Author: Sam Wakoba

Bolt, the on demand mobility company in Africa and Europe has announced a 10% increase in base fares across all its ride categories to address low driver earnings which have been a cause of concern for its driver-partners for months. The increase will cater for the rising operational costs which have hit the drivers hard making tougher for them to maintain sustainable earnings. The 10% increase in the base fare will affect all categories from today. Bolt expects the additional income to incentivise drivers who had turned to unscrupulous and crude means like kidnapping to demand more money from their…

“Sunken Cooking Jacket,” under the Chemical, Physical and Mathematical Sciences category beat over 1780 submissions of young innovators, to win the Young Scientists Kenya 2024 Awards earning them this prestigious accolade. The multi-functional cooking stove designed by Students of Menyenya Secondary School in Nyamira County, Bradford Nyangiri and Felix Makori is an innovative stove, featuring three cooking points powered by a single fire source, is equipped with a fixed copper coil that simultaneously heats water while cooking. “Technology is now integral to our daily lives, transforming how we communicate, work, learn, and solve problems. By encouraging high school students to…

OPPO has finally launched its two new AI Phones –  Reno12 and Reno12 5G powered by the new MediaTek Dimensity 7300-Energy mobile platform developed exclusively by MediaTek and OPPO. The phones run Android 14 with ColorOS 14.1 UI and come with an 5,000mAh battery and 80W SUPERVOOCTM Flash Charge technology. Reno12 showcases a futuristic space-age silver exterior. The rear glass panel of Astor Silver has been crafted with OPPO’s Fluid Ripple Texture, creating a 3D-like sensation of rippling water cascading across a pond. There is also classic Matte Brown look which features a rich cocoa hue in a fingerprint-free finish.…

Starlink is set to start operations in Ghana at the end of August 2024 after the National Communications Authority (NCA), the statutory body mandated to licence and to regulate electronic communications activities and services in the country announced the development in a statement. NCA announced that Starlink will officially commence operations in Ghana by the end of this month (August, 2024). This follows the conclusion of all administrative and licensing procedures with the National Communications Authority (NCA). Starlink will be operated by Space X Starlink GH LTD. Starlink is a satellite internet constellation operated by Starlink Services, LLC, a wholly…

TikTok is taking major steps to boost safety on its platform across Sub-Saharan Africa with the launch of its inaugural Safety Advisory Council and the expansion of its #SaferTogether community education campaign. Since 2020, TikTok has established nine regional Safety Advisory Councils alongside the U.S. Content Advisory Council, each composed of experts in areas such as youth safety, free expression, and hate speech. These councils play a vital role in shaping TikTok’s policies, product features, and safety processes, ensuring the platform remains responsive to evolving challenges. According to Valiant Richey, Global Head of Outreach and Partnerships, Trust and Safety, TikTok,…

Manufacturers and distributors face significant challenges in managing order processing due to manual data entry, leading to errors, inefficiencies, and revenue losses. These issues are more than just operational hurdles; they directly impact customer satisfaction, employee productivity, and overall revenue. Sanifu.ai, developed by Patika Technology Limited, is an innovative AI-powered system designed to tackle these challenges by automating the extraction and entry of order details from various formats, including emails, PDFs, and Handwritten notes, into ERP systems, ensuring unparalleled accuracy and speed and drastically reducing the time and errors associated with manual data entry. Sanifu, a product of Patika technology,…

OPPO Reno 12 5G and OPPO Reno 12 F 5G are set to be launched in the Kenyan market on August 22nd 2024, in Nairobi with cutting-edge GenAI features that will enable users to unlock their creativity and productivity. “This is an exciting time for the OPPO brand as we launch the Reno12 series in the Kenyan market. This launch marks a pivotal moment for OPPO as we continue to push new boundaries with regards to technology. We have partnered for GenAI industry leaders to enable us to democratise AI. Our vison is to empower mobile phone users of across…

Selar, Nigeria’s marketplace for digital creators is expanding its presence in Kenya in a bid to empower African creators and driving economic growth by providing them with a platform and tools to monetize their digital products and services. Founded in 2016 by Nigerian entrepreneur Douglas Kendyson, Selar has partnered with companies like PayPal and Stripe to help creators sell digital products and in 2023, the firm paid out over $4.4 million to creators showcasing and selling their digital products, such as courses, e-books, music, art, tickets, and more. “This Kenya expansion is one of the most important decisions we’ve made…

Bolt and car finance firm Hakki Africa have partnered to deploy 1,500 vehicles over the next 18 months to drivers on Bolt’s platform via loan down payments and incentives based on their performance through Hakki Africa’s credit scoring system. This partnership between Bolt and Hakki Africa provides the opportunity for vehicle ownership by making financing more accessible for a greater number of new and existing drivers on the platform. In a statement sent to TechMoran, Linda Ndungu, General Manager, Rides said- ‘At Bolt, we are committed to empowering our drivers by improving their financial stability and overall well-being. Our partnership…

SYSPRO, a global ERP software provider for the manufacturing and distribution industries, has been acquired by Advent International, a private equity firm in a move that will accelerate SYSPRO’s global growth ambitions and unlock growth opportunities in key markets, including the USA and UK. As part of the transaction, Mike Ettling, an experienced software business leader who was previously the President of SAP SuccessFactors and is presently the CEO of Unit4, will join SYSPRO as Chairman of the Board. Phil Duff will retire from the company at the end of September 2024. Phil has been the visionary at the helm…

OPPO has shared insights on how generative AI technology is driving innovation in the smartphone industry and presented its AI strategy at the Google I/O Connect China event. The smartphone brand showcased various high-productivity AI features integrated with Google Gemini models and how the two aim to transform smartphones into powerful productivity tools. “As a revolutionary technology, generative AI is transforming the mobile industry,” stated Kai Tang, President of OPPO’s Software Engineering. “OPPO is dedicated to making AI phones accessible to everyone. We will keep an open mind and work closely with industry giants like Google to deliver the best…

Safaricom today announced it has crossed the 1,000 sites mark, with its robust 5G network now available in all 47 counties in Kenya and growing the 5G footprint to 14% of the population in Kenya. With 1,114 5G sites covering 102 towns across the country, more individuals, businesses, and homes are now experiencing the benefits of high-speed internet. In addition to the growing network, Safaricom now has over 11,000 enterprise customers on 5G and has seen growth in the number of active 5G smartphones to over 780,000, demonstrating the increasing adoption of this transformative technology. ‘Safaricom remains committed in leading…

VertoFX, the fintech providing cross-border payments, FX and banking solutions across emerging markets, has appointed Dr. Austin Okpagu as its first Country Manager for Nigeria and the broader West African region.  Most recently serving as Managing Director at JumiaPay, Okpagu has also worked OPay and Pagatech, where he drove partnership and business development efforts in both respective companies. At VertoFX, Okpagu will spearhead VertoFX’s newly opened offices in Victoria Island, Lagos, to achieve on-ground business growth targets, foster strong relationships with local stakeholders and implement tailored solutions to Nigerian customers’ needs and requirements.  “We are delighted to welcome Austin as…

Pantry organization is one of the most effective ways of changing the way you use your kitchen and the freshness of your foods. Pantry organization has also seen the use of Mason jars because of their durability, appearance, and the order they introduce to your pantry shelves. Purchasing these jars directly from the glass jars manufacturers also guarantees quality and affordability especially when bought in large quantities. Here are the steps on how to properly use mason jars for pantry organization and improvement. Choose the Right Sizes Mason jars are available in different sizes ranging from 4 ounces that are…

Qardy, the digital lending marketplace in Egypt and the MENA region has successfully secured a $ 7-figure pre-seed round of investment to fund MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises). The investment was from White Field Ventures and Vastly Valuable Ventures among other Angel Investors. “We are thrilled to have reached this important milestone in our journey,” said Tamer El-Manasterly, COO of Qardy. “The support and trust of our investors have been instrumental in driving our growth and enabling us to expand our reach and impact in the market. This investment will allow us to further enhance our services, as well…

LH Telecoms Nigeria, a subsidiary of Light House Capital, has acquired a majority stake in 9mobile’s parent firm Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services Limited, after approvals from the Nigerian Communications Commission and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed but the new board will be chaired by Thomas Etuh, with Nahim Ibraheem and Femi Edun joining as new members. Former senator, Daisy Danjuma will also be on the board, as well as Michael Ikpoki, Ibrahim Puri, Gloria Danjuma, and Emmanuel Etuh. “The investment, approved by the African Export-Import Bank (AFREXIM), the senior…

Village Capital has invested $350,000 into Aquarech, a Kenyan agtech startup that enables small and medium-sized fish farmers to become more productive and profitable by providing them with access to quality fish feed, credit, and buyers. This investment comes from Village Capital’s Reducing Inequalities Investment Facility, backed by FMO’s MASSIF Fund, established to support financial inclusion by supporting innovative financial solutions and inclusive businesses which also announced an investment into Nigeria’s Coamana. Founded in 2019 by father-son duo David and Joseph Okech, as well as James Odede, Aquarech is a digital platform for small and medium-sized fish farmers. As natives…

Nigeria’s Coamana, a startup that has established agent networks to facilitate the onboarding of farmers and traders into the digital marketplace, has raised $500,000 from Village Capital to digitize trade across markets in Africa. The investment was from Village Capital’s the Reducing Inequalities Investment Facility, backed by FMO’s MASSIF Fund, to promote financial inclusion. To date, the fund has invested in four impactful startups, Apontech, a Bangladesh-based company enhancing financial inclusion for factory workers; Crop2Cash, a Nigerian agtech empowering smallholder farmers; Aquarech, a Kenyan startup advancing aquaculture around Lake Victoria, and CoAmana which recently received funding as the fourth beneficiary.…

Sama, data annotation and model evaluation firm working on artificial intelligence (AI) models for global players has entered into a strategic partnership with The University of Nairobi (UoN) designed to provide employment opportunities to students and faculty and as well increase the Generative AI (GenAI) skills in Kenya. Sama says the partnership will allow UoN students and faculty to work on various Sama AI projects and gain exposure to the rapidly evolving GenAI environment. Sama will train the staff and students and provide equipment, materials and work areas needed for the part-time employment opportunities. According to Prof Stephen Kiama, the…

Lula, a ride-sharing service provider for office workers has acquired the South African branch of Zeelo, an American staff bus-sharing startup in a cash-only deal. Lula will integrate Zeelo’s existing user base of more than 18,000 riders in South Africa to its fleet, grow its presence and consolidate across South Africa in a move to grow its market share, boost its market penetration and up its operations. Zeelo is exiting the South African market to focus on US and Europe markets. Headquartered in London and Boston with an R&D team in Spain and live operations in the UK, US and…

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the timbuktoo Africa Innovation Foundation have launched the Fintech timbuktoo Hub in Lagos, Nigeria, located at the UNDP Innovation Center. The Fintech Hub will serve as a nexus for fintech entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts and will provide a collaborative workspace for startups and established fintech companies, offering mentorship programs and expert guidance to emerging innovators. Speaking during the launch, H.E. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State, “The launch of the timbuktoo Fintech Hub today embodies our shared commitment to fostering and driving solutions to Africa’s challenges. The hub will catalyze efforts to…

Young Scientists Kenya [YSK], yesterday announced it had received 1,780 project abstracts during its launch of the 7th edition of the National Science and Technology Annual Exhibition 2024, a 138 percent increase in submissions compared to last year. This year’s exhibition is scheduled to take place between 19th to 23rd of August 2024 themed – ‘Using STEM to Champion Climate Change Solutions.” Speaking at this year’s exhibition launch event, National Director, Dr. Eng. Victor Mwongera, said, “The exhibition will have 200 students and 100 teachers showcasing their projects, with an additional 1,300 students attending virtually. The students and teachers will…

Climate change risks pose serious threats to Kenya’s sustainable development goals and development gains according to a report by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The largest economy in East Africa with a population of 54 million, largely dependents on rainfed agriculture, tourism, and natural resources, “sectors that are susceptible to climate variability and change and extreme weather events,” added USAID. USAID therefore works with the Government of Kenya to address climate adaptation and resilience building, renewable energy, and natural climate solutions among others. Today, Young Scientists Kenya [YSK], an initiative of both the Ministry of Education and…

Airtel Kenya has opened a new franchise shop in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) on Gaborone Road, adjacent to Nairobi Textiles to be a vital point for Airtel Money agents within Nairobi’s downtown area, allowing them to purchase and balance float conveniently without the need to cross multiple streets to access the services. The shop will also offer a range of other crucial services including wholesale of airtime to distributors, sale of 4G & 5G Broadband devices, Pocket MiFi devices, SIM cards, SIM swap services and Registration of Airtel Money, Paybill and till numbers, as well as cash deposit and…

Epson Corporation has continued its drive to bring Heat-Free Line Inkjet technology through its office print range, launching the AM-C400 and AM-C550 MFPs to deliver improved solutions to the A4 market. These new products offer all the energy saving and productivity advantages afforded by Epson’s existing Line Inkjet printers but in a smaller, A4 format. This launch expands Epson’s existing A4 inkjet line-up and provides an ideal solution for users with higher print volumes. For the channel they represent an easily maintained, profitable solution that supports sustainability agendas. “Epson’s new AM-C400 and AM-C550 MFPs are designed to meet the needs…

Innovate Africa, an early-stage angel investment fund, has launched with an initial $2.5 million rollout to support up to 20 startups in its first year to solve complex, recognised problems such as insecurity, unemployment, and poverty with purpose-driven technology. Co-founded by Kristin Wilson and Christian Idiodi, the sector-agnostic fund will invest an average investment of $50,000 into each startup plus a comprehensive support package in finance, governance, public relations, and strategy, ensuring a solid foundation for growth. Kristin Wilson, Managing Partner of Innovate Africa Fund who witnessed the struggles that early-stage African founders face as a founder herself, the launch…

Fabricio Bloisi assumed work as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Prosus and Naspers Group on 1 July 2024 after a unanimous approval by the Boards of Prosus and Naspers, in a move expected to bolster its ecommerce trading. Before his appointment he was he CEO of iFood which he acquired in 2013 when it was a 20-person start-up and grown it rapidly and profitably to become Brazil’s leading food delivery company. According to Koos Bekker, Prosus and Naspers chair, “Backing exceptional entrepreneurs who improve people’s everyday lives through technology has brought us some success over the years. Fabricio is an entrepreneur…

Minka, the Colombian real-time payment startup, is set to expand to Eastern and Southern Africa to be part of the $115 billion digital economy on the continent. Minka plans to set up shop in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Ethiopia in its first phase then expand to Mozambique, Zambia, and Malawi in Southern Africa to help bridge the gaps between banks, financial institutions, Central banks, fintechs, and clearing houses. According to the company’s CEO Domagoj Rozic,“Our expansion into Africa is a testament to our continued mission to build more efficient payments infrastructure across the Global South. Low levels of financial inclusion,…

Recently, cryptocurrency cards have become essential tools for users looking to convert their digital assets into fiat currency. These cards allow holders to spend cryptocurrency just like traditional money, which is particularly useful in regions with limited access to banking services. In this article, we will examine five platforms offering services to exchange cryptocurrency assets into dollars. We will analyze the features of balance top-ups, cryptocurrency conversions, and the use of these cards. 1. PSTNET The financial platform PSTNET issues cryptocurrency cards for various purposes. Since these cards are issued by banks in Europe and the USA and operate with…

In the ever-evolving realm of digital marketing, driving traffic to your website is paramount. As an SEO specialist, you constantly seek effective methods to enhance your website’s visibility and engagement. Traffic bots have become a popular tool in this pursuit, but the market offers a variety of options ranging from cheap solutions to high-end services. The question then arises: what’s the difference between cheap and expensive traffic bots, and which one is better to choose? Let’s delve into this topic to provide a comprehensive comparison. What is a Traffic Bot? Traffic bot refers to the use of automated software to…