labs opens January 2022 cohort applications for its Venture Building Program
Adanian Labs has launched the Adanian Labs Venture Building Program call for startups for 2022. The program invites applications from tech entrepreneurs for the 2022 cohort of exceptional startups to join Adanian Labs in Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Nigeria and South Africa.
Kenyan e-health startup Zuri Health launches in Senegal
Kenyan health tech startup Zuri Health has launched its operations in Senegal. The startup has partnered with Expresso Senegal to launch its operations in the country.
AUDA-NEPAD, JICA, Afreximbank & BCG partner to support 5 East African healthcare startups
The 5 healthcare startups were feted for their completion of the Home Grown Solutions (HGS) Accelerator for Pandemic Resilience.
Kenyan-based Penda Health partners with femtech e-Commerce startup Kasha to ease contraceptive access for consumers
Healthcare solution provider Penda Health announced a partnership with Rwandan femtech e-Commerce startup Kasha, to enable increase access to contraceptive products via the Kasha digital platform.
Kenyan e-pharmacy platform MYDAWA receives $1.2 million funding in fight against HIV & AIDS
This grant is aimed at increasing access to PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) services through MYDAWA’s award winning e-pharmacy model, supporting the fight against HIV& AIDS in Kenya.
Kenyan fintech startup Asilimia raises $2 million funding to expand into new markets
The startup raised $1 million in pre-seed funding from a wide range of investors, including two-time unicorn founder, Fredrik Jung Abbou (co-founder of Kry and Lendo), Norrsken Impact Accelerator and other prominent founders from across Europe.
Kenyan gaming startup Usiku Games develops Africa’s first mobile football game
Kenyan gaming startup Usiku Games unveiled an amateur football mobile game to promote outdoor physical activities and encourage sportsmanship among youths in East Africa.
Tech startup wowzi to create one million jobs for African youth
Kenyan tech startup Wowzi has announced plans to create one million gig jobs for African youth in 2022 through its online marketplace, after successfully delivering over 150,000 paid jobs in 2021.
Kenyan fintech startup Kwara launches regional offices to reach SACCOs across the country
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.
Kenyan entrepreneurs reap returns from rearing insects for feeds
Aware of this fact, the Insect Feed for Poultry, Fish and Pig Production (INSFEED) project has been exploring the use of insects, such as black soldier flies (BSF) and crickets, within animal feeds.
Kenyan Mental health startup Shamiri Institute raises $1m, expands to the rest of Africa
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.
Kenyan fintech startup Kwara and Lami Technologies partner to provide insurance products for SACCO members
The partnership will allow SACCO members to conveniently access innovative insurance products ranging from health, general, life, business, and property coverage through the Kwara platform.
Kenya-based electric mobility startup Opibus secures $7.5 million funding
Opibus says it will use this new funding to scale its operations in electric motorcycle and bus manufacturing.
Kenyan fintech startup Kwara partners with Lami Technologies to give SACCO members access to insurance products
Kenyan digital banking fintech startup Kwara has partnered with insurance technology company, Lami Technologies, to provide SACCO members with affordable and transformational insurance products.
Kenyan-based payroll startup Workpay expands to Nigeria
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
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.
Google selects nine Kenyan startups to receive equity-free funding via its Africa Investment Fund
During its very first “Google for Africa” event held early this month, Google announced it will be investing up to $50 million in African early- and growth-stage startups via its Africa Investment Fund.
[Kenya] Mavazi Elevate program targets fashion industry creatives with business skills
A training initiative is empowering creatives in the fashion industry and small local businesses across the 47 counties in Kenya.
[Column] Patrick Ndegwa: Growing a successful tech startup in Kenya, 4 key elements
The tech scene in Kenya is thriving. Even amid a global pandemic, economic uncertainty, and election fever, our dynamic African country has found a way to cut through the clutter and establish itself as the world’s ‘Silicon Savannah’.
Absa partners with Melanin Kapital to launch unsecured lending for startups in Kenya
Absa Bank Kenya has partnered with Pan African impact investment platform Melanin Kapital, to launch an investor readiness program that places startups driving social impact on the path to accessing up to KES3 million in unsecured lending.
Pangea Trust opens applications for its Startup Connect Programme
Pangea Trust has opened applications for its Startup Connect Programme, to increase the deployment of diaspora remittances and networks to provide investment capital to MSMEs and startups in Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia.
Kenyan female entrepreneurs embrace digital platforms to power operations
A group of trailblazing Kenyan women are carving their own paths to success. From doctors to content creators, they are using the power of online platforms to amplify their voices and help others flourish.
Kenyan retail tech startup MarketForce raises $100,000 funding from Harambeans Prosperity Fund
The Harambeans Prosperity Fund, a donor advised investment vehicle formed through the Harambe Entrepreneur Alliance’s network of prominent families and corporations co-invested $100,000 in Y Combinator Harambean venture MarketForce.
Kenyan fintech startup Kwara selected for Mastercard Start Path program
Kenyan fintech startup Kwara is among the 11 startups that have been selected to join the Mastercard Start Path program.
BimaLab accelerator programme launches to support Insurtech startups in Kenya
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 startup Marketforce appoints Ore Omolaja as Country Manager, Head of Business for Nigeria
Marketforce, the Kenyan-based B2B platform for retail distribution of consumer goods and digital financial services in Africa, announced the appointment of Ore Omolaja as the Nigeria Country Manager and Head of Business, effective 15th July 2021.
Kenyan startup MarketForce raises $2m pre-Series A to scale B2B retail marketplace, RejaReja
MarketForce, the Kenyan-based B2B platform for retail distribution of consumer goods and digital financial services in Africa, announced a $2 million pre-Series A round, bringing total funding to-date to $2.5 million.
Forum advocates for collaboration to strengthen African food systems
Speaking during the Alliance for a Green Revoluton in Africa (AGRA) organized Africa Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) Summit, speakers reiterated that food security cannot be achieved without a gvernment facilitated enabling environemnt for agribusiness to thrive.
Catalyst Fund announces Circle of Corporate Innovators to accelerate startup-corporate partnerships
Global inclusive tech accelerator Catalyst Fund, managed by BFA Global, today formally announced its Circle of Corporate Innovators, with its first members, Fidelity Bank, Ecobank, Sterling Bank, Access Bank and the VFD Group.
Kenyan insurtech startups benefit from IRA, Prudential innovation hub
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.
MarketForce acquires Digiduka startup to consolidate distribution of consumer goods with digital financial services in Africa
MarketForce, the end-to-end retail distribution platform for consumer brands in Africa, announced the strategic acquisition of Digiduka, a startup on a mission to bring informal retailers in Africa into the digital economy.
Kenya's Industrialization Ministry launches Startup Savanna, a business acceleration programme for early-stage startups
The Kenyan Ministry of Industrialization, Trade and Enterprise Development (MoITED), launched Startup Savanna, an international business acceleration programme that will link Kenyan startups to global angel investors.
BMZ launches startup support programme for Kenyan entrepreneurs
The Federal Development Ministry (BMZ), has expanded its developPPP Ventures programme in Kenya to support local startups.
Venture builder Satgana launches first portfolio startup in Kenya, Mazi Mobility
After its launch in September last year, venture builder Satgana has announced its first portfolio startup from Nairobi, Kenya, Mazi Mobility, to address the issues faced by the public transport industry in the Global South by electrifying the motorcycle industry.
Pangea announces $3m scale-up program for locally funded Kenyan startups
Norwegian-based accelerator Pangea has unveiled a scale-up program offering private funding of up to $3 million and business support to enable locally funded Kenyan startups accelerate their enterprises to the next level.
Five women-led tech startups awarded $10k funding by Standard Chartered Women in Tech Incubator in Kenya
The Standard Chartered Bank has awarded 5 women-led businesses with KES 1,000,000 each. The businesses were picked from the 4th cohort of the Standard Chartered Bank Women in Tech incubation program.
Legatum Center launches inaugural Legatum Foundry Fellowship for entrepreneurs in Africa
At an inflection point in their entrepreneurial journeys, Fellows will learn from MIT faculty, connect with investors, and expand their network of peer innovators.
Rice sector players set for conference on boosting research and inclusivity
Rice sector players in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia are set to lead discussions on accelerating progress in rice research & development, inclusive markets & value chains.
Kenyan fintech startup Kwara selected for Japan-led Ninja Accelerator programme
Digital banking platform and fintech company Kwara has been selected for the first cohort of the Ninja Accelerator programme in Kenya.
Interviews.
[Interview] Caroline Mutuku, General Manager, Glovo, Kenya
Caroline Mutuku is Kenya's General Manager of multi-category app Glovo. Caroline joined Glovo in December 2022 from Swvl Kenya where she also served as the General Manager from December 2021. In this interview...read more here
[Interview] Renate Swanepoel, COO, INC. Networking
Renate Swanepoel is an entrepreneur, global networker and inspirational speaker that has helped thousands of people around the world to find their purpose. She has gained significant networking and communication...read more here
[Interview] Anne-Marie Chidzero, Chief Investment Officer, FSD Africa
Anne-Marie Chidzero is the Chief Investment Officer at the Financial Sector Deepening Africa (FSD Africa) Investments. In this interview, she talks about the risks and opportunities in backing Africa’s early-stage startups...read more here
[Interview] James Kilpatrick, Chair, Gravitilab, UK
Gravitilab is a "Space as a Service" business providing research, testing and qualification facilities to space agencies, government, academia and commercial enterprises. The company’s Chair and Chief Finance Officer...read more here
[Interview] Ramanjeet Singh, CEO, Woosper, USA
Woosper is a US-based digital advertising and marketing agency focused on creating experiences that help clients discover their place in the digital world. The CEO Ramanjeet Singh...read more here