In a move poised to revolutionize Liberia’s technological landscape, the government of Liberia is considering the introduction of Starlink satellite Internet service, developed by SpaceX.
This follows a recent virtual discussion between President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. and Elon Musk, the visionary CEO of SpaceX.
During their conversation, both leaders underscored the transformative potential of advanced technology, particularly in enhancing access to critical sectors such as education, healthcare, and economic development in rural areas of Liberia.
Recognizing the potential impact, President Boakai extended an invitation for Musk and his team to visit Liberia, signifying a commitment to ongoing dialogue and potential collaboration.
Concurrently, Liberia is undergoing significant reforms in its telecommunications sector.
“New regulations are being introduced to support fintech companies, aiming to foster innovation and competition in a market historically dominated by a few major players. These reforms are designed to level the playing field, enabling smaller startups to enter and thrive in the mobile and Internet services arena,” reports indicates.
The regulatory shift is expected to empower Liberian entrepreneurs, particularly those developing mobile financial solutions, by providing fair access to essential telecom resources. This marks a pivotal moment in Liberia’s tech evolution, coinciding with Musk’s interest in expanding Starlink across Africa.
Together, these developments promise a dynamic transformation in Liberia’s tech and telecom landscape, paving the way for broader connectivity and innovative services. The potential introduction of Starlink, alongside progressive regulatory changes, heralds a new era of technological advancement and economic opportunity for Liberia.
As of mid-2024, Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet service, has actively been expanding its presence across Africa. The service is already live in several African countries, including Nigeria, Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda, Malawi, Zambia, Benin, and Eswatini. Starlink aims to further extend its reach to additional countries by the end of 2024. Upcoming launches are planned for Gambia, Lesotho, Senegal, Tanzania, Angola, Botswana, Madagascar, and Zimbabwe, among others.
This expansion aligns with Starlink’s goal to provide high-speed, low-latency internet access to underserved regions, particularly in rural areas where traditional broadband services are lacking.
The culture of an organization, the way that things are done, will develop whether there’s intention or not. By defining what it should be, you can influence the behavior. If you don’t define it, it’ll develop organically and you might not like the results.
Josh Sephton, Via LinkedIn.
Culture is “the way we do things around here.” When you join a new team, you will quickly be humbled. Everybody knows everybody, everyone has a circle – or not. They know the bosses’ good and bad times -read, when to ask for favors and when not to. There’s clearly a formula on how business runs, and everybody knows it, except you. The newbie. Always saying hi to those that prefer quiet mornings, inviting to lunch the project manager that eats sandwiches at his desk, or running every step of your project by your supervisor who really prefers to just oversee and give feedback. Or, the opposite- when you meet the micromanager. Most times, teams have held on to their beliefs, rituals and behaviors for far too long, and will immediately sideline anyone who dares question “the way of doing things.”
All these things, added together, really define how teams work. And, ultimately, decide whether a team will build something great, or will jeopardize the productivity of an organization. In this article, we’ll explore the profound impact of startup culture on team dynamics and why getting it right can be the difference between success and failure.
So what then, is Culture, and Why is it so Important?
Culture isn’t just about Ping-Pong tables, free snacks and beer Fridays; it’s the underlying DNA that shapes how a team works together, innovates, and ultimately thrives. A strong culture provides a shared sense of purpose and identity, aligns team members around common goals, and fosters trust, collaboration, and resilience.
With the right culture within an organization, team members feel aligned, valued and empowered to put their best foot forward. This ultimately manifests into productivity, as there is a common and shared sense of purpose. No one is sidelined, there is no deadweight on the team, or walking on eggshells when it’s time to put a point across. And, it’s not just about productivity.
When you think of startups, the thought of challenges and tough days surely must cross your mind. The beauty of a strong and positive culture is that it carries a startup –and really any organization, through the dark days. When the product launch is a flop, or the expected funding didn’t pan out. Delayed salaries and the dreaded PR disasters that are a daily dose for most startups. A trusting, aligned, resilient and optimistic team- all *aspects* cultivated by a positive organizational culture will more often than not be willing and able to endure the tough times without backing out, cutting corners or sabotaging the organization.
Conversely, a toxic or dysfunctional culture can erode morale, hinder productivity, and drive talented team members away, ultimately spelling doom for the startup.
Cultivating a Positive Startup Culture:
Building a positive startup culture requires intentional effort and a commitment from leadership to prioritize values, behaviors, and norms that support the company’s mission and vision. Elements that define a positive culture are many. Today we discuss 3 key elements of a positive startup culture, and how Core values are the foundation on which a culture is built.
1. Aligning with the core values of your organization.
Core values are the foundation on which a culture is built. By definition, core values are “ideals you believe that determine your behavior and decisions.” They do not change with every turn or dynamics of the economy, society or organizational disruption. The point of values and mission in an organization is to define a pathway and create a guide for the team to follow in the process of executing the set goals.
When hiring, it is important to look out for people who align with your core values. If, for instance, your core value as a startup is boldness, it is crucial to be on the lookout for hires that share this core value. This means people who are not afraid of leaping on new ideas, even without full knowledge. People who don’t wait for conditions to align to act. People that are ready to try, fail and then try again.
When your core value is perseverance, team members that don’t back out when the going gets tough, that stay objective as opposed to emotional or panicked in less than favorable circumstances, are your best bet. As a startup, it is crucial to realize that a hire can have the right skills and be the best on the job, but when their core values are misaligned with yours, any attempt to “be on the same page” or “share a culture” will be futile.
Every organization explicitly outlines their mission, vision and values on their websites and walls, but it is just that- words. They do not integrate their values into their daily operations- hiring, crisis management, milestone conversations.
Deciding what values will help you achieve your goals, then integrating them in your day to day running will set a good foundation for a positive culture, even for people that join in later on, or through the dynamics that are bound to happen.
2. Empowerment and Ownership.
An empowered team isn’t just an asset; they’re the heart and soul of a productive workforce. When individuals feel empowered to take ownership of their work, supported to innovate, and encouraged to voice their ideas, they not only thrive personally, they also become catalysts for positive change and contribute to a vibrant and collaborative environment where creativity, productivity and success becomes a collective journey. And that is exactly what the goal of a positive culture should be – To be on a collective journey.
Autonomy is one of the guaranteed ways to empower a team. The degree to which a team or individual has freedom to make their own decisions and take actions independently, without excessive external control or micromanagement is consistent with the level of responsibility and ownership they have towards their work. Autonomy can manifest in various forms, such as setting their own schedules, choosing how to approach tasks, making decisions about resource allocation, and having input into strategic planning and goal-setting –as long as the goal is met. When individuals have a sense of control over their work and are trusted to make decisions, they tend to feel more invested in their jobs and more motivated to perform at their best.
Empowering employees, however, goes beyond simply granting them autonomy; it is about unleashing their full potential to drive innovation, creativity, and productivity.
Implementing your team’s good ideas and giving them credit for it, ensuring employee satisfaction and engagement in brainstorming sessions, promoting and supporting their personal growth and development can create a culture where individuals thrive and contribute to the collective success of the company.
3. Diversity and Inclusion.
If you are a startup founder, I hate to break it to you, diversity and inclusion are not just buzzwords that corporates use to sound fancy. They are fundamental principles that drive innovation, creativity, and ultimately, the success of the company. When you talk of a positive organizational culture, diversity and inclusion must be among your to-do.
Diversity by definition is “the presence of a variety of different demographic and cultural characteristics within a group.” Most startup founders will be tempted to include their sister, a cousin, someone that looks like them, or with similar characters in the team. When it’s one or two, that might be okay. But at the very beginning stages of a startup, pulling all or most of your team members from your closest circle is as close to sabotage as you can get. Not only are boundaries shaky and blurred, but whenever a new team member from outside your circle or different from the team joins, they immediately are the outsider.
Diversity includes both visible differences, such as physical appearance, as well as invisible differences, such as cognitive styles, personality traits, and life experiences.
Embracing diversity means recognizing and valuing the unique perspectives, experiences, and contributions that individuals from diverse backgrounds bring to the table. It involves creating an environment where people feel respected, included, and empowered to be their authentic selves, regardless of their differences.
Inclusion on the other hand, means appreciating and empowering all team members to achieve the set goals, regardless of their differences in identity and background. This means actively having inclusive practices like training and education, implementation of ideas from different team members and equity in terms of pay.
Basically, diversity and inclusion are about creating environments where individuals from all backgrounds feel welcomed, respected, and valued, and where their unique perspectives and contributions are recognized and celebrated.
In the pulsating heart of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, where innovation meets opportunity, Africa stands at the forefront of technological advancement. And in the midst of all the exciting changes happening, although not talked about as much, women have fast risen to the call of technology and become bold trailblazers who have broken through barriers, challenged norms, and transformed the tech scene in Africa.
From coding geniuses to visionary entrepreneurs, these pioneers have not only harnessed the power of technology to change lives but have also become beacons of inspiration and hope for generations of women and young girls to come.
In this article, we honor the stories of 5 remarkable African women whose indomitable spirit, ingenuity, and vision have not only transformed the tech industry but have also left an indelible mark on the very essence of African innovation.
Naadiya Moosajee
Founder of Women in Engineering (WomEng), an organization dedicated to nurturing the talents of girls and women in engineering and technology, Moosajee is best known for her commitment to gender parity, spearheading a transformative movement to bridge the gender gap.
In 2014, Forbes recognized her as one of Africa’s Top 20 Young Power Women in Africa, while the Government of China honored her at the BRICS Summit for her outstanding contributions to STEM education for African girls. Passionate about fostering STEM education and gender equality, Moosajee is committed to shaping prosperous and equitable societies in emerging economies.
Alongside Hema Vallabh, she co-founded WomHub, further expanding their impact on the industry.
According to Moosajee, “Engineers design our world and our society, and if we don’t have women at the design table, we exclude 50% of the population.”
Betelhem Dessie
“As a young woman, coding made me feel independent and free, and that’s something I want to give other people.”
At the age of 7, Dessie fell in love with computers. And by the tender age of 20, this visionary Ethiopian technologist had six software programs patented in her name, and was involved in the development of the world-famous Sophia the robot. Dessie founded iCog-Anyone Can Code at the age of 24, an Ethiopian-based social enterprise that offers kids and youth an opportunity at a future through coding.
Through iCog, the futures of over 30,000 youths have been positively impacted, making them more employable and skilled for entrepreneurship.
Maya Horgan Famodu
Maya believes that if you want to support women, you put them in positions to do it themselves. And she lives by her words, having founded Ingressive capital and Ingressive for Good, one a venture capital thatsupports early-stage African tech startups, and the other a nonprofit providing micro-scholarships, technical skills training and talent placement to African tech talents in need, respectively.
Being the youngest Black woman to launch a tech fund, Maya Horgan has been honored by Forbes before in their “Under 30 Technology” list, in 2018.
Mary Mwangi
Mary Mwangi knows too well that being a pioneer, and especially in the tech space, is no bed of roses.
Founder and CEO of Data Integrated, this Kenyan powerhouse is a pioneer in the fintech logistics space in Africa, with her company leveraging on tech to offer financial solutions to African SMEs, with a greater focus on Kenya’s public transport system.
Being a pioneer, the challenges are there, she admits, but insists that “You can do it. You have to get up.”
Charity Wanjiku
Charity Wanjiku describes herself as a shining star and a work-in-progress all at the same time. And a shining star she is indeed, having made patented solar panels and powered the most rural parts of Kenya before solar tiles were a thing. Recognized by both Forbes and the World Economic Forum as a top woman in tech globally, Charity is the founder Strauss Energy Ltd, an off-grid solar energy startup based in Nairobi, Kenya. She lights up the lives of Kenyans in rural areas – Literally.
The uniqueness of Strauss’ solar systems lies in their special meters that can feed unused electricity back to the national grid, generating income for households.
She is passionate about breaking STEM barriers for women and girls, as in her words, “It’s important that girls are at the forefront of this digital age, because nobody will hire you if you do not have tech skills.”
African startup funding has seen a significant fall from the highs of 2021 and 2022, with investments in the startup scene in Africa dropping by around 27% in 2023
Would you start a startup if there was no funding for it? African startup funding has seen a significant fall from the highs of 2021 and 2022, with investments in the startup scene in Africa in terms of funding dropping by around 27% in 2023, according to Disrupt Africa’s African Tech Startups Funding Report. The number of investors during this time, according to the same report fell by half.
Does this inform the direction that startups might take in the future, or is it an indicator that starting a startup might not be a worthy cause in 2024? In the recent live podcast hosted by Founders Factory Africa on the good and bad of funding, experts in the startup ecosystem in Nairobi came together to discuss the importance of choosing the right capital in 2024, and how to navigate the tight belt fastened by investors.
In the panel for the live podcast episode were Rology CFO Jason Musyoka; Bruce Nsereko-Lule, co-founder and general partner at Seedstars; and June Odongo, founder and CEO of Senga Technologies.
One thing from the conversation was clear; in the fight for a win, and with the current lack of sufficient funding, startup founders might feel the need to scramble for every funding opportunity that presents itself, in the process hurting their business and perhaps themselves. Therefore despite these funding challenges, the panelists unanimously agreed that it’s still critical for startups to be reasonable and careful in choosing the investors they approach for funding.
So, what are these critical play points to be addressed in the race for funding, and how to understand good and bad funding?
Shifting investor expectations
In the best way to approach investors in these tight times, the panelists highlighted that times have changed in the ecosystem, and investors are now prioritizing fundamentals and sustainability over pure potential, advising that founders should be aware of investors’ shifting priorities and adapt their fundraising strategies accordingly. This requires founders to have a clear roadmap with achievable milestones (pilot, funding rounds) and contingency plans.
“As investors, we’re looking for a plan but you also need to model in variation,” says Nsero- Luke. “Aim to go with the plan but let’s model it if we need to spend a little bit more, for example.”
Additionally, investors are emphasizing due diligence and seeking ventures with strong fundamentals and realistic growth plans, moving away from solely chasing high-growth potential. That makes it important that they do everything they can to impress in the due diligence process.
“From an investor perspective, it’s important that you do your due diligence very well whilst you’re investing in a company so that, when you’re putting in the money, you don’t get unexpected surprises,” he adds.
Choosing the right investor
Even within this shifting environment, the panelists agree that it’s still important for startup founders to be discerning in the investors they approach for funding. More particularly, they say, founders must consider whether choosing local investors makes more sense than international ones. While international investors might have deeper pockets, local investors often have a greater contextual understanding of local environments and may therefore be better positioned to guide founders to success.
“The beauty about local investors is that we understand context,” says Musyoka. “And not just context but we also have networks. There are doors that the senior-level executives and CEOs that they introduce you to can open for you or businesses that they can enable for you that they can enable for that you wouldn’t be able to open for yourself.”
Another strategic considerations when choosing which investors to approach is your business goals. Founders should define their business goals (lifestyle vs. scaling) and align their investment strategy accordingly, potentially utilizing local angel investors and then seeking international capital for further growth.
Even with these considerations in mind, it’s still important that founders pay attention to the investment offers in front of them. “If you’ve got two competing term sheets in front of you, always go for the one that offers the least dilution,” says Musyoka, who has a unique perspective as an investor turned operator. “It gives you flexibility and allows you to operate in your known business framework.” That may mean accepting a smaller investment but, Musyoka believes that this isn’t always a bad thing.
“A small amount is not necessarily bad for you,” he says. “You just have to recalibrate and work with what you have.”
According to Odongo, getting to the right investor also means knowing when to pause, when to move and when to stop, as Senga has had to do a couple of times over the past few years.
“At one point, we were going to raise money when we had validated our idea and it was growing well. Then we got a lot of competition that was emulating some of what we were doing and they were raising tones of money, so I decided not to raise because it was clear to me that things were not going to turn out well. So we retreated and pivoted to a new niche.”
Planning for an exit (or not)
In the long run, more and more startups taking this approach may also change how we think about exits on the continent.
“Exit opportunities exist in Africa,” says Nsereko-Lule. “We have local exchanges, we have big corporations, etc. The effective exit opportunities exist here, but the types of companies that local players want to buy are very different to the ones internationals want to buy.”
“As we contextualize venture capital to the local market, it will help,” he adds. “Then we can build businesses where founders have the necessary skill sets and build businesses capable of achieving exits on the continent.”
In conclusion, depending on how a founder goes about it, funding can be one of two; a blessing or a bad thing for a startup. Even with the funding drought that the African startup system is facing, it is important for a startup to be wisely selective with choosing the right investor, lest they risk losing their soul and business in the fight.
Spiro, the African electric motorcycle and clean energy infrastructure company, has secured a $55 million investment from NewTrails Capital, a China-focused growth-stage fund with operations in Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Nigeria. The latest commitment brings Spiro’s current funding round to $270 million.
The raise builds on a prior $215 million round announced recently, which marked one of the largest e-mobility financings in Africa at the time and positioned Spiro among the continent’s most heavily backed clean mobility platforms.
According to Gagan Gupta, Founder of Spiro and Chairman of Equitane, “Having deployed 100,000 electric vehicles and 2,500 smart-swap stations across seven active markets, Spiro has firmly moved past the proof-of-concept phase. Partnering with NewTrail Capital’s deeply experienced team marks a powerful new chapter for Spiro as we prepare for the next steps of our pan-African and international expansion.”
The company has also appointed Anant Badjatya as its new Group Chief Executive Officer as it enters its next phase of scale, focusing on manufacturing expansion, deeper localization of its supply chain, and accelerated rollout of its battery-swapping infrastructure across Africa.
The round includes continued backing from existing institutional investors such as FEDA, alongside participation from Impact Fund Denmark, Equitane, Nithio, and the Africa Go Green Fund.
Gupta added that the partnership with NewTrails Capital marks a new phase of expansion across Africa and international markets, particularly as Spiro deepens manufacturing and supply chain localization with Chinese partners.
“We believe Spiro is driving a profound “energy revolution” across mobility use cases in Africa,”Yufan Zhang, Founding Partner of NewTrails Capital. “This represents not only a vast and highly imaginative market opportunity, but also the potential to grow into an infrastructure-like business that creates meaningful commercial, social, and environmental value. In our view, Spiro’s core strengths lie in its deeply localized operating capabilities, vertically integrated supply chain, digitally enabled ecosystem, sound unit economics, and strong ability to scale rapidly.”
Spiro operates Africa’s largest electric mobility platform and the continent’s most extensive battery-swapping network for two-wheel vehicles. It reports more than 30 million battery swaps to date and continues to expand its regional assembly and production footprint under its “made in Africa, for Africa” strategy.
NewTrails Capital is a growth-stage investment fund focused on emerging markets across Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Latin America, backing companies driving energy transition and digital infrastructure across high-growth corridors.
Google has selected 15 AI-focused startups from Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire and Angola for its latest Google for Startups Accelerator Africa cohort, highlighting a shift toward scalable, revenue-generating innovation across the continent.
The startups, drawn from fintech, mobility, healthtech, agritech and SaaS, graduated from the three-month hybrid program with strong commercial traction, about 60% are already profitable, posting average monthly revenues of $60,000 and average funding of $1.1 million.
Showcased at the 2026 Close-out Week and Demo Day in Nairobi, the cohort reflects a maturing ecosystem where founders are building AI-driven solutions to address structural gaps in finance, logistics, healthcare and agriculture. From March to June, participants received access to Google technologies and mentorship from global engineering teams to accelerate scale.
“We are proud to see how these startups are innovatively using AI to tackle real-world challenges,” said Alex Okosi, Google’s Managing Director for Africa, citing the company’s equity-free support model.
Alex Okosi, Managing Director, Africa
The cohort includes Kenya’s Coamana, Duck, ReportsAI and VunaPay, all targeting “invisible infrastructure” gaps, alongside Tanzania’s Safiri, which is building transport and tourism systems. Other participants span Anda Africa (Angola), Bani, MasteryHive AI, Regxta and Termii (Nigeria), Emaisha Pay (Uganda), Loop and Vambo AI (South Africa), Maad (Senegal) and Meditect (Côte d’Ivoire).
Since 2018, the accelerator has supported more than 190 startups across 17 countries, which have raised over $400 million and created 3,500 jobs, with $11 million in equity-free funding and product credits provided to date.
For decades, Africa’s technology story has been centred on major cities such as Nairobi, Lagos, Cape Town, and Kigali. These urban hubs have attracted investment, startups, and digital talent, becoming symbols of the continent’s growing innovation economy. However, Mawingu, Kenya’s largest ISP for rural and peri-urban areas, a quieter transformation is taking place beyond city limits.
Sub-Saharan Africa remains predominantly rural, with an estimated 57% of its population,more than 700 million people, living outside major urban centres. Despite this, much of the continent’s digital infrastructure investment has historically been concentrated in cities, leaving millions of people disconnected from the opportunities of the digital economy.
As internet access increasingly becomes a prerequisite for education, healthcare, entrepreneurship, and economic participation, many experts believe Africa’s next wave of innovation may emerge from the very communities that have long been overlooked. Launched in 2012, at the foothills of Mount Kenya, in Nanyuki. Mawingu has expanded its coverage to 33 counties in Kenya serving over 20,000 active customers, connecting over 35,000 homes and businesses. Recently, Mawingu launched in Kwale County in line with its long-term ambition of positively impacting 1,000,000 Africans by 2028 through inclusive and meaningful digital access.
While Africa has made significant progress in mobile connectivity, the digital divide remains one of the continent’s biggest development challenges.
According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), only 38% of Africa’s population currently uses the internet, well below the global average of 68%. Although approximately 85% of Africans are covered by at least 3G mobile broadband services, only 60% have access to 4G networks, while 5G coverage remains limited at just 11%.
The disparities are even more pronounced in rural communities. ITU estimates show that one in four people living in rural Africa still has no possibility of connecting to the internet due to gaps in broadband coverage. Limited infrastructure, high data costs, device affordability challenges, and low digital literacy continue to restrict meaningful access.These barriers have real-world consequences.
Without reliable connectivity, students struggle to access digital learning resources, farmers miss opportunities to obtain market information, healthcare facilities face challenges in accessing specialist services, and entrepreneurs are unable to fully participate in the digital economy.
Why Connectivity Matters More Than Ever
Across the world, internet connectivity is increasingly viewed as critical infrastructure. Research shows that increased digital connectivity contributes to economic growth, job creation, financial inclusion, and improved access to essential services. Mobile money platforms, digital marketplaces, e-learning solutions, and telemedicine services all depend on reliable internet access.
For Africa, where the majority of the population is under the age of 25, connectivity represents more than convenience,it represents opportunity.
From accessing online education and remote work opportunities to launching digital businesses and participating in global markets, internet access is becoming a key driver of economic empowerment.
Experts argue that bridging Africa’s digital divide will require not only investment in infrastructure but also efforts to improve affordability, digital skills, and the relevance of online content for underserved communities. And these has been the focus of Mawingu.
The Company Betting on Rural Connectivity
Operating across more than 33 counties in Kenya and expanding into Tanzania through its sister company Habari, Mawingu Group focuses on delivering affordable internet services to rural and peri-urban communities that have traditionally been underserved by mainstream providers.
According to CEO Farouk Ramji, the company’s mission was born from a simple observation: the majority of East Africans live outside urban centres, yet most internet investment was flowing in the opposite direction.
“We saw a structural gap and an enormous opportunity,” he says.
That vision has since evolved into a broader mission to ensure that geography does not determine access to education, healthcare, markets, or economic opportunity.
Transforming Education Through Digital Access
One of the clearest examples of connectivity’s impact can be seen in education. Through partnerships and community initiatives, schools and technical training institutions are gaining access to digital learning resources that were previously unavailable.
Students at vocational training institutions can now supplement classroom instruction with online tutorials, technical demonstrations, and industry-specific content. For many learners, internet access provides exposure to skills and knowledge that improve their career prospects and employability.
The impact is also being felt in special needs education. Digital tools and online resources are helping educators support visually impaired learners, deaf students, and children with intellectual disabilities through more inclusive learning experiences.
As technology continues to evolve, connectivity is helping ensure that learners in remote communities are not left behind.
Connectivity Is Transforming Special Needs Education
The impact of digital connectivity is perhaps most visible in special needs education, where technology is helping bridge learning gaps and create more inclusive classrooms.
At Kambi ya Juu Integrated Primary School in Isiolo, teacher Amina uses Microsoft Copilot to generate audio descriptions of images for visually impaired learners.
“When we teach about animals, maps, or complex diagrams, our learners can see through sound,” she says.
At Likii Special School in Laikipia, digital tools are helping learners with intellectual disabilities connect visual concepts to real-world objects, improving communication, engagement, and comprehension.
Meanwhile, at Wajir School for the Deaf, internet connectivity has opened access to sign language content, digital learning resources, and educational opportunities that were previously difficult to reach.
These examples illustrate how reliable internet access is helping ensure that learners with different abilities are not left behind in Kenya’s digital transformation.
Creating Opportunities for Farmers and Entrepreneurs
The benefits of internet access extend well beyond the classroom.For farmers, connectivity is increasingly becoming a business tool. Access to market prices, agricultural information, financial services, and weather updates can help improve decision-making and increase productivity.
Entrepreneurs and small businesses are also leveraging digital tools to expand their customer base, streamline operations, and participate in online commerce.
For instance: At Ainabkoi Farmers’ Cooperative Society, connectivity has enabled farmers to access market information, weather forecasts, and digital financial services, helping improve decision-making and productivity.
As connectivity improves, rural communities are becoming active participants in the digital economy rather than passive observers.
Mawingu Says The Future of Innovation Is Rural
Farouk Ramji believes that Africa’s next generation of innovators will emerge from places that have historically been excluded from the technology ecosystem.
As barriers to connectivity continue to fall, talented young people in rural communities are gaining access to the same information, learning opportunities, and digital tools available in major cities.
This shift has the potential to unlock entirely new sources of innovation and entrepreneurship across the continent.
The future of Africa’s technology sector may not be determined solely by what happens in established innovation hubs. It may also be shaped by students learning online in remote schools, farmers accessing new markets through digital platforms, and entrepreneurs building businesses from communities that were once disconnected from the digital world.
Bridging the Digital Divide
Ramji knows that closing Africa’s digital divide requires more than infrastructure alone. It requires partnerships, investment, digital skills training, and a commitment to ensuring that connectivity translates into meaningful opportunities. And that’s what Mawingu is all about.
As governments, technology companies, and development partners work to expand internet access, the focus is increasingly shifting from simply connecting people to empowering them.
For millions across rural Africa, reliable internet access is opening doors to education, innovation, and economic participation.
And as that transformation continues, the continent’s next tech revolution may emerge from the communities that were once considered the hardest to reach and one company has built its business around this opportunity and is seeing results.
While cybersecurity companies leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance threat detection, cybercriminals are weaponising the same technology for automated phishing and malware attacks — highlighted by the fact that 43% of organisations believe hackers are using AI-driven methods to boost their effectiveness. To stay protected, organisations must adopt AI-powered platforms rather than relying on isolated tools.
AI has firmly established its presence in enterprise cybersecurity. Solution providers are embedding it to accelerate detection, reduce analyst workload and counter cyberattacks that move faster than human responders can manage. While cybercriminals are using it to automate reconnaissance, generate convincing phishing content and scale operations that would previously have required significant resources and expertise.
This symmetry is the challenge. Every AI-driven capability available to cybersecurity providers is also available, or adaptable, to cyber attackers. According to Kaspersky data, 21% of organisations globally believe cybercriminals are ahead in the technology arms race, with 43% saying criminals are able to adopt new technologies like AI to increase the effectiveness of their attacks.
Security leaders need to understand how AI is being weaponised, invest in AI-powered protection that is genuinely integrated into daily security workflows and approach the organisational and technical challenges of AI implementation with the same rigor applied to any critical infrastructure decision.
AI-based threats: How cybercriminals are using AI
The adoption of AI by threat actors is systematic. Attackers are integrating generative AI across the full attack chain: automating the creation of phishing lures, generating functional malicious code, improving the evasiveness of payloads and making social engineering more convincing at scale. What previously required skilled human operators can now be replicated and scaled cheaply.
Kaspersky’s Global Research and Analysis Team (GReAT) documented this shift in detail through its investigation of the RevengeHotels campaign, which targeted hospitality businesses across Latin America. Threat actors incorporated AI-generated code into their malware development and delivery process, producing more convincing phishing content and more evasive payloads than earlier iterations of the campaign.
The financial sector has also felt the impact directly. Kaspersky’s analysis of financial threat trends in 2025 identified AI as a key enabler of increasingly targeted fraud, social engineering and market manipulation attempts, with attackers using AI to model victim behaviour, craft more persuasive lures and probe infrastructure at a pace and scale that manual methods cannot match.
The entertainment industry tells a similar story. Kaspersky identified AI as the thread running through the most significant emerging risks facing studios, content platforms and rights holders in 2026, from AI-generated deepfakes and content fraud to AI-assisted probing of content delivery infrastructure.
The common thread across these threat scenarios is speed and scale. AI removes the manual bottlenecks that previously constrained attackers, compressing the time between reconnaissance and compromise, between identifying a target and deploying a convincing lure, and between creating a payload and adapting it to evade detection. For defenders, the response time advantage that once existed is eroding.
AI-based protection: How security vendors are responding
The cybersecurity industry has responded to the AI threat landscape by embedding AI throughout the detection and response lifecycle. Kaspersky has extended AI-driven capabilities throughout its portfolio enabling security teams to understand what is happening across their ecosystems, why it matters and what to do next, delivering richer, faster and more actionable intelligence without increasing the burden on analysts.
AI has the potential to deliver wide ranging advantages. For instance, behavioural correlation rules can be used to establish a baseline of normal login activity and automatically flag anomalous events, triggering account theft alerts without requiring manual analyst review of individual log entries. While AI-powered asset scoring can continuously evaluate for risk based on the sequence and context of detected security events across the infrastructure. Assets with unusual or correlated patterns receive elevated risk scores and are automatically categorised by severity helping teams focus limited resources where exposure is greatest.
In addition, AI-enabled incident summarisation can explain the attack chain, initial vector and adversary actions in plain language. Analysts can use this to immediately understand what happened without manually reviewing large volumes of raw event data, directly addressing the investigation bottleneck that strains under-resourced SOC teams. Meanwhile, AI-based assistants can deobfuscate command lines, provide analytical explanations and produce concise investigation reports, reducing cognitive load and accelerating analysis, especially in complex, multi-stage incidents.
In addition to these capabilities, there are many other AI-powered features that further assist cybersecurity companies in creating comprehensive and resilient solutions against evolving threats.
AI implementation in infrastructure: Challenges and key steps
According to a 2025 Kaspersky survey, nearly every company planning to establish a SOC within the next two years (99%) intends to enhance it with AI. However, many of these organisations face a distinct set of organisational and technical challenges when integrating this technology into their security infrastructure, and approaching these challenges without a clear framework risk compounding the very problems AI is meant to solve.
Data quality and telemetry coverage: AI detection and correlation capabilities are only as effective as the data they operate on. Fragmented architectures with siloed data sources produce inconsistent telemetry that limits AI effectiveness. Organisations must prioritise centralised data collection across endpoints, identity, cloud and network before AI-driven correlation can deliver meaningful results.
Integration complexity and total cost of ownership: AI capabilities introduced as isolated features within fragmented stacks add integration overhead without delivering unified operational benefit. Infrastructure requirements, API complexity and ongoing model tuning can multiply initial investment costs significantly. Enterprises should evaluate AI security capabilities not by feature lists but by how effectively the underlying platform consolidates telemetry, eliminates manual context-switching and reduces total operational burden.
Skill gaps and change management: AI tools that require deep technical configuration to operate effectively may widen rather than narrow capability gaps in under-resourced teams. The most operationally effective AI implementations are those that embed intelligence directly into analyst workflows.
Responsible AI governance: As AI becomes embedded in security operations, enterprises must also consider the governance framework governing those tools. Kaspersky has committed to responsible AI development as a signatory to the EU AI Pact, going beyond baseline compliance requirements and actively integrating principles of transparency, human oversight and risk-based governance into its AI practices.
The practical steps for organisations navigating AI integration are as follows:
Consolidate telemetry into a unified platform before layering AI capabilities. Fragmented data limits AI effectiveness
Evaluate AI security tools based on workflow integration, not feature count. The measure is analyst time saved, not capabilities listed
Prioritise platforms where AI capabilities are built-in rather than bolted on, to minimise integration overhead and reduce TCO
Establish internal AI governance standards that align with emerging regulatory requirements and vendor accountability frameworks
Run phased deployments with measurable outcome baselines to validate AI impact before full-scale rollout
Building a resilient AI strategy
The question for enterprise security leaders is not whether to engage with AI, but how to implement it in a way that delivers genuine operational benefit rather than added complexity.
The answer lies in integration. AI capabilities that operate in isolation, or that require significant manual configuration to function, add overhead without reducing risk. AI embedded directly into unified detection and response workflows is where the operational gains are realised. The Kaspersky Next Expert product line is built on this principle, embedding AI across detection, investigation and response within a unified platform designed to scale with enterprise environments without scaling headcount or operational complexity.
Organisations ready to transition from AI aspiration to AI implementation can discover how to make the process seamless with the dedicated Kaspersky’s expert guidance.
The world that we are living in today is digitally driven, and convenience isn’t defined by physical comfort alone; it is also shaped by how easily we can access information, communicate, work, learn, and manage daily tasks online. At the centre of this digital lifestyle is home WiFi, an invisible yet essential infrastructure that quietly supports almost everything that we do.
Whether it is productivity, communication, entertainment, or smart living, home WiFi adds a lot to digital convenience and reduces friction across digital activities. Let us discuss and understand what home WiFi truly adds to digital convenience and why home WiFi has become a basic household necessity.
24/7 Internet Access Without Data Anxiety
One of the most significant ways in which home WiFi adds to the convenience is by providing uninterrupted internet access without having to worry about data limits. Unlike mobile data, which requires strict monitoring usage, managing caps, and throttling speeds, home WiFi, such as the TP-Link routers, provides instant access to the internet without any data limits. This allows users to browse, stream, and download without having to adjust their behaviour to conserve data. You can log in to web management page of the TP-Link router to change Wi-Fi settings and guest networks easily through your web browser.
This convenience is unmatched and helpful in households with multiple users and devices that rely on the internet simultaneously. The absence of data anxiety creates a relaxed and productive digital environment that allows users to focus on their tasks rather than worrying about connectivity constraints.
Seamless Multi-Device Connectivity
You will find modern homes filled with internet-enabled devices, and all of these devices operate under a single, unified network, thanks to home WiFi. Smartphones, laptops, desktops, tablets, smart TVs, printers, and even household appliances connect to the internet and access the connectivity effortlessly without the need for individual data plans or manual network switching.
This seamless connectivity has simplified digital life and enabled digital devices to connect to the internet seamlessly. Plus, advanced routers used in home WiFi networks provide the option to manage and configure the network so that no single device can monopolize the network. ZTE routers for instance offers device management on both laptop and mobile so you can simply click to check your device settings.
Enabling Remote Work and Home-Based Productivity
Home WiFi has reshaped and changed how and where people work. Reliable internet access at home has enabled remote jobs, freelancing, and hybrid work models that were once impractical and considered a thought only. Video conferencing, cloud collaboration tools, and remote desktop access all depend on stable internet connectivity, and home WiFi provides just that and reduces interruptions.
A stable home WiFi connection means fewer dropped calls, smoother file uploads, and consistent access to work platforms. This type of reliability is unmatched and has allowed professionals to maintain their productivity, meet deadlines, and communicate effectively, even from their homes, without needing external workspaces or mobile hotspots.
Supporting Online Learning and Skill Development
Another way in which home WiFi adds to convenience is by supporting online learning and skill development. Education has increasingly moved online, and home WiFi plays a central role in this transition. Through their homes, students and professionals can join virtual classrooms, watch recorded lectures, and access digital libraries and interactive learning platforms.
This convenience has extended beyond formal education and enables people from all over the world to continue their learning journey and learn new skills every day. Plus, multiple learners within a household can attend learning sessions simultaneously and improve their knowledge and skills. This has made home WiFi a shared educational resource that supports long-term personal and professional growth.
Smart Home Integration
Home WiFi is also central when it comes to supporting smart home technology. IoT devices like smart lights, security cameras, voice assistants, and thermostats depend on Wi-Fi to function cohesively. When home WiFi is working properly, users can control their home environment through apps, voice commands, or automated routines. With Wi-Fi, you can get real-time updates, remote monitoring, and synchronised actions across smart home devices.
Whether it is adjusting the lighting, checking security cameras, or managing energy usage, home WiFi ensures that complex smart home systems turn into simple, user-friendly experiences.
Revolut has received key regulatory approvals from the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates, clearing a major hurdle as the fintech giant prepares to launch its services in one of the Middle East’s most competitive financial markets.
The London-based company said it has been granted Stored Value Facilities (SVF) and Retail Payment Services licences under Category II, following an in-principle approval issued in September 2025. The authorisation completes Revolut’s licensing process in the UAE and allows it to begin building out its local offering ahead of a full rollout.
The move marks a significant step in Revolut’s broader Middle East expansion strategy, as the firm looks to tap into the UAE’s fast-growing digital payments ecosystem and internationally mobile population. With more than 75 million users globally, Revolut has been steadily pushing into new markets amid rising demand for app-based financial services.
“The UAE’s position as a global hub for financial services innovation is built on the strength of its regulatory environment,” said Mohammad Abdulrahman Alhawi, Undersecretary at the UAE Ministry of Investment. He added that Revolut’s approval underscores the country’s appeal to international firms contributing to its knowledge-based economy.
For Revolut, the licences provide a foundation to offer multi-currency accounts, domestic and cross-border transfers, and card-based payments within a regulated framework. The company is expected to tailor its product suite to the UAE’s expatriate-heavy population, where demand for seamless international money movement remains high.
Ambareen Musa, Revolut’s GCC chief executive, described the approval as “a pivotal moment,” highlighting the firm’s focus on compliance and long-term investment in the region. “We see tremendous opportunity to contribute to the country’s digital economy by providing consumers with more choice and greater control,” she said.
Revolut said it is now investing in local infrastructure, hiring, and operational capabilities to support its launch, though it has not disclosed a timeline for going live.
The entry of a global player like Revolut is set to intensify competition in the UAE’s fintech space, where incumbents and startups alike are racing to capture a share of digital payments, remittances, and neobank services.
Dubizzle Group has invested in UAE-based rental rewards platform Tern, betting that incentives and payment flexibility can help it capture more of the value chain beyond property listings.
The deal will integrate Tern exclusively into Dubizzle-owned platforms Bayut and dubizzle, enabling tenants to pay rent via credit cards while earning loyalty points redeemable across retail, travel and lifestyle partners. The feature targets one of the largest recurring household expenses, long dominated by inflexible payment structures.
Financial terms of the investment were not disclosed.
The move underscores Dubizzle’s strategy to evolve from a classifieds marketplace into a full-service property ecosystem, layering financial tools and tenant services onto its high-traffic platforms. The company says its marketplaces attract about 58 million monthly visits and 20 million users across the region.
Tern, founded in 2024 by Said Al Sayyed and launched in 2025, has processed more than AED150 million ($40.8 million) in annualised rent payments, according to the company. Its model allows tenants to earn rewards on rent without additional fees for credit card usage, while offering landlords and property managers a digital rent collection system.
“At Bayut and dubizzle, our focus has always been on solving real challenges across the property journey,” said Haider Ali Khan, chief executive officer of Dubizzle Group UAE. “Rent is one of the largest recurring expenses for most households, yet the payment experience has traditionally offered very little flexibility.”
The investment was made through Dubizzle Group Ventures, the firm’s venture arm focused on early-stage technology startups across the Gulf. Head of investments Surya Raviganesh said the company is targeting startups that can scale alongside its platforms and tap into its user base, which reaches roughly half the UAE population each month.
For landlords and agents, the integration could improve tenant retention and enhance property appeal, particularly in a competitive rental market where service differentiation is becoming increasingly important.
The partnership reflects a broader shift in property technology, where platforms are embedding payments, financing and rewards into the rental journey to unlock new revenue streams and user engagement.
Google has begun rolling out Android 17, introducing a sweeping set of updates aimed at reshaping multitasking, mobile gaming, and device security, as the company continues to tighten integration between Android and its Gemini intelligence layer.
The update, which first ships on Pixel devices before expanding to eligible smartphones throughout 2026, centers on a more fluid, productivity-focused interface and deeper system-level controls designed to improve performance and safety.
A key feature in Android 17 is Bubbles, a new multitasking system that converts any app into a floating, resizable window. On larger devices, the feature is paired with a docked “bubble bar,” allowing users to switch between active apps with a single tap while keeping multiple workflows visible simultaneously. Google says the system is designed to make split-task behavior more natural across phones and foldables, particularly for messaging, navigation, and media consumption.
For creators and educators, Android 17 introduces Screen Reactions, a combined screen recording and front-facing camera tool that enables real-time commentary over app activity without external editing software. The feature is positioned as a response to growing demand for short-form instructional and reaction-based content.
Gaming receives a notable upgrade on foldable devices with a new foldable gaming mode, which divides the display into a gameplay area and a dedicated touch-control panel. The company has also optimized memory management to reduce frame drops and stuttering during high-performance gaming sessions, part of a broader push to improve consistency across mid- and high-tier Android hardware.
Security and privacy features also take a more prominent role in Android 17. Users gain the ability to grant apps temporary precise location access and share selected contacts instead of full address books. An enhanced “Mark as lost” function within Google’s Find Hub adds biometric locking, preventing unauthorized access or tracking shutdown even if a device passcode is compromised.
Google has also tightened device protection further by limiting PIN attempts and increasing lockout delays after repeated failures, alongside improved Live Threat Detection and expanded Advanced Protection mode designed to counter increasingly sophisticated mobile scams and malware.
Beyond headline features, Android 17 expands parental controls across all devices, introduces app-specific memory limits to improve system efficiency, and adds interface customization options such as hiding app labels and adjusting dark theme behavior. A dedicated volume control for assistant interactions is also included.
The company said select advanced devices will gain access to Gemini-powered intelligence features later this summer, as part of its broader effort to make Android more proactive in handling routine tasks and system optimization.
Android 17’s rollout comes as Google intensifies competition in the mobile ecosystem, where incremental hardware improvements have increasingly been overshadowed by software-driven differentiation and AI integration.
CNTXT AI, a UAE-based data and artificial intelligence company focused on sovereign AI solutions, has raised $60 million in a Series A funding round co-led by AI71 and BlueFive Capital, as it positions itself to scale secure AI deployments for enterprise and government clients worldwide.
The funding marks a significant milestone for the two-year-old company and underscores growing investor appetite for AI infrastructure that prioritizes data sovereignty, particularly across regulated industries and public-sector environments.
Founded in 2023 by serial entrepreneur Mohammad Abu Sheikh, CNTXT AI enables organizations to build and deploy AI applications while retaining full control over their data. The company plans to use the fresh capital to accelerate product development, expand into new markets, and roll out secure AI infrastructure globally.
“The era of AI experimentation is over; the era of execution has begun,” said Abu Sheikh. “This funding strengthens our ability to build the sovereign infrastructure and talent needed to deploy AI at scale.”
Abu Sheikh previously founded LocAI, which was acquired by AI71—now returning as a co-lead investor in CNTXT AI’s latest round. He also leads SMPL AI, a $25 million fund backing early-stage AI startups, further cementing his role in shaping the region’s AI ecosystem.
Strategic Expansion and Arabic AI Focus
As part of its growth strategy, CNTXT AI recently acquired Actualize, an enterprise AI startup specializing in dialect-aware Arabic voice agents. The move strengthens its position in Arabic-language AI, a segment seeing increased demand across the Gulf.
Its flagship product, Munsit, is positioned as one of the most advanced Arabic voice AI platforms, having processed over one million minutes of speech and serving more than 250 enterprises and 150,000 users.
CNTXT AI also collaborates with global technology partners including Oracle, NVIDIA, and AWS, and has supported large-scale AI initiatives for global developers, spanning both enterprise and government deployments.
Betting on Sovereign AI
The investment reflects a broader shift toward sovereign AI infrastructure, where countries and enterprises seek tighter control over data, compliance, and security in AI systems.
“CNTXT AI’s capabilities and speed of execution stand out in this fast-moving AI world,” said Reda Nidhakou, AI71 board member and CEO of VentureOne. “This investment strengthens our ability to build the environment needed to deploy AI at scale and address clients’ data sovereignty requirements.”
BlueFive Capital echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the importance of building globally competitive AI platforms from the region.
“We backed CNTXT AI because they are building exactly the kind of technology-driven platform the region needs—one that turns raw data into real AI outcomes,” said Hazem Ben-Gacem, Founder and CEO of BlueFive Capital.
Global Ambitions
With fresh funding and strategic backing, CNTXT AI is aiming beyond the GCC, targeting international markets where governments and enterprises are increasingly prioritizing secure, localized AI deployment.
As regulatory scrutiny intensifies and geopolitical considerations shape AI adoption, companies like CNTXT AI are positioning themselves at the center of a rapidly evolving global AI infrastructure race.
VOOM, a startup attempting to modernize one of West Africa’s most fragmented industries is seeking fresh capital after building an early network of verified auto-parts vendors in Ghana.
The Ghana-focused vertical marketplace for automotive spare parts, is raising a $400,000 pre-seed round through a SAFE with a $2 million valuation cap and a 20% discount, according to the company. The startup aims to replace a largely informal ecosystem of WhatsApp transactions, physical market visits and horizontal classified listings with a structured search platform designed specifically for automotive parts.
The company has onboarded 359 verified vendors in Greater Accra and facilitated 394 buyer-vendor conversations this month, according to internal figures shared by the company. Its marketplace currently hosts 880 listings, of which 804 are active.
The effort targets Africa’s automotive aftermarket, a sector estimated by the company at approximately $23.2 billion annually. Despite the size of the market, much of the trade remains highly fragmented, with buyers often relying on personal networks or broad classifieds platforms to locate parts.
Unlike general marketplaces, VOOM allows users to search inventory by vehicle make, model, year and part category. Existing platforms operating in the region, including major classifieds providers, generally lack structured catalog functionality designed specifically for automotive components.
The company says it processed more than 2,100 monthly searches from 189 buyers and generated over 27,000 paid Meta clicks in the last month, at an average cost of approximately $0.011 per click. Vendor subscriptions currently produce gross margins of 78%, according to the startup.
Chief Executive Officer Jim Stephen, a Gabonese-American entrepreneur with more than eight years of enterprise software sales experience, co-founded the business alongside Justice Ayiah, who oversees Ghana operations and previously built an automotive sales and rental business in Accra.
VOOM is also heavy on artificial intelligence expecially in its internal operations such as vendor onboarding and listing generation to investor outreach and operational monitoring. The company says the approach allows its two-person team to operate with the capacity of a much larger organization.
The strategy reflects a broader shift among African startups toward lean operating structures following a period of tighter venture financing across the continent.
VOOM’s model also diverges from previous attempts to build automotive-parts marketplaces in Africa. With the recent shutdown of a Nairobi-based spare parts platform which had raised roughly $1.8 million. VOOM intentionally avoids owning inventory or delivery infrastructure, positioning itself instead as a software and intelligence layer connecting buyers and sellers.
Beyond marketplace revenue, the startup is betting on the commercial value of transaction and search data, expecting future demand-intelligence products to create an additional revenue stream.
With ground operations in Accra, Zoom plans to include additional markets across francophone West Africa, including Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Cameroon and Togo.
Ericsson named longtime executive Per Narvinger as its next chief executive officer, handing leadership of the Swedish telecom equipment maker to an internal veteran as the company seeks to capitalize on growing demand for AI-driven network infrastructure.
Narvinger, currently executive vice president and head of Ericsson’s Networks business, will assume the CEO role on Oct. 1, succeeding Börje Ekholm, who will step down after nearly a decade leading the company. Ekholm will remain involved during the transition period as an executive advisor until mid-2027.
The move marks a planned succession rather than a strategic reset, with Ericsson’s board emphasizing continuity as the company enters a new phase of competition centered on advanced connectivity and artificial intelligence.
“Per has deep technical knowledge of our industry as well as extensive commercial experience,” Chairman Jan Carlson said in a statement announcing the appointment.
Narvinger joined Ericsson in 1997 and has held senior positions spanning research, product development, software and customer operations. Before taking over the Networks division in 2025, he led the company’s Cloud Software and Services business.
The leadership change comes as telecom equipment makers increasingly position themselves around AI-related demand, betting that wider deployment of intelligent systems will require faster, more sophisticated network infrastructure. Ericsson has been emphasizing how next-generation connectivity could support what executives describe as the emerging era of “physical AI,” where autonomous systems and industrial applications become more deeply integrated into real-world environments.
Ekholm, who took over in 2017 amid operational and market challenges, oversaw a broad restructuring effort that helped restore Ericsson’s position in the global telecommunications market. During his tenure, the company strengthened its standing in 5G infrastructure and expanded its focus on software and enterprise opportunities.
The appointment of Narvinger suggests Ericsson is betting that experience within its core networks business to guide its next stage of growth.
Ukiyo, a South African edutech and youth development organisation, has launched a mobile app that brings education, funding, career opportunities and student support into one platform.
Dubbed Global Student Support Platform [GSSP], the platform aims to link young people to educational opportunities, bursaries and scholarships, career pathways, mentorship, accommodation, tutoring, student support services, wellness and psychosocial support, leadership development and work-readiness resources.
“South Africa does not have a shortage of ambitious young people. It has a shortage of integrated pathways into economic participation and systems that connect young people to what they need to succeed,”‘ said Nozuko Mzamo, Founder, Ukiyo. “We built GSSP to support the full journey, from finding a place to study and securing education funding, to building a career and accessing mentorship.
GSSP has registered over 4,200 users and has recorded over 1,300 click-throughs to scholarship and bursary opportunities and 2,100 to job opportunities. Users have also engaged with course information, events, international exchange programmes and student support services.
Ukiyo works with corporate partners, higher education institutions, funders and communities to design and deliver youth development programmes. As part of this work, Ukiyo has partnered with organisations including Thrive Accommodation, North-West University, The LINK by Airlink and Emeris to deliver student support and employment-readiness initiatives.
CFAO Mobility Kenya has launched the Toyota bZ4X, marking the Japanese automaker’s first fully electric vehicle to enter the Kenyan market as it positions itself for a growing shift toward battery-powered mobility.
The launch represents a significant milestone for Toyota, a brand long associated with internal combustion engines and hybrid technology, as it enters Kenya’s emerging full-electric passenger vehicle segment while retaining its emphasis on quality, durability and reliability.
The bZ4X—whose name stands for “Beyond Zero”—offers a driving range of up to 516 kilometers on a single charge and accelerates from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in 5.1 seconds. The SUV features all-wheel drive capability, Toyota’s X-MODE terrain management system, ground clearance of 206–212 millimeters and a 500-millimeter wading depth, positioning it for both urban and light off-road use.
Toyota said the model supports 150-kilowatt DC fast charging, enabling a 10% to 80% charge in approximately 30 minutes. It is backed by an eight-year or 120,000-kilometer battery warranty and supported through CFAO Mobility Kenya’s nationwide network of service centres.
The launch comes as Kenya’s electric vehicle market continues to expand, supported by rising consumer interest, infrastructure development and a relatively clean energy grid that favors electrification.
The bZ4X enters a rapidly evolving electric SUV segment in Kenya, where competition is increasingly defined by imported and locally distributed models. Key rivals include BYD’s Atto 3, NETA’s electric crossover offerings and Kia’s expanding EV lineup, as manufacturers target early adopters and premium buyers with a mix of pricing strategies and technology differentiation. Toyota is expected to counter with its established dealer network, aftersales infrastructure and strong brand loyalty in the market.
“The bZ4X represents the next chapter in mobility,” CFAO Mobility Kenya Managing Director Arvinder Reel said, adding that the model combines zero-emission driving with Toyota’s established engineering standards and durability focus.
The model forms part of Toyota’s broader multi-pathway strategy toward carbon neutrality, balancing investments across hybrid, hydrogen and battery-electric technologies as it navigates differing market readiness levels globally.
SEACOM has activated a new terrestrial fibre route between Nairobi and Kampala, expanding its East African backbone as demand for regional data transit capacity accelerates.
The corridor, which runs through Kisumu and connects major backbone nodes between Kenya and Uganda, increases the resilience and throughput of traffic flowing from Mombasa’s subsea cable landing systems into inland markets. The upgrade places additional capacity on one of the region’s busiest digital transit paths, which underpins cloud services, mobile operators and enterprise connectivity.
SEACOM said the route forms part of a broader effort to scale infrastructure along high-growth East African corridors as data consumption rises across financial services, cloud computing and digital platforms.
“We are strengthening a route that already plays a central role in regional connectivity,” said David Kariuki, chief technology officer at SEACOM. “This ensures the corridor is served by a high-capacity, carrier-grade network that can support the scale and performance required by today’s digital economy.”
The Nairobi–Kampala link is a key segment in East Africa’s terrestrial fibre architecture, carrying traffic between Kenya, Uganda and onward to Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan. Industry operators increasingly rely on such routes to balance latency, redundancy and international bandwidth access.
SEACOM said the system is built with Automated Switched Optical Network (ASON) technology, enabling traffic rerouting in under 50 milliseconds in the event of disruption. The company has also introduced route diversity across the A104 highway corridor and an alternative path via Narok, Kericho and Kisumu.
The network incorporates dual international border crossings at Malaba and Busia, reducing reliance on a single transit point and improving route resilience for cross-border data flows.
At launch, the corridor provides 1 terabit per second of capacity, scalable to 30 terabits per second. The system supports 1GE, 10GE, 100GE and 400GE interfaces, targeting carriers, cloud providers and enterprise customers.
Latency on the route is approximately 7 milliseconds to Nairobi and 13 milliseconds to Mombasa, according to the company.
The upgrade adds to SEACOM’s ongoing expansion of its East African backbone, as regional operators increase investment in fibre infrastructure to meet rising demand for cloud connectivity and digital services.
Nairobi is likely to be home of the first OpenAI Academy initiative in Eastern Africa if Kenya’s president William Ruto is to be believed after his meeting on the margins of the G7 Leaders’ Summit with OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman.
President William Ruto said he held discussions with OpenAI Chief on opportunities to deepen collaboration in artificial intelligence and digital transformation.
According to President Ruto, discussions focused on potential areas of cooperation including establishing Nairobi as the home of the first OpenAI Academy initiative in Eastern Africa. The proposed collaboration would seek to expand AI education, strengthen digital skills development, support educators and learners, and reinforce Kenya’s position as a regional hub for AI talent and innovation.
“We explored potential collaboration through establishing Nairobi as the home of the first OpenAI Academy initiative in Eastern Africa, expanding AI education, strengthening digital skills, supporting educators and learners, and reinforcing Kenya’s position as a leading hub for AI talent and innovation,” said President Ruto. “I underscored the importance of harnessing emerging technologies to create opportunities for young people, drive innovation and ensure Africa plays a meaningful role in shaping the future digital economy.”
President Ruto said emerging technologies should be leveraged to create opportunities for young people and drive innovation while ensuring Africa plays a meaningful role in shaping the future digital economy.
The discussions reflect Kenya’s continued efforts to strengthen its digital economy agenda and position itself as a leading technology and innovation center in the region.
No further details were immediately available regarding timelines, funding commitments, or formal agreements arising from the discussions.
CapitalSage Vantage Limited, a subsidiary of CapitalSage Holdings, has signed an agreement to acquire Chi Technologies Inc. and its subsidiaries, marking an unexpected turnaround for fintech startup Chimoney just weeks after its co-founder and CEO announced plans to wind down operations.
The acquisition would give CapitalSage its first payments entity in Canada, expanding the multinational group’s footprint across the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Nigeria, Kenya, The Gambia and other markets.
The deal comes roughly four weeks after Chimoney publicly disclosed it was shutting down after struggling to resolve core challenges around distribution and liquidity despite building payments infrastructure.
“When I announced the wind-down in May, I was honest about what went wrong,” said Uchi Uchibeke, co-founder and CEO of Chimoney. “We built real infrastructure but never solved distribution or liquidity.”
According to the company, CapitalSage initiated discussions shortly after the shutdown announcement.
CapitalSage is led by executives with extensive financial services experience. Group CEO Abiola Bawuah previously spent more than 25 years in banking across Africa, including serving as chief executive for United Bank for Africa’s operations across 20 countries. Founder John A. Alamu started CapitalSage in 2014 as a microlending business with initial capital of N100,000 and has since grown it into a diversified group spanning fintech, agribusiness, manufacturing and healthcare across three continents.
Executives from CapitalSage traveled to Toronto this week to formalize the agreement, with the signing taking place at OneEleven Innovation Hub. The visit also included a private dinner with financial services executives, investors and community leaders ahead of the group’s planned expansion into Canada.
Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Under the agreement, Chimoney said all existing investors will be repaid in full upon closing, a condition the founder described as non-negotiable.
“Every person who believed in this company when it was just an idea will get their money back,” Uchibeke said. “How you close something matters as much as how you build it.”
Employees will also participate in transaction proceeds, recognizing contributions from teams that built and operated the platform.
Chimoney’s platform is expected to continue operating under CapitalSage ownership. Uchibeke will lead the transition, including relaunching the platform, re-engaging customers, activating U.S. payment corridors and handing over operations to the acquiring group.
The transaction will close in phases to comply with regulatory requirements, including re-registration under Canada’s Retail Payment Activities Act.
For founders in the fintech sector, the deal underscores how quickly trajectories can shift even after a public wind-down announcement. What began as the closure of a startup has evolved into an acquisition and a renewed operating path under a larger financial group.
PawaPay has processed three billion mobile money transactions on its platform, as daily volumes nearly doubled over the past nine months driven by increased cross-border and merchant payment activity across Africa.
The company said the milestone was reached in under nine months, about three months faster than the previous billion transactions. Daily volumes rose from roughly 2.4 million in September 2024 to about five million.
The growth comes amid continued expansion in Africa’s mobile money ecosystem. The GSMA reported that mobile money transaction value across the continent rose 26% last year, while global merchant payments increased 50% to $155 billion in its 2026 State of the Industry report.
PawaPay said usage has expanded across transport operators, subscription services, remittance providers and small businesses.
The company connects merchants to about 50 mobile money operators across 20 African markets through a single application programming interface, providing access to more than one billion wallets. It holds regulatory licences in several jurisdictions where required.
To date, PawaPay has processed more than €10 billion in payments.
The platform handles operator connectivity, settlement, foreign exchange, reconciliation and compliance. The company has also used stablecoins in treasury operations since 2022 to reduce settlement delays and currency exposure across markets.
“Businesses expanding across Africa should not have to build a payments company inside their own organisation,” said Heiti Allak, director of product at PawaPay. “Three billion transactions reflect everyday economic activity across transport, subscriptions, remittances and humanitarian payments.”
Clients include online trading platform Deriv and nonprofit GiveDirectly, which use the platform to operate across multiple African markets through a single integration.
PawaPay has positioned itself as a cross-border payments infrastructure provider for businesses operating in Africa’s fragmented mobile money landscape.
Financial institutions across Africa must focus on business value, cyber resilience and leadership if they are to successfully harness the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI), speakers said during the opening day of BFSI Week 2026.
Held from June 17-18 under the theme “Powering Africa’s Financial Transformation,” the event brought together more than 300 decision-makers from banking, SACCOs, insurance, fintech and technology organizations to discuss the future of financial services in an increasingly digital economy.
Opening the conference, Harry Hare, Chairman of CIO Africa by dx5, urged organizations to look beyond the hype surrounding AI and focus on practical business outcomes.
“Technology is not there for technology’s sake. Technology is there to help us solve very specific problems, improve efficiency and create value for customers,” said Hare.
He noted that organizations are facing mounting pressure to adopt AI from boards, customers, competitors and technology vendors, but warned against implementing the technology without a clear understanding of the value it creates.
“Your board is asking what you are doing about AI. Your customers are asking how you are using AI. Your competitors are adopting AI, and vendors are constantly offering AI solutions,” he said.
While acknowledging AI’s transformative potential, Hare emphasized the need for organizations to remain grounded in business realities.
“Let’s ride the hype, but let’s reason reality into what we’re doing in technology so that we don’t lose sight of what technology is supposed to do,” he added.
However, as organizations accelerate AI adoption, they must also prepare for a rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape, according to Dennis Muriithi, Senior Solutions Engineer at Sophos.
Delivering a keynote address titled “Cyber Crisis Decision Room: A Strategic Leadership Experience,” Muriithi warned that AI is enabling cybercriminals to launch attacks faster and at greater scale than ever before.
“With new technology come new risks, and one of the most constant risks has always been cybersecurity,” he said.
According to Muriithi, phishing attacks have increased by more than 1,200 percent during the generative AI era, while AI-enabled cyberattacks continue to rise globally.
“The number is not going to go down. Whatever we’re experiencing today will get worse,” he warned.
Muriithi noted that AI is increasingly being integrated into every stage of the cyberattack lifecycle, including reconnaissance, credential theft, privilege escalation, lateral movement and ransomware deployment, significantly reducing the time organizations have to detect and respond to incidents.
“In the AI era, we are moving from minutes to seconds of impact,” he said.
He urged organizations to establish clear incident response plans, test backup systems regularly and ensure leadership teams understand their roles during a cyber crisis.
“The question is, what is your escalation chain? Do you have a plan?” Muriithi asked delegates.
The opportunities presented by AI were highlighted by Sarah Muriuki, Group Head – Enabler Systems Support at Equity Bank Kenya Ltd, who argued that Africa has the potential to become a global delivery engine for AI-enabled services.
“Africa is not only a market for AI, we are becoming a delivery engine,” she said.
Muriuki pointed to Africa’s growing business process outsourcing and shared services industry, valued at nearly $20 billion, and noted that the continent already employs approximately 1.1 million people in business processing services while maintaining a significant cost advantage over Europe and North America.
She challenged African organizations to move beyond competing as low-cost outsourcing destinations and instead position themselves as providers of higher-value, AI-enabled services.
“Are we going to just stay as an arbitrage back office, or do we level up and start bringing value to the market through AI-augmented services?” she asked.
According to Muriuki, the answer lies not in technology alone but in leadership and strategic vision.
“That is not a technology question. It is a leadership question,” she said.
The discussions underscored the dual challenge facing financial institutions across Africa: embracing AI to improve efficiency, customer experience and competitiveness while simultaneously managing the risks associated with cybersecurity, governance and responsible deployment.
As BFSI Week continues, delegates are expected to explore how emerging technologies, digital transformation and innovation can help accelerate financial inclusion, strengthen operational resilience and power the next phase of Africa’s financial transformation.
SpaceX will proceed with its planned $60 billion acquisition of AI coding startup Cursor, deepening Elon Musk’s push into artificial intelligence just days after the company’s Wall Street debut boosted its market value.
A regulatory filing on Tuesday showed the transaction is expected to close in the third quarter, with Cursor becoming a wholly owned subsidiary. SpaceX had previously secured rights to acquire the company or pursue a partnership arrangement valued at roughly $10 billion.
The deal gives SpaceX access to one of the fastest-growing products in AI-assisted software development. Cursor, developed by San Francisco-based Anysphere, has gained broad adoption among professional programmers and emerged as a major player in AI coding tools.
The acquisition also strengthens SpaceX’s position in an increasingly competitive AI landscape dominated by companies including OpenAI and Anthropic. For Musk’s broader AI ambitions, Cursor adds both developer reach and software distribution channels that are difficult to build organically.
Cursor had already outlined plans to collaborate with xAI, SpaceX’s AI affiliate, using the Colossus computing infrastructure in Memphis to support future products.
Founded in 2022, Cursor helped accelerate the rise of so-called “vibe coding,” a trend in which increasingly capable AI systems handle larger portions of programming work.
The transaction comes as investors continue to push SpaceX shares higher following last week’s market debut, with the stock gaining in premarket trading Tuesday.
AURA, a safety and emergency response technology provider, has partnered with Glovo Kenya to roll out a real-time emergency response system for delivery riders in Kenya.
The integration embeds AURA’s response infrastructure into Glovo’s rider operations, enabling access to medical, security and roadside assistance through a single alert mechanism.
The companies said incidents will be logged and tracked in real time, allowing Glovo to monitor response progression from dispatch to resolution through a centralized dashboard.
AURA said the system connects riders to a vetted responder network covering security, medical and vehicle-related emergencies.
“Every incident becomes fully traceable from alert to resolution,” said Victor Odera, Kenya country manager at AURA.
Liz Wambua, operations manager at Glovo Kenya, said the partnership improves rider access to emergency support during deliveries.
AURA operates across Kenya, South Africa, the UK and the US, providing digital emergency response services through API integrations and mobile platforms.
The companies did not disclose financial terms or rollout timelines.
Fox Corporation has agreed to acquire Roku, Inc. in a $22 billion cash-and-stock transaction that would fuse one of the world’s largest live sports and news broadcasters with a dominant connected-TV platform, reshaping the U.S. streaming landscape.
Under the agreement, Roku shareholders will receive $160 per share, comprising $96 in cash and 0.9693 FOX Class A shares, valuing the deal at approximately $22 billion in enterprise value. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2027, subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals.
The combination brings together FOX’s portfolio of live sports, news, and entertainment — including NFL, MLB, NASCAR, and FOX News — with Roku’s streaming ecosystem, which reaches more than 100 million global streaming households through its operating system and The Roku Channel.
FOX said the acquisition will position the combined company as one of the largest players in U.S. television by viewing share, spanning broadcast, cable, and streaming. The company also owns the ad-supported streaming service Tubi, which will be integrated into the broader platform strategy alongside Roku’s distribution infrastructure.
Lachlan Murdoch, FOX’s executive chair and CEO, described the deal as a “defining moment” that accelerates the company’s pivot toward high-growth digital video markets, particularly connected TV advertising.
Roku founder and CEO Anthony Wood said the transaction would accelerate innovation and scale, calling FOX a “natural partner” for the next phase of streaming growth.
Strategically, FOX said the deal will deepen its position in connected TV advertising, strengthen content distribution, and expand direct-to-consumer engagement. The company expects about $400 million in annual cost synergies and anticipates the transaction to be accretive to free cash flow per share within two years of closing.
FOX plans to finance the cash portion through a mix of debt and cash on hand, supported by a $12 billion bridge financing package arranged by Morgan Stanley. The company expects pro forma net leverage of about 2.8x after closing.
Upon completion, FOX shareholders will own roughly 73% of the combined entity, with Roku investors holding about 27%. Roku’s CEO will join the FOX board following the merger.
The deal marks one of the largest media convergence transactions in recent years, underscoring accelerating consolidation between traditional media companies and streaming platforms as competition for viewer attention and advertising dollars intensifies.
Ripple has made a strategic investment in Flutterwave as part of the African payments company’s Series E funding round, deepening the integration of blockchain-based settlement infrastructure into one of the continent’s largest fintech platforms.
The investment, which values Flutterwave at $3.2 billion, underscores growing institutional interest in stablecoin-powered cross-border payments and signals a further convergence between traditional fintech rails and digital asset infrastructure.
Under the agreement, Ripple’s USD-backed stablecoin RLUSD, the XRP Ledger (XRPL), and Ripple’s global payments network will be integrated into Flutterwave’s payment stack. The companies said the collaboration is aimed at improving the speed, cost, and efficiency of cross-border transactions across Africa by reducing reliance on traditional correspondent banking systems.
Flutterwave operates payments infrastructure across 34 African countries, enabling merchants to accept and disburse funds via cards, bank transfers, mobile money, and global payment methods. The company said the integration will extend its existing network with a “stablecoin-first” settlement layer for selected cross-border corridors.
The partnership centers on three core components: embedding RLUSD into Flutterwave’s payment and remittance products, leveraging the XRP Ledger for transaction clearing, and connecting Flutterwave’s API infrastructure to Ripple Payments to facilitate cross-border liquidity flows.
Ripple said the investment reflects its long-term strategy to expand enterprise adoption of blockchain-based payments in emerging markets.
“Stablecoins are becoming a core component of modern payments infrastructure,” said Reece Merrick, Ripple’s managing director for the Middle East and Africa. He said the partnership would help embed RLUSD within Flutterwave’s ecosystem and support faster, lower-cost settlement across regional and global corridors.
Flutterwave chief executive Olugbenga “GB” Agboola described the deal as a step toward building what he called a “payment superhighway” linking African businesses more directly to global markets.
Africa’s cross-border payments market has long been constrained by high fees, fragmented banking relationships, and multi-day settlement times. Companies including Ripple and Flutterwave are increasingly positioning blockchain and stablecoins as an alternative settlement layer to address those inefficiencies.
Flutterwave has raised more than $500 million to date and processed over 1 billion transactions valued at more than $50 billion, according to company data. The Series E round is expected to support expansion of its enterprise payments and remittance products, including Send App.
Ripple, founded in 2012, provides blockchain-based infrastructure spanning payments, custody, and liquidity management. Its RLUSD stablecoin and XRP token are central to its enterprise settlement strategy.
The companies did not disclose the size of Ripple’s investment in the round.
The Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) mobilised $2.9 billion in private capital in 2025, reinforcing its role as one of the leading blended finance institutions channeling investment into infrastructure across emerging and frontier markets.
The group said it committed $1 billion across 33 infrastructure projects during the year, contributing to a total investment volume of $4.1 billion. The projects are expected to expand access to essential infrastructure for approximately 8 million people.
The latest figures were released ahead of London Climate Action Week as part of PIDG’s Sustainability and Impact Report 2025, highlighting continued momentum in using concessional capital to de-risk investments and attract private sector participation in underserved markets.
Blended finance driving private investment
PIDG’s model combines concessional and catalytic capital with private investment, a structure that has become increasingly central to financing infrastructure in low-income and fragile states. The group’s 2025 results show that each dollar committed helped mobilise nearly three dollars in private capital.
Since inception in 2002, PIDG has supported 286 projects reaching financial close, with 75% located in least developed countries, low-income countries, and fragile and conflict-affected states. Over that period, it has mobilised $32.7 billion in private capital and delivered $51.4 billion in total infrastructure investment.
The group said its approach continues to demonstrate that structured risk-sharing can unlock long-term institutional capital in markets that remain underfunded despite significant infrastructure demand.
Focus on climate-linked infrastructure
Climate-related investments remained a key priority in 2025, with PIDG supporting projects in renewable energy, electric mobility, sustainable aviation fuel, and climate-resilient infrastructure.
These investments reflect a broader shift among development finance institutions toward climate-aligned infrastructure, particularly in regions where energy transition and basic infrastructure expansion are converging.
PIDG said its portfolio continues to demonstrate that frontier markets can support scalable decarbonisation projects when supported by appropriate financial structuring and risk mitigation tools.
Gender-lens investing expands
The group also reported that 85% of its 2025 investments met gender targets, marking a 56% increase from the previous year. PIDG said the result reflects the growing integration of gender considerations into infrastructure financing decisions.
The organisation formalised this approach through the launch of its first Gender Lens Investing Policy, which embeds gender outcomes across the investment lifecycle.
One example cited was PIDG’s guarantee support for First Finance in Cambodia, where a $16 million payment default guarantee enabled expanded access to affordable housing finance expected to benefit approximately 6,500 people, 90% of whom are women.
Key projects across sectors and regions
Among the transactions closed in 2025 were several projects aimed at expanding access to energy, transport, and essential services:
A sustainable aviation fuel facility in Pakistan, supporting industrial-scale decarbonisation using waste feedstocks
The Programme Electricité Pour Tous (PEPT) in Côte d’Ivoire, expanding affordable electricity access for low-income households
LOCA in Laos, supporting the country’s first nationwide electric vehicle charging network and ride-hailing ecosystem
Sanivation in Kenya, developing sanitation infrastructure that converts human waste into clean fuel
These projects reflect PIDG’s continued focus on markets and sectors often considered too risky or commercially unviable for traditional investors.
Mobilising global and domestic capital
Beyond direct investments, PIDG highlighted ongoing partnerships aimed at improving investment conditions in emerging markets.
These include work with the University of Oxford on PCRAM 2.0, a methodology designed to assess climate resilience in infrastructure investments, and the Urban Resilience Fund in partnership with Meridiam, focused on sustainable urban development in African cities.
The group is also participating in initiatives such as the UK government-led Emerging Markets and Developing Economies (EMDE) Investor Taskforce and the Hamburg Data Alliance, aimed at improving data transparency and investor confidence in developing economies.
PIDG said its collaboration with the African Development Bank is focused on unlocking more than $2 trillion in potential domestic African capital through de-risking and credit enhancement mechanisms.
Outlook
As PIDG marks its 25th anniversary, the group said its long-term objective remains expanding the flow of private capital into infrastructure markets where financing gaps remain significant.
“Private capital can be mobilised in the world’s most challenging markets by deploying blended finance solutions and de-risking instruments,” said PIDG CEO Philippe Valahu. “Our 2025 results show that infrastructure investment can drive climate action, expand opportunity, and deliver lasting economic growth.”
ASUS is preparing to shake up the premium laptop market with its recently launched Zenbook A14, a device that blends ultra-light design with serious AI-driven performance.
Just weighing under 1kg, the Zenbook A14 packs a new “Ceraluminum™” chassis, which makes it significantly lighter and up to three times stronger than traditional aluminum. Asus is hinting at a future where durability no longer comes at the cost of portability.
Under the hood, ASUS is betting big on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 Elite processor, paired with an 80 TOPS AI engine, signaling a shift toward next-generation Copilot+ PCs built for on-device AI, faster creative workflows, and extended battery efficiency.
And battery life may be its biggest flex. ASUS claims over 33 hours of usage on a single charge,putting the A14 firmly in “multi-day laptop” territory without sacrificing performance.
With OLED visuals, Wi-Fi 7, advanced AI features, and support for multiple external displays, the Zenbook A14 isn’t just another ultrabook but it’s ASUS positioning itself at the center of the AI PC era.
More details are expected soon, but one thing is clear, the race for the smartest, longest-lasting laptop just got a serious contender.
Getting money during a Series A means something deeper than just cash changing hands. It’s not just about showing off what you’ve built; it shows the machine can run on its own. Investors look beyond features or first users. What matters now is how fast growth can spread, whether plans land without chaos, and if rivals even stand a chance. That one document, the collection of slides, starts doing heavy lifting when eyes turn toward belief.
Most powerful pitches aren’t built just on looks. When backers skim through stacks of slides, first impressions form fast, sometimes within seconds. A steady flow of real talk, backed by solid numbers and a sharp purpose, builds trust without guesswork piling up. Every investor cares about distinct things, yet certain basics always shape their decisions. Working with expert brand strategy services helps founders frame their story in ways that resonate with serious investors.
Investor Priorities in Early Stage Funding Presentations
What grabs investors early on is a clear picture of the issue at hand and why it’s worth their attention. They look for substance right away, not just promises. What makes a pitch deck hit hard? It shows real problems people actually face. Not vague ideas, but clear gaps that hurt how things work now. Sharp founders skip theory. They point to numbers to prove someone will pay to fix it. Demand isn’t guessed. It’s seen. Something worth chasing needs to matter right now yet stretch into bigger spaces later.
A Credible Business Model
Just because something sells well doesn’t mean it lasts. Sometimes success shows up early, yet vanishes fast without warning. A thing people love today might fade by next season. Popularity gives no promises about tomorrow. What works now can crumble later, even if crowds cheer at first.
Here’s where money enters the picture: value turns real when it brings in income, while expansion keeps things running beyond the short term. When looking at a company’s structure, backers tend to study what customers pay, how much effort goes into finding them, profit after costs, and whether operations can stretch further without breaking down. What counts aren’t tangled details; it’s clear thought. Simple beats clutter every time clarity leads.
A Convincing Growth Story
What counts isn’t just the digits, but where things are headed plays its part. Looking ahead matters more than today’s results for many who put money into companies. A business standing out from rivals, where it sits in the market, future moves, and advantages others can’t easily copy—all these add weight. Out front, solid decks frame progress less like a guess and more like something you can plan for. Growth shows up as real, backed by insight, built on steps that make sense. Companies with a clear product innovation strategy tend to attract stronger investor confidence by showing a credible path to market leadership.
A Team That Can Get Things Done
Ideas may spark attention, yet investors look closely at what happens afterward. Execution weighs more than plans, even if planning helps. Investors often check how founders faced old problems before handing over cash. One person misses something, and someone else fills that gap. This mix surprises many. When stress hits, doing counts more than dreaming, growth lives in action, not thoughts. Confidence grows when different strengths fit together without force. Belief grows when a solid team shows up. Investors watch them turn ideas into something real. Trust builds slowly, then suddenly matters most.
Evidence of Traction and Momentum
Most times, a dream isn’t enough when it comes to Series A. What matters shifts once you reach that level of proof begins to count more than promise. Something that often catches investors’ attention is proof that a company is moving forward. Growth in sales hints at momentum, while people actually using the product shows it fits a need. Sticking around matters too; repeat customers suggest value. Alliances with other firms can signal trust. Engagement numbers sometimes speak louder than promises ever could. Things moving forward tend to feel safer. Momentum lowers what feels risky.
Final Thoughts
A story unfolds when slides move beyond facts. Founders show they see far and stand firm, yet listen closely to proof woven into each claim. Momentum builds not through bold claims but quiet confidence backed by real steps forward. Questions investors carry are met before they are spoken and answered in data framed like chapters. Founders knowing what investors want stand out, especially when others are betting everything on flashy visuals or clever concepts alone. A tough funding market pushes some ahead simply by reading the room better
Nuvei has announced it will acquire Payoneer Global Inc. for $7.40 per share in cash, representing a total transaction equity value of approximately $2.75 billion.
“The acquisition of Payoneer marks a defining step in Nuvei’s evolution into a global financial infrastructure leader,” said Phil Fayer, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nuvei. “By combining complementary capabilities, we can offer businesses a more complete platform to accept payments, send funds, issue cards, manage treasury and FX needs, and access embedded financial services – at scale.”
The two firms will combine Nuvei’s leading payment acceptance capabilities with Payoneer’s cross-border payouts, multi-currency accounts and banking network, along with same-day and real-time settlement in more than 150 markets.
Nuvei x Payoneer logos
Together, the companies create an always-on, unified financial infrastructure built on trusted rails, supporting customers that do business across the world’s leading digital commerce platforms, including Amazon, eBay, Walmart, Airbnb, Fiverr, Upwork, Etsy, ByteDance, Shopify, and WooCommerce.
Payoneer has established regulatory footprint across major jurisdictions around the world and holds multiple licenses and authorizations, including licensing for online payment services in China and as a cross-border payment aggregator in India while Nuvei brings on board emerging financial models, including agentic commerce, stablecoin payments, and platform-native financial services.
“For two decades, Payoneer has earned the trust of millions of businesses in markets where trust takes years to build,” said John Caplan, Chief Executive Officer of Payoneer. “We have transformed our business with extraordinary results, and our combination with Nuvei will extend what we can offer customers. Together, we will reach more businesses, in more markets, with a more complete platform.”
The transaction has been approved by the Boards of Directors at Nuvei and Payoneer.
The transaction is expected to close in mid-2027, subject to approval by Payoneer’s shareholders, receipt of required regulatory approvals, and other customary closing conditions.
AXIAN Energy has secured a $60 million financing package from Mauritius-based lender MCB as the renewable energy developer seeks to accelerate expansion across Africa amid rising demand for power infrastructure and clean-energy investment on the continent.
The facility includes a $40 million revolving credit line with a three-year maturity and an extension option, alongside $20 million in unfunded instruments, according to a statement released Monday. The structure is designed to give AXIAN Energy greater flexibility in deploying capital and pursuing new development opportunities across its target markets.
The financing comes as AXIAN Energy has rapidly expanded its renewable energy ambitions over the past two years, building a pipeline of solar projects in Senegal, Benin, Zambia, Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar and Burkina Faso.
The company currently operates a portfolio of 350 megawatts of installed renewable generation capacity, supported by 77 megawatt-hours of energy storage capacity, underscoring broader momentum in Africa’s energy transition efforts.
The transaction also deepens a long-standing relationship between AXIAN Group and MCB, both of which have increasingly positioned themselves as pan-African players focused on infrastructure and economic development projects.
For AXIAN Energy, access to a revolving facility could provide quicker access to funding for project development in a sector where execution timelines and capital requirements often vary significantly across markets.
“This transaction marks a key milestone in AXIAN Energy’s growth trajectory,” Benjamin Memmi, chief executive officer of AXIAN Energy, said in the statement. “It provides us with the financial capacity to sustain the momentum we have built over the past two years.”
MCB said it structured the financing to align with AXIAN’s longer-term renewable energy strategy and broader expansion goals.
“We are proud to support AXIAN Energy in structuring this facility,” Mathieu Delteil, MCB’s global head of structured finance, said in the statement. “This partnership highlights our role as a strategic financial partner, mobilising capital towards investments that drive sustainable growth.”
Africa remains one of the world’s most under-electrified regions despite rapidly growing populations and energy demand, with governments and private developers increasingly turning to renewable generation and storage projects to address infrastructure gaps while meeting climate targets.
The agreement reflects a broader trend of regional lenders and investors stepping up financing for energy projects as developers seek capital to scale operations across multiple African markets.
Visa Inc. is partnering with the Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE) for the 10th anniversary of the BAKE Awards, a move aimed at deepening financial inclusion and unlocking monetization pathways in Kenya’s fast-growing creator economy.
The global payments giant said it will sponsor the awards’ Lifestyle category, positioning the collaboration as part of a broader push to equip digital creators with payment infrastructure, financial literacy, and compliance tools needed to scale income streams beyond local markets.
The partnership lands at a moment when Kenya’s creator ecosystem—spanning bloggers, influencers, podcasters, and independent publishers—is shifting from informal monetization models to more structured, revenue-driven enterprises. Industry stakeholders increasingly point to payment friction, delayed cross-border settlements, and fraud risks as key constraints to growth.
“The creator economy in Kenya has evolved beyond entertainment into a meaningful engine of youth employment and financial innovation,” said John Njoroge, Visa’s country manager for Kenya. “Our focus is to enable creators to receive global payouts seamlessly, manage cross-border commerce, and operate with the same financial confidence as established businesses.”
Visa’s involvement aligns with the BAKE Awards’ 2026 theme, “The Creator Economy: Turning Content into Capital,” which underscores the sector’s transition into a formal economic contributor. By integrating secure payment rails and compliance frameworks, Visa is seeking to address what it describes as a structural gap between creative output and sustainable earnings.
For BAKE, the partnership signals growing institutional recognition of digital content as an economic asset class. “Having a global fintech player validate this space is significant,” said Kennedy Kachwanya, chairperson of BAKE. “It strengthens the bridge between creators and formal financial systems, which is critical as the industry matures.”
The BAKE Awards, now in their 10th year, are among Kenya’s most visible platforms for digital creators, spanning more than 20 categories across blogging, social media, video, and podcasting. Public voting for the 2026 edition is underway ahead of the awards gala scheduled for June 27 in Nairobi, where Visa will present the Lifestyle category award.
The collaboration reflects a broader trend of financial institutions targeting Africa’s digital and gig economies, where rising smartphone penetration and platform-driven work are reshaping income generation. For Visa, the bet is that enabling seamless, secure payments for creators today could translate into long-term network growth as more individuals formalize their digital businesses.
The MENA Fintech Association (MFTA) and the Swiss Fintech Association (SFTA) have signed a strategic partnership agreement aimed at accelerating cross-border collaboration, strengthening financial innovation ecosystems, and fostering deeper global integration in fintech.
The memorandum of understanding, signed in Abu Dhabi, brings together two influential industry bodies representing key financial hubs in the Middle East and Europe. The agreement is expected to facilitate knowledge exchange, joint initiatives, and expanded opportunities for fintech firms operating across both regions.
The signing was attended by Switzerland’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, Arthur Mattli, highlighting the growing importance of bilateral cooperation in financial services and digital innovation.
“This strategic MOU between the Swiss FinTech Association in Zurich and the MENA Fintech Association in Dubai creates a powerful cross-border corridor for wealth, innovation, and digital finance,” said SFTA President Philip J. Weights. “It establishes a bridge between two of the world’s most prominent financial technology hubs.”
The partnership reflects a broader push within the fintech industry to build interconnected ecosystems that can support scaling startups, regulatory alignment, and the flow of capital and talent across borders.
Nameer Khan, Chairman of the MENA Fintech Association, described the agreement as a step toward shaping the future of financial services through collaboration. “This alliance is a defining step toward deepening cross-border collaboration and co-creating the future of financial innovation between our two ecosystems,” he said.
The alliance comes as fintech adoption accelerates globally, with regions such as the Middle East positioning themselves as emerging innovation centers, while Switzerland continues to leverage its longstanding strength in banking, wealth management, and financial infrastructure.
By linking these complementary ecosystems, the two associations aim to create new pathways for startups, investors, and institutions to collaborate, scale, and drive innovation across markets.
Paga Group, Nigeria’s largest payments infrastructure companies, is moving aggressively to embed itself at the center of the continent’s emerging stablecoin economy, announcing two major partnerships with Crossmint and the Sui blockchain aimed at rebuilding cross-border payments around programmable digital dollars.
With the deals, Paga aims to position itself as a critical bridge between Africa’s fiat payment systems and a rapidly expanding multi-chain stablecoin ecosystem, as global players race to capture emerging-market flows outside traditional correspondent banking networks. The firm also recently partnered with PayPal in Nigeria.
On June 10, Paga partnered with Crossmint, a U.S.-based enterprise stablecoin infrastructure provider, to create what the companies describe as a bi-directional payments bridge between Africa and global markets.
Under the arrangement, Crossmint will integrate Paga Engine’s fiat on- and off-ramp network to extend its global payout capabilities into African markets. In return, Paga will adopt Crossmint’s smart contract wallet infrastructure to issue programmable, multi-chain wallets for consumers and agents.
The wallets are designed to operate natively on-chain, allowing features such as spending limits, approval workflows, and compliance controls to be enforced at the protocol level while abstracting blockchain complexity from end users.
“By combining Paga’s local financial rails with Crossmint’s programmable wallet infrastructure, we are connecting the African economy to global finance,” said Tayo Oviosu, founder and chief executive officer of Paga Group. “We are eliminating friction and giving African consumers and businesses the financial mobility they deserve.”
Crossmint co-founder Rodri Fernández Touza said the partnership was shaped in part by his personal experience in Lagos, highlighting long-standing inefficiencies in cross-border payments for African users.
The collaboration targets enterprise clients seeking African payment access, fintech developers building stablecoin-native applications, and consumers who will interact with simplified digital dollar products.
The announcement follows a period of rapid growth for Paga, which processed more than $11 billion in transactions across 169 million payments in 2025, underscoring its position as one of the continent’s largest fintech infrastructure providers.
Just weeks earlier, Paga unveiled a separate but strategically aligned partnership with Sui, a high-performance Layer 1 blockchain developed by Mysten Labs, marking a deeper architectural commitment to blockchain-based settlement infrastructure.
Announced in May, the deal integrates Sui Dollar (USDsui), a native stablecoin launched in March 2026, across Paga’s ecosystem and positions Sui as the primary blockchain underpinning its platform.
The integration will see USDsui deployed across Paga’s enterprise APIs and consumer applications, enabling dollar-denominated payments and settlements without reliance on traditional foreign exchange intermediaries or correspondent banking networks.
“We have chosen Sui because it is built for the scalability, throughput, programmability, and privacy requirements of the future of money movement,” said Oviosu at the launch event. “It aligns with our vision of financial freedom for Africans participating in global markets.”
Sui executives framed the partnership as part of a broader effort to extend high-performance blockchain infrastructure into fast-growing emerging markets.
The collaboration also includes plans to develop yield-bearing products backed by real-world assets, with Sui serving as the on-chain settlement layer, alongside joint developer tooling aimed at accelerating fintech adoption across Africa.
Together, the two partnerships reflect a dual-stack strategy: Crossmint providing a multi-chain wallet and orchestration layer, and Sui serving as a primary high-throughput settlement blockchain with its native stablecoin, while Paga anchors the fiat connectivity and distribution network across Africa.
The approach effectively places Paga at the intersection of three layers of the emerging digital finance stack: blockchain infrastructure, stablecoin settlement, and local fiat rails.
Industry analysts say the model reflects a broader shift in global payments, as fintechs in emerging markets increasingly bypass legacy banking infrastructure in favor of programmable, blockchain-based systems.
If successful, Paga’s strategy could make it one of the most important gateways for stablecoin flows into and out of Africa, a region where demand for dollar liquidity, cross-border efficiency, and inflation hedging continues to drive alternative financial infrastructure adoption.
Still, execution risks remain. Regulatory frameworks for stablecoins across African markets remain uneven, and competition is intensifying from global fintechs and crypto-native infrastructure providers targeting the same corridors.
Even so, Paga’s dual partnerships signal a clear intent: to move beyond payments infrastructure into the foundational rails of Africa’s digital dollar economy.
