Author: Sam Wakoba

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…

Stanbic Bank Kenya has become the first bank in the region to unveil the World Elite Mastercard for the Bank’s affluent clients across the region. The World Elite Mastercard, categorized into the Stanbic World card and Stanbic World Elite card, offer affluent clients special benefits such as access to airport lounges globally via Mastercard Travel Pass, exclusive dining and travel privileges and offers, car rental and chauffeur services/ discounts, enhanced rewards and loyalty programs, premium memberships, 24/7 dedicated concierge services, comprehensive travel insurance and Mastercard Global Emergency Services. Abraham Ongenge, Head of Personal & Private Banking at Stanbic Bank Kenya said,“In…

Jacaranda Health, a healthcare startup empowering mothers to seek care at the right place and time, has received a $1.4 million grant from Google.org to advance PROMPTS, its AI-enabled support tool which provides personalized SMS advice to new and expecting mothers across Kenya. Jacaranda Health, based in Kenya with operations across Africa including Nigeria and Ghana, was part of organizations that received support from Google.org’s $5.8M in funding for organizations across Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa. The support was announced globally last year September and in March this year in Africa. Earlier, Google had announced it would be distributing $20…

Google has announced $5.8 million in Google.org funding to support foundational AI and cybersecurity training this year across Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa. The $5.8 million is in addition to the $20 million of Google.org support for organizations helping Africans develop digital skills announced earlier. Grow with Google, which is separate from Google.org, trained over 6.5 million people across Africa in 2023 alone in digital skills to help them build their career or business. According to Matt Brittin, the President of Google in EMEA: “AI could contribute $30 billion to the economy of sub-saharan Africa. But for this to be…

I&M Bank Kenya, has partnered with Backbase, the Engagement Banking Platform to allow I&M Bank to deliver innovative customer-centric digital solutions across its Retail, SME and Corporate Banking segments. In 2021, I&M Bank became the first bank in Africa to adopt Backbase’s Digital Onboarding product across both mobile and web platforms, to enhance its capacity to scale client onboarding resulting into impressive growth in both customer acquisition and retention. In a statement seen by TechMoran, Shameer Patel, Executive General Manager, Personal and Business Banking at I&M Bank said, “The partnership with Backbase has been instrumental to our digital transformation and…

AfriLabs’ Annual Gathering 2024 set to hold on the 6th – 8th of November at Cape Town International Convention Centre 2 (CTICC 2) with a mission to bring together African innovators, policy makers, investors, startups and thought leaders from across the world. The Annual Gathering 2024 will feature a stellar lineup of attendees, including sitting and former heads of states & ministers, pan-African government officials, and representatives from pan-African bodies. Among the attendees are CEOs, start-up innovators, and captains of innovation and a community of investors with a combined portfolio of over $300 million will be on the lookout for…

Crypto investing is on the rise. Statistics show global cryptocurrency ownership has increased from just over 100 million people in 2020 to more than 500 million in 2023. In the US, the number of adults owning crypto jumped from 30 percent in 2023 to 40 percent in 2024. The emergence of new avenues for engaging with crypto is one reason investing is growing. In the early days of crypto, spot trading was the primary option. Investors bought and sold at current market prices, owning the crypto they purchased and hoping they could sell at a profit. Recently, however, the market…

BURN, Kenya’s clean cooking appliance manufacturer, distributor, and carbon project developer, has secured $15 million from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to fund the distribution of BURN’s ECOA Electric Induction cooker to households across the East African region and launch a Pay-As-You-Cook payment offering. The US$15 million debt investment from EIB Global, announced on the margins of the World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings in Washington, will enable the appliances to be offered via BURN’s Pay-As-You-Cook payment offering. An affordable financing for low-income households who are unable to afford full upfront payments typically required for clean electric cooking appliances. In a statement…

M-KOPA, Kenya’s fintech firm has announced it has locally assembled over 1.5 million smartphones in Kenya, one year after it was launched, a move that establishes the firm as a critical player in the Kenyan economy, enabling financial inclusion through affordable access to smartphones, digital loans, data, free hospital cover and financing for e-motorbikes in Kenya. Build by HMD and assembled locally in Kenya, M-KOPA’s branded smartphones, the M-KOPA X2 and X20, offer an embedded digital financial services offering “More than a Phone” solution allowing users to asses other financial services. “Over 1.5 million smartphones produced through the local assembly…

BasiGo, the electric bus manufacturer with operations in Kenya and Rwanda has raised $42 million in new capital with $24 million in Series A equity funding along with US$17.5 million in debt facilities in a move expected to deliver 1,000 electric buses in East Africa. The equity funding round is led by Africa50, the pan-African infrastructure investor and asset manager with co-investments from Novastar Ventures, CFAO Kenya, Mobility54, SBI Investment, Trucks VC, Moxxie Ventures, and Susquehanna Foundation. The debt facility was from British International Investment (BII) and the U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC). The Series A equity round unlocks a…

Chumz.io, a Kenya-based fintech startup, which took home Latitude59 Kenya Pitch Competition last year is expanding across Africa. The app, which helps users set and achieve saving and investment goals through behavioral-based prompts and mobile money deposits, is testing its Rwanda launch this year. Since their Latitude59 triumph, Chumz.io has made impressive strides. “Since last year, we hit 200,000 registered users in Kenya and we are testing our solution to go live in Rwanda this year. Our next big leap is to hit 1,000,000 users in Kenya by 2026 and be operational in Uganda, Tanzania and Botswana by then as…

Sistema.bio, an agritech social enterprise led by Camilo Pages and Alexander Eaton, has secured $15 million in financing to fuel its global growth especially to support its continued growth of its partnerships, markets served and range of bioenergy products delivered to farmers. The round of funding was led by ElectriFI and existing investors including Chroma Impact Investment, KawiSafi Ventures, AXA IM Alts, Blink CV, and EcoEnterprises Fund. Existing lenders FMO, Triodos and EcoEnterprises also particpiated. BIX Capital, and UK Charity Shell Foundation provided the catalytic junior debt, co-funded with UK aid from the UK Government. “We are proud to strengthen…