South African retailer Pick n Pay has announced plans to launch a virtual mobile service dubbed PnP Mobile. The service promises to offer customers “more data for less”. Pick n Pay CEO, Richard Brasher, did not disclose much information on how the company plans to go about it. He however said that South Africans can expect to see two new mobile virtual network operator (MVNOs) brands – PnP Mobile and Boxercom. Subscribers of these services will enjoy benefits when they support Pick n Pay or Boxer stores. Brasher said, “If you join Pick n Pay Mobile or Boxercom and you…
Author: Charity Mbaka
Streaming giant, Netflix, could soon start accepting payment from Kenyan subscribers via mobile money. The move is aimed at establishing itself as the dominant player in the Kenyan market. Netflix has already established a strong foothold in Nigeria and South Africa, two of Africa’s largest economies. Netflix is reportedly working with a number of local telecos to enable their subscribers pay for the service via mobile money. In South Africa, Netflix partnered with Vodacom and Telkom to offer a similar payment service. Netflix has several millions of users in Africa, and is looking to grow this number. Africa could be…
Solar company d.light has settled close to US$ 1 million to settle loans taken by their customers who faced financial challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic. d.light COO, Jacob Okoth, said the firm was offering this assistance in a bid to ease their suffering while they find new economic activities that could help them service their product loans. The funds are being disbursed to the firm’s suppliers who in turn exoect regular payments from d.light customers. Mr. Okoth said, “Covid-19 has hurt many livelihoods as breadwinners have lost jobs while other have seen their incomes from their businesses slump. That…
Telco giant, MTN, is threatening civil and criminal action against Wireless Application Service Providers (WASPs) and service providers who put their customers’ privacy at risk. This comes after revelations that Vodacom and MTN’s location-bases services are being abused to track unsuspecting South Africans. Most recently, this technology was used to track the movements of Lieutenant-Colonel Charl Kinnear and subsequently plan his assassination. Investigations into this crime by South African police revealed the abuse. MTN has since shut down access to 9 WASPs that had contracts to offer location-based services. These operators used MTN’s services to offer security tracking or alert…
Financial services giant, VISA, has acquired a minority stake in UK-based Global Processing Services (GPS). The terms of the deal are yet to be disclosed. No existing shareholders have exited as of yet. VISA and payments issuer processor, GPS, have collaborated since 2013. GPS was even selected as VISA’s preferred issuer for the Asia-Pacific region. GPS supports digital banks, fintech firms and e-wallet providers. It enables the brands to provide a more personalized user experience to cardholders. GPS will channel the funds towards expansion, and building teams in the regions of Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa. This is…
South African insuretech firm, Click2Sure, has received an undisclosed amount of funding from US-based tech venture fund, SixThirty. This makes it the first African company to receive investment from the fund. Click2Sure, (founded in 2016 by Daniel Guasco and Jacques Van Niekerk), will channel the funds toward developing its product. It will also be used to onboard businesses onto its insurance digitization platform which promises to slash admin costs, receive real-time data, and offer further insights. The firm’s co-founder, Daniel Guasco, said the investment would enable the startup to expand into new markets internationally. Guasco said, “Another reason we are…
WeJapa CEO Favour Ori, the Nigerian co-founder of the tech recruiting startup, has been forced to step down after investigations confirmed allegations against him for breach of contract, underpayment and high-handedness. The allegations were made against Mr. Ori on social media by a number of self-proclaimed developers contracted by WeJapa to build its platform. Ori was also in hot soup a few months ago for defrauding a WeJapa hackathon winner and not paying some of the Nigerian developers on the platform. Following the allegations and a barrage of social media backlash, WeJapa engaged law firm, Calmhill Partners to mitigate the…
Econet Telecom – Lesotho (ETL) has been been fined US$ 91,000 by the Lesotho Communications Authority (LCA) for delaying to submit its license renewal application. LCA expects renewal applications to be filed two years before their date of expiry. This means Econet Lesotho should have filed for a new license before October 2019. Their currently license expires in 2021. CEO of LCA, Mamarame Matela, said that the telco will have upto the end of December 2020 to pay the fine. Speaking to the media, Matela said, “Econet was unable to submit its application for renewal of its licence as expected…
Immaculate Kassait has been nominated the Data Commissioner Position by Kenya’s President Kenyatta. The Speaker of the Kenya National Assembly, Justin Bedan Muturi, announced the nomination saying, “I wish to report to the house that I have received a message from the President seeking National Assembly’s approval for the appointment of Miss Immaculate Kassait as the Data Commissioner in accordance to provisions of Section 6 (4) of the Data Protection Act 2019.” For the next two weeks, the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation will consider her appointment prior to submitting its report to parliament for the final…
Thrive Agric has had a tumultuous few months owing to challenges paused by the Covid-19 pandemic, adversely affecting some of their crowdfund subscribers. In a statement to TechMoran, the company said that it was working hard to rectify/repair the situation and ensure subscribers are repaid on time. The statement read, “Thrive Agric is one of Ventures Platforms’ portfolio companies; we invested in the agritech start-up in 2017. As early-stage investors, we take our role in how our portfolio companies operate and their overall corporate governance, very seriously. Once alerted to the fact the company was facing some operational challenges, Ventures…
Tech giant, Google, has announced it will be redesigning and rebranding its primary office apps which collectively went by the name G-Suite to Google Workspace. Google Workspace will comprise Gmail, Docs, Meet, Sheets, and Calendar. They will also be receiving new features that aim to improve their user experience. Google said in a statement, “Whether you’re returning to the office, working from home, on the frontlines with your mobile device, or connecting with customers, Google Workspace is the best way to create, communicate, and collaborate.” Google Workspace will include a feature that allows users to dynamically create and collaborate on a…
Three Afrucan startups have been selected to pitch at the first ever, fully virtual Seedstars International Demo Day 2020. The event is to be held on October 14, 2020. Pezesha (Kenya), Chaka (Nigeria) and Dryve (Egypt) will join 15 other startups from other parts of the world to pitch their product on October 14th. Pezesha (Kenya): Digital Infrastructure for financial inclusion of the underserved in Africa, currently reaching 7.23% week-on-week growth in terms of the value of loans disbursed, with rolling 30% monthly growth rate. Chaka (Nigeria): Chaka enables individuals and companies to invest in Nigerian and US stocks through its digital…
Uber Nigeria has hiked fares for its UberX offering starting October 6, 2020. UberX is a popular choice for riders owing largely to its affordability. The minimum fare has been hikes by N100 (US$ 0.30) up to N500, the base fare is up N20 (US$ 0.05) from 200 to 220. Uber has also raised cost per kilometer from 60 – 65 Naira. The ride-hailing firm explained that it has raised fares in order to ensure its driver-partners were earning more, and create a more reliable service for the riders. It said in a statement shared to riders via e-mail, “While…
Tanzania is the latest to join a number of African countries to launch startup initiatives. The Tanzania Startup Association (TSA) is membership-based organisation with the goal of creating a more cohesive startup environment in the country. TSA was founded by Zahoro Muhaji, a serial entrepreneur with over 10 years of experience. Muhaju received the backing of the Executive Secretary for the Tanzania National Business Council (TNBC), Dr Goodwill Wanga. Wanga said that TSA would play a crucial role in encouraging more businesses and young entrepreneurs to join Tanzania’s private sector. TSA is being run by a group of experienced entrepreneurs from…
Zambian agritech, Good Nature Agro (GNA), has raised a US$ 2.1 million Series A round from Goodwell Investments and existing seed investors Global Partnerships and FINCA Ventures. GNA co-founder and CEO, Carl Jensen, explained that funds will propel the startup further towards its main goal of serving small-scale farmers by upscaling their current business model. “We believe that every farm – regardless of size – deserves a partner who sees enough value in their capacity and their dreams to engage with them as individuals and families. Our focus on personalised advice and service delivery to farmers even as we scale is the key to our social…
Facebook has announced that users of Facebook Messenger and Instagram will be able to chat between the two apps. Instagram DMs will also be getting some of Facebook Messenger’s features to improve the overall usability and user experience. Facebook said in a statement, “More than a billion people already use Messenger as a place to share, hang out and express themselves with family and friends.” “That’s why we’re connecting the Messenger and Instagram experience to bring some of the best Messenger features to Instagram – so you have access to the best messaging experience, no matter which app you use.”…
Ugandan entrepreneur, Muhammed Dimma, has been selected to join the 2020 cohort of the prestigious Pursuit Incubator Programme. Emily Allen, the Director of Programs for the Pursuit Incubator Program, said Dimma stood out from other applicants mainly due to his passion for assisting the youth with his innovations. “His enthusiasm and passion are contagious. He has the determination that an entrepreneur needs to be successful.” Dimma founded social enterprise, Mawejja Creations, in 2014. The company uses banana fibers to create affordable and unique products. The company aims to generate employment opportunities for youth and women, as well as create products…
The OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) has loaned KES 2 Billion (US$ 20 Million) to the East African Development Bank meant for onward lending to SMEs in the region. In a statement by the OPEC Fund, the loan is intended to boost EADB’s lending to small enterprises in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda. Opec Fund director-general Abdulhamid Alkhalifa, said in the statement, “We are pleased to support private sector development in East Africa, which goes to the core of our mandate.” EADB Director General, Ms Vivienne Yeda, said that the funds will be deployed to “promote enterprises that generate…
Africa Teen Geeks, founded in 2014, has launched the first fully online STEM school to teach computer science to learners. The non-profit organization launched the digital school earlier in March this year in compliance with social distancing measures required due to Covid-19. They have also partnered with he Department of Basic Education and the SASOL Foundation to keep the digital school does not have to charge learners to use its service. The Program Practitioner – Corporate Affairs at Sasol Foundation, Anacletta Koloko, stated the importance of free digital learning and online textbooks to support STEM education in South Africa. Koloko…
Cars45 has appointed Soumobroto Ganguly as its new Chief Executive. He takes over from co-founder and former CEO, Etop Ikpe. Ganguly has over 20 years of experience in business development and marketing, finance and fund raising. He previously worked at KPMG’s Indian outfit. Prior to joining Cars45, he was the Deputy Managing Director of Genesis group Nigeria. The group dabbles in multiple sectors including; fast food-QSR, food production, catering, cinemas, hotels and retail. Cars45 recently went through a mass exit which saw former CEO, Etop quietly exit the company alongside eleven other executives. Some of the exiting execs joined Cars45…
Indicina Technologies has raised a US$ 150,000 seed round from the Honeywell Group’s venture capital arm, Itanna. The fintech startup will channel the funds towards expanding its operations within Nigeria, and to further build its proprietary technology platform. Some of the funds will also be used to expand into other regions in Africa. Indicina’s product Originate, is a ending-as-a-service platform that leverages machine learning to drive a digitally led consumer finance strategy. Indicina’s plan is to develop the product in a manner that advances the digitization of the credit value chain across all customer segments and allowing lenders, banks, and…
Jumia and Airtel Kenya have partnered to allow Airtel Money users to pay for their Jumia purchases using the mobile money service. Jumia Head of Financial Services, Nelly Movine, said, “Millions of Kenyans rely on mobile money daily to make fast payments. By expanding our payment options to include Airtel money, it will make it easier for more consumers to incorporate online shopping as part of their daily transactions.” The move is aimed at enhancing jumia’s contactless delivery initiative launched earlier this year to protect buyers and delivery persons from Covid-19. Buyers are urged to avoid cash payments. Airtel Kenya…
Kenya joins several other African countries, (such as Rwanda and Ethiopia) in creating legislation aimed at boosting the local startup ecosystem. The Startup Bill 2020 was tabled by Nairobi Senator, Johnson Sakaja. It has been backed by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. Most of its implementation will be tasked to the Kenya National Innovation Agency. The main aim of the bill is to “provide a framework to encourage growth and sustainable technological development and new entrepreneurship employment; to create a more favourable environment for innovation; to attract Kenyan talents and capital; and for connected purposes.” The bill will…
US-based Venture Capital firm, Aptive Capital, has invested into three early-stage African startups. In June 2020, the firm announced that it was taking applications to invest upto US$ 10,000 into eligible startups based in Africa. The investment is part of the firm’s US$ 1 million portfolio fund. Founders of 500+ startups across Africa applied for this investment in the month applications remained open. The startups that submitted applications went through a rigorous review process by investment professionals. The first review filtered down the applicants to 100 startups. The second stage involved due diligence and further documentation. The third stage comprised…
The 2020 Africa Tech Summit Connects (ATS) will take place virtually between the 20-22 of October. ATS is working in partnership with Disrupt Africa to accept applications for Pitch Live session of the event. Pitch Live Pitch Live is a startup-focused session where 15 selected start-ups will present their solution to over 500 people including investors, corporates and other stakeholders. This year’s ATS will be run virtually with attendees joining via their mobile apps or desktop. The virtual summit is planning to use AI to streamline attendees experiences through smart matchmaking, live 1:1 video meetings, and the ability to find…
Microsoft has partnered with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) to build agri-tech solutions. The collaboration was facilitated through Microsoft’s 4Afrika Initiative. It’s main aim is to support AGRA’s digital transformation in a bid to improve food security for 30 million farming households across 11 countries by 2021. The partnership, which will see the two leverage AI and big data, will involve the Kenyan government, and will soon expand to Tanzania, Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana, Malawi and Ethiopia. Under the terms of the partnership, AGRA grantees will also receive support to improve their digital offering using big data and…
Olam International has won an award at the 2020 Innovation Leader’s Impact Awards for improving farmers’ lives. The Innovation Leader’s Impact Awards recognize companies which have been running corporate innovation initiatives for at least 1 year, and have achieved extraordinary outcomes with measurable business results. Olam International’s, ‘Olam Direct’, was awarded by a judging panel comprising reputable organizations including; Verizon, Philips Healthcare, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, CME Group, Dover Corporation, Duke Energy and Cambia Health Solutions. Olam direct is an ecosystem of apps, a portal and an analytics dashboard, which connects farmers with Olam, in order to ensure a fair and transparent…
The Anzisha Prize has revealed its top 20 finalists for 2020. The ultimate winners will be announced at this year’s Anzisha Prize Conference in October. This year, Anzisha is celebrating 10 years since it begun supporting very young entrepreneurs. The 2020 edition saw 1,200 applicants from various African countries. 20 top startups were selected, 45% of which are female-owned. They operate in the sectors such as; agriculture, manufacturing, and education. Deputy Director of the Anzisha Prize, Melissa Mbazo-Ekepenyong, says, “2020 has seen a global shift in the future of work. This year’s applicants have personified the resilience and innovation that…
Amazon has named Ukonwa Ojo the new Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of Prime Video and Amazon Studios. She takes over the position from Andy Dorkin, who is to be transitioned to a yet to be disclosed position at Amazon. She previously worked as the CMO of beauty industry giant MAC Cosmetics. Ukonwa is set to embark on her new duties from the 21st of September. She will report directly to the Senior Vice President of Prime Videos and Amazon Studios, Mike Hopkins. SVP, Mike Hopkins said in an internal memo, “As an award-winning marketer, Ukonwa has a fantastic two-decade track…
South African ed-tech startup, Valenture Institute, has secured a USD 7 million investment from GSV Ventures. Valemture Institute was founded in January 2019, by Robert Paddock. The institute aims to be the most impactful school by 2028, by providing a rigorous and diverse curriculum recognized by the top universities worldwide. Chief Marketing and Innovation Officer of Valenture, Bradley Elliott, spoke of the investment, “The investment will be used for further global expansion, enhancing the learning experience, and building out additional offerings such as new subjects and exclusive bootcamps like Coding, Design Thinking, Data Science, and more.” Valenture will also channel the…