Author: Sam Wakoba

SeamlessHR, a HR tech firm, has raised $9 million to revolutionize the future of workforce productivity in Africa with cutting-edge technology. The funding round from the Gates Foundation and Helios Digital Ventures, will help the firm to expand its reach across Africa, enhance workforce productivity, and accelerate business performance through new products such as Embedded Finance offerings, and AI-driven workforce management technology. In a statement, SeamlessHR’s Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Emmanuel Okeleji, said, “I am really excited about our journey. Over the last 5 years, we have expanded across the continent to become the dominant HR and Payroll…

There have also been recent incidents where financial services providers have unexpectedly discontinued services for emerging market businesses, leading to substantial financial losses in the form of uncompleted transactions and disrupted trade flows. This ongoing situation means businesses cannot adequately plan and scale their operations, hindering them from reaching their full potential and taking advantage of the opportunities available to them. Waza, a B2B payment platform for emerging market businesses, has launched Lync, its new multi-currency account platform to help end this issue. Lync is expected to help African firms which, despite being incorporated and having operations in the US,…

Africa Tech Summit Nairobi, the B2B event connecting the African tech ecosystem, has announced 10 African tech startups pitching for potential funding and partnerships on February 12th and 13th at the Sarit Expo Centre in Nairobi. Powered by Raenest, Africa Tech Summit Nairobi selected the 10 startups from the over 200 submissions from more than 24 countries, including Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Zambia, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Chad, and Rwanda. “We are delighted to welcome these ventures to the seventh edition of Africa Tech Summit (ATS) Nairobi,” said Andrew…

Xiaomi recently announced the global launch of its Redmi Note 14 Series, which is touted as the firm’s biggest foray into AI and photography due to its pro-grade AI camera system. Xiaomi Kenya has announced it is launching the device locally in Kenya on the 20th of January. The highly anticipated Redmi Note 14 Series comes with groundbreaking features and cutting-edge technology and comes with sleek, modern design with unmatched durability. The Redmi Note 14 Series also promises stunning photography going with its pro-grade AI camera system and is the go-to tool for content creators, tech enthusiasts, fashion or interior…

OPPO has announced further expansion of its collaboration with Google Cloud in AI productivity applications and cloud security, unveiling a series of new features. The announcement was made at the 2025 Google Cloud Shenzhen Summit. Search giant Google is one of the leaders in the global AI field, and its partnership with OPPO will bring users a more efficient and secure next-generation AI experience. According to Kai Tang, President of OPPO’s Software Engineering, “OPPO collaborates with top global technology companies with an open mindset, striving to integrate cutting-edge AI technology into our products. OPPO and Google Expand Collaboration in AI…

PBR Life Sciences, a life sciences and healthcare, big data aggregator has raised $1M to transform healthcare in Africa through Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). The pre-seed funding was from Launch Africa, Microtraction, Kaleo Ventures, Octerra Capital, Marula Square, XA Africa, ARM Labs,  and Techstars, underscoring the global significance of its innovative approach to healthcare big data and analytics. According to Ayodeji Alaran, CEO and Founder, “Being backed by some of the most reputable  venture capital investors and angels in Africa not only inspires us as a team to do more but further validates the vital need to…

Little has entered into the lucrative point-of-sale terminal market with Little Pay Point-of-Sale (PoS) as millions of Kenyans head into the festive season. Little PoS will allow merchants across the country to accept online, card and mobile money payments from shoppers in this festive season. The mobile POS payment market has grown exponentially due to the increasing penetration of smartphones and tablets, which are being used more frequently for both personal and business purposes; the growing adoption of cloud-based technology and the rising popularity of e-commerce and online shopping is driving demand for mobile payment options. The global size of…

The East African Community (EAC) boasts a 100% mobile penetration rate, surpassing Africa’s average of 92% and nearing the global average of 111%. According to the report, Kenya leads with a penetration rate of 129%, followed by Tanzania at 113%. Mobile subscriptions have grown significantly, supported by the affordability of devices and widespread adoption of mobile money services. Samsung says it has played a huge role in the growth of mobile penetration in the region. “As Samsung I believe we have played a key role in this through our Knox technology that allows our partners; Watu Simu and Mkopa to…

Cryptocurrencies, and stablecoins are not just for investments like most people have seen them but can provide payment rails needed to meet the region’s goals for financial inclusion, according to Yellow Card’s boss. Speaking to TechMoran on the sidelines of the East Africa Bitcoin Conference, Chris Maurice, CEO Yellow Card said, ” Cryptocurrencies are not meant to be investments like most people have popularly used them. Crypto is supposed to be for everyday use, for payments, daily use for the masses. We are making it possible to provide the payment rails needed for Africa’s financial inclusion.” Yellow Card , operating…

Bolt has launched its new grocery delivery service in Kenya to tap into the growing online on-demand grocery delivery for shopping, food and essentials and take on competitors UberEATS, Glovo, GoBEBA among others. Dubbed Bolt Market, the service is an extension of the Bolt Food app which now will allow customers to order food and make grocery delivery orders from 8:00 am to 11:00 pm as well as schedule their essentials and grocery delivery 24 hours in advance. According to Bolt Food General Manager, Edgar Kitur: “With the launch of Bolt Market grocery delivery in Kenya, we aim to better…

Airtel Money has unveiled ‘Rudishiwa transaction fee’ offer for Paybill transactions incurred on merchant payments to Airtel Paybills in a move expected to give Safaricom’s M-PESA a rub for its money. The ”Rudishiwa” campaign, launched in December 2023 to refund transaction fees on withdrawals as airtime, has now been extended to merchant Paybills during the festive period. According to Airtel Money Managing Director Anne Kinuthia Otieno: “Mobile money has now become a primary mode of exchange and creating mechanisms to streamline this is crucial for societal well-being. Our main goal is to continuously give customers value, choice, affordability and convenience.”…

NVIDIA has partnered with Microsoft to accelerate AI startup development in Africa, building on the success of the Microsoft African Startups AI Fest held earlier this year in South Africa. “We are pleased to offer AI startups in Africa the necessary resources and support for their success,” says Gerald Maithya, General Manager of the Microsoft Africa Transformation Office. “Our collaboration with NVIDIA Inception will help startup founders leverage Microsoft’s cloud infrastructure, AI tools, and go-to-market support,” he added. Africa is poised to lead in AI-driven solutions, thanks to its youthful, dynamic workforce and rapidly growing tech ecosystems. With the highest…

VunaPay, a Kenyan startup revolutionising instant payments for farmers, has been selected winner at the Latitude59 Pitch Competition, Kenya edition securing a trip to Tallinn, Estonia, for Latitude59 2025. VunaPay beat 382 startups that applied for the competition, with only ten startups making it to the final Latitude59 pitch stage at the ASK Dome in Nairobi. VunaPay emerged victorious, impressing the jury with its impactful solution for farmers and its scalable potential. In a statement, Latitude59’s CEO, Liisi Org stated, “I was glad to witness three female founders pitching on stage, all of them leading impact startups. This year’s focus…

Safaricom Business, Safaricom’s enterprise business solutions arm, recently revamped its Business Fibre plans to meet the growing demand for superior internet speeds for its business consumers in Kenya. The revamped packages for Micro and Small enterprises are becoming increasingly popular among businesses because of Safaricom’s network reliability, 24/7 monitoring, great customer support, embedded security and an impressive 99.99% uptime. The high-speed fibre internet is designed specifically for business customers, offering reliable and fast connectivity. To sign up for Safaricom Business Fibre you will need to fill in a Business Connectivity application form provided by an authorized sales agent or at…

Mawingu, a Kenyan Internet Service Provider (ISP) has raised $15 million in debt and equity financing to fuel its East African expansion and has acquired Habari, an Arusha-based ISP with operations across 7 regions in Tanzania to accelerate its expansion drive. With the acquisition, Mawingu will expand into Tanzania to provide affordable home Internet to underserved communities in East Africa. The acquisition is one-step closer for Mawingu to positively impact 1,000,000 East Africans by 2028. According to Mawingu’s Chief Executive Officer, Farouk Ramji: “Today marks an incredibly important day for the African telecommunications market. Mawingu has grown from a start-up…

According to statistics, Kenya’s gross savings rate in December 2023 was 11.9%, the same as in 2022. The household savings rate was 12%, below the African average of 17%, while the gross domestic savings as a percentage of GDP stood at 11.35%. Kenya’s gross savings rate is below 12% Another survey by lending firm Tala indicated that one third of Kenyans would exhaust their savings within a month if worst came to worst while only 17 percent would survive with their savings beyond six months. Peter Wachira the CEO and Principal officer at ICEA Lion Trust company, speaking at the…

OPPO Find X8 PRO and the OPPO Find X8 smartphones and ColorOS 15.0 were launched yesterday globally as reported by TechMoran. OPPO Find X8 features a 6.59″ flat display that is perfectly sized for both productivity and portability. It’s ultra-slim 1.45mm symmetrical bezel makes it a relatively thin smartphone amongst its peers. The phone is 7.85mm thin and weighs 193g making it supremely compact and lightweight. OPPO Find X8 Pro boasts a 6.78″ Infinite View Display is for those who prefer larger screes. While larger in size, the Pro model is crafted with curved glass on the front and back,…

OPPO Find X8 Series and ColorOS 15 were officially launched yesterday in Bali, Indonesia debuting the all-new OPPO Find X8 and Find X8 Pro in global markets including Kenya. OPPO currently operates in over 70 countries and regions, with more than 300,000 retail spaces worldwide and its No. 4 globally in smartphone shipments with overseas shipments accounting for approximately 60% of its total volume ”Find X8 is a thin and light powerhouse with ultra-beating battery life and a periscope zoom. Find X8 Pro takes zoom further, delivering ultra-grade experiences without the bulk. And with ColorOS 15’s smart and smooth experience,…

Qara, a MEA-based supply chain tech startup, announced the successful completion of its $2.6 million funding round, led by strategic investors. This funding will drive the company’s expansion into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), supported by the National Technology Development Program’s (NTDP) Relocate Initiative, which offers a range of attractive incentives and support elements, ensuring a smooth and efficient incorporation into the Kingdom’s thriving tech ecosystem. Qara’s unique features provide producers with a seamless, end-to-end digital ecosystem allowing them to authenticate and trace their products all the way to the end consumers, connect with the whole supply chain, and…

vivo has launched its 4G vivo V40 Lite in Kenya, its latest addition to the V series with an impressive ultra-slim design in two captivating color options – Titanium Silver and Emerald Green. The V40 Lite has a Cushion-Cut Diamond Camera Shape module and features a Metallic High-Gloss Frame, lending a high-end feel to the phone while preserving its slim design. The vivo V40 Lite is IP64 Dust and Water Resistant. The smartphone is equipped with a 5000 mAh battery and an 80W FlashCharge capability, the device features a 4-Year Battery health. It boasts a 120 Hz AMOLED Display, ensuring…

DigMo, a new fintech has launched in Zambia bringing gamified wealth-building tools to low and middle-income earners in hopes of giving them a chance to save and win. DigMo wallet’s first offering, Save to Win, makes putting money away regularly, easy and rewarding with no fixed costs or fees. The platform aims to encourage savings to increase its users ability to invest. According to Sylvia Brune, CEO of DigMo Group: “We are committed to financial planning innovation for low and middle-income earners across Africa. To achieve this meaningful impact, we approach this like a game studio – where we constantly create…

Workpay, a HR tech firm offering a cloud-based payroll and HR platform that manages the entire employee lifecycle, enabling payroll processing, time tracking, has got Visa Africa Fintech Accelerator program backing just two months after raising $5m in a Series A funding round. The earlier round of funding was led by Norrsken22 with participation from Visa, Y Combinator, Saviu Ventures, Axian, Plug n Play, Verod-Kepple Africa Ventures and Acadian Ventures. In 2023, Workpay raised $2.7 million in a pre-series A round to help firms across Africa navigate employee management. According to Paul Kimani, Co-Founder and CEO of WorkPay, “We are…

Huawei AppCube, the Chinese telecom’s firm applications platform that allows for easy development, deployment, and management of applications, has announced the debut AppCube Hackathon to spark innovation and help developers build apps in a simplified ecosystem. Huawei AppCube Hackathon is scheduled for December 2 to December 6 at Huawei Kenya office and will bring together young Kenyan software developers to develop mobile and cloud-based applications on the Huawei ecosystem. “Huawei is dedicated to fostering digital transformation across Kenya. We believe in the transformative power of technology to improve lives and drive economic growth. Our software products are not merely tools…

Safaricom’s mobile connectivity business which comprise of voice, data and SMS business is still the telco’s key revenue contributor at 52.2% compared to M-PESA and other services. The connectivity business contributed 52.2% of revenue at KES 93.9 billion, while M-PESA contributed 42.9%, at KES 77.2 billion. Both the connectivity and the M-PESA business made up KES 171.1 billion or 95.1% of its revenues, meaning Safaricom has a long way to go in its transition to a TechCo and low earth orbiting (LEO) satellite service providers like Starlink have a low impact on its revenues. Safaricom saw KES 28.1 billion in…

Bolt will commit Sh14 billion over three years to support raising awareness of its safety features to address some of the key pain points in the Kenyan and African market. Bolt is banking on its Safety Team of over 500 people tackling its pain points. The Safety Specialists and Experts, based in Bolt’s Tallinn HQ, are trained in product development, engineering, and operations. Linda Ndungu, General Manager at Bolt said: “At Bolt, we take our responsibility to ensure the safety of our platform very seriously. With the Sh14 billion committed over three years to safety, we recognise that this requires…

Bolt, the European and African mobility firm has said that offline trips and alleged assault cases are its main points as the firm moves to secure its ride hailing and online ordering network. “Offline trips and assaults are some of our major pain points. We are launching this campaign as we enter the festive season because there will be a user spike,” said Bolt Africa Safety Manager Hazel Omune while demonstrating the newly launched safety features in Kenya. “Some of the complaints include a rider or passenger pushing or banging the door, grabbing personal property for lack of payments, physical confrontation,verbal…

Eneza Education, Kenya’s edtech venture has merged with Pakistan’s edtech venture Knowledge Platform to form the world’s first African Asian edtech venture to serve over 1,000,000 learners in Africa and Asia using mobile, web, and SMS technologies. The merged platform operating as Knowledge Platform, will be headquartered in Singapore will be served by a combined team of over 100 professionals in AI and learning technologies, instructional design, and education support. Kenya’s Wambura Kimunyu, the CEO of Eneza Education will serve as the Chief Growth Officer of Knowledge Platform. “Eneza brings deep experience in serving the rapidly growing African market through…

WIOCC (West Indian Ocean Cable Company) the largest shareholder in EASSy submarine fibre-optic cable system has relaunched in Kenya with the completion of the Mombasa Metro Network, interconnecting all major data centres in Mombasa. WIOCC is now building a protected National Long Distance (NLD) network between Nairobi and Mombasa and a Metro Network in Nairobi County set to be completed by the end of Q4 2024. The next phase, planned for Q2 2025, will see the network extended to other counties and the borders with neighbouring countries. James Wekesa, WIOCC Group’s Chief Commercial Officer speaking at WIOCC’s relaunch in Kenya…

There have been questions about the safety of Safaricom’s customer data by a cross-section of Kenyans after a false report in the media indicated that Safaricom aids in police abductions by giving unauthorized access to customer real-time location data to third parties agencies such as the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI). However, the British Standards Institute, which conducts expert-led penetration testing and validated vulnerability assessment services, has awarded Safaricom the ISO 27701 Privacy Information Management System (PIMS) certificate after a comprehensive evaluation. British Standards Institute (BSI)’s ISO 27701 Privacy Information Management System (PIMS) assessment looked into Safaricom’s crucial systems such…

Sistema.bio, a biogas technology, financing, and services for family farmers worldwide, has acquired Inclusive Energy (IE), a biogas and solar energy systems digital monitoring platform, to facilitate remote diagnosis, usage analytics for carbon reporting, and data insights for predictive maintenance. With the acquisition, Sistema.bio will expand its offerings and grow in the IoT and remote sensing space. Sistema.bio will also better support farmers and partners with a real-time monitoring system for biogas digesters, utilize intelligent sensing and communication tools. In a statement seen by TechMoran, Alex Eaton, CEO and co-founder of Sistema.bio, said: “We have been thoroughly impressed by Inclusive…