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Can Emergency Responders Trust Your Site Design — or Will It Slow Them Down

James Musoba
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Can Emergency Responders Trust Your Site Design — or Will It Slow Them Down

Seconds determine outcomes in emergencies, and small design flaws often create delays that ripple into larger consequences. Every barrier, gate, or pathway on a property becomes a potential obstacle or a point of access. For fire crews, paramedics, and police, misplaced features can turn simple entry into a costly detour when time is already running thin.

Architects, planners, and managers make decisions that balance visual appeal, public use, and operational demands. Yet function carries the most weight when lives hang in the balance. Thoughtful layouts, reliable barriers, and clear access paths turn blueprints into trusted systems. Attention to detail today secures readiness tomorrow, where design choices directly shape the speed and success of every urgent response.

Access Barriers That Respond Instead of Resist

Security features often add complexity during urgent responses, and even small obstacles can cost crews precious seconds. A gate requiring multiple actions or a fixed post narrowing access may delay stretchers or force vehicles to detour. Among the most practical solutions are fold down bollards, which provide reliable protection while still allowing emergency teams to pass without obstruction. Used alongside removable posts with quick-release pins and gates fitted with manual overrides, they create security that adapts instead of resists.

Audits conducted regularly confirm clearance, visibility, and proper function under stress. Timed walkthroughs with responders reveal problem points early, while a release key stored locally eliminates hesitation when immediate entry is required.

Fire Lane and Drive Path Design That Holds Up in Practice

A fire engine stalled at a tight corner exposes design failures. Function beats ornament: curb lines and decorative medians can create pinch points. Verify lane widths against the largest on-call apparatus and test turning radii with vehicle templates. Generous curb radii keep wheels clear so apparatus can reach hydrants and staging areas without scraping.

Bring crews into commissioning runs with full-size vehicles to reveal approach angles and street-furniture conflicts. Keep hydrant aprons free, add night-contrast lane markings, and follow practical design standards rather than stylized renderings. Keeping a vehicle-length turning template on site at handover reduces late fixes and helps move the project into regular use.

Ongoing Maintenance That Protects Emergency Readiness

Weather and wear expose flaws more quickly than blueprints ever reveal. A blocked drain, a mud-slicked lane, or a dead gate battery can undo the best planning in seconds. Regular upkeep keeps pathways clear, mechanisms dependable, and crews confident they won’t face surprises when urgency strikes.

The most reliable sites treat maintenance like rehearsal. Gates and barriers are tested under real conditions, not just on paper. Repairs and inspections are logged, giving responders predictable access every time. Spare parts kept close to entrances shorten downtime, while schedules designed around urgency prevent readiness from eroding quietly over time.

Collaboration With First Responders From Day One

A captain walking the site with a notebook spots how a decorative berm forces a long carry for stretchers. Early planning sessions that invite firefighters, medics, and EMS drivers bring field knowledge into specifications — clearance heights, gate timing, radio dead zones, and staging areas get defined to match real-world equipment and tactics.

After construction, staged drills under timed conditions turn assumptions into measurable failures and fixes. Record exact delays, adjust specs, update as-built drawings, and train property teams on access procedures so crews find what they expect. Hold a paid, half-day commissioning drill with responding agencies before final landscaping so fixes go into contract closeout.

Design That Blends Public Space Appeal With Safety

Public areas don’t need to trade safety for beauty. Benches, lighting, and landscaping can invite use while leaving sightlines clear and pathways open. A well-placed planter can guide flow without blocking hydrants, and carefully positioned seating defines gathering zones without forcing responders into detours.

Subtle design choices make spaces intuitive in moments of stress. Non-slip paving, reflective accents, and natural sightlines point the way without overwhelming daily users. Even small cues—like patterned walkways or a clearly posted site map—help responders orient instantly. Good design blends seamlessly, offering comfort to the public while staying legible to emergency crews under pressure.

Emergency access is measured in seconds, and property design sets the stage for success or delay. Clear lanes, reliable barriers, and tested staging areas give crews confidence to move without hesitation. When responders find pathways that function as expected, they provide aid more quickly and with fewer risks. Collaboration, timed drills, and consistent maintenance turn planning into dependable readiness. Each fold-down bollard, painted lane, and unobstructed hydrant apron represents time returned to emergency teams. Time returned translates into lives preserved. Trust in site design becomes trust in response when urgency allows no margin for error.

How Digital Coupons Are Becoming Africa’s Hidden Fintech Tool

Ronald Bwire
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How Digital Coupons Are Becoming Africa’s Hidden Fintech Tool

For years, coupons were dismissed as an old-fashioned way to save a few cents on groceries. They were seen as scraps of paper clipped from newspapers and redeemed reluctantly at supermarket tills. But in today’s digital economy, coupons have undergone a quiet but profound transformation. Across Africa and the wider Middle East, digital coupons are no longer just a marketing gimmick—they are emerging as a powerful fintech tool, reshaping consumer behavior, retailer strategies, and even the financial wellbeing of millions of households.

At the center of this movement is GC Coupons, a fast-growing platform that has quickly become the region’s leading coupon hub. With more than 12,000 active coupons for over 1,850 online retailers, GC Coupons today serves shoppers in more than 50 countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and several African markets. What started in 2020 as a simple savings platform has evolved into a digital infrastructure for smarter shopping and financial empowerment.

The Intersection of E-Commerce and Fintech

Africa’s fintech story has largely been written around mobile payments, lending apps, and neobanks. But there’s a subtler layer that rarely makes headlines: the role of savings technologies. Just as payment apps help people transact, coupons help them stretch their purchasing power, with websites such as Bountii making these savings more accessible in everyday shopping.

In markets where disposable incomes are under pressure and inflation erodes real wages, every percentage saved is meaningful. A 10% discount on a monthly grocery order or a 15% voucher on electronics can mean the difference between affordability and postponement. This is why digital coupons, though often overlooked, function as a financial planning tool—they reduce consumer expenditure while allowing retailers to drive volume.

Platforms like GC Coupons make this interaction seamless. Instead of hunting for deals across scattered social media posts or waiting for seasonal sales, shoppers can instantly access verified codes across categories—fashion, electronics, food delivery, travel, and more. In effect, the platform democratizes savings in the same way fintech democratized payments.

Why Africa Is Ready for a Coupon Revolution

Several structural factors explain why Africa and adjacent regions are fertile ground for a digital coupon boom:

  1. Mobile-First Internet Adoption
     More than 60% of Africans access the internet primarily via smartphones. This aligns perfectly with app-based coupon distribution, making savings just a tap away.
  2. E-Commerce Acceleration
     Online shopping is growing at double-digit rates annually, with platforms like Jumia, Noon, and Carrefour driving mainstream adoption. Coupons naturally integrate into checkout flows, creating an easy win for price-sensitive buyers.
  3. Financial Pressure
     Rising costs of food, fuel, and everyday essentials are squeezing households. Coupons provide an immediate relief mechanism—an informal “savings account” built into shopping journeys.
  4. Retailer Competition
     As global players enter African markets, local and international retailers are fighting for customer loyalty. Coupons have become a customer acquisition strategy, not just a sales tactic.

GC Coupons: From Savings Hub to Fintech Enabler

What makes GC Coupons stand out in this landscape is its scale and exclusive partnerships. The platform aggregates deals from global giants like adidas, Carrefour, and H&M while also securing exclusive codes from regional favorites like Noon, Namshi, and Level Shoes. In fact, a shopper searching for high-end footwear can easily find a verified offer on the dedicated Level Shoes discount codes page.

The broader value proposition, however, goes beyond discounts. By consolidating 12,000+ offers into one ecosystem, GC Coupons acts as a real-time financial optimization tool for consumers. Instead of overspending or paying full price, users automatically incorporate savings into their monthly budgets.

The founder, Yash Bhojwani, often notes that GC Coupons isn’t just about shopping smarter—it’s about living smarter. In interviews, he emphasizes that the mission is to “help every household find savings in everyday purchases, whether it’s groceries, electronics, or fashion.” That consumer-first approach explains why the platform has gained traction across more than 50 countries in just a few years.

How Coupons Function Like Fintech

To understand why digital coupons deserve a place in fintech conversations, consider how they mirror financial tools:

  • Budget Optimization: Just as budgeting apps track expenses, coupons directly lower them.
  • Micro-Savings: The small amounts saved per transaction add up to meaningful monthly relief.
  • Inclusion: Anyone with a phone and internet access can benefit, regardless of bank account status.
  • Data-Driven Insights: Retailers and platforms analyze coupon redemption to improve customer experience, similar to how fintechs analyze spending data.

In short, coupons act as micro-transactions of savings, functioning like tiny deposits into a consumer’s financial health. When aggregated, they represent a powerful fintech layer.

The Retailer Perspective: Coupons as ROI Machines

For retailers, digital coupons are not a sunk cost—they are measurable, trackable ROI machines. A retailer that issues a 15% coupon through GC Coupons can instantly see how many redemptions occurred, what categories benefited, and how customer lifetime value is impacted.

Unlike traditional advertising, coupons create direct action: click, shop, save. This is why retailers across fashion, electronics, food delivery, and even healthcare are integrating coupon distribution into their marketing funnels. In many cases, the cost of offering a discount is offset by new customer acquisition and repeat orders.

The Future: AI, Personalization, and Super-Apps

The digital coupon space is just getting started. Looking ahead, three trends are set to define the next decade:

  1. AI-Powered Personalization
     Instead of browsing endless codes, users will receive curated coupons based on their past shopping behavior, location, and budget.
  2. Integration Into Super-Apps
     Just as payments and ride-hailing converged in African super-apps, coupons will likely become an embedded feature within lifestyle apps.
  3. Financial Wellness Dashboards
     Imagine a personal finance app that not only tracks spending but also shows how much you saved using coupons that month. That’s where platforms like GC Coupons are headed.

Why This Matters

In regions like Africa, where disposable incomes are fragile and inflation bites hardest, the fintech narrative cannot be limited to payments and loans. Savings—no matter how small—play an equally critical role in financial resilience. Digital coupons are the hidden fintech tool enabling that resilience, transaction by transaction.

By placing verified, accessible, and usable discounts at consumers’ fingertips, GC Coupons has proven that innovation in fintech doesn’t always mean blockchain or digital banks. Sometimes, it means helping a family in Cairo save 150 pounds on their grocery order, or a student in Lagos buy sneakers at a price they can afford.

Conclusion

The future of African fintech will be shaped not only by how money moves but also by how money is saved. Digital coupons, once seen as trivial, are emerging as one of the most practical, scalable, and inclusive savings tools on the continent.

As platforms like GC Coupons continue to expand—offering more than 12,000 active coupons, serving shoppers across 50+ countries, and partnering with over 1,850 retailers—the line between e-commerce and fintech will blur further. What’s clear is that the quiet coupon revolution has already begun, and it is changing how Africans shop, save, and live.

 

S.A Edtech Startup The Invigilator Raises $11 Million to Scale its AI Platform

James Musoba
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S.A Edtech Startup The Invigilator Raises $11 Million to Scale its AI Platform

 

South African education technology company The Invigilator, which provides secure remote exam solutions, has raised $11 million (approximately R195 million) to fuel its international expansion and enhance its AI-driven capabilities.

The funding round was led by Kaltroco, a privately held, family-backed investment firm based in Jersey, Channel Islands. The investment attracted additional backing from professionals in Nashville, Zurich, and Cape Town, reflecting growing global interest in the startup’s technology. Kaltroco’s structure allows for long-term, flexible investment support without external constraints.

Founded in 2020, The Invigilator was created to tackle academic integrity challenges, especially in resource-limited settings. Its platform is used by over 100 educational institutions, including Varsity College, Regenesys Business School, Curro Academy Schools, Eduvos, and Boston City Campus, enabling cost-effective, secure exam monitoring. Earlier this year, the company introduced an AI-powered feature that analyzes student submissions to detect potential over-reliance on AI tools, helping educators maintain evaluation credibility.

The company plans to use the capital to further develop its AI monitoring technology, add multilingual support, expand teams in international markets, and deepen partnerships with schools and corporate clients across North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

CEO Nicholas Riemer said the investment will accelerate the company’s move toward continuous AI-driven assessment monitoring, expanding access to secure education globally. The Invigilator aims to establish itself as a leader in AI-based remote assessments while highlighting African innovation on the world stage.

 

iXAfrica Secures RMB Financing to Fast track 20 MW of Growth at its Nairobi Campus

Ronald Bwire
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iXAfrica Secures RMB Financing to Fast track 20 MW of Growth at its Nairobi Campus

iXAfrica,” a carrier-neutral, AI-ready Data Centre closed a multi-tranche funding package from Rand Merchant Bank (RMB), a division of FirstRand, to deliver the next phase of iXAfrica’s growth.

The financing enables iXAfrica to meet the region’s growing digital demands by facilitating the construction of an additional 20 MW of IT power at the Nairobi data centre campus. It will support the company’s expansion and build on the first phase of 2.25 MW already in service.

RMB developed a customised solution for iXAfrica, marking the beginning of a new relationship and underscoring RMB’s commitment to partnering with high-quality clients across Africa.

“Our company has bold plans and ambitions, and we’ve been consistently delivering on them,” says Guy Willner, Chairman of iXAfrica. “Closing this financing with RMB secures our next phase of growth and positions us to welcome more hyperscale and AI customers. We remain committed to expanding our East African footprint and deepening our investment in Kenya.”

“This transaction reflects RMB’s commitment to supporting scalable, high-impact digital infrastructure across Africa,” says Corrie Cronje, Senior Transactor RMB.

With Nairobi One Campus’s overall design capacity of 22.5MW, iXAfrica has the largest datacentre project in the greater East African region, serving a total population of over 300 million people. The campus is situated close to the main fibre optic communications arteries and is in close proximity to major and resilient electrical connections, capable of delivering high-availability and low-carbon power. iXAfrica is also able to power the high-density AI workloads as high as 40 kW per rack using its free-air cooling technology and over 90% of Kenya’s electricity is generated from renewable/clean energy sources.

 

Kenyan Fintech Raise Shuts Down, Users Migrate to Carta

Ronald Bwire
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Kenyan Fintech Raise Shuts Down, Users Migrate to Carta

 

Raise, the Nairobi-based startup that digitized equity management for African startups, is closing after seven years of operation, transitioning its users to Carta, the U.S.-based equity management platform.

Founded in 2018 by Marvin Coleby, Tina Nyamache, and Eugene Mutai, Raise aimed to simplify cap table management, equity issuance, and due diligence for startups in Kenya and Nigeria. Despite backing from early-stage investors such as 500 Startups, Microtraction, and Launch Africa, the company struggled to develop a scalable business model in Africa’s emerging venture ecosystem.

Marvin Coleby said in a LinkedIn post that while private equity presented opportunities, it was not enough to sustain the platform long-term. Paid Raise users will migrate automatically to Carta, while free-tier users can transition to Carta Launch, a no-cost option for early-stage startups. Coleby will join Carta as Head of Product for Asia, Middle East, and Africa (AMEA), though the future of Raise’s staff is uncertain.

Raise gained traction after its 2019 alpha launch, and by mid-2020, had facilitated more than $20 million in fundraising transactions. At its peak, the platform supported over 200 companies, managing roughly $150 million in equity, with total startup valuations exceeding $90 million. Clients included Nestcoin, Numida, Accrue, and Workpay.

In 2023, Carta invested in Raise, bridging Raise’s local expertise with Carta’s global infrastructure. The shutdown highlights the challenges of scaling venture-focused fintech in Africa while cementing Carta’s growing presence in the continent’s startup ecosystem.

Tanzanian Fintech NALA Targets Kenya’s $5 Billion Remittance Market via Partnerships

Ronald Bwire
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Tanzanian Fintech NALA Targets Kenya’s $5 Billion Remittance Market via Partnerships

Tanzanian fintech NALA is making a strategic push into Kenya, bypassing the Central Bank licensing route by partnering with Equity Bank and Pesalink, the instant payments platform owned by the Kenya Bankers Association. The move positions NALA to tap into Kenya’s booming remittance market, which reached $4.94 billion in 2024, the country’s second-largest source of foreign currency.

Under the partnership, funds sent via NALA are routed through Pesalink’s instant payment rails and settled by Equity Bank, allowing recipients to access money in real time via mobile wallets or bank accounts. The arrangement offers a shortcut to market, enabling NALA to compete with entrenched players including Safaricom’s M-PESA, Western Union, MoneyGram, and local banks with established diaspora networks.

Founded in 2017 by Benjamin Fernandes, NALA has built a strong user base in the US, UK, and Europe—key sources of remittances to Kenya. COO Nicolas Eddy said the partnerships are central to the company’s strategy of reducing fees and accelerating cross-border payments. Analysts note that the move reflects a broader trend of fintechs leveraging local partnerships to sidestep regulatory delays while expanding rapidly across Africa.

Officials described the deal as a growth lever for financial inclusion. Kenn Lisudza of Pesalink said it will enhance “inclusion and reliability” in cross-border transactions, while Equity Bank’s Samuel Ireri framed it as part of the bank’s Africa Recovery and Resilience Plan, aimed at driving economic growth.

With a foothold in Kenya, NALA now faces the challenge of competing on speed, cost, and customer experience in a market dominated by established digital and bank-led remittance channels. Success here could signal a new wave of fintech cross-border expansion in East Africa.

Betika Denies Experiencing Any Cyber Security Breach

Ronald Bwire
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0
Betika Denies Experiencing Any Cyber Security Breach

Betika, a betting firm operating in Kenya, has denied being hacked, despite reports that a certain university student hacked it leading to an alleged loss of lost KSh11 Million.

“We acknowledge receipt of various media inquiries regarding a purported cyber security breach involving Betika and wish to provide clarity on the matter,” the firm said in a statement. “At the onset, we would like to unequivocally state that Betika has not experienced any cyber security breach, nor has the company lost KSh11 Million as has been suggested.”‘

The firm says it is neither a complainant nor a victim in the matter currently before the courts. This fact can be independently verified with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), who are handling the case, added the firm.

Betika added that it employs advanced, multi-layered security systems including encryption, intrusion detection, continuous monitoring, and regular third-party audits and its systems cannot be hacked easily.

The firm added that these measures ensure the highest standards of privacy and data security for all customers.

“Our systems remain uncompromised, and customer data has not been breached. We strictly adhere to global best practices in information security as well as relevant data protection regulations,”said the firm.

As part of its ongoing investment in cyber resilience, the firm continues to enhance its infrastructure, conduct frequent audits, train its teams, and engage with regulators and law enforcement to stay ahead of evolving threats.

 

Nigeria’s Babban Gona Raises $7.5M from British International Investment to Boost Food Security

James Musoba
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Nigeria’s Babban Gona Raises $7.5M from British International Investment to Boost Food Security

Nigerian agri-tech platform, Babban Gona, has received $7.5 to boost food security and climate resilience for smallholder farmers in Northern Nigeria.

The debt investment was from British International Investment (BII), the UK’s development finance institution and impact investor, to help Babban Gona to provide farmers with high-quality agricultural inputs, financial credit, training on climate-smart practices, and support with harvest, storage, and access to market.

According to Kola Masha, Babban Gona’s Managing Director, “We are thrilled to have BII partner with us in this next phase of our journey as we accelerate the impact of our work, with the ambition to become the Earth’s highest-impact business.”

Northern Nigeria produces 50-60 per cent of the country’s maize but smallholder farmers face persistent challenges that limit their productivity and income. Many cultivate small plots of land, with limited access to finance, quality inputs, agronomic training, and reliable markets. These constraints are compounded by growing exposure to climate risks such as floods and droughts, which further threaten yields and income stability. These challenges contribute to post harvest losses of up to 30 per cent, worsening food insecurity across the region.

UK Trade Envoy to Nigeria, Florence Eshalomi MP, said: “Today, I’m proud to stand alongside British International Investment (BII) as we announce a $7.5 million investment into Babban Gona, a pioneering social enterprise transforming smallholder agriculture in Nigeria. This investment will help scale an innovative, tech-enabled model that empowers farmers with access to finance, training, and services, boosting yields and incomes while building climate resilience.”

Babban Gona aims to end this by helping farmers establish and run their own micro-enterprises which provide farmers with inputs and working capital financing. Babban Gona later supports these enterprises to access funding from local banks.

Babban Gona also provides climate-smart agricultural inputs such as drought-resilient seeds and multi-peril area yield insurance, which helps farmers recover from climate shocks.

216 Capital Invests in Addvocate AI to Revolutionize Sales Performance Through AI

Ronald Bwire
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0
216 Capital Invests in Addvocate AI to Revolutionize Sales Performance Through AI

216 Capital has invested into Addvocate.AI, a Franco-Tunisian startup specialized in optimizing sales performance with artificial intelligence.

Addvocate.AI, the startup redefining intelligent sales will use the funds to help firms manage and optimize their sales and enter a new era of smart automation.

“With the support of 216 Capital, we are equipped to stay ahead, breaking through the limits of traditional CRM and delivering a solution built for impact, not for data entry.” explains Ridha Mami, CEO & Founder of Addvocate.AI.

According to McKinsey, between 35% and 50% of sales opportunities stagnate in pipelines, slowing company growth. This is how Addvocate.AI was born: a copilot designed to prepare salespeople for their meetings through AI and data consolidation.

Mami identified a major gap in supporting sales teams after more than fifteen years as a Sales Leader in B2B SaaS scale-ups, after he kept witnessing the same scenario: countless hours wasted preparing for client meetings, compiling scattered information, and above all seeing entire deals stall without any clear explanation, threatening business predictability.

The startup stands out due to its AI-native architecture, a “Sales Performance OS” that aggregates data, a design centered on natural adoption by sales teams through behavioral nudges and actionable insights that help teams better anticipate and maximize results.

Dashboard Nudge by Addvocate AI - Kit 216 Capital.jpg

Where Addvocate initially addressed the symptom (preparation), Nudge tackles sales performance before, during, and after meetings. With this approach, Addvocate.AI becomes a trusted partner for salespeople, making their meetings more productive, focused, and effective, while maximizing the chances of closing or quickly moving opportunities forward in the pipeline.

Toward international expansion

Based in France and Tunisia, Addvocate.AI takes a decisive step forward with this funding. From a sales preparation tool, it is becoming an integrated sales performance platform capable of addressing the challenges of modern business.

“This strategic investment from 216 Capital marks a key milestone for Addvocate.AI, enabling it to accelerate innovation and international expansion, with the goal of sustainably transforming sales performance through AI-native solutions designed around sales team efficiency,” says Dhekra Khelifi, Partner at 216 Capital.

Addvocate.AI is now positioning itself as a pioneer in intelligent sales, strengthening its lead in a rapidly evolving global market.

Morocco’s Justyol Raises $1 million to Transform Digital Commerce Across North Africa

James Musoba
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0
Morocco’s Justyol Raises $1 million to Transform Digital Commerce Across North Africa

Justyol, Morocco’s cross-border e-commerce platform, has raised $1 million in funding to transform ecommerce across North Africa and to scale its product offerings and meet growing customer demand across the region.

Danis Group, a major Turkish investment group, is providing $600,000 in inventory financing while $400,000 is a strategic equity investment from a distinguished angel investor.

“The confidence shown by our angel investor and the strategic inventory financing partnership with Danis Group reflects the broader ecosystem’s recognition of Justyol’s unique position in the market,” said Ahmed Badran, Co-Founder and CEO of Justyol. “We are building more than just a platform; we are creating the infrastructure that will define the future of cross-border commerce in North Africa, serving hundreds of thousands of customers with unprecedented access to global products at competitive prices.”

With the funds, Justyol aims to expand across multiple fronts, increase its operational capacity and enhance its sales capabilities to serve its customer base and deepen its market penetration in Morocco.

Justyol will also expand into new markets across North Africa and the broader MENA region.

Justyol’s Turkish team brings deep expertise in e-commerce operations and strategic partnerships, while its Moroccan team provides essential local market knowledge and customer insights that drive our regional expansion.

With over 250,000 active customers, representing significant market penetration and more than 30,000 monthly orders with exceptional 300% year-over-year growth, the firm has established relationships with leading global platforms including AliExpress and Trendyol and logistics providers such as Aramex, Cathides, and Colis Privé and payment integrations with CMI and Payzone.

“This milestone package, combining strategic angel investment with Danis Group’s inventory financing, provides us with both the capital and operational support to accelerate our expansion across North Africa. Stay tuned for exciting developments as we continue to build the future of e-commerce in the region,” said Ahmed Rashed, Co-Founder & Chief Growth Officer of Justyol.

The firm is now actively preparing for a Series A funding round in the near future due to its proven growth trajectory, expanding market presence, and strong ecosystem support position it well for this next phase of scaling.

“With this new support, we will further strengthen our logistics network to ensure faster, more reliable deliveries across Morocco and beyond,” added Anas Ahmed, Co-Founder and Head of Logistics at Justyol.

Bharti Airtel’ Indus Towers to Launch in Nigeria, Uganda & Zambia

Ronald Bwire
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0
Bharti Airtel’ Indus Towers to Launch in Nigeria, Uganda & Zambia

Bharti Airtel’ Indus Towers Bets Big on Africa, Challenging ATC and Helios

Bharti Airtel’s tower arm, Indus Towers, is making its first international push into Africa with three of Africa’s most dynamic telecom markets Nigeria, Uganda, and Zambia.

Indus Towers is using these markets as its launchpad for its continental expansion, with Airtel Africa as its anchor customer coming head to head with American Tower Corporation (ATC) and Helios Towers who have dominated Africa’s passive infrastructure business, leasing thousands of sites to Airtel, MTN, and other operators.

Now, Indus wants a piece of that action and it’s bringing deep pockets, strong balance sheets, and the home advantage of Airtel’s 169.4 million customers across 14 African markets.

Why Now?

Indus Towers’ financials have turned a corner. The company generated $187 million in free cash flow in the June 2025 quarter, after cash-strapped Vodafone Idea finally settled most of its long-standing dues. Instead of rewarding shareholders with dividends, Indus’ board has chosen to reinvest in growth and Africa, with its young population and explosive mobile adoption, is the target.

“Recognizing the growth potential in emerging geographies, the Board has approved the Company’s foray into African markets,” Indus said in a filing, signaling it sees infrastructure demand on the continent as a once-in-a-decade opportunity.

The Competitive Landscape

ATC has been Airtel Africa’s go-to tower partner since 2022, while Helios Towers has long had a strong foothold in markets like Tanzania, DRC, and Ghana. Together, they’ve carved up a market where operators prefer asset-light models, selling towers and leasing them back to cut costs.

Indus’ late entry won’t be easy. But it has a unique angle: it’s tied directly to Airtel, one of Africa’s fastest-growing operators, giving it a guaranteed anchor tenant from day one. The company will need to prove it can compete on efficiency, reliability, and cost in environments where power supply is patchy, logistics are complex, and political risks remain high.

Airtel’s African Strategy and Indus’ Role

Airtel has doubled down on Africa as a growth engine, with mobile money, data, and digital services powering subscriber growth. But these services rely heavily on network quality and reach and that’s where Indus comes in.

By building and managing towers in Airtel-heavy markets, Indus could cut Airtel’s reliance on third-party providers like ATC, reduce leasing costs, and tighten strategic control. In the long run, Indus could even expand beyond Airtel, offering services to MTN, Orange, and other operators to fully establish itself as a continental player.

The Stakes

Africa’s tower market is projected to grow in double digits as 4G and 5G rollouts accelerate and mobile money becomes mainstream. Whoever controls the tower grid will hold the keys to the digital economy.

“By leveraging our expertise in delivering innovative and cost-effective solutions, we are well-positioned to differentiate ourselves in Africa’s fast-growing telecom market and emerge as the preferred tower company,” said Indus Towers CEO Prachur Sah.

The challenge will be proving that an Indian tower giant can adapt to Africa’s unique on-the-ground realities while fending off entrenched competitors with deep local networks.

For Airtel, Indus’ entry is more than a corporate reshuffle it’s a strategic move to bring a trusted ally closer to the heart of its African growth story. For ATC and Helios, it’s the start of a battle to defend their turf.

 

Intella Raises $12.5 Million to Launch Ziila, its Conversational AI Agent

James Musoba
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0
Intella Raises $12.5 Million to Launch Ziila, its Conversational AI Agent

Intella, the Egyptian-founded Arabic Arabic speech intelligence startup, has closed $12.5 million to launch its new conversational AI agent, Ziila, to work in tandem with its intellaCX analytics product.

The Series A round was led by Prosus, with participation from 500 Global, Wa’ed Ventures, Hala Ventures, Idrisi Ventures and HearstLab, the investment arm of Hearst Corporation. With today’s round announcement, the company has raised over $16.9 million in funding.

“From day one, our vision has been to bridge the gap between global AI advancements and the Arabic-speaking world,” said Nour AlTaher, Co-founder and CEO of Intella. “This funding allows us to accelerate our goal of helping every enterprise in the region transform their customer conversations from dark data into a strategic asset.”

Ziila’s launch will create a complete product suite that enables enterprises to both analyse conversations and build next-generation, voice-based customer experiences. With the funding, Intella will double down on R&D, product expansion, and hire new AI talent.

Founded in 2021 by CEO Nour Taher and CTO Omar Mansour, Intella offers enterprise-grade transcription, analytics, and AI-powered customer engagement tools for more than 25 dialects.

Intella supports enterprises across the MENA region, spanning sectors such as finance, telecommunications, and government. Jumia is one of its customers.

“The market opportunity in MENA is enormous, with over 7,500 companies and organisations operating across the region and Arabic being the fifth most spoken language globally,” said Robin Voogd, Head of Middle East Investments, Prosus Ventures.

Further, intella will use the funding to solidify its market leadership and expand its technological edge. The capital will be strategically deployed to launch its new conversational AI agent, Ziila, to work in tandem with its intellaCX analytics product. This creates a complete product suite that enables enterprises to both analyse conversations and build next-generation, voice-based customer experiences.

“This round is a catalyst for our product roadmap,” added Omar Mansour, Co-founder and CTO of Intella. “Our models already set the benchmark for Arabic accuracy. Now, we’re focused on building truly intelligent, Arabic-first conversational agents capable of multi-turn dialogue and contextual understanding—redefining how enterprises engage with their customers.”

Munify Raises $3 Million to Build Cross-Border Digital Bank for Egyptians Abroad

Ronald Bwire
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Munify Raises $3 Million to Build Cross-Border Digital Bank for Egyptians Abroad

Cairo-based fintech Munify has raised $3 million in seed funding to expand its mission of making global banking and payments radically more accessible for Egyptians abroad. The round was led by Y Combinator, with participation from BYLD, Digital Currency Group, and other strategic investors.

The funding coincides with Munify’s graduation from Y Combinator’s Summer 2025 batch, making it one of the few fintech companies from the MENA region to join a cohort dominated by artificial intelligence startups.

“Remittance flows are one of the most critical financial lifelines for Egypt, yet millions still face costly, slow, and fragmented services,” said Khalid Ashmawy, Founder and CEO of Munify. “We’re building the infrastructure to make global banking and payments radically more accessible for Egyptians, wherever they live.”

Founded in 2024 by Khalid Ashmawy—a former Microsoft and Uber executive and co-founder of proptech platform Huspy—Munify is building a cross-border digital bank tailored to Egyptians overseas.

The platform offers instant, low-cost remittances to Egypt, access to U.S. bank accounts and debit cards and currency hedging tools to protect against volatility in the Egyptian pound.

Munify is already live in the U.S., U.K., Europe, and the GCC, targeting freelancers, SMEs, and Egyptians abroad who frequently face high remittance fees and long settlement times.

The fresh capital will be invested in scaling Munify’s engineering and compliance teams, strengthening regulatory and banking partnerships, and expanding into new markets.

 

Oxford University Hosts VCs to Strengthen Africa’s VC Landscape

Ronald Bwire
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Oxford University Hosts VCs to Strengthen Africa’s VC Landscape

Oxford University’s Saïd Business School is hosting the Africa Venture Finance Programme (AVFP), taking place from 1–5 September 2025 to strengthen the venture capital landscape in Africa.

The in-person executive programme dubbed Boost Africa brings together more than 40 of Africa’s leading venture capital fund managers — nearly half of them women — for a week of peer learning, skills development, and strategic dialogue.

The programme was created to unlock Africa’s entrepreneurial potential by providing technical support to fund managers and addressing an early-stage financing gap.

“Boost Africa is about more than just finance – it’s about building resilient economies, fostering innovation and creating inclusive growth through smart, targeted investment,” said EIB Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle.

Now in its fourth edition, the AVFP is delivered by Boost Africa — a program of the European Investment Bank’s development arm (EIB Global) and African Development Bank, with support from the European Commission and the Organization of African, Caribbean & Pacific States (“OACPS”) — and the AfricaGrow Technical Assistance Facility, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through KfW/DEG.

Following this edition, over 150 of Africa’s most relevant venture capital fund managers will have participated in the programme, representing the lion’s share of active VC funds on the continent. These alumni form a vibrant and engaged community that continues to collaborate and exchange knowledge on an ongoing basis.

Investors, Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) including the EBRD, Proparco, the Arab Fund, FCDO, and British International Investment (BII) and the EU via the Global Gateway strategy will take part. Senior partners from three established VC firms include TLcom, Partech, and AfricInvest.

Africa receives only 1% to 2% of global venture capital while representing 18% of the world’s population. In addition, relatively few African-led startups receive significant funding.

Boost Africa is designed and led by Oxford academics equips fund managers with the tools, networks, and critical thinking needed to shape the future of capital on the continent. It isn’t about growing funds—it’s about reimagining what finance can do when it’s grounded in context, community, and long-term value creation.

The programme will offer early-stage funding and hands-on support to venture capital fund managers

Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem secured 487 deals in 2024, according to the African Private Capital Association. This included 427 venture capital deals with a value of $2.6 billion and 60 venture debt deals worth $1 billion.

The initiative has supported six private equity funds as well as more than 70 companies and mobilised over €380 million in capital for startups across the continent. Moreover, 94% of Boost Africa-supported founders were able to raise $1 million or more in funding – nearly double the rate of comparable entrepreneurs.

 

 

BFA Global, FSD Africa, ClimateWorks & FCDO Nigeria to Inject $1.1 Million into 12 Climate Startups

James Musoba
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BFA Global, FSD Africa, ClimateWorks & FCDO Nigeria to Inject $1.1 Million into 12 Climate Startups

BFA Global, FSD Africa, ClimateWorks Foundation, and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Nigeria are committing $1.1 million into 12 startups developing solutions to protect communities from chronic heat waves.

Dubbed TECA Heat Action Wave (THAW), the new initiative addresses Nigeria’s escalating extreme heat crisis, now at least ten times due to human-caused global warming. Lagos, Kano, and Abuja experience heat indices above 50°C during peak months.

“Extreme heat represents perhaps the most overlooked consequence of climate change affecting Africa today,” said Juliet Munro, Early-Stage Finance Director at FSD Africa. “It’s not only a public health emergency, but a threat to livelihoods, productivity, and long-term economic resilience. Through this initiative, we’re making a strategic investment in African-led innovation, supporting scalable, context-specific solutions that deliver real impact where it’s needed most.”

THAW will support 12 early-stage ventures developing market-driven early warning tools, innovative financial instruments such as parametric heat insurance, emergency-centric finance tech, and ecosystem enablers and builders — tools and services that help individuals and small businesses operate more safely and efficiently in rising heat, preferably integrating early warning systems or fintech solutions.

The 12 will receive seed capital, venture-building support, and expert-led sprints on user research, product design, business modeling, and fundraising.

The program will run through mid-2026, culminating in demo days and investor events. High-performing ventures may qualify for reinvestment and tailored follow-on support through 2027.

“Extreme heat is silently eroding lives, productivity, and economic opportunity,” said Tyler Ferdinand, TECA Director at BFA Global. “Through TECA, we’re not only funding ventures, we’re embedding the strategic support, networks, and capital they need to transform survival into resilience.”

Implemented by BFA Global in partnership with FSD Africa, TECA aims to position Nigeria as a hub for scalable, investable climate innovations. Entrepreneurs are invited to apply to join the Heat Action Wave.

Naspers & Prosus Launch $100,000 Tech FoundHER Africa Challenge for Women-Led Startups

James Musoba
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Naspers & Prosus Launch $100,000 Tech FoundHER Africa Challenge for Women-Led Startups

Naspers and Prosus have launched the Tech FoundHER Africa Challenge, inviting applications from women-led tech and tech-enabled startups across the continent.

Originally piloted in India earlier this year, the programme has now launched in Africa as part of the company’s commitment to championing and supporting female founders in technology.

Women represent 26% of Africa’s entrepreneurs, yet women-led startups receive less than 3% of venture capital funding, according to recent research by TechCabal Insights and the Africa Growth Fund. This funding gap, estimated at $42 billion, if closed, could unlock as much as $316 billion in GDP growth.

Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa, South Africa CEO and Executive Director of Naspers and Prosus, said: “The Tech FoundHER Challenge is about closing one of Africa’s most urgent gaps in entrepreneurship – the lack of funding and visibility for women-led startups. Female founders are already proving that they can build competitive, tech-enabled businesses that drive growth and innovation. What they need now is the capital, networks, and market access to scale. By backing them, we are not only empowering individual entrepreneurs but unlocking economic opportunities that will benefit entire communities and the continent at large.”

Tech FoundHER Challenge will award three outstanding women founders operating in Africa with equity-free grants totalling US$100,000 to accelerate their growth. Beyond financial support, participants will gain access to senior mentors within the Naspers-Prosus ecosystem, curated networking opportunities, and enhanced brand visibility.

Women founders will benefit from having their businesses assessed by a high-calibre panel of executives, investors, entrepreneurs, and business leaders, providing valuable insights and visibility at the highest levels.

The six shortlisted founders will present at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange on 19 November 2025, coinciding with Global Women’s Entrepreneurship Day. This will be a unique platform to showcase their ventures, expand their networks, and connect with influential decision-makers.

The Tech FoundHER Africa Challenge will be conducted in partnership with Lionesses of Africa is a fast-growing, 1.8 million strong network of women entrepreneurs in Africa, providing access to resources, funding opportunities, and a powerful platform to share their business stories.

To apply, applicants must meet the criteria set out below. Applicants must be a startup focused on tech or tech-enabled products, have at least one-woman founder in a leadership position, be at or before Series B funding stage and be revenue-generating with proven market traction.

Applications open 1 September 2025 via the Lionesses of Africa website: click here

Six finalists will advance to the final stage on 19 November 2025, where winners will be announced.

Prajna Khanna, Chief Sustainability Officer at Naspers and Prosus said: “For women founders to succeed, access, capability, and visibility must come together. At Naspers and Prosus, we know strategic interventions are essential – and this challenge is designed to give proven women-led startups the platform, connections, and confidence to scale sustainably. After a successful launch in India, we are thrilled to bring the Tech FoundHER Challenge to Africa and unlock the extraordinary innovation and talent the continent has to offer.”

Google.org Injects $1M into Wits University’s MIND Institute

James Musoba
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Google.org Injects $1M into Wits University’s MIND Institute

Google.org has awarded $2 million to Wits University’s Machine Intelligence and Neural Discovery (MIND) Institute in Johannesburg, South Africa to accelerate scientific discovery through external collaborations that enable real-world impact.

The funding will boost the Institute’s targeted capacity development and networking-building programmes across disciplines, and dialogue among academia, industry, policymakers and others.

According to Professor Benjamin Rosman, Director of The Wits MIND Institute, “The Wits MIND Institute was conceived to place African researchers at the forefront of the understanding and study of intelligence – natural and artificial. Google.org’s support cements our capacity to train talent, incubate disruptive ideas, and ensure our discoveries translate into societal benefit.”

Launched in November 2024 after more than a decade of Wits University’s investment in postgraduate education, capacity building, and pan-African AI initiatives, The Wits MIND Institute has rapidly become a hub for cutting-edge research and thought leadership. MIND Fellows and Chairs are already collaborating on more than 25 projects in domains from reinforcement learning to digital humanities. The MINDFund also provides targeted capacity and seed funding to novel research and is currently supporting five projects.

It recently launched its inaugural cohort of 34 MIND Fellows, among them various research Chairs and National Research Foundation-rated researchers from all Faculties and core Departments at the University — a truly cross-functional group that sparks transdisciplinary engagement and research.

By developing and deploying AI models and dictating policies that consider the culture and diversity of more than one billion people on the continent, the Wits MIND Institute will ensure that Africa has a seat at the global AI table.

“Wits University is proud to host The Wits MIND Institute, a bold experiment in converging natural and artificial intelligence research. This funding from Google.org reinforces our shared vision for enhancing Wits’ historical role, from the first computer to the RADAR, in placing South Africa, and the rest of Africa, at the cusp of technological development,” says Professor Zeblon Vilakazi, Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Witwatersrand.

Researchers and stakeholders are invited to engage with The Wits MIND Institute’s growing ecosystem. Sign up to learn about the Institute’s events and opportunities, and look out for the next MIND Fellows cohort application in September 2025.

The Machine Intelligence and Neural Discovery (MIND) Institute at the University of the Witwatersrand is an African-based interdisciplinary AI research hub that aims to advance the scientific understanding of both natural and artificial intelligence, foster breakthrough research and technological innovation, invest in developing a crucial mass of African AI expertise, and establish responsible policies for systemic, sustained impact both locally and globally.

WheelsOn Raises $12.5M to Disrupt the UAE’s Traditional Car Rentals

James Musoba
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WheelsOn Raises $12.5M to Disrupt the UAE’s Traditional Car Rentals

WheelsOn, the UAE’s mobile-first car rental platform, has closed a $12.5 million funding round to expand WheelsOn’s fleet, speed up product development, and grow its market presence.

The funding included $2.2 million in equity from a group of MENA-focused private investors, including partners of Xploration Capital, $6.5M for a fleet expansion round and $4M financing from local banks.

This latest round brings WheelsOn’s total funding to $12.5 million, pushing its valuation near $30 million.

According to Maxim Olivson, CPO at WheelsOn,“Our mission is to rethink car rentals by offering full transparency, digital convenience, and a product that puts users in control. We remove deposits completely, eliminate paperwork and counter queues, and give customers a seamless experience all through our intuitive mobile app and website,” 

WheelsOn is working on advanced AI tools for dynamic pricing, vehicle personalisation, insurance, and rental periods based on user preferences. Upcoming tech features include digital car keys, enabling renters to unlock vehicles directly via smartphones for a contactless rental.

Founded in 2023 by Nikolay Melnichuk, Partner at Xploration Capital, and Adlet Shagirov (Co-Founder & COO), and later joined by Maxim Olivson (CPO), WheelsOn was created out of frustration with the traditional car rental experience. In the UAE, for instance, customers still face steep security deposits, hidden fees, and lengthy paperwork, making the process stressful for locals, expats, and tourists.

Unlike aggregator platforms, WheelsOn owns and directly operates its entire fleet, controlling the complete rental experience to ensure consistent vehicle quality, transparent pricing without hidden fees, and reliable service. The company’s proprietary fleet management and vehicle tracking system monitors each vehicle in real-time, enabling proactive maintenance scheduling and operational transparency that safeguards customers and improves fleet availability.

This technological backbone is a key reason why WheelsOn can eliminate the need for large security deposits and reduce hidden costs: better fleet control and data-driven operations translate into less risk and more trust between renters and the company. WheelsOn’s technology also powers an enhanced customer support loop, integrating user feedback directly into product and service improvements, ensuring rental issues are swiftly addressed and customer satisfaction remains high.

WheelsOn plans to strengthen its footprint in the UAE and expand to other Gulf countries where travellers and residents face similar rental frustrations. it’s presently available in  English, Arabic, Chinese, and several European languages, including French, Italian, Spanish, and German.

WheelsOn caters to locals seeking flexible monthly rentals, business customers who require premium cars or chauffeured vans for events, and tourists looking for convenient airport or hotel delivery.

Bolt Market, Bolt’s Grocery Delivery Arm Records 300% Growth Since Launch

Ronald Bwire
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Bolt Market, Bolt’s Grocery Delivery Arm Records 300% Growth Since Launch

Bolt Market, the grocery delivery arm of mobility platform Bolt, has recorded 300% growth in orders since launching in December 2024.

The firm says this is due to rising demand for fast, affordable, and reliable grocery delivery in Kenya. Bolt Market promises average delivery times just over 15 minutes, and is standing against Glovo, GoBeba, UberEats and a number of other delivery platforms.

According to Edgar Kitur, General Manager of Bolt Food, “The reception of Bolt Market has exceeded our expectations. Kenyans want affordability without sacrificing convenience, and Bolt Market delivers exactly that. The rapid growth since launch confirms we are solving a real need. Looking ahead, our ambition is to expand coverage to more towns and neighbourhoods, ensuring even more people can access seamless, cost-friendly grocery delivery.”

Launched in December 2024, the grocery delivery service aimed at tapping into Kenya’s growing online on-demand grocery delivery for shopping, food and essentials and take on competitors UberEATS, Glovo, GoBEBA among others. The service is an extension of the Bolt Food app and allows customers to order food and make grocery delivery orders from 8:00 am to 11:00 pm as well as schedule their essentials and grocery delivery 24 hours in advance.

The platform allows users to order fresh produce, household essentials, and pantry staples with just a tap of a button. Kenya also has a rising demand for doorstep delivery, due to the expansion of retail partnerships to include both large retailers and local stores; giving customers access to a curated mix of over 3,500 products.

Bolt wants to expand Bolt Market’s delivery coverage into new towns nationwide by the end of 2025. By connecting households to both large chains and local merchants, the service is not only simplifying shopping but also supporting the growth of Kenya’s retail ecosystem.

Bolt Market underscores Bolt’s commitment to redefining urban convenience in Kenya, saving people time, money, and effort while shaping the future of how cities shop.

These Builders & Investors to Share Their Experiences at 12th Angel Fair Africa

Partner Content
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These Builders & Investors to Share Their Experiences at 12th Angel Fair Africa

 African builders and investors will be sharing their remarkable experiences at the 12th Angel Fair Africa (aka AFA@12) themed “Building and Investing in Africa” at the Google NYC office on 19th September 2025.

Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Managing Partner of Accelerate Africa and a two-time unicorn co-founder of Andel and Flutterwave, Barbara Iyayi, co-founder of Liquid Credit who doubles up as an investor – both from Nigeria with Barbara now based in NY. Benjamin Fernandes, CEO of NALA and founding partner of P1 Ventures from Tanzania, Alexandre N’djore, CEO of Digitech from Cote d’Ivoire and moderated by Otema Yirenkyi of Nviron Hive from Ghana.

The investors panel has Candice Morgan from Black Angel Group, USA, Steven Grin from Lateral Frontier, USA, Achumboro Ataande from Ataande & Advisors, Ghana, Dr. Ola Brown from HealthCap Africa, Nigeria moderated by Tinyiko Valoyi from Chanzo Capital, South Africa.

The builders will be sharing their experiences of building ventures, funds, accelerators and incubators on the continent from ground up. These experiences will serve as inspiration for the founders who would be pitching. The investors would be sharing their criteria and requirement for selecting founders as well as their experiences from their portfolio companies. These panels would be interspersed with the pitches from the ten founders.

The day will start with a keynote fireside involving Arcangel Esther Dyson of Term Limits, USA in conversation with Eric Osiakwan from Chanzo Capital, Ghana. Esther’s unique investment experience spans the US, Europe and Africa. Her upcoming book “Term Limit” would be worth reading in 2027 but snippets would be out in the fireside chat.

 

Keja Move Adopts AI to Introduce a New Era of Moving Services in Nairobi

Joshua Mutua
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Keja Move Adopts AI to Introduce a New Era of Moving Services in Nairobi

Founded with the mission to simplify relocation, Keja Move has adopted an AI-powered instant quoting system to simplify the moving and relocations businesses in Kenya.

The AI tool powers the firm’s customer support for seamless communication, has an digital inventory tracking to log household items before and after moves; and an online booking and tracking tool for real-time updates. Among the most trusted movers in Nairobi, the firm is combining professional service with modern technology to ensure every customer enjoys a safe, affordable, and stress-free moving experience.

A New Era for Moving Services in Nairobi

Relocating homes or offices in Nairobi has often been stressful. From unreliable movers to hidden costs, many Kenyans have experienced challenges when hiring moving companies. Keja Move is solving all that.

www.kejamove.com
Kejamove helps you move houses in an easy credible and convenient way.

Why Customers Choose Keja Move

Thousands of clients have already discovered the Keja Move difference:

  • Professional Movers in Nairobi – A trained crew that handles every item with care.
  • Affordable Relocation Services – Transparent pricing with no hidden costs.
  • Customer-Centered Service – Tailored moves to fit schedules and budgets.
  • Wide Coverage – Whether moving within Nairobi, across counties, or across borders.

“Keja Move made my house move in Nairobi so easy. The team was on time, professional, and nothing was damaged. I highly recommend them.” – Verified Customer

Technology Driving Better Moving Experiences

Unlike traditional moving companies in Kenya, KejaMovers leverage technology to enhance customer service:

  • AI-powered instant quoting system.
  • Customer support tools for seamless communication.
  • Digital inventory tracking to log household items before and after moves.
  • Online booking and move tracking for real-time updates.

This innovation makes the platform a pioneer in Nairobi’s moving industry, giving customers peace of mind.

Affordable and Reliable Movers in Nairobi

Cost is always a concern when moving as it provides clear and competitive rates with no surprises. Services include:

– House moving (bedsitters to multi-bedroom homes).
– Office relocation tailored for businesses.
– Packing, wrapping, and unpacking services.
– Furniture and appliance protection during transit.

Customer Reviews & Testimonials

Positive feedback continues to highlight the firm’s professionalism and customer-first approach:

– “Best movers in Nairobi – reliable and affordable.”
– “The team was professional and careful. Stress-free moving!”
– “I’ve used Keja Move twice, and I wouldn’t trust anyone else with my relocation.”

Conclusion: Nairobi’s Trusted Movers

Whether you’re moving across Nairobi or to another part of Kenya, Keja Move has become the go-to relocation partner for thousands of satisfied customers. By combining professionalism, affordability, and technology, Keja Move is redefining how Kenyans experience relocation.

HAKKI AFRICA Raises $680,000 to Bolster Its Used Car Loan Business in Kenya

Ronald Bwire
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HAKKI AFRICA Raises $680,000 to Bolster Its Used Car Loan Business in Kenya

HAKKI AFRICA, the Japanese used car loan firm has raised ¥100 million ($680,000) to fuel its used car loan business in Kenya, where demand is at an all-time high despite its loans being expensive and exploitative.

The unsecured and unguaranteed credit line from ¥100 million ($680,000) from Shoko Chukin Bank will provide working capital to boost the supply of loans in Kenya, where HAKKI Africa has positioned itself as an alternative for drivers unable to access traditional bank credit despite cries of exploitation from borrowers.

Financing Kenya’s Taxi Economy

Founded in 2019, HAKKI Africa’s stated mission is to “increase the number of people who increase possibilities.” The firm focuses on drivers who struggle to provide financial documents or down payments typically required by lenders. By offering loans for second hand car purchases, the company argues it supports vehicle ownership, income stability, and upward mobility for gig workers.

Since entering Kenya, HAKKI Africa says it has disbursed loans to over 2,000 drivers, relying on a proprietary algorithm to assess risk. The system factors in multivariate data such as mileage, driving history, and repayment patterns, automating credit scoring in markets where credit information is limited or unreliable. The company claims this model reduces risk exposure while broadening access for underserved borrowers.

Expansion Plans

With fresh capital from Shoko Chukin Bank, HAKKI Africa plans to strengthen its customer support operations, recruit new staff, and upgrade loan management systems. It also aims to forge deeper partnerships with local financial institutions, a move that could allow it to scale lending faster and tap into broader segments of the Kenyan mobility market.

The company is not limiting its ambitions to Kenya. Beginning in 2025, HAKKI Africa intends to replicate its lending model in South Africa and India, markets with large populations of ride hailing drivers and similar challenges around credit access.

Growing Demand, Growing Concerns

Kenya’s appetite for car loans remains strong, fuelled by the growth of digital taxi platforms, the resilience of the informal transport sector, and the rising cost of vehicle ownership. Yet consumer advocates and industry analysts warn that products in the space often carry high interest rates, hidden fees, and repossession risks.

For drivers, especially those working for platforms such as Uber, Bolt, and Little, access to a vehicle can mean steady income, but loan repayment schedules can quickly become unsustainable if earnings fall short. Critics argue that this dynamic has left some drivers trapped in cycles of debt, unable to keep pace with repayments while still bearing fuel, maintenance, and platform commission costs.

A Crowded and Competitive Space

HAKKI Africa is operating in a competitive field. Local microfinance firms such as Platinum Credit, Ngao Credit, Premier Credit and Mogo, an exploitative international car financier and banks such as Stanbic, NCBA and Co operative Bank offer auto loans to salaried workers and SMEs. Global ride hailing platforms have also partnered with several financial service providers to offer vehicle financing programs for their driver partners. Bolt, for instance, has previously faced scrutiny in Kenya over alleged preferential treatment for drivers using vehicles financed through its partners.

For HAKKI Africa, the differentiator would have been its pricing model but it has unfortunately copied Mogo and issued loans in USD putting pressure on borrowers and leading to mass repossessions. A new microfinance bill, in draft stages, aims to address this issues to balance financial inclusion with borrower protection.

Looking Ahead

If successful, the latest capital infusion could allow HAKKI Africa to grow its loan book significantly in Kenya, where car ownership is a gateway to both employment and mobility. But as the company accelerates, so too will debates over fair pricing, borrower protection, and the broader impact of high cost vehicle financing on drivers already squeezed by rising expenses.

Djibouti Telecom to Extend DARE1 Cable From Kenya to South Africa

Ronald Bwire
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Djibouti Telecom to Extend DARE1 Cable From Kenya to South Africa

Djibouti Telecom has announced that it will extend its Djibouti Africa Regional Express 1 (DARE1) to South Africa by 2028 just a day after Meta announced it had invested in Daraja, Safaricom’s fiber optic cable network.

The cable will link Mombasa to Mtunzini in South Africa, with branches planned for Tanzania, Mozambique and Madagascar and will add new capacity and route diversity between East and Southern Africa.

Launched in 2021, the DARE1 system currently stretches from Djibouti City to Bosaso and Mogadishu in Somalia, and to Mombasa, Kenya, offering 36 terabits per second across three fibre pairs.

The planned 3,200–3,500 km extension will run from Mombasa to Mtunzini, South Africa, with new landing points in Tanzania (Dar es Salaam, Mtwara), Mozambique (Nakala, Beira, Maputo), and Madagascar (Mahajanga, Toliary), the company said Thursday.

Djibouti Telecom said the expansion will transform DARE1 into a “regional African cable,” delivering additional capacity, lower latency, and greater resilience for carriers, enterprises, and cloud providers. Construction is expected to begin in 2026, with the system targeted to go live in 2028.

The DARE1 consortium currently includes Djibouti Telecom, Hormuud Telecom Somalia, Somtel International, and Telkom Kenya.

Telkom Kenya which is the Kenyan partner said the DARE1 is a 36TB cable expected to  provide additional transmission options in the country and the greater East Africa region. As an $86 M investment, the DARE 1 sub-sea cable is a 3-fiber pair, with a capacity of 36TB each. Kenya has access to both, one an express route from Djibouti to Mombasa and the second one terminating into Somalia and then Kenya.

The DARE 1 idea was mooted in 2018, paving way for a year-long planning process to chart the cable route from Djibouti to Kenya. By March 2019, the process towards the reception of all the requisite territorial and environmental permits was well underway and concluded in October 2019, when cable laying experts, SubCom began the manufacture of the cable. The process of building and laying of the DARE 1 cable has been ongoing for the past three months before its landing in Mombasa, today. Telkom Kenya will now take up the task of laying and managing the inland fiber optic cabling to various terrestrial locations across the country.

Meta Backs Safaricom’s $23m Daraja Subsea Cable to Boost Kenya’s Internet Capacity

Moran AI
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Meta Backs Safaricom’s $23m Daraja Subsea Cable to Boost Kenya’s Internet Capacity

Meta Platforms Inc.’s affiliate Edge Network Services will help finance and take a stake in Safaricom PLC’s new 4,108-kilometre Daraja subsea cable, a system linking Oman to Mombasa that is set to go live in 2026.

Regulatory filings show Safaricom as the project proponent, with Kenya’s Communications Authority already reviewing its application for landing rights. The Kenyan segment of the build is expected to cost $23 million.

The Daraja system is being designed with 24 fibre pairs—well above the eight to 16 typically deployed—allowing Safaricom to expand bandwidth for 4G, 5G, and fixed broadband users. Undersea cables carry about 95% of global internet traffic.

For Safaricom, East Africa’s largest telecom operator, Daraja will diversify capacity and reduce reliance on third-party providers such as SEACOM and Telkom Kenya, which currently handle most of Kenya’s subsea landings. Safaricom’s SEACOM agreements are due to expire in June 2028.

The investment underscores Meta’s broader push into subsea infrastructure, including its Project Waterworth system, and comes as rivals like Google also increase cable deployments touching Africa.

The rollout lands amid heightened competition from satellite broadband providers such as Elon Musk’s Starlink and new cable activations by Airtel Kenya, alongside government-driven digitisation and rural connectivity projects.

If executed on schedule, Daraja is expected to lift Kenya’s internet capacity and reliability, potentially reshaping pricing and service performance in a market where Safaricom already leads fixed broadband share and counts mobile data as its fastest-growing revenue line.

 

Communications Authority of Kenya Cracking Down Unlicensed Parcel & Courier Service Providers

Ronald Bwire
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Communications Authority of Kenya Cracking Down Unlicensed Parcel & Courier Service Providers

Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has extended its crackdown on unlicensed parcel and courier service providers in a move to ensure compliance with the law in the provision of postal services in the country.

The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) extended its crackdown on unlicensed parcel and courier service providers to Mombasa, leading to the arrest and arraignment in court of five (5) individuals.

The five were arrested on Tuesday August 26th, 2025 during an operation at Mwembe Tayari and Bondeni Bus stages in Mombasa City, undertaken by the Authority and the National Police Service. The crackdown targeted Zahara Parcels and Courier, Maslah Parcel Services, Simba Parcel Services and Mombasa Raha Bus Company, which have been operating without a postal and courier license from the Authority.

The suspects were arraigned at the Mombasa Law Courts Thursday, for operating postal services without a valid licence contrary to section 49 (2) as read with section 49(3) of the Kenya Information and Communications Act no. 2 of 1998 and fined between KSh. 10,000 and KSh. 50,000.

The Mombasa raid followed a similar one a week ago in Nairobi, that led to the arrest of nine (9) people in the Eastleigh area.

The Authority urges firms wishing to engage in parcel and courier services to apply for the requisite licenses from our offices in Nairobi, Kisumu, Eldoret, Nyeri and Mombasa and cautions members of the public to seek parcel and courier services from CA licensed providers only.

Dealing with licensed parcel and courier operators safeguards consumers, ensures secure and reliable delivery, and supports lawful and sustainable growth of the sector.

Green Jobs and Skills Take Centre Stage at the second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2)

Brand Voice
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Green Jobs and Skills Take Centre Stage at the second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2)

The second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2) is set to take place from September 8 to 10, 2025, at the Addis International Convention Centre (AICC) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Jacob’s Ladder Africa (JLA) is playing a leading role in advancing the green jobs and skills agenda at the summit, with a focus on creating tangible employment opportunities linked to climate action.

Jacob’s Ladder Africa will spearhead two major engagements during ACS2. On September 10, it will host a high-level session at the Africa Pavilion in partnership with the African Union Commission’s Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (AUC-ESTI)  to highlight strategies for developing Africa’s green workforce.

JLA will also host the Green Jobs & Skills Pavilion, a dedicated space running concurrently with the summit’s main events. The Pavilion is designed as an African-led, solutions-driven platform to address the urgency of solving climate vulnerability and unemployment among youth, women, and marginalized communities,  through green job creation. It will facilitate dialogue and innovation among diverse leaders, women, indigenous groups, private sector actors, civil society, and policymakers.

Sellah Bogonko, Co-Founder and CEO of JLA, emphasized the importance of concrete action: “Africa’s youth, women, and marginalized communities need real jobs and sustainable livelihoods, not empty promises. When supported, they become the innovators and changemakers advancing Africa’s green transformation.” She described the Pavilion as a call to recognize green jobs and skills as critical links between climate ambitions and economic justice.

The African Union Commission, through its Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (ESTI), reaffirms that the green skills and jobs agenda is central to the recently adopted Continental Strategy for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET) 2025–2034. The Strategy prioritizes equipping Africa’s youth with future-ready skills to drive sustainable industrialization, climate resilience, and inclusive growth. As part of this commitment, the AUC will also be convening Africa Skills Week 2025 in October, which will foreground green skills development as a key driver of Africa’s economic transformation under the Decade of Education and Skills Development (2025–2034). This upcoming continental platform will build on the momentum of the Africa Climate Summit, providing space for governments, private sector, civil society, and youth to co-design solutions for scaling green workforce opportunities.

The Pavilion will focus on sectors with high potential for green job creation, such as renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and e-mobility. Projections underline these sectors’ promise where renewable energy could create up to 4.5 million jobs by 2030 through decentralized solar and clean cooking solutions.; sustainable agriculture could unlock 700,000 jobs, including 377,000 from climate-smart agriculture technologies; and e-mobility is expected to develop into a $2.85 billion market by 2030, generating employment across manufacturing, logistics, servicing, and software development.

JLA’s leadership at ACS2 builds on the foundation laid during ACS@ONE, a series of civil society-led post-Summit meetings in late 2024 that reviewed progress since the inaugural Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi and explored practical African-led climate solutions.

By focusing on actionable outcomes, JLA aligns its work with Agenda 2063, demonstrating how climate action can drive economic progress for Africa’s marginalized populations, shifting the narrative from aid dependency towards investment in local innovation.

ACS2 is expected to gather more than 45 heads of state and government, alongside ministers, development partners, youth leaders, civil society, and private sector representatives. Co-convened by the Ethiopian government and the African Union Commission, the summit will emphasize Africa-led climate solutions and mobilizing climate finance under the theme “Accelerating Global Climate Solutions: Financing for Africa’s Resilient and Green Development.

Verto Launches Atlas, an API for Fintechs & Marketplaces

James Musoba
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Verto Launches Atlas, an API for Fintechs & Marketplaces

Verto, a B2B global payments platform, has launched The Atlas Suite, an API platform for financial institutions, online marketplaces, and digital platforms to integrate global payment services seamlessly.

Verto says the API is available to all its customers worldwide and will simplify operational, regulatory, and cost challenges of international transactions, particularly in high-growth emerging markets.

According to Ola Oyetayo, CEO of Verto, “We have seen firsthand how complex and costly it is for businesses to expand into new markets and move money, especially across Africa. Atlas is a game-changer, removing these barriers and giving our partners the freedom to grow.”

Unlike other regions, Africa has fragmented financial systems, with complex regulations, limited local banking access, high operational costs, and volatile currencies, making it extremely hard to move money. Atlas aims to solve this by providing instant access to local accounts, deep FX liquidity, and compliant infrastructure across 49 currencies.

With these, firms can expand into and out of Africa, process payments, and unlock new opportunities for growth and cross-border trade with ease.

There is an API or an ‘Atlas for Fintechs’  and an ‘Atlas for Platforms’. For fintechs, banks, and other financial institutions the API allows firms to integrate Verto’s banking, FX, and payment infrastructure directly into their platforms, eliminating the need to build internal solutions or secure multiple local licenses.

Fintechs can offer local virtual accounts to their customers in over 12 markets, execute FX 24/7 and instantly between 49 currencies, and make international payments to over 100 countries – with payments coming out in their businesses’ names.

On the other hand, the API for platforms allows non-financial businesses – such as marketplaces, or e-commerce platforms, to embed financial services directly into their existing products. Firms can embed payments, banking, and FX, eliminating the need for licensing, expertise, and in-house development.

White label brokers can use the API to offer Verto’s services under their own brand and markup FX at their desired rate. Atlas allows brokers and firms  to open local collection accounts across Africa, manage multiple sub-accounts, and move seamlessly between currencies with built-in FX options. Atlas also also support last-mile payouts, enabling remittance and payroll firms to do instant mass payments instantly via bank transfer or mobile money.

Recently, Verto launched a new accounts payable solution designed to significantly reduce the time, cost, and complexity of managing international business payments. Integrated into the Verto Accounts product, the feature directly addresses the inefficiencies and risks inherent in manual invoice processing, enabling finance teams to streamline operations and enhance financial controls.

Speaking about the solution, Tomasz Bilakiewicz, Product Director at Verto, said: “Beyond the challenge of navigating the foreign exchange landscape and managing multi-currency payments,  which has long been a significant hurdle, finance teams are often bogged down by repetitive, error-prone tasks that should be automated. Our new solution addresses both hurdles, giving businesses the speed and accuracy they need to stay on top of payments. This frees up time and mental energy, allowing finance teams to focus on more strategic initiatives such as performance analysis, improved forecasting, and driving better business decisions.”

Key features of the new solution include an automated data extraction and pre-filled payment forms to cut down on manual entry and reduce errors, direct payments from uploaded invoices to speed up the process, support for 49 currencies and intelligent beneficiary matching and attached invoices for better tracking and visibility.

Samsung Brings Microsoft Copilot to 2025 TVs and Monitors

Brand Voice
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Samsung Brings Microsoft Copilot to 2025 TVs and Monitors

Samsung is integrating Microsoft Copilot with its 2025 lineup of TVs and Smart Monitors, making it easier for users to search, learn and engage with content directly from their screens. 

Copilot gives users access Microsoft’s powerful AI companion through a simple voice command or click of the remote. Copilot will help viewers search quick facts about actors or athletes, summarize plots, support foreign language learning or help break down complex concepts — all from the largest screen in the user’s home.

“Through our open AI partnerships, Samsung is setting a new standard for AI-powered screens,” said Kevin Lee, Executive Vice President of the Customer Experience Team at the Visual Display (VD) Business of Samsung Electronics. “Copilot makes it fun and easy to quickly get what you need through tailored experiences, whether you’re learning something new, enjoying entertainment, tackling everyday tasks or more.”

Copilot can be accessed through the Samsung Tizen OS home, Samsung Daily+ and Click to Search, enabling conversational AI support for a range of scenarios. Through natural voice interaction, Copilot offers personalized recommendations, relevant information and interactive learning experiences.

Recently, Samsung added Click to Search and Bixby to bring a richer, more contextual smart display experience.

“Copilot on Samsung TVs is designed to feel like an AI companion in your living room,” said David Washington, Partner General Manager, Microsoft AI. “Together with Samsung’s leadership in advanced display technology, we’re bringing people a shared experience that helps them discover something to watch, ask questions, make plans, or simply enjoy a moment together, all on the biggest screen in their home.”

Africar Group Acquires Côte d’Ivoire’s Koto.ci to Broaden AUTO24.africa’s Offering

Ronald Bwire
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Africar Group Acquires Côte d’Ivoire’s Koto.ci to Broaden AUTO24.africa’s Offering

Africar Group, operator of the used car marketplace AUTO24.africa, has acquired Koto.ci, a Côte d’Ivoire–based platform that provides reference pricing for new vehicles. The deal strengthens Africar’s position in West Africa and expands its ecosystem beyond the used car segment.

The acquisition is part of Africar Group’s broader strategy to become a fullstack automotive services provider across Africa. By integrating Koto.ci’s new car pricing data into AUTO24.africa’s marketplace, the company aims to engage with consumers earlier in the vehicle ownership journey from the initial research phase through financing, insurance, and post-purchase services.

“We aim to support African car buyers throughout their entire journey from research and comparison, to buying, financing, insuring, and now having full visibility on new car prices,” said Axel Peyriere, CEO of AUTO24.africa.

AUTO24.africa currently operates in five markets including Côte d’Ivoire, Morocco, Senegal, Rwanda, and South Africa and is backed by Stellantis, one of the world’s largest automotive manufacturers. The platform has gained traction by offering certified pre-owned listings, financing tools, and cross-border services tailored to emerging market consumers. The group recently launched an EV marketplace, the first in Africa.

Founded in Abidjan, Koto.ci has built a reputation for accurate pricing benchmarks and market transparency in new car listings. Its integration gives Africar Group a competitive edge as it works to build what it describes as a pan-African digital automotive ecosystem.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Terraton, a Carbon Dioxide Remover, Raises $11.5 Million to Scale in Africa

James Musoba
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Terraton, a Carbon Dioxide Remover, Raises $11.5 Million to Scale in Africa

Terraton,a biochar platform scaling carbon dioxide removal (CDR), has raised $11.5 million in seed funding to scale in Africa and other merging markets.

The round was co-led by Lowercarbon Capital and Gigascale Capital with participation from leading angel investors included Jeff Dean, Bret Taylor, Pete Koomen, Lars Rasmussen, John Lilly, Tom Stocky, Tim Rann, Ryan Aytay, Matt Portman and Stephanie Hannon.

Additional strategic investment came from ANA HOLDINGS INC.’s ANA Future Frontier Fund L.P. and East Japan Railway Company’s TAKANAWA GATEWAY Global Co-Benefits Fund L.P.

“We’re bridging the divide between high-demand biochar carbon credits and the agribusinesses who produce them, making it easier to bring these valuable credits onto the voluntary carbon market,” said Kevin Gibbs, CEO of Terraton. “By removing upfront costs and complexity, Terraton’s full-stack platform empowers these businesses to diversify revenue streams while meeting growing market demand. This funding will accelerate our ability to scale impact for both farmers and the carbon removal economy.”

The funding will accelerate development and deployment of Terraton’s vertically integrated software platform for biochar production and help expand the company’s generation of high-integrity carbon credits.

Biochar accounts for the majority of carbon removal credits delivered to date and is one of the most scalable, proven methods of durable carbon removal. In 2024 alone, it enabled over 250,000 tonnes of carbon removal, outpacing other approaches thanks to its low cost and co-benefits. It converts low-value crop waste into stable carbon that improves soil health and generates new income through verified carbon credits.
Biochar helps offset these challenges by turning waste into a valuable resource. However, high upfront costs, operational complexity and limited market access continue to impede broader adoption.
With Terraton, agribusiness operators can get access to financing, technology and the market they need to participate in high-integrity carbon removal, with low upfront investment.
Terraton’s first two projects, Three Mountains Cocoa in Ghana and EcoFix, a nut processor in Kenya, are expected to remove over 20,000 tons of CO₂ annually while benefiting thousands of smallholder farmers through waste payments and improved soil health.
“Scaling biochar gives agricultural producers a new revenue stream while capturing carbon, and Terraton is uniquely positioned to connect these producers to global carbon markets,” said Mike Schroepfer, founder of Gigascale Capital. Led by an exceptional second-time founding team, Terraton brings deep technical expertise, global agricultural sourcing experience and a proven track record building scaled businesses.”
Terraset, a nonprofit climate fund that catalyzes early-stage carbon removal through philanthropic capital, has committed to a six-figure carbon credit pre-purchase from the Three Mountains Cocoa project.
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