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.
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.
Sun King, the Nairobi-based off-grid solar energy provider, said on Friday it has raised $40 million in equity financing from London-based impact investor Lightrock to accelerate its expansion across Africa and Asia.
The funding will be used to scale distribution of decentralised solar power systems, broaden the company’s product pipeline and increase its physical presence, the company said. Sun King’s integrated model combines solar panels, energy-efficient appliances and flexible pay-as-you-go consumer financing.
Sun King, led by Chief Executive Officer T. Patrick Walsh, plans to grow its retail footprint from about 470 outlets today to roughly 1,650 by 2030, and double its field agent workforce to around 90,000 across Africa, the company said.
The company already serves tens of millions of customers in underserved markets, providing solar home systems and related products where conventional grid electricity is limited or unavailable.
“Lightrock brings a deep understanding of our customers’ needs and a clear commitment to expanding access to energy,” Walsh said in a statement. “This investment strengthens our ability to reach millions more people with affordable, reliable power.”
Lightrock did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The investment reflects growing international investor interest in renewable energy and decentralised power solutions in emerging markets.
Sun King’s pay-as-you-go financing model, which allows consumers to make small incremental payments for solar systems, has unlocked significant customer financing and supported its rapid growth across several African and Asian markets.
The company’s latest funding comes amid a broader push to increase clean energy access for the hundreds of millions of people who lack reliable electricity, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
Gigmile, a Nigerian vehicle financing and financial services platform for gig workers has secured funding from Yango Group’s Yango Ventures to equip gig workers with access to vehicle financing, software tools, and operational support.
The funding will support Gigmile’s regional expansion and help improve delivery efficiency and financial inclusion across the continent.
“Gigmile is working on a problem we understand deeply: how to build delivery systems that work for businesses and for the couriers who keep them running. Our experience in urban logistics gives us a strong foundation to help them scale responsibly and efficiently. We’re proud to support a team that shares our commitment to building practical, tech-enabled infrastructure across Africa.” said Daniil Shuleyko, CEO of Yango Group.
Yango Ventures focuses on early-stage startups from Seed to Series B in sectors such as O2O (Online-to-Offline), B2B SaaS, and FinTech. With an initial $20 million fund and plans for scalable growth, the corporate venture arm continues to expand its portfolio with companies building transformative, tech-driven solutions in high-growth regions across Africa, MENAP, LATAM, and beyond.
Gigmile is addressing one of the continent’s most dynamic and fast-growing sectors: last-mile delivery. By combining technology, flexible financing models, and data-driven workforce management, the company empowers gig couriers with the tools they need to operate efficiently and earn sustainably.
Yango Ventures’ investment will fuel product development, strengthen operational capabilities, and accelerate Gigmile’s expansion across multiple African markets.
Investing in Palm Beach real estate has the potential to be immensely rewarding, but managing property comes with its own set of challenges that can unnerve even the most seasoned investors. From handling day-to-day operations to maximizing profitability, the role of a Palm Beach property management services | Palm Beach rental property management services | InvestPro Properties | property management in Palm Beach is both dynamic and crucial. Professional property management can be the key to unlocking the true value of your investment. Keep reading to discover how expert guidance and management practices can elevate your Palm Beach property to new heights.
Unlocking Value: The Impact of Professional Property Management on Palm Beach Investments
Professional property management goes beyond simple upkeep and tenant relations. In Palm Beach, a premier destination with a dynamic real estate market, a professional management team brings insight into local trends and a strategic approach. Their expertise in pricing and marketing ensures your property is positioned competitively, potentially leading to higher returns on investment.
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Maximizing Rental Income and Minimizing Vacancy Rates in Palm Beach
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The inaugural Cardano Africa Tech Summit (CATS26), set for February 13, 2026 in Nairobi, is positioning Africa as a leader in community-driven blockchain development after a continent-wide hackathon that mobilised thousands of young developers.
Bringing together innovation teams from Nigeria, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Burkina Faso, the summit highlights a fast-growing pan-African technology network focused on building locally grounded, globally scalable solutions.
Organisers say the initiative breaks from traditional “flash innovation” hackathons by requiring participants to first engage with local communities, identify real problems, and co-design tools that directly address those needs.
“This isn’t the usual hackathon chasing flashy ideas that vanish after the weekend. We began by asking communities: What needs to change? What problems do you face every day? Only after listening did our developers start building solutions that matter,” said Darlington Wleh, President of the Blockchain Centre Nairobi.
Projects developed across the five participating countries target some of the region’s most critical development challenges, including:
Nigeria and Ethiopia: digital identity, financial inclusion and transparent governance
DRC (Nyiragongo): supply-chain accountability and resource-management systems
Rwanda: blockchain-enabled public services and cross-border trade tools
Burkina Faso (Inkuba Project): agricultural resilience and community economic empowerment
The summit will serve as the culmination of the hackathon and a launchpad for partnerships with governments, development agencies and impact investors eager for scalable, culturally grounded innovation.
By spotlighting homegrown talent and long-term development models, CATS26 aims to position Africa not only as a beneficiary of global tech trends but as a producer of advanced decentralized technologies for global markets.
Kenya’s NCBA Bank has partnered with HEVA Fund to roll out a suite of financing products aimed at improving access to credit for artists and creative-sector enterprises, in a statement to TechMoran.
The agreement, signed during the NCBA Creative Economy Summit in Nairobi, introduces five lending products — event financing, invoice discounting, LPO financing, working-capital support and start-up incubator financing — tailored to the needs of creative businesses, including music, digital content, fashion, production and live events.
NCBA Group Managing Director John Gachora said the creative economy remains underserved by traditional lenders due to informality and irregular earnings. “Kenya’s creative economy is vibrant, but most artists and enterprises operate independently and remain unseen by financial institutions,” he said.
Under the model, NCBA and HEVA will jointly evaluate and support borrowers through a 50:50 risk-sharing structure designed to accommodate project-based and seasonal revenue patterns. HEVA, which has invested in more than 300 creative ventures over the past decade, said the deal reflects growing investor confidence in the sector.
“This partnership unlocks more capital for small and growing creative businesses and strengthens their contribution to GDP, youth employment and innovation,” said Wakiuru Njuguna, HEVA’s managing partner.
Motif Di Don, founder of Elev8 LIVE Studio — host of the event — said the collaboration offers emerging artists new pathways to professional growth. “Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not,” he said.
Kenya’s creative industries contribute an estimated 5.3% to national GDP and support more than 300,000 entrepreneurs, though lack of financing remains one of the sector’s biggest constraints.
NCBA said the partnership aligns with its “Change the Story” sustainability agenda, which targets youth empowerment and inclusive economic growth.
Safaricom has secured a $138 million loan from Standard Bank to support the expansion of its Ethiopian unit, the operator said on Thursday.
The funding will be used by Safaricom Telecommunications Ethiopia PLC to continue rolling out network infrastructure and digital services in the Horn of Africa nation.
Standard Bank said the facility is aimed at improving regional connectivity. “By supporting the expansion of digital connectivity in Ethiopia, we are strengthening economic linkages and opening new opportunities,” said Joshua Oigara, Standard Bank Group’s regional chief executive for East Africa.
Safaricom, which entered Ethiopia in 2021, has been scaling its network with support from financiers including Standard Bank, which acted as an advisor during the company’s market entry.
Ethiopia has been pushing digital reforms to spur economic growth. A World Bank report shows the share of people with internet access rose to 19% in 2024, from 15% in 2020, adding at least 4 million new users.
Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa said the partnership will support the company’s long-term investment plans in the country.
Safaricom Ethiopia reported 10.1 million three-month active users this year, four years after launching commercial operations.
Ezeebit, the stablecoin and cryptocurrency payment infrastructure firm, has raised $2.05 million to accelerate product development and merchant adoption in South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria.
The firm, which enables merchants to accept cryptocurrency payments with instant stablecoin settlement and next-business-day local fiat payouts, will also use the funds to expand strategic partnerships with banks, PSPs, and telcos
The seed funding round was led by Raba Partnership, an earlier backer of Flutterwave, Stitch, Fuse, and BVNK and joined by Founder Collective, which was an early backer of Uber, WHOOP, Airtable, and The Trade Desk. The round also includes strategic angels Terry Angelos (ex-Visa), Anton Katz (Talos), Nadir Khamissa (Hello Group), David De Picciotto (ex-Revolut), and Chris Harmse (BVNK).
“African merchants are tied to slow, expensive payment rails, while consumers increasingly hold crypto for remittances and savings but lack a safe way to spend it,” explains Daniel Katz, CEO and Co-Founder of Ezeebit. “We bridge this gap by connecting decentralised and traditional finance with a compliant stablecoin settlement layer. This funding empowers us to provide that vital infrastructure, allowing millions to participate fully in the global digital economy.”
According to the 2025 Geography of Cryptocurrency Report, between July 2024 and June 2025, Sub-Saharan Africa received over $205 billion in on-chain value, an increase of 52% from the previous year, making it the third fastest growing region in the world, behind APAC and Latin America.
While there is strong growth in traditional digital payment adoption, African merchants face immediate challenges including high fees (around 2–3% or more for card transactions), multi-day settlement (between three and five days), frequent declines, and limited cross-border options.
Launched in 2023, Ezeebit has already processed more than 30,000 transactions totalling millions of dollars in gross merchandise value. Clients include iStore, Le Creuset, Scoin, Tintswalo Lodges, Amiri and Diesel.
Ezeebit merchants enjoy fees of 1% or less amounting to a 68% saving compared to traditional card payments, along with instant stablecoin settlement and next-business-day local fiat payouts, eliminating volatility risk.
“Mobile money has already sensitised hundreds of millions of consumers to pay digitally via QR and account-to-account transfers. Stablecoins are the logical next step. What’s more, at 8.78%, Sub-Saharan Africa remains the most expensive region in the world to receive remittances, making crypto rails a compelling alternative. And, once consumers have received crypto, they are eager to spend it on goods and services, creating a reinforcing growth loop,” Katz says.
In markets where half the population is unbanked, Ezeebit isn’t just processing transactions, they’re opening access and building a trusted brand in the space, said Amanda Herson, General Partner at Founder Collective, adding that Ezeebit, has built real infrastructure, including wallet orchestration, instant hedging, and compliance tooling, that makes crypto payments work like tapping a card.
David Frankel, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Founder Collective says, “What’s happening in Africa is extraordinary. Millions of people hold crypto but can’t spend it; merchants need faster, cheaper rails, but legacy systems keep them locked out. Ezeebit is building the bridge. This team has an uncommon gift for integrating modern financial technology with a grounded understanding of the dynamics shaping the markets they serve.”
Investing in Innovation Africa (i3), a leading African healthtech accelerator, unveiled three transformative partnerships at its 3rd Access to Markets (A2M) event, highlighting the growing influence of African startups in healthcare innovation.
The deals, signed during a two-day gathering of investors, global pharmaceutical manufacturers, and government agencies, target cervical cancer prevention, pharmacy based access, and malaria care, areas of critical public health need across the continent.
“We are meeting communities where they are, forging new paths for patient access. This is how we break down barriers across Africa,” said Dr. Priya Agrawal, MSD Vice President, International Health Equity and Partnerships.
In Nigeria, Sproxil partnered with the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) and the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC) to deploy AI enhanced malaria surveillance. The model delivers real time insights from pharmacies and medicine vendors, allowing government agencies to monitor distribution and disease patterns while improving access to diagnostics and treatments.
“African led solutions, when properly supported, can drive continental health transformation while ensuring affordable anti-malarials reach the children and families who need them most,” said Dr. Ashifi Gogo, Sproxil CEO.
Since July, i3 has facilitated over 110 tailored introductions between startups and investors, generating 15 partnerships valued at more than $20 million. Its portfolio startups already serve 66,000 healthcare providers across 12 African countries and are projected to reach 167,000 providers by 2028.
Backed by the Gates Foundation, MSD, Cencora, Endless Health, HELP Logistics, Sanofi, and Boehringer Ingelheim, i3 continues to position Africa’s healthtech sector as a scalable, digitally enabled solution for pressing healthcare challenges.
Digital health platform MYDAWA and research-intensive biopharmaceutical company MSD have announced a collaboration aimed at enhancing concierge health services to support cervical cancer elimination in Africa.
The initiative, unveiled during the Investing in Innovation Africa (i3) 3rd Access to Markets (A2M) event, will expand access to both at-home and in-clinic health services, backed by online booking tools and educational counselling. MSD will provide business and technical expertise to help refine MYDAWA’s patient-focused delivery models.
“We’re excited to support MYDAWA in improving access to healthcare, powered by purpose and technology. This is how we break down barriers across Africa,” said Dr. Priya Agrawal, MSD Vice President, International Health Equity and Partnerships.
The i3 A2M event also saw the announcement of two other major healthtech partnerships. Nigeria’s National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) and the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC) signed an MoU with Sproxil to strengthen malaria surveillance and access to diagnostics and treatment. The partnership leverages Sproxil’s AI-powered test-to-treat model to deliver real-time data from pharmacies and medicine vendors, helping NMEP track disease patterns and ensure accountability.
“African-led solutions, when supported, can transform healthcare delivery and ensure life-saving antimalarials reach those who need them most,” said Dr. Ashifi Gogo, Sproxil CEO.
Since July, i3 has facilitated over 110 introductions between leading healthtech startups and investors or partners, resulting in 15 partnerships valued at over $20 million. The A2M event convened 15 startups, 41 investors, and multiple government representatives, showcasing a rapidly growing ecosystem of African-led healthcare innovation.
i3 is backed by the Gates Foundation, MSD, Cencora, Endless Health, HELP Logistics, Sanofi, and Boehringer Ingelheim, advancing scalable, digitally enabled solutions to improve patient access across the continent.
Thirty-nine-year-old Wellington Juma found himself answering a phone call that changed his life for the better. After a night shift at Chulaimbo Health Center, all Wellington wanted to do was rest. Normally, he would have ignored a call at that time as he would have been asleep or doing some meditation, but as fate would have it, Wellington picked the call from Safaricom, the call that made him a millionaire.
Known by his community for his calmness and kind nature, Wellington says the call felt unrealistic. “My phone rang as I had just come in from my night shift at the hospital. At first, I thought it was fraud or that someone was trying to prank me, but when I received the confirmation message, I started to believe it,” he jokingly says. However, still doubtful, Welligton made his way to the Safaricom shop in Kisumu where it was truly confirmed that he had indeed won KES 1,000,000 through Safaricom’s Shangwe @ 25 promotion.
For Wellington, this win comes at a time when he needed it most. Like the hard worker he is, he balances his funds between supporting his growing family, building them a decent home and running his small private clinic. He has had to pause projects at times and sacrifice his passions in order to maintain a good financial balance for other aspects of his life. “Now I can finally complete my house,” says Welligton, cracking a soft smile on his face. “I will also get more equipment for my clinic, so I can serve my community better,” he adds, speaking to his kindness and passion for healthcare.
With the additional KES 250,000 community project fund, Wellington plans to support Kamiruga Widows’ Group in Ahero. “These ladies hire out tents for functions, I’d like to support them with capital to expand their enterprise,” he joyfully shares. For a man who spends his nights saving lives, the gift of giving back to his community is the greatest achievement. Having grown up in a tight-knit community in Ahero, Kisumu, Wellington has witnessed first-hand how the women in his life have held families together and how their resilience and determination have made lives better. That is why he is determined to support them and ensure they get a stable source of income.
Wellington’s story is exactly what the Shangwe @ 25 promotion is celebrating: the everyday heroes who make Kenya better in big and small ways. From health workers and farmers to teachers and entrepreneurs, the promotion shines a spotlight on everyday people whose lives reflect courage, dedication, and community spirit.
Since its launch, the Shangwe @25 National Consumer Promotion has continued to reward thousands of customers daily and weekly with cash prizes, data bundles, devices, and business support tools. Every week, customers cash prizes from KES10,000, to KES100,000, contributing to more than 50,000 winners weekly. Over the course of the promotion, more than 5 million customers are expected to win prizes worth KES250 million.
The Shangwe @25 promotion is still ongoing. Customers can participate simply by transacting on M-PESA, sending money, paying with M-PESA, redeeming Bonga Points, or purchasing any Safaricom products such as data bundles, voice bundles, digital services, or Home Fibre. Merchants and M-PESA agents also qualify through Buy Goods, Pochi la Biashara, and transactions from Kes 1,000 and above.
Sheila Cheptoo, a 25-year-old poultry farmer in the quiet village of Masare, in Bomet County, rises early before sunrise. The soft rustling of her 132 chickens is the first thing she hears each morning. It reminds her of how far she has come and how much more she hopes to achieve.
Sheila’s life has never been easy. After finishing her secondary education, she began hustling to support her mother, her siblings, and her infant child. With no formal job opportunities in sight, she started selling clothes at local markets in Bomet. But despite her efforts, the business did not survive, leaving her with more questions than answers about her future.
Five months ago, she made a bold decision to try poultry farming, which is still growing. She is also trying her hand at maize farming. These ventures depend on microloans that are often insufficient.
However, Sheila’s journey took an extraordinary turn on a seemingly ordinary day. While buying a 1.2GB data bundle for Kes 55 and airtime for Kes 23 through M-PESA, something she does regularly, she unknowingly entered the ongoing Shangwe @ 25 promotion by Safaricom. The routine transaction that most people make without a second thought became the moment that changed her life.
When she found out she won Kes 1M, Sheila felt overwhelmed with disbelief and gratitude. For her, the reward is not just a prize but also a gateway to new possibilities. With her winnings, she plans to expand her poultry farm into a fully developed commercial enterprise. Sheila dreams of moving to large-scale production, creating a sustainable income stream that can support her family for years.
Beyond her personal goals, Sheila stays connected to her community. With the additional KES 250,000 community project fund, she has chosen to support Kapsimotwa Primary School. She plans to provide essential supplies, bedding, food, and other necessities to improve the well-being of vulnerable children taken in by the institution. Her gesture shows that she understands struggle and is determined to uplift others while she rises.
Sheila’s story is one of quiet courage and unwavering determination. From a village in Bomet, she shows how resilience can turn challenges into stepping stones. A simple mobile transaction can open doors no one could have predicted. Her journey is not only inspiring but also a powerful reminder that hope often comes from the most unexpected places.
And Sheila is not alone. Since its launch, the Shangwe @25 National Consumer Promotion has continued to reward thousands of customers daily and weekly with cash prizes, data bundles, devices, and business support tools. Every week, customers cash prizes from Kes 10,000, to Kes 100,000—contributing to more than 50,000 winners weekly. Over the promotion period, more than 5 million customers are expected to win prizes worth Kes 250 million.
As Sheila works toward building a commercial poultry enterprise, supporting her siblings through school, and giving back to her community, her story stands as a testament to the potential of Kenya’s youth: resourceful, ambitious, and ready to build better futures—one small step, one brave decision, and sometimes, one lucky moment at a time.
The Shangwe @25 promotion is still ongoing. Customers can participate simply by transacting on M-PESA, sending money, paying with M-PESA, redeeming Bonga Points, or purchasing any Safaricom products such as data bundles, voice bundles, digital services, or Home Fibre. Merchants and M-PESA agents also qualify through Buy Goods, Pochi la Biashara, and transactions from Kes 1,000 and above
Boehringer Ingelheim’s Social Engagement Fund has invested in Dawa Mkononi, a member of the latest i3 cohort, Kasha, and Reach52 to drive the future of pharmacy across Africa.
The three were part of the 15 innovators at the i3’s A2M accelerator working closely with innovators building the future of pharmacy care in Africa and completing more than 110 bespoke introductions to customers and investors, generating 15 partnerships with a potential value exceeding $20 million.
“We are delighted to invest in three additional startups that deliver a strong impact to communities across Africa,” says Dr. Ilka Wicke, Head of Sustainability Social. “These partnerships reflect our belief that sustainable healthcare solutions are best built through collaboration – with local innovators who understand the needs on the ground and with global partners who can help scale their vision. Together, we’re making meaningful progress toward our goal of improving the lives of 50 million people by 2030. We’re thrilled to celebrate progress with our partners who share this vision across the i3 program.”
At an unprecedented pace of more than one advancing partnership per week, i3 continues to deliver best-in-class growth advisory support to African healthtech innovators.
This year’s A2M brought together 15 leading African healthtech startups, whose innovations already power more than 66,000 healthcare providers across 12 African countries and are on track to reach over 167,000 providers by 2028, demonstrating a powerful channel for improving patient access and strengthening health systems.
A2M also convened 41 prominent investors, global and regional pharmaceutical manufacturers, donors, development finance institutions, and multilateral agencies—including Grand Challenges Canada, IFC, World Bank, Pfizer, Causal Foundry, Proqurable, Federal Ministry of Health, PVAC, and i3’s sponsors—who are all working to accelerate scalable innovations, create jobs, and expand healthcare impact across the continent.
Freight, warehouse, and labor expenses now form a major share of logistics budgets. CFOs require financial visibility that connects per-order cost, freight variance, labor efficiency, and return-related expenses directly to cash flow. Rising inventory carrying costs and higher carrier rates increase the need for standardized definitions and consistent data reporting across operational functions.
Structured reporting enables finance to identify persistent cost drivers, track supplier compliance, and evaluate fulfillment performance at the SKU level. Monthly dashboards that display cost, productivity, and variance data establish measurable links between logistics performance and profitability. This information foundation strengthens forecasting accuracy and supports timely adjustments in spend allocation and partner performance review.
Connecting Operations to Real Costs
A clear cost segmentation into direct and indirect categories reveals how warehouse activity influences spending behavior and simplifies variance analysis across channels. Including custom kitting services within this structure reduces operational costs by optimizing assembly, bundling, and packaging processes. This allows finance teams to allocate expenses with greater precision and capture efficiency gains that strengthen overall profit margins.
Integrating financial systems with operational platforms streamlines cost flow and cuts reconciliation time. SKU level performance evaluation exposes high resource products and supports targeted margin fixes. Tracking chargebacks, refunds, and quality linked costs ties fulfillment precision to profit and guides corrective action going forward. Use shared reporting to align procurement and operations decisions.
Identifying Cost Drivers Within Logistics
Carrier contract reviews expose surcharge patterns and dimensional weight errors that inflate shipment costs. Examining rate sheets, zone mappings, and fuel surcharge triggers uncovers negotiation levers and leads to precise remediation. Parallel analysis of labor at the process level, including picking, packing, and receiving, reveals productivity gaps and indicates where headcount or training adjustments are justified.
Packaging efficiency measured by cost per shipment, wasted material rate, and damage frequency exposes resource waste and supports right-sizing pack profiles. Systematic reconciliation of vendor and retail chargebacks against contract terms highlights recurring compliance failures and direct penalties. Use monthly scorecards to assign ownership for corrective actions and follow through.
Speed Metrics That Affect Cash Flow
Order-to-ship cycle times directly influence cash flow, inventory turnover, and operational scalability. Monitoring time intervals for picking, staging, and dispatch clarifies process variability across fulfillment channels. Inventory turn metrics verify replenishment balance and provide an evidence base for adjusting order frequency and safety stock without inflating carrying costs.
Payment cycle analysis linked to shipment delay data exposes downstream capital timing impacts. Regular variance tracking across channels defines performance thresholds for finance, procurement, and 3PL evaluation. Consistent monitoring converts timing data into actionable measures that stabilize working capital, accelerate reconciliation, and improve cash conversion efficiency within the current reporting period.
Maintaining Quality to Protect Margins
Accurate quality metrics identify process deficiencies and reduce repeat costs through consistent categorization of fulfillment and product-related errors. Logging operational return causes separately and quantifying rework time create measurable inputs for performance evaluation. Complaint frequency by SKU reveals persistent quality issues and supports prioritization of resource allocation for corrective adjustments.
Inspection rates must be tracked relative to total order volume with standardized sampling rules and completion targets. Dashboards displaying rework and complaint data enable teams to detect variance trends promptly and apply targeted actions. Structured monthly reviews use these data points to guide root-cause analysis, verify compliance, and strengthen margin protection through continuous operational improvement.
Building Financial Transparency With Partners
Shared reporting frameworks give finance, operations, procurement, and 3PLs a single source of truth for cost and performance. A defined monthly reporting cadence, documented metric definitions, and assigned data owners keep scorecards tied to financial objectives, speed reconciliations, reduce attribution disputes, and make it clear who handles variance remediation regularly across channels.
Visible SLAs compared to operational KPIs reveal where service shortfalls increase penalties or working capital strain. Shared-access dashboards that present shipment status, chargeback trends, and per-SKU cost detail reduce time to resolution and support joint root-cause analysis. Make metric governance part of quarterly partner reviews to drive timely corrective actions next quarter.
Strong logistics governance depends on measurable alignment between operational performance and financial outcomes. Tracking freight variance, labor utilization, cycle times, and return metrics identifies cost behavior and supports precise forecasting. Quality control and transparent partner reporting sustain accountability through validated data and standardized definitions. When each metric includes a defined owner, update frequency, and tolerance range, reporting stability improves analytical accuracy. A unified structure integrating cost segmentation, performance tracking, and shared dashboards delivers finance teams consistent visibility into logistics efficiency, cash flow impact, and margin contribution, strengthening quarterly evaluations and long-term financial control across all operational channels.
Safaricom’s debut green bond has raised $320.3 million in just two weeks, well above its $116 million target, highlighting strong demand for sustainability-linked fixed-income assets in Kenya.
The telecom operator will absorb $154.8 million, the maximum under the first tranche of its Medium-Term Note Programme after exercising a $38.5 million greenshoe option. The remaining $165.5 million will be refunded to investors.
“We are pleased with the market’s response. It signals confidence not only in our balance sheet, but also in the vision and strategy we are executing,” said Safaricom CEO Dr. Peter Ndegwa.
“Taking up the greenshoe option allows more investors to participate in Safaricom’s growth, rather than locking them out.”
Priced at a tax-exempt 10.4% and maturing in five years, the bond will list on the Nairobi Securities Exchange on December 16.
Proceeds will fund renewable-energy projects and energy-efficiency upgrades across Safaricom’s network, including solar expansion at base stations and improved power-management systems.
The oversubscription underscores growing investor appetite for sustainable, high-yielding instruments amid tight credit conditions and a recovering capital markets environment.
Singapore’s InsurTech bolttech, has acquired Kenya’s mTek, a digital insurance platform in a move to advance bolttech’s strategic goals in East Africa and enhances the Group’s global embedded insurance capabilities.
As part of this acquisition, mTek’s digital platform and insurance expertise will be leveraged on a global scale, combining local insight with bolttech’s extensive global insurance and protection ecosystem.
According to Stephan Tan, Chief Executive Officer, EMEA, bolttech, “This represents an exciting step forward for bolttech as we expand our footprint in Africa. mTek’s innovative platform and talented team share our vision of using technology to make protection more accessible. Together, we can accelerate digital transformation in insurance and extend the reach of embedded protection across the region.”
Founded in 2019, mTek’s digital platform enables customers in Kenya to compare, purchase, and manage insurance seamlessly. Its insurtech capability supports greater access to insurance and financial inclusion through simple, transparent, and paperless insurance experiences. The mTek platform partners with leading industry players including GA Insurance, Sanlam, and Britam. In September, mTek and Mastercard announced a collaboration to bring embedded insurance solutions across East Africa.
“Joining the bolttech family marks an exciting next chapter for mTek. Our technology, local insight, and commitment to inclusive insurance have transformed how customers access protection in Kenya, and this partnership allows us to scale that impact even further – bringing more innovative and relevant insurance solutions to customers at scale,” said Bente Krogmann, Chief Executive Officer, mTek.
mTek’s existing leadership team, led by CEO Bente Krogmann, will continue to oversee operations in East Africa, providing stability and support for customers, partners and employees during this next phase of growth. As part of the acquisition, mTek will also rebrand in due course.
bolttech and mTek will work closely together to ensure a smooth integration for all employees, customers, and partners.
NCBA Group has ended the year on a high with Johari Awards after posting KSh 16.4Bn profit after tax, an 8.5% increase year-on-year.
The Group’s profit before tax stood at KSh 20.5 billion while operating income rose to KSh 53.4 billion, representing a 13.8% increase.
The 2025 Johari Awards kicked off with regional events in Mombasa, Western Kenya, Eldoret, Mt. Kenya Region and Thika recognising performance at the grassroots, strengthening partner relationships, and celebrating regional excellence before the final national event in Nairobi.
The firm honoured 154 outstanding performers, comprising 75 regional winners celebrated during mini-galas across the country and 79 winners recognised at the Nairobi finale last evening.
Speaking at the gala, James Gossip, Managing Director of NCBA Kenya, commented,
“The Johari Awards continue to showcase the power of partnership, resilience, and shared ambition. Every winner here tonight reflects the strength of our ecosystem; dealers, brokers, agents, intermediaries, and teams that fuel our leadership in Asset Finance and Insurance.”
From the left, Lucy Kireti, Nairobi Regional Business Development Manager, Asset Finance – New Market Vehicles and Elizabeth Karanja NCBA Head, Business Development, Retail Asset, Finance.
This year’s awards celebrated excellence in both regional and national categories, including;
NEW MARKET – BEST BRANDS (Dealership Volume)
Awarding the best-performing brands in the New Market segment for the highest volumes in 2025:
2nd Runner Up: CFAO Mobility Kenya Limited, Subdealers Daniel
1st Runner Up: Sinotruk Kenya Ltd & Subdealers
Top Sales (Overall Winner): Isuzu East Africa Limited & Subdealers
PRE-OWNED MARKET – Dealership Value
Recognising dealerships in the Pre-Owned Market segment that delivered the highest referral value in 2025:
2nd Runner Up: Cratos Automobile Ltd
1st Runner Up: Avix Motors Ltd – Rashid
Top Sales (Overall Winner): Carsoko Limited
PRE-OWNED MARKET – Dealership Volume
Awarding Pre-Owned Market dealerships that recorded the highest referral volumes in 2025:
2nd Runner Up: Yahya Car Sales (K) Ltd – Ushamdeen
1st Runner Up: Waleed Motor Ltd – Mary Mugure
Top Sales (Overall Winner): Windsor Automobiles Limited
GOLD CATEGORY – Insurance Brokers
Recognising Insurance Brokers who booked over KSh 50 million in IPF business in 2025:
2nd Runner Up: ETG Insurance Broker Limited
1st Runner Up: Shashi Insurance Brokers Limited
Top Sales (Overall Winner): Liaison Group (Insurance Brokers) Limited
INSURANCE COMPANIES – Top IPF Contributors
Awarding Insurance Companies that delivered the highest IPF business in 2025:
2nd Runner Up: Old Mutual Insurance Company Limited
1st Runner Up: APA Insurance Company Limited
Top Sales (Overall Winner): Jubilee Health Insurance Limited
ASSET FINANCE – INDIVIDUAL OVERALL WINNERS
Celebrating top-performing individual sales professionals for the highest referral value in 2025:
2nd Runner Up: Lucy Minoo Mbilo, Buffalo TBS – Trip for two, 3 nights in Zanzibar
1st Runner Up: Charity Njoki Asembo, Printan Ltd – Trip for two, 4 nights in Dubai
Top Sales (Overall Winner): Patrick Wangombe, Ryce East Africa Ltd Trip for two, 4 nights in Malaysia
IPF – INDIVIDUAL AGENTS LINKED TO AN UNDERWRITER
Recognising agents who booked the highest IPF business volumes in 2025:
2nd Runner Up: Florence Wamaitha Mwaura – Trip for two, 2 nights at Tsavo – Salt Lick Safari Lodge
1st Runner Up: Rose Papa – Trip for two, 2 nights at Maasai Mara – Emaiyan Luxury Camp
Top Sales (Overall Winner): Rosemary Manyara – Trip for two, 4 nights at Diani – Baobab Beach Resort
Winners represented both individual performers and dealership or insurance group champions, highlighting the breadth of NCBA’s partner network. These rewards underscore NCBA’s continued investment in motivating and recognising high-performing partners.
The Johari Awards, now in their nineteenth year, remain the benchmark for excellence among vehicle dealers, insurance agencies, brokers, intermediaries, and sales teams who drive NCBA’s dominance in the Asset Finance and Insurance Premium Finance markets. NCBA reiterated its commitment to enabling growth for its partners and customers, reinforcing the Awards as one of Kenya’s most influential platforms honouring excellence in Asset Finance and Insurance.
Fincra, a global payments solutions provider, has been announced as the Headline Supporter for the eighth edition Africa Tech Summit Nairobi , taking place on February 11-12, 2026, at the Sarit Expo Centre.
Fincra’s partnership highlights its commitment to building the payment rails for an integrated Africa, enabling seamless, secure, and interoperable cross-border transactions across the continent and beyond.
The Summit will convene over 2,000 delegates and 1,000+ companies across four tracks: Africa Money and DeFi Summit, Africa AI & Digital Summit, Africa Climate Tech & Investment Summit, and Africa Startup Summit.
Over two days, delegates will explore opportunities, trends, and policies shaping Africa’s tech ecosystem, connecting leaders, investors, startups, and regulators to drive real partnerships and investment.
The Fincra X ATS partnership comes at a pivotal time when building interoperable payment rails is critical to unlocking Africa’s full trade potential.
Wole Ayodele, CEO, Fincra, said: “At Fincra, we’re excited to see conversations shaping cross-border payments and fintech on the continent. Africa Tech Summit Nairobi 2026 will mark a milestone in building infrastructure for an integrated Africa, connecting people, businesses, and countries via seamless financial connectivity.”
Africa’s cross-border payments market is projected to grow from $329 billion in 2025 to $1 trillion by 2035, fuelled by increased intra-African trade, rapid migration, mobile money penetration, and fintech innovation, according to Oui Capital. However, challenges remain, including high transaction costs, currency volatility, fragmented regulations, repeated compliance processes, inefficient banking infrastructure, and limited interoperability. Africa also has the highest global remittance cost, averaging 7.4 – 8.3%, with only 55% of countries permitting electronic KYC.
“Fincra is building the systems that will power the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA), digital commerce and seamless cross-border payments – driven by a vision to make Africa a borderless economy where businesses and individuals can transact freely across borders and with the world. By simplifying global payments via APIs, closing interoperability gaps, and strengthening regulatory alignment, Fincra is playing a vital role in unlocking Africa’s $3.4 trillion market opportunity.” added Ayodele
“Payments infrastructures are key to this, and Fincra’s work in enabling seamless, interoperable rails is helping raise the tide for the whole ecosystem,” said Andrew Fassnidge, Founder, Africa Tech Summit.
The eighth Africa Tech Summit Nairobi is also supported by other leading companies, including Cardano, Wada, Moniepoint, London Stock Exchange, Bitnob, ODOO, International Trade Centre, UK International Development, Tola Mobile, WeWire, Hizo Africa, Norrsken22, Platinum & Taylor Hill, Fonbnk, ZuniQ, Spendin, Choice Bank, Dojah, Kagoo, Loobv among others.
Huawei has launched the Huawei DigiTruck Digital Literacy Programme at Lavington Girls Secondary School, to empower youth with digital skills.
The programme has attracted 250 registered youth, now undergoing hands-on digital training at Lavington Primary School until December 22nd 2025. Graduates will earn certificates and participate in an exciting innovation challenge, with prizes including laptops, tablets, and smartwatches.
“Digital skills are no longer a luxury; they are the new foundation of opportunity for our young people,” said Hon. Beatrice Elachi, Member of Parliament for Dagoretti North, during the official launch. “For our form four leavers, this opportunity means access to jobs, online businesses, global networks, and the confidence to compete in today’s fast-changing world.”
The Huawei DigiTruck programme is expected to empower the youth and transform the entire community by growing adoption of digital and green technologies and bring a shift from electric bikes and electric cooking solutions to mobile-based services.
The Huawei DigiTruck initiative is a solar-powered mobile classroom designed to deliver free digital skills training to underserved communities across Kenya. Equipped with laptops, high-speed internet, and modern learning tools, the DigiTruck brings digital literacy directly to youth, women, jobseekers, and entrepreneurs who may not have access to technology.
Since its launch, the DigiTruck has trained thousands of Kenyans, empowering participants with practical ICT skills that enhance employability, support innovation, and open new pathways in the digital economy. The initiative is part of Huawei’s long-term commitment to bridge the digital divide and promote inclusive, sustainable digital development in Kenyan.
KCB Bank Kenya and Visa on Thursday announced a partnership to introduce a Tap-to-Phone contactless payment service that will allow merchants to accept card payments on NFC-enabled Android smartphones, eliminating the need for traditional point-of-sale terminals.
KCB said the technology is expected to cut the cost of digital payment acceptance for small and medium-sized enterprises that often face high upfront expenses to acquire POS hardware.
“This collaboration with Visa brings to life a powerful solution that gives every merchant the ability to accept digital payments using just a smartphone,” said Jane Isiaho, KCB Bank Kenya’s director of retail banking.
The service runs on the Visa Acceptance Platform and uses tokenization to secure transactions, the bank said.
John Njoroge, Visa’s country manager for Kenya, South Sudan and Somalia, said the rollout would help expand access to “safe, fast and affordable” payment acceptance tools for businesses.
The initiative forms part of KCB’s broader strategy to grow digital channels as Kenya deepens its transition toward a cash-lite economy.
LOOP, the fintech arm of NCBA Group, on Friday launched a device financing product built with insurtech firm bolttech, aiming to boost access to premium smartphones and electronics.
The service pairs LOOP FLEX, LOOP’s buy-now-pay-later facility offering instalments of up to 12 months with bolttech’s device protection, covering theft, accidental damage and mechanical breakdowns through authorised service centres.
The rollout coincides with LOOP’s Shopping Festival, a holiday campaign offering cashbacks of up to 20% across mobile devices and more than 30 partner merchants including Shell, Hotpoint, Quickmart, OPPO, ArtCaffé, Samsung and AutoExpress.
LOOP DFS CEO Eric Muriuki said the initiative strengthens the firm’s digital credit and lifestyle offerings. The company will also run mall activations at The Nord Mall, TRM and Sarit Centre.
Hannah Ngige from Komarock in Nairobi, Wellington Juma from Kisumu, Taala Chelanga from Elgeyo Marakwet, Elizabeth Wairimu from Thika, and Sheila Cheptoo from Bomet, each received Kes 1 million, bringing the total number of millionaires in the campaign to ten (10) since its launch last month.
In addition to the cash prize money, each winner also received an extra Kes 250,000 to support a community initiative of their choice.
Speaking during the award ceremony at Jacaranda Grounds in Nairobi, where Safaricom also gifted customers through the Green Box mechanic, 56-year-old Hannah Ngige, a mother of two and a resident of Komarock, expressed her gratitude to Safaricom, noting that the win came as a complete surprise, especially during these tough economic times.
“I sell second-hand items, so I make many transactions on M-PESA and Pochi, and I believe that really boosted my entries. I am extremely happy and grateful. I plan to invest part of this money back into my business, and I also want to start tomato farming in Kimana, Loitoktok, something I’ve always dreamed of but could never afford. For my community project, I would like to support Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital, which is near where I live, by providing beddings for the maternity wing,” she said.
Another winner, 39-year-old Wellington Juma, a Clinical Officer at Chulaimbo Health Centre in Kisumu, said he was overwhelmed after receiving the congratulatory call and later confirming the win at the Safaricom Kisumu Shop.
“I had just returned from night shift when I received the call. At first, I thought it was fraud, but after confirmation text, I believed it. I plan to complete my house under construction and equip my small clinic. For the community project, I want to support a widows’ group in Ahero that hires tents and chairs to earn a living,” he said.
For 25-year-old poultry farmer and mother of one, Sheila Cheptoo from Bomet, the news came when she was unwell and resting.
“I had just finished feeding my chicken and gone back to bed when the call came. I didn’t believe it until the confirmation message arrived, my sickness even disappeared. I normally buy bundles and minutes through M-PESA, and I had accumulated some entries. I plan to expand my poultry business to large scale and also support my siblings’ school fees. For the community project, I will support Kitoben Primary Children’s Home with beddings and food,” she said.
Taala Chelanga, also 25 and a mother of two from Elgeyo Marakwet, was still in disbelief even when we spoke. “I don’t know how a million looks like, I have never held such an amount in my life. This is a miracle from Safaricom. I plan to buy land and build a home for my family,” she said.
Similarly, shopkeeper and mother of four, Elizabeth Wairimu from Thika, said the win was a miracle during a difficult season for her family.
“My four children rely on my small kiosk, and sometimes I wash clothes for people to earn extra income. I mainly use M-PESA to buy airtime and data bundles. I plan to buy a plot, build rental units to boost my income, and expand my kiosk. For my community project, I will support Twiga Primary School in Juja with textbooks because many children from humble backgrounds are often sent home for lacking them,” she said.
Beyond the individual winners, 10 micro and small businesses also won big. Five won Bajaj tricycles to aid in business logistics such as transportation of stock and deliveries. They include Sakifarm Limited- Nairobi, a grower and exporter of avocado, Millys The Redbeet Fresh Mart- Voi, a grocery store, Tito Busienei Koiyet- Eldoret, a farmer of Avocado, Macadamia and Livestock, Leonard Oongo- Kisumu, a retailer and Carrix Media Group Limited- Kiambu, an ICT company.
The other five won business stocks worth Kes 250,000 each to boost the growth of their businesses. They include EBEE Mobility Kenya Limited- Homabay, an auto repair, Justus Kiprono Koros in Kericho Town, selling construction material, Robert Nyakundi Ayuka, an Insurance Broker in Kisii town, Taifa Sacco Limited- Nyeri and Federico Investments, an investment agency.
Moringa School limited, the European Union, and the United Nations Federal Credit were the winners under the large and medium enterprises receiving Kes 500,000 each to support a CSR project of their choice as part of spreading cheer during the festive season.
Since its launch, Shangwe @25 has rewarded thousands of customers daily and weekly with cash prizes, data bundles, devices, and business support tools. Every week, customers win Kes 10,000, Kes 50,000, or Kes 100,000, contributing to more than 50,000 winners weekly. Over the promotion period, more than 5 million customers are expected to win prizes worth Kes 250 million.
Customers can participate by transacting on M-PESA, sending money, paying with M-PESA, redeeming Bonga Points, or purchasing Safaricom products such as data bundles, voice bundles, digital services, or Home Fibre. Merchants and M-PESA agents also qualify through Buy Goods, Pochi la Biashara, and transactions from Kes 1,000 and above.
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What Makes an SEO Company in Abu Dhabi Effective
Focus on White-Hat Practices
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The deal is one of Kenya’s largest privatisation transactions and was concluded at a premium price of $0.23 per share, representing a 23.6% premium on the six-month volume-weighted average price.
The deal injects substantial funds into Kenya’s treasury while Vodafone brings global telecom experience, technological expertise, and capital for Safaricom’s next hase of growth.
The Kenyan government has already earned over $3.6 billion in dividends from Safaricom since its inception and the selling 15% of its stake will help it fund development projects without raising taxes or taking on new debt. The government also retains a 20% strategic stake, ensuring ongoing dividend income, and will receive an upfront dividend compensation from Vodafone in lieu of future dividends on the remaining stake, providing short-term fiscal stability.
The proceeds will not be absorbed into recurrent budgets but will instead serve as seed capital for the National Infrastructure Fund and the Sovereign Wealth Fund, ensuring that the funds are invested in long-term wealth-creating national assets.
Government and public ownership together account for 45% of the company and the transaction won’t compromise national security or operational control. Safaricom’s management and board will continue to run day-to-day operations, while the GoK retains influence as a strategic shareholder.
Vivo Energy Kenya, the local Shell fuel stations operator, and Safaricom have launched Bundle Ya Deree, to offer fuel discounts every Saturday, across all Shell outlets countrywide.
Shell’s consumer offer brings taxi drivers a blend of premium fuel, convenience and cashback rewards each time they fuel at Shell, an add on to drivers obtaining free access to driver apps (Uber, Bolt, Little, Faras & Yego), Google Maps and insurance with generous data and minutes.
“In a mobile and on demand world, this milestone puts together connectivity, convenience and savings, enabling drivers to focus on what they do best. We encourage drivers to fill up their tanks at Shell every Saturday to get the best value from this deal.” said Fawzia Ali Kimathi, Chief Consumer Business Officer at Safaricom.
The proposition also offers subsidized insurance covers for drivers and riders from accidents, illness, or loss of income, as well as training on financial literacy and road safety.
Safaricom has also rolled out Safire Connect empowerment forums that seek to advance knowledge on entrepreneurship, financial wellness and digital & AI fluency, for communities including riders and drivers.
With Vivo Energy Kenya on board, drivers on the Bundle Ya Dere will now enjoy fuel discounts of KES 2 per litre on Shell fuels at all Shell service stations across Kenya.
Boda boda riders can enjoy Ofa Ya Boda by dialling *544*8#, while Bundle Ya Dere is available to online cab drivers on *544*6#.
“Every day we serve millions of Kenyans across our retail network and today we are excited to join an initiative that offers real, everyday value to taxi drivers across the country. This collaboration further enhances our customer experience, making every stop at Shell more rewarding than ever.” said Mr. Peter Murungi, Managing Director, Vivo Energy Kenya.
Uber South Africa has officially rolled out its first fleet of electric vehicles (EVs), marking a major step towards the company’s goal of fully electric rides and deliveries globally by 2040.
The initiative began in Johannesburg, where 70 electric cars are now on the road. Uber plans to expand the fleet to 350 vehicles by the end of January. The Henrey Minicar 4-seater, imported from China, is being supplied by Valternative Energy in partnership with Uber Electric. Valternative also collaborates with Uber for electric motorbikes.
Valternative has developed South Africa’s first “swap-and-go” EV system, combining electric bikes, battery-swap stations, and battery subscription services. The system provides drivers with access to charging infrastructure while removing uncertainties related to fuel prices, providing stable earnings for drivers.
Deepesh Thomas, General Manager for Uber Sub-Saharan Africa, said the initiative is expected to be hugely beneficial for drivers. “The drivers don’t have to buy a vehicle. They can rent the vehicle, have access to charging infrastructure, and focus on completing trips. Once scaled, the economics make a lot more sense than a typical internal combustion engine vehicle,” Thomas said.
He added that Uber Electric and Uber Moto will help address what he describes as South Africa’s “transport poverty,” giving drivers reliable access to vehicles and earnings without upfront costs.
Mohamed Jeewa, CEO of Valternative, explained that recruiting drivers posed challenges, particularly convincing them of the benefits of zero-cost EV operation. “Last-mile drivers live on tight budgets. Once we remove fuel costs and provide weekly payouts, drivers have financial stability and zero cash interference,” Jeewa said.
Globally, Uber now has over 200,000 EV drivers on its platform, reinforcing its commitment to a greener, fully electric future for ridesharing.
Vodafone Group Plc is tightening its hold on East Africa’s biggest telecommunications market after its South African unit, Vodacom Group Ltd., agreed to buy an additional 20% stake in Safaricom Plc in a transaction worth about €1.81 billion ($1.98 billion).
The deal will raise Vodacom’s ownership in Safaricom to 55%, giving Vodafone and its Johannesburg-listed subsidiary effective control over Kenya’s most valuable company and its fast-growing mobile money platform, M-Pesa.
Vodacom will purchase 15% from the Kenyan government for €1.36 billion and another 5% from Vodafone for €450 million, according to a statement on Monday. Kenya will retain a 20% stake, while public investors will hold 25% through the Nairobi Securities Exchange.
Safaricom, with a market capitalization of €7.7 billion, is the anchor asset in East Africa’s digital economy. Its M-Pesa platform handles more than 100 million transactions daily and serves 38 million customers in Kenya, giving Vodafone deep exposure to one of the world’s most mature mobile money markets. Safaricom also owns a majority stake in Safaricom Ethiopia, one of the continent’s most promising new telecom operations.
“This is an opportunity to gain a controlling shareholding in a highly successful African business in an attractive market,” Vodafone Chief Executive Officer Margherita Della Valle said. She highlighted Safaricom’s role in expanding financial inclusion across the region through M-Pesa.
Safaricom reported 9.3% service-revenue growth in Kenya during the six months to Sept. 30, powered by a 14% jump in M-Pesa revenue, underscoring the platform’s importance as Africa’s mobile payments race intensifies.
The transaction still requires regulatory clearance in Kenya, South Africa and Ethiopia, and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026.
Wise, UK remittance firm, is launching in South Africa after receiving conditional approval from the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) to launch in the market.
South Africa is Wise’s first-ever regulatory approval in Africa and paves the way for its entry into South Africa, enabling it to offer transfers for personal customers in the country.
In a statement, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Wise’s expansion into South Africa not only strengthens ties with one of Africa’s most dynamic economies but also showcases British excellence in building solutions that make life better for people and business worldwide, both at home and abroad.”
Launched in 2011, Wise handles over 40 currencies, allowing users to move money between countries and spend money abroad. In fiscal year 2025, Wise supported around 15.6 million people and businesses, processing over $185 billion in cross-border transactions and saving customers around $2.6 billion.
South Africa is Africa’s most advanced financial services hub and the second largest economy after Nigeria. It has significant cross-border payment flows fueled by increasing digital adoption and a large diaspora population.
Wise’s entry into the market directly supports these goals, solving the growing demand for transparent, cost-effective international payment solutions.
“Our first regulatory approval in Africa marks a significant step forward in our mission to give South Africans access to a faster, cheaper, and more transparent way to send money abroad,” said Nadia Costanzo, Director of Banking and Expansion LatAm & MEA at Wise.
Last month, Wise announced it had secured regulatory approvals by the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (CBUAE) to bring its suite of products to the country.
UAE is a lucrative market for Wise as it’s home to over 200 nationalities, where approximately $40 billion is moved annually across borders by individuals and businesses. In the UAE, Wise licence approvals allows users to send, spend and get paid via its platform.
Through these new approvals, Wise further expands its global licensing footprint, with over 70 regulatory licences worldwide including approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate as a payment aggregator and a licence for investment services in Australia.
Meshack Alloys, the former CEO of Sendy and co-founder of African fintech Boya, has launched TABB, a Silicon Valley–based credit-infrastructure startup aiming to modernize how banks deliver trade credit to small and mid-sized businesses.
TABB is building what it calls an “instant-acceptance trade credit network”, allowing banks to issue revolving credit lines to SMEs that can be used immediately across a wide supplier ecosystem. Businesses get up to 90-day terms for everyday purchases, while suppliers are paid instantly.
The platform is designed to be embedded directly into supplier checkout flows—bridging the gap between businesses needing working capital and banks seeking better visibility into real commercial activity.
“Trade credit has always powered the backbone of commerce, but it’s historically slow, manual, and opaque,” said a person familiar with the company’s pitch. “TABB is creating a real-time credit layer that banks can plug into and scale.”
A new infrastructure play for SME finance
The fintech acts as a programmable switchboard for trade credit to allow banks issue the credit line and get rich transaction data for underwriting while businesses unlock purchasing power with predictable repayment terms and suppliers eliminate in-house credit risk and receive automated settlement.
By ensuring funds flow directly to suppliers, TABB also reduces misuse and introduces new non-interest income opportunities through supplier-funded discount rates.
From logistics tech to financial infrastructure
Alloys, known for scaling Sendy into one of East Africa’s most prominent logistics-tech companies before its shut down, is now positioning TABB as an infrastructure-first fintech—building the pipes beneath the SME economy rather than another front-end app.
Silicon Valley’s appetite for B2B fintech rails has grown amid tightening credit markets and renewed focus on SME liquidity. TABB is entering the space as banks look for alternative underwriting models and as suppliers seek faster, more reliable settlement.
Early pilots suggest the firm is targeting construction and pharmaceuticals to retail, agribusiness, and logistics.
Betting on the future of supply-chain finance
TABB’s model digitizes a system long held together by paper invoices, supplier trust, and uneven credit terms. If successful, it could formalize millions of informal credit relationships across emerging markets while offering banks a scalable, data-rich path to SME growth.
The company aims to make trade credit instant, predictable, and universal—and supply chains become faster, healthier, and far more bankable.
NCBA has reaffirmed its commitment to Kenya’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as it celebrated a new cohort of 24 SME customers who successfully completed the Strathmore Business School Enterprise Development Programme.
The 2025 cohort brings together business owners from key sectors, including manufacturing, retail, agribusiness, construction, logistics, and professional services. The programme continues to attract ambitious entrepreneurs eager to strengthen leadership skills and scale their businesses sustainably.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, NCBA Group Director of Retail Banking, Dennis Njau, congratulated the graduands and emphasized the bank’s ongoing support for SMEs. “We believe that when entrepreneurs grow, the country grows. This programme gives our customers the practical knowledge, confidence, and partnerships they need to take bold steps in their businesses. NCBA remains committed to walking this journey with them through capacity building and strong financial solutions,” he said.
The 16-week Enterprise Development Programme is a core part of NCBA’s SME banking strategy, equipping business owners with leadership skills and practical tools for growth. The programme strengthens resilience, sharpens strategy, and builds confidence to navigate Kenya’s dynamic business environment.
Njau highlighted NCBA’s growing ecosystem of SME support, including strategic partnerships with the Africa Guarantee Fund, AFAWA, Water.Org, and Proparco. These collaborations help reduce lending risks, expand access to credit, and support entrepreneurs in areas such as women-led business growth, climate resilience, and water and sanitation financing. They also enhance NCBA’s ability to lend effectively to SMEs ready to scale.
The programme combines academic learning with practical coaching, covering financial management, operations, marketing, innovation, leadership, and digital transformation. Participants also benefit from networking, peer learning, and exposure to real market insights. Over the years, more than 300 NCBA customers have completed the programme, demonstrating measurable business impact.
Strathmore Business School praised its strong collaboration with NCBA, noting the shared commitment to fostering a vibrant SME sector. The institution reiterated its mission to deliver practical learning experiences that address the real challenges entrepreneurs face today.
NCBA continues to invite customers to enrol in upcoming cohorts. Eligible applicants must be NCBA customers, operate a business account active for at least six months, have a business running for at least two years, employ at least three people, and achieve an annual turnover of at least KSh 3 million. Applicants must also be primary decision-makers in their businesses.
Through the Entrepreneurship Development and Innovation Centre, NCBA and Strathmore Business School also deliver the Owner Manager Programme, business boot camps, networking forums, trade expos, and industry conferences—all designed to empower SMEs and MSMEs to grow sustainably and confidently.
Ringier consolidates its digital marketplaces portfolio across Sub-Saharan Africa and has sold its Kenyan real estate portal, BuyRentKenya, to Rushbox Ltd., who is operating leading real estate platforms in Mauritius and Zimbabwe.
The deal gives Ringier time to strengthen its leading digital marketplaces in jobs and general classifieds under the umbrella of The African Talent Company (TATC).
Rushbox operates PropertyCloud in Mauritius and Property.co.zw in Zimbabwe and will help Rushbox expand into Kenya’s real estate market with relatively smaller players and will help it expand across the region and across Africa.
“Rushbox, led by African tech entrepreneur Garth Drummond, brings significant experience in operating real estate marketplaces in Zimbabwe and Mauritius, offering synergies from which BuyRentKenya will greatly benefit. This step will allow BuyRentKenya to further grow under Rushbox’s leadership while we continue to focus on our strategic priorities around jobs and talents across the Sub-Saharan African Continent,” says Axel Konjack, Head of Marketplaces at Ringier. “We’re convinced Garth and his team are the right partners to further develop BuyRentKenya.”
In 2017, Ringier acquired BuyRentKenya from the founders Jamie Pujara and Nicolas Adamjee who went on to focus on their new ventures.
“Nico and I are extremely pleased that BuyRentKenya will be fully integrated into ROAM. We believe with their leadership, expertise and experience we will take a giant stride forward in realizing our vision of making property search and listing easier and more transparent in Kenya,” Jamie Pujara, Co-founder and CEO BuyRentKenya told TechMoran.
BuyRentKenya, which has operated as a standalone real estate platform within Ringier’s African portfolio, is a strategic step to consolidate resources and focus on scaling its Sub-Saharan African portfolio of jobs and general classifieds platforms. Rushbox will leverage its industry knowledge to further innovate and expand BuyRentKenya’s market position.
“By combining our cross-market expertise and technological strengths with BuyRentKenya’s established brand and local insights, we see a great opportunity to bring new value to the Kenyan real estate market,” Garth Drummond, CEO of Rushbox Ltd.
