Egypt-based startup Sinai.ai has raised $1.45 million in pre-seed funding to reimagine how books are created and consumed through AI-driven interactivity.
The round was led by KAUST Innovation Ventures and DisrupTech Ventures, with additional backing from Maza Ventures, YOUXEL Ventures, and a group of angel investors.
Founded in 2024 by Ahmed Kamel, Mohamed Elshamy, Mohamed Elshenawy, Hana Malhas, and Abdullah Moatasem, Sinai.ai is building what it calls an AI-native book platform—aimed at transforming static books into dynamic, interactive experiences.
At the center of the platform is aiBook™, a patented format that allows readers to engage with content in real time. Instead of passively reading, users can ask questions, generate study guides, take quizzes, switch between text and audio, and even visualize concepts as they move through a book. The platform also supports multilingual access and personalized learning pathways.
A key differentiator is Sinai.ai’s fully licensed content model. Rather than scraping or relying on partial data, the company partners directly with publishers and rights holders, enabling its AI to operate on complete texts in a copyright-compliant environment. The startup says it has already secured partnerships with multiple publishers and will launch with thousands of titles.
The fresh capital will be used to scale AI infrastructure, proprietary technology, licensing agreements, and user acquisition efforts.
Sinai.ai is entering a global book market valued at over $150 billion, betting that AI can fundamentally reshape how people read, learn, and interact with written content—while bringing publishers along rather than disrupting them outright.
Investors are particularly drawn to this collaborative approach. DisrupTech Ventures’ Mohamed Okasha noted that Sinai.ai introduces “a truly new paradigm” for reading, while Maza Ventures’ Tambi Jalouqa highlighted the company’s strategy of modernizing the publishing ecosystem from within, rather than replacing it.
If executed well, Sinai.ai could sit at the intersection of edtech, publishing, and generative AI—a space that’s increasingly attracting attention as content consumption becomes more interactive and personalized.
Saudi Arabia-based fashion e-commerce startup Aya has secured $7 million (SAR 26 million) in a Series A funding round led by RAED Ventures, with participation from Nuwa Capital, Sanabil Investments (a Public Investment Fund company), Khwarizmi Ventures, Joa Capital, and other investors.
Founded in 2024 by Munira Al Kadi and Abdulrahman Al Ammar, Aya operates a demand-driven fashion platform that leverages real-time customer engagement to guide production. The company tests over 700 designs each month, validating demand within hours and only manufacturing items that demonstrate strong customer interest. This approach minimizes inventory risk while enabling faster response to emerging trends.
Aya has experienced rapid growth since launch, scaling to a team of more than 60 employees, serving over 100,000 customers, and achieving 9x year-on-year growth. The startup initially validated its model within the $3 billion abaya market, showcasing the efficiency of its real-time production and distributed manufacturing network, which supports quick turnaround times and competitive pricing.
The newly raised capital will be used to expand Aya’s product categories and scale its demand-driven model into broader fashion and lifestyle segments.
Aya previously raised $1.6 million in seed funding in March 2025, led by Khwarizmi Ventures, with participation from RAED Ventures, Joa Capital, FENA Holdings, Turki Alrajhi, and a group of angel investors.
Apple has announced that Johny Srouji will assume the role of Chief Hardware Officer, effective immediately, marking a significant leadership shift within the company’s executive team.
Srouji, who previously served as Senior Vice President of Hardware Technologies, will now take on expanded responsibilities overseeing both Apple’s Hardware Engineering division—most recently led by John Ternus—and the broader hardware technologies organization.
Apple CEO Tim Cook praised Srouji’s impact and leadership, describing him as “one of the most talented people” he has worked with. Cook credited Srouji with playing a pivotal role in shaping Apple’s silicon strategy, noting that his influence extends beyond the company into the wider tech industry. He also highlighted Srouji’s consistent ability to lead teams that deliver breakthrough innovations central to Apple’s product evolution.
Incoming CEO John Ternus echoed these sentiments, calling Srouji an “incredible partner” and expressing confidence in his leadership as Chief Hardware Officer. Ternus said he looks forward to continued collaboration as both transition into their new roles.
Srouji has been instrumental in building one of the world’s leading silicon and hardware engineering teams at Apple. Under his leadership, the company has delivered major advancements in custom chip design and hardware technologies, including Apple silicon, batteries, cameras, storage controllers, sensors, displays, and cellular modems—core components that power Apple’s ecosystem of devices.
Apple’s Hardware Engineering team is responsible for transforming concepts into fully integrated products, managing everything from product design and system engineering to reliability and durability testing. The division works closely with industrial design, software engineering, and operations teams to deliver Apple’s signature user experience.
Srouji joined Apple in 2008, where he led development of the A4 chip, the company’s first in-house system-on-a-chip, laying the foundation for Apple’s long-term silicon strategy. Before joining Apple, he held senior roles at Intel and IBM, focusing on processor design and development. He holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Computer Science from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology.
Four Kenyan technology startups Comana, Duck, ReportsAI, and VunaPay have been selected to join the 10th cohort of the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa, marking a major milestone for the program and a strong showing for Kenya’s innovation ecosystem.
Chosen from nearly 2,600 applications, the four startups are part of a final pan-African cohort of 15 companies, representing an acceptance rate of less than 1%. Their inclusion underscores the growing technical depth, resilience, and global competitiveness of Kenyan startups.
The selected companies are leveraging artificial intelligence to tackle critical challenges across key sectors. Comana develops technology that helps governments and market associations digitize informal food markets.
Duck is a real-time data intelligence platform enabling consumer brands to monitor shop floor activity and prevent stockouts. ReportsAI provides AI-powered tools that transform raw data into institutional knowledge and compliance-ready reporting for impact organizations.
VunaPay builds fintech and data infrastructure for cooperatives, enabling instant payments and financial services for smallholder farmers.
Across Africa, startups continue to address foundational infrastructure gaps in sectors such as financial inclusion, healthcare, and supply chains, increasingly powered by advanced AI capabilities. While the continent’s venture ecosystem demonstrated resilience—raising $3.9 billion in 2025—founders still require access to specialized technical support, cloud infrastructure, and mentorship to scale effectively.
Programs like the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa aim to bridge this gap, equipping startups with the tools needed to grow into scalable, sustainable businesses driving the continent’s digital economy.
Hafsah Jumare, CEO of Kenya-based Comana, emphasized the importance of visibility in informal markets:
“Most food trade across Africa happens in traditional markets, but these markets remain largely invisible and unsupported. With MarketView, we’re building infrastructure to make them visible, using AI to interpret real-time data so businesses and governments can actually see what’s happening and act on it. Through the accelerator, we’re focused on scaling this across more markets and strengthening the underlying data systems and integrations that make this intelligence usable at scale. Even in the first week, the technical mentorship and network provided have already been valuable in sharpening how we approach this.”
Folarin Aiyegbusi, Head of Startup Ecosystem, Africa at Google, highlighted the broader impact of the cohort:
“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome these exceptional founders into Class 10. African startups are driving essential economic growth and social development. Our role is to serve as a supportive partner, providing these developers and founders with the technical infrastructure, mentorship, and global network they need to scale their solutions and amplify their real-world impact.”
The hybrid accelerator program runs from April 13 to June 19, 2026, offering hands-on technical workshops focused on AI and machine learning, alongside mentorship from industry experts.
Since its launch in 2018, the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa has supported 106 startups across 17 countries, helping them raise over $263 million and create more than 2,800 jobs.
NTT DATA has become the first network operator in Africa to establish active 400Gbps peering at the Johannesburg Internet Exchange (JINX), marking a major leap in the continent’s digital infrastructure evolution.
The milestone positions South Africa as one of the most advanced Internet exchange markets globally, capable of supporting hyperscale traffic demands while delivering high-performance, low-latency connectivity.
Africa continues to rank among the fastest-growing digital markets worldwide, fueled by rising Internet penetration, increased submarine cable capacity, and rapid adoption of cloud and digital services. In this environment, investment in high-capacity exchange infrastructure is becoming critical to sustaining economic growth, innovation, and digital inclusion.
NTT DATA’s upgrade represents both a technical achievement and a broader signal of maturity within Africa’s peering ecosystem. By enabling 400Gbps connectivity at JINX, the company is aligning the region’s infrastructure standards with leading global markets.
Established in 1996, JINX is Africa’s oldest Internet exchange point and remains a central pillar of South Africa’s digital backbone. Operated by the Internet Exchange Point of South Africa (INX-ZA), a division of the Internet Service Providers’ Association (ISPA), JINX connects networks across multiple Johannesburg data centres, facilitating efficient traffic exchange between ISPs, content providers, and enterprises.
As the operator of the NTT DATA Broadband Network (AS20011), NTT DATA plays a key role in aggregating broadband networks and enabling seamless connectivity across digital ecosystems.
“Africa’s Internet traffic is growing rapidly, and the demand for scalable, resilient, and low-latency connectivity continues to rise,” said JC Burger, Director of Infrastructure Engineering and Operations at NTT DATA South Africa. “Establishing 400Gbps peering at JINX is a strategic investment that strengthens our ability to deliver high-performance connectivity while supporting the long-term growth of Africa’s digital economy.”
For businesses and consumers, the impact is immediate. The increased capacity improves performance during peak usage, enhances service reliability, and provides the scalability needed to support data-intensive applications such as cloud computing, streaming, and AI workloads.
Beyond performance gains, the development underscores South Africa’s readiness for hyperscale peering and reinforces its role as a regional digital hub. It also reflects NTT DATA’s broader commitment to building resilient, carrier-grade infrastructure that can support Africa’s accelerating digital transformation.
European venture capital firm Speedinvest has launched its first flagship fund dedicated to the Middle East and Africa (MEA), backed by major institutional investors including Mubadala Investment Company, Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), and the European Investment Bank (EIB Global).
The fund formalises Speedinvest’s long-standing activity in the region and signals a deeper push into early and growth-stage startups across the Middle East, North Africa, Pakistan, Turkey (MENAPT), and Sub-Saharan Africa.
While the firm did not disclose the fund size, it said the vehicle will deploy capital across fintech, embedded finance, and key sectors such as health, climate, artificial intelligence, and consumer platforms, alongside core digital infrastructure.
Speedinvest’s expansion comes amid rising global investor interest in MEA’s fast-growing startup ecosystems, particularly in financial services and digital inclusion.
“We are thrilled to welcome QIA, Mubadala, and EIB as investors supporting our Middle East and Africa strategy,” said Oliver Holle, CEO and Managing Partner of Speedinvest. “We’re committed for the long haul, deploying patient, sector-focused capital to back visionary entrepreneurs.”
The fund builds on more than 15 years of investing across Europe and beyond, with Speedinvest backing companies such as Bitpanda, GoStudent, Tide, and ARX Robotics.
In the MEA region, the firm has already backed a number of high-growth startups, including Moove, a mobility fintech founded in Nigeria that provides revenue-based vehicle financing for ride-hailing and delivery drivers globally; FairMoney, a Nigerian digital banking and lending platform; and Khazna, an Egypt-based financial super app targeting the underbanked.
Its portfolio also includes Mophones in Kenya, which enables smartphone financing to expand digital access, and Flow48, a UAE- and South Africa-focused SME financing platform offering revenue-based credit to small businesses.
Speedinvest recently strengthened its regional footprint by joining QIA’s Fund of Funds programme, aimed at attracting global venture capital expertise into Qatar and the wider Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
Mubadala said its backing reflects confidence in Speedinvest’s ability to support founders building scalable businesses across the region.
“As part of the MENA Venture Capital Fund, we are pleased to partner with Speedinvest to support ambitious founders building enduring companies that contribute to sustainable economic development,” said Ali Eid AlMheiri, Executive Director at Mubadala.
QIA also highlighted the strategic importance of the partnership in strengthening Qatar’s venture capital ecosystem and driving long-term value creation across the GCC.
Meanwhile, EIB Global said its participation would help channel more capital into African startups focused on innovation and financial inclusion.
“Technology has the power to turn good ideas into real impact,” said Karl Nehammer, Vice President at EIB Global. “By partnering with Speedinvest, we are enabling African innovators to scale, access new markets, and build sustainable businesses.”
Speedinvest said it has been steadily expanding its presence in MEA over the past decade, combining local teams with its broader European network to support founders from seed through growth stages.
The firm added that the new fund will further strengthen cross-border collaboration between Europe and MEA startups, as founders increasingly look to scale globally amid a fragmented investment landscape.
With more than €1.2 billion in assets under management, Speedinvest operates across multiple European hubs and continues to position itself as a bridge between emerging and developed startup ecosystems.
The Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) programme has committed $750,000 (KES 97 million) to support three Kenyan clean cooking innovators—Ecobora, PowerUp, and Sun-Power Box—in a move aimed at accelerating the country’s transition to sustainable energy solutions.
The funding will enable the ventures to scale affordable electric cooking (e-cooking) technologies and expand access to clean energy across institutions, schools, and households. The initiative underscores the growing importance of locally driven innovation in addressing Africa’s energy and climate challenges.
“Investing in the innovators at the forefront of electric cooking is one of the most impactful ways to drive the adoption of clean cooking,” said Nyamolo Abagi, Director of Clean Energy Access at CLASP and a member of the MECS Investment Committee. “Clean cooking is at a tipping point; let’s seize this moment to build a future where Africans can have cleaner, healthier, economically empowered lives.”
Ecobora, PowerUp, and Sun-Power Box have established themselves as key players in Kenya’s clean energy ecosystem, developing cost-effective, locally manufactured electric cooking solutions. Their technologies have already been deployed in institutions and schools, demonstrating both affordability and scalability.
The investment comes at a critical time. Approximately 37 million Kenyans—and over 600 million people across sub-Saharan Africa—still rely on biomass fuels such as wood and charcoal for cooking. This reliance contributes to deforestation, health risks from indoor air pollution, and significant economic strain on households.
While e-cooking presents a viable pathway toward cleaner energy use, early-stage ventures often face significant barriers in accessing growth capital. MECS’ funding aims to bridge this gap by supporting research, product testing, and validation—key steps needed to attract further investment and scale operations.
Beyond immediate funding, the initiative reflects a broader shift in how clean cooking solutions are financed. By de-risking early-stage innovation, MECS is helping unlock larger pools of capital and encouraging wider participation from investors and development partners.
The investment also builds on recent momentum in the sector, including partnerships such as the collaboration between the Government of Makueni County and CLASP to accelerate the adoption of clean cooking solutions in public institutions.
As governments across Africa face increasing pressure to meet climate, energy access, and public health targets, the clean cooking sector is emerging as a critical area for scalable impact. MECS’ latest investment signals growing confidence in the sector’s potential—but stakeholders agree that more capital, partnerships, and innovative financing models will be needed to fully realize it.
MECS has called on impact investors, development finance institutions, and technology partners to engage with these ventures and support the expansion of clean cooking solutions across the continent.
Terra Industries, an African defense technology company focused on autonomous security systems, has announced the launch of its second manufacturing facility, Pax-2, in Accra, Ghana.
The 34,000-square-foot facility will serve as the company’s primary regional production hub for drone and counter-drone systems, significantly expanding its manufacturing footprint across the continent.
The announcement follows Terra’s recent $34 million fundraising round aimed at scaling production capacity, accelerating deployments, and expanding engineering teams across Nigeria and other allied African markets.
Pax-2 builds on the company’s first facility, the 15,000-square-foot Pax-1 factory in Abuja, Nigeria. Once operational, the Ghana plant is expected to surpass Pax-1 to become the largest drone manufacturing facility in Africa, with projected annual output reaching 50,000 units by 2028.
The Accra-based facility is expected to create 120 engineering jobs and will operate on a continuous production schedule to meet rising regional demand. Terra’s product lineup includes the Archer VTOL, a long-range surveillance and strike drone; the Iroko UAV, designed for rapid tactical deployment; and the newly unveiled Kama interceptor drone.
The Kama system, capable of speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour, is designed for high-volume production and aims to address growing demand for counter-drone defense, particularly in regions facing asymmetric threats.
Terra’s expansion comes amid evolving security dynamics across the Sahel and sub-Saharan Africa, where non-state actors are increasingly deploying modified commercial drones for attacks. Similar tactics observed in conflicts in the Middle East and Eastern Europe have intensified demand for integrated defense systems combining surveillance, electronic warfare, and kinetic response capabilities.
“The only way Africa can have lasting peace is by uniting to build sovereign defense, not by relying on foreign security architecture,” said Nathan Nwachuku, co-founder and CEO of Terra Industries. “We need to control our own destiny by building the tools and systems needed to protect ourselves.”
He added that Ghana was selected for its talent pool, strategic positioning, and political commitment to becoming a defense manufacturing hub.
Construction of Pax-2 is in its final phase, with operations expected to begin by the end of June 2026.
The expansion forms part of Terra Industries’ broader “Pax Africana” vision, which seeks to establish a self-reliant African defense-industrial base capable of designing, producing, and deploying its own security technologies.
China’s Midea is expanding its footprint in Kenya through local partnerships, aiming to tap into rising demand for environmentally conscious technologies as incomes grow and consumer preferences shift toward energy-efficient home appliances.
Kenya’s improving economic landscape is underpinning this opportunity. The country created more than 782,000 new jobs in 2024 across the formal and informal sectors, excluding agriculture, according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics’ 2025 Economic Survey.
Household purchasing power has also strengthened, with Gross National Disposable Income rising to nearly 17 trillion Kenyan shillings ($131 billion) in 2024 from 15.8 trillion shillings a year earlier.
This growth, combined with expanding digital access, is reshaping how consumers shop and what they prioritize. Internet penetration in Kenya stands at about 41%, while mobile connectivity exceeds 139%, according to the Communications Authority, giving more consumers access to online marketplaces and product comparisons.
Industry players say Kenyan households are increasingly seeking appliances that balance performance with sustainability, favoring products that reduce energy consumption and lower long-term costs.
“There is a clear move toward products that offer efficiency and smart capabilities, alongside durability,” said Rakesh Singh, managing director of Opalnet, an East African electronics distributor, speaking at an industry event in Nairobi held in partnership with Midea.
Rising electricity access is also fueling adoption. National electrification has surpassed 75%, supported by government initiatives such as the Last Mile Connectivity Project, which has brought millions of households onto the grid.
Midea is leveraging partnerships with local distributors such as Opalnet to strengthen its market presence and bring its range of smart and energy-efficient appliances closer to Kenyan consumers.
“Kenya represents a dynamic and fast-growing market,” said Bright Yao, general manager of Midea Africa. “Through partnerships like the one we have with Opalnet, we are well-positioned to bring our global expertise closer to local consumers.”
Analysts say the shift reflects a broader maturation of Kenya’s consumer market, particularly in urban centers such as Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru and Eldoret, where a growing middle class is driving demand for premium and eco-friendly products.
The African Development Bank projects that Africa’s middle class will continue expanding steadily, with Kenya among the key growth drivers in East Africa — a trend expected to intensify competition among global and regional electronics brands.
Sony Group said it has launched a new corporate venture capital fund, Sony Innovation Fund 4 L.P., marking the latest step in its push to back high-growth startups and deepen open innovation efforts.
The Japanese conglomerate said its venture arm, Sony Ventures Corporation (SVC), completed the first closing of the fund in April and has begun full-scale investment activities.
The fund, which counts MUFG Bank, Development Bank of Japan, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Sony Bank and Sony Group among its initial limited partners, is targeting a final size of more than 20 billion yen (about $130 million).
Once fully raised, the group’s total assets under management across its innovation fund platform are expected to exceed 85 billion yen.
The Japanese congloromate has been expanding its venture investment strategy over the past decade, having launched its Sony Innovation Fund in 2016. It later introduced the Innovation Growth Fund in 2019 to focus on later-stage companies, followed by Sony Innovation Fund 3 in 2022.
The group has also rolled out thematic funds, including an environment-focused vehicle in 2020 and an Africa-focused fund in 2023 aimed at supporting entertainment-related ventures on the continent.
The group said the new fund will take a more selective investment approach, prioritising startups that align closely with its core business areas, while leveraging the company’s technologies and global footprint.
“Sony Group will remain firmly committed to supporting the growth of venture companies through collaborations such as joint development and strategic alliances,” Chief Strategy Officer Toshimoto Mitomo said.
SVC CEO Kazuhito Hadano said the fund would build on previous investments by deepening collaboration between startups and Sony’s business units to accelerate sustainable growth.
In Africa, where Sony launched a dedicated innovation fund in 2023, the company has increasingly focused on the continent’s fast-growing creative economy, particularly in music, film, and digital entertainment. The new fund is expected to further support African startups building technology-driven entertainment and media platforms, alongside broader venture investments across emerging markets.
MoneyGram and NALA have announced a strategic partnership to enable stablecoin-based settlement for cross-border payouts into emerging markets across Africa and Asia, as payments firms increasingly explore blockchain infrastructure to reduce costs and settlement times.
The collaboration combines MoneyGram’s global payments network with NALA’s stablecoin settlement platform, Rafiki, to facilitate near real-time transfers between digital dollars and local currencies through banks and mobile money providers.
According to MoneyGram chief executive Anthony Soohoo, “Financial inclusion only matters if it works in the real world. With NALA, we’re leveraging stablecoin settlement infrastructure to improve payout speed, reduce FX costs, and expand our ability to exceptionally serve customers across emerging markets.”
The companies said the system is designed to address inefficiencies in traditional correspondent banking, which can result in multi-day settlement delays, high foreign exchange spreads and reliance on pre-funded accounts across multiple jurisdictions.
By using stablecoins as a settlement layer, the model enables near real-time value transfer while maintaining access to local currencies through regulated payout networks connected to banks and mobile money operators across Africa and Asia.
NALA said it has also been licensed as an International Money Transfer Operator (IMTO) in Nigeria and integrated with the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), the country’s real-time payments infrastructure, enabling faster and more reliable transfers into Africa’s largest remittance market.
“Stablecoins are transforming global payments by providing a faster and more efficient settlement layer for cross-border transactions,” said NALA founder and chief executive Benjamin Fernandes. “By partnering with MoneyGram, we’re enabling a new generation of payouts into emerging markets combining the speed of stablecoin settlement with licensed local distribution infrastructure. Together, we’re helping unlock faster, more reliable access to global money movement across Asia and Africa.”
MoneyGram will leverage NALA’s licensed on- and off-ramp infrastructure to expand payout capabilities across emerging markets while improving capital efficiency by reducing reliance on pre-funded liquidity across jurisdictions.
The companies said the partnership supports use cases including cross-border remittances, payouts for global marketplaces, treasury and liquidity management across multiple currencies, and cross-border collections for businesses expanding into emerging markets.
Nala team
MoneyGram has been building in digital asset infrastructure for several years, including crypto on- and off-ramps and a stablecoin-enabled consumer application, as global payments firms accelerate efforts to modernise cross-border settlement.
Industry analysts say stablecoin-based settlement is gaining traction as an alternative to correspondent banking networks, though regulatory alignment and liquidity depth remain key challenges across markets.
South African medtech company AI Diagnostics has raised R85 million (about $4.6 million) in a pre-Series A funding round to accelerate deployment of its artificial intelligence-powered tuberculosis (TB) screening technology across Africa and other emerging markets.
The funding will be used to expand clinical validation, strengthen regulatory approvals, and scale production of the company’s Ostium digital stethoscope and AI.TB software, which uses lung sound analysis to flag potential TB cases at the point of care.
The round was led by The Steele Foundation for Hope, with participation from iFSP Group and the Global Innovation Fund, alongside follow-on investment from early backers including Africa Health Ventures and Savant.
AI Diagnostics said its system is designed for use by frontline health workers, including nurses, pharmacists, and community health workers, particularly in low-resource settings where access to radiology and specialist clinicians is limited.
The company has South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) approval and has screened more than 1,000 patients in South Africa. It is currently running clinical studies across more than 10 countries in Africa and Asia.
South Africa remains one of the world’s highest TB burden countries. According to the World Health Organization’s 2025 Global TB Report, an estimated 249,000 people fell ill with TB in 2024, while about 54,000 people died from the disease.
AI Diagnostics said late diagnosis remains a key challenge, with many infections going undetected until advanced stages, particularly in communities with limited access to diagnostic infrastructure.
“The AI model flags individuals whose lung sounds show signals associated with TB in real time, allowing immediate referral for confirmatory testing,” said Braden van Breda, CEO of AI Diagnostics.
Investors said the technology could help close critical gaps in early detection and reshape frontline screening in underserved regions.
“This puts real diagnostic capability in the hands of nurses and community health workers,” said Joe Exner, CEO of The Steele Foundation for Hope. “In communities without X-ray infrastructure or specialist clinicians, this changes what is possible at primary care level.”
The company, founded and based in South Africa, said it is also exploring broader applications of its technology beyond TB, including screening for cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, positioning the digital stethoscope as a potential next-generation diagnostic tool.
“We anticipate the stethoscope will evolve significantly over the next decade,” said Rowena Luk, Managing Partner at Africa Health Ventures. “AI Diagnostics could be at the forefront of that shift.”
Investors framed the raise as part of a broader trend toward commercial investment in global health technologies, particularly those addressing high-burden diseases in low- and middle-income countries.
“TB has historically been underfunded relative to its burden,” said van Breda. “This signals that investors increasingly see global health not just as philanthropy, but as a viable and scalable commercial opportunity.”
Global Innovation Fund said solutions developed in Africa are often better adapted to real-world constraints.
“South Africa is becoming a hub for health innovation,” said Lily Steele, Managing Director of Investments at GIF. “AI Diagnostics demonstrates that globally relevant, commercially viable solutions can be built from within the continent.”
Lua, a London-based startup building an operating system for collaboration between human teams and AI agents, has raised $5.8 million in a seed funding round led by Norrsken22, the company said on Thursday.
The round also drew participation from Flourish Ventures, 20VC, P1 Ventures, Phosphor Capital and Y Combinator, alongside angel investors including Privy CEO Henri Stern, Opendoor executive Kaz Nejatian and Nuitee CEO Med Benmansour.
Founded by Lorcan O’Cathain and Stefan Kruger, Lua aims to enable companies to build, deploy and manage AI “agent workforces” without requiring deep technical expertise.
O’Cathain previously served as COO at Kenyan-based 4G Capital and is a co-founder of Money254, adding to the company’s roots in Africa’s fintech ecosystem.
The platform provides a full-stack system that handles infrastructure, model orchestration, data integration and monitoring, allowing teams to focus on business logic. It offers both developer tools and a visual interface, enabling technical and non-technical users to collaborate on the same AI agents.
Since launching its developer platform in October 2025, Lua says it has recorded revenue growth of nearly 30% week-on-week. In February alone, more AI agents were built on the platform than in the entire period since launch.
The company plans to use the new funding to expand its developer ecosystem and grow its “Lua Implementation Network,” a community of partners deploying agent-based systems across global markets.
“The companies that will win over the next few years are the ones that build their agent workforce with the same intentionality as their human workforce,” CEO Lorcan O’Cathain said.
Investor Lexi Novitske, a general partner at Norrsken22, said Lua’s global footprint across Africa, Asia, the United States and Europe, as well as its experience in deploying agent systems, positions it strongly in the emerging category of AI-enabled work platforms.
Lua joins a growing number of startups seeking to define how businesses integrate AI agents into everyday workflows, as companies increasingly look beyond standalone tools toward systems that combine human and machine collaboration at scale.
Kenyan electric mobility firm BasiGo has begun local assembly of its electric vans, a move that could mark an early turning point in efforts to electrify Kenya’s dominant public transport sector.
The company said it has started assembling its Ma3e electric vans in partnership with Mombasa-based Associated Vehicle Assemblers (AVA) using Complete Knocked Down (CKD) kits. The first 22 locally assembled units are expected to be delivered between April and May.
Kenya’s public transport system is heavily reliant on matatus, operating within a broader vehicle fleet of more than 3 million registered motor vehicles, according to data from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA). Industry estimates from Metros Kenya place the number of matatus in the tens of thousands, making the segment central to urban mobility and fuel demand.
BasiGo begins Local Assembly of Electric Vans in Kenya
BasiGo has commenced local assembly of its electric vans in Kenya – the Ma3e model, delivering the country’s first locally assembled electric vans. In partnership with Associated Vehicle Assemblers (AVA), a leading Kenyan… pic.twitter.com/Kij6cuwKOB
BasiGo’s Ma3e vans are designed for high-utilisation operations, with a range of up to 300 kilometres on a single charge (NEDC). The vehicles target public transport, school shuttles, corporate staff transport, airport transfers and hotel shuttle services.
The company has been running a small pilot fleet of electric buses in Nairobi through partner operators on commuter routes as it tests commercial deployment models. It has not announced any electric motorcycle deployments.
Over the past 10 months, BasiGo has also trialled two electric vans on intercity routes including Nyahururu–Nyeri–Nakuru and Nairobi–Thika, saying the pilots validated performance and supported a reservation pipeline of more than 500 units.
Analysts say local assembly could be a key step in lowering import dependence, improving service capacity and potentially accelerating adoption if financing and charging infrastructure scale in tandem.
While electric vehicles remain a small fraction of Kenya’s overall fleet, the matatu sector is viewed as a high-impact entry point due to its high daily mileage and fuel intensity.
BasiGo said it plans to deploy thousands of electric vans in the coming years, aiming to scale clean mobility and reduce fuel dependence as Kenya pushes toward lower transport emissions.
African payments technology firm Cellulant has appointed Anthony Hernandez as Chief Operating Officer to lead its push toward AI-enabled operations, as the company scales its presence across the continent.
Hernandez will oversee end-to-end customer experience, including onboarding, transactions and growth, while advancing operational automation and data-driven execution, the company said on Tuesday.
The appointment comes as Cellulant strengthens its operational infrastructure to support growing transaction volumes and enterprise clients using its single API platform, which connects businesses to multiple African markets and payment methods.
“In payments today, trust is the real currency, and operational excellence is what earns it,” Chief Executive Officer Peter O’Toole said in a statement, adding that the company is focused on embedding discipline and consistency across its operations.
Hernandez brings experience spanning traditional finance and digital banking. At GE Capital, he worked within large-scale, highly regulated financial systems with a focus on risk management, compliance and operational execution, while his time at Xapo Bank exposed him to digital-first, real-time platforms combining fiat and cryptocurrency services. The combination positions him to oversee complex operations and support Cellulant’s push toward AI-driven, scalable and compliant payment systems across its markets.
He has also held senior roles at Demica (now part of FIS), where he led digital transformation programmes, regulatory approvals and global operating teams.
At Cellulant, he will lead the development of an automated, data-driven operational framework aimed at improving real-time visibility into transactions and settlements, while strengthening compliance and risk management systems across regulated markets.
“Payment flexibility starts with access to the right options and is grown by how reliably those options work in practice,” Hernandez said, adding that the company will focus on delivering seamless and reliable payment experiences while providing customers with insights to support growth.
Cellulant operates across multiple African markets, serving enterprises and global businesses seeking integrated payment solutions.
Sama, a US and Nairobi-based data annotation firm Sama said on Thursday it will lay off more than 1,100 employees at its Nairobi office after a major client, Meta, ended a key contract, marking one of the largest job cuts in Kenya’s growing artificial intelligence outsourcing sector.
The company said it had received formal notice from Meta to terminate the engagement and had issued redundancy notices to affected staff in compliance with Kenya’s Employment Act.
“The redundancy process will affect 1,108 current employees, a significant number of whom are on the specific terminated workstream,” Sama said in a statement.
Sama added it had engaged the client in an effort to sustain the Nairobi operations, but the discussions were unsuccessful.
The layoffs come ahead of the formal conclusion of the client program later this month and underscore the vulnerability of outsourced digital work in emerging markets to shifts in demand from global technology firms.
Sama, which provides data annotation services used to train artificial intelligence and machine learning models, said it would support affected workers with counselling, medical benefits and other transition assistance.
“As is standard in our industry, client programs evolve, and we work closely with our partners to manage these transitions responsibly,” said Annepeace Alwala, Sama’s country lead and vice president for global delivery.
She added the company’s immediate priority was supporting employees through the transition while maintaining continuity in its broader operations.
Kenya has positioned itself as a hub for outsourced digital labour, including content moderation and AI training data services, attracting global firms seeking lower-cost, English-speaking talent. However, the sector has faced scrutiny over job security and working conditions tied to short-term contracts.
Sama said it remains committed to its core business of delivering data annotation and model evaluation services and maintaining standards in data security and responsible AI.
UAE-based Homegrown Ventures has closed its first fund at $22.8 million, exceeding its $20 million target, as it seeks to invest in early-stage consumer packaged goods and fast-moving consumer goods startups across emerging markets.
The fund will focus on “better-for-you” brands in food and beverage, health and wellness, personal care, home care and lifestyle categories across the Middle East and North Africa, South Asia and select international markets.
Founded by former executives from Unilever, Coca-Cola and Mondelez, Nader Amiri and Ahmad Shamieh, the firm positions itself as a specialist investor in a consumer sector long dominated by multinational brands.
Homegrown Ventures said it has already deployed capital into five startups prior to final close, including PawPots and Plaay.
“With over 55% of the MENA population under 35, we are witnessing a structural shift that most investors are still sleeping on,” said Nader Amiri, general partner at Homegrown Ventures.
The firm said the regional consumer market is shifting toward healthier and locally built brands as supply chains tighten and demand for transparency grows.
“What separates Homegrown from everything else in this market is that founders are getting partners who have negotiated with the same retailers, built the same supply chains, and made the same mistakes,” said Ahmad Shamieh, general partner.
Homegrown Ventures will continue deploying capital into early-stage consumer brands across MENA, South Asia and select global markets.
Renew Capital has launched a new initiative, Renew Venture Lab: The EmFi Series, aimed at supporting African technology founders building embedded finance solutions, the company said on Thursday.
The programme was unveiled at GITEX Africa 2026 in Marrakech during an investor event hosted alongside AfricaNext BPI. Applications opened on April 9 and will run through April 30, with founders able to apply online.
The EmFi Series targets startups developing financial products that integrate directly into non-financial platforms, a model seen as key to expanding credit access across the continent.
Africa’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which account for roughly 90% of private sector businesses, face a significant financing gap. The continent represents an estimated $330 billion untapped credit opportunity, yet fewer than 20% of SMEs in sub-Saharan Africa can access loans from traditional financial institutions.
Renew Capital said advances in artificial intelligence and data analytics are enabling startups to leverage customer data to assess creditworthiness, positioning them to offer lending solutions where banks have struggled.
“Africa’s most important financial story is not being written by banks,” said Matthew Davis, co-CEO of Renew Capital. “It’s being written by tech founders who understand their small business customers better than traditional lenders.”
The firm added that the programme will support selected startups in building or refining credit products, with the potential for investment in top-performing companies.
Renew Capital is an Africa-focused investment firm backing early-stage startups across the continent.
Egypt-based Raedbots has launched as a domestic manufacturer of industrial robots, aiming to tap rising demand for automation in the Middle East and Africa with lower-cost, locally built systems.
Founded in 2026 by Mohamed Ibrahim and Hamza El-Sahiti, the company develops AI-powered robotic arms and automation solutions for applications such as welding, CNC machine tending, material handling and warehouse operations.
Raedbots said it designs and builds its technology بالكامل in-house at its Cairo facilities, covering hardware, electronics, control systems and artificial intelligence software, in contrast to imported or white-labelled systems commonly used in the region.
The company estimates its locally manufactured robots can cut costs by up to 50% compared with imported alternatives, potentially lowering barriers to adoption for manufacturers.
“We are providing integrated robotic solutions that help factories optimise productivity, reduce costs and enhance safety standards,” Chief Technology Officer Mohamed Ibrahim said.
Raedbots is part of NVIDIA’s Inception programme, giving it access to advanced AI and simulation tools to accelerate product development. It is also supported by Egypt’s Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (TIEC), a government-backed initiative to boost the country’s deep-tech sector.
The startup said it is working with factories and research institutions to deploy its systems as it expands its product portfolio, which will include collaborative robots and high-speed automation platforms.
Raedbots aims to build a regional robotics manufacturing base as industries across the Middle East and Africa increasingly turn to automation to improve efficiency and competitiveness.
Africa Tech Summit London 10th edition is set to hold at the London Stock Exchange on May 29, bringing together investors, founders and policymakers to discuss the next phase of growth in Africa’s technology sector.
The event is expected to host more than 350 participants, including entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and industry leaders, focusing on sectors such as fintech, artificial intelligence, climate technology and digital infrastructure.
The summit comes amid renewed momentum in Africa’s startup ecosystem. African tech ventures raised $4.1 billion in 2025, up 25% year-on-year, according to Partech, with debt financing playing an increasingly significant role.
“Over the past decade, we’ve seen African tech evolve from survival-focused startups to businesses scaling across borders and driving trade,” said Andrew Fassnidge, Managing Director of Africa Tech Summit.
He added that while the sector has experienced volatility, including company failures and funding challenges, it is entering a more mature phase marked by mergers, acquisitions and exits.
Fintech continues to attract the largest share of investment, though activity is expanding into sectors such as cleantech, healthtech and enterprise software. Organisers said startups across industries including AI, blockchain, agritech and cybersecurity have been invited to apply for the summit’s investment showcase.
The showcase aims to connect high-growth ventures with investors offering not just capital, but also strategic support, networks and regulatory expertise.
As competition for investment intensifies, founders are increasingly seeking partners who can provide market access and operational guidance in addition to funding.
Africa Tech Summit, launched in 2016, has hosted events across Africa, Europe, North America and Asia, reaching more than 30,000 delegates from over 80 countries.
This year’s programme will include panel discussions, keynote speeches and networking sessions focused on innovation, cross-border trade and long-term investment opportunities across the continent.
Duplo, a financial operating system for African businesses, has partnered with South African payment gateway Ozow to help companies automate payments, invoicing and expense management on a single platform, the firms said on Monday.
The integration combines Ozow’s instant electronic funds transfer (EFT) infrastructure with Duplo’s back-office financial tools, enabling businesses to reconcile payments in real time and reduce manual administrative work.
South African businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, spend between 15 and 20 hours each month on manual financial processes, according to recent research cited by the companies. For larger firms, this can exceed 120 hours monthly, with inefficiencies leading to revenue losses of up to 5% due to unmatched transactions.
By automatically linking incoming payments processed through Ozow to invoices within Duplo’s system, the companies said the solution could eliminate up to 90% of manual data entry and significantly reduce reconciliation delays.
The partnership also allows businesses to manage outgoing payments, monitor corporate spending and handle vendor payouts within a unified dashboard, offering a broader view of financial operations.
“We are excited to join forces with Ozow to help businesses in South Africa scale faster and with fewer administrative headaches,” said Tunde Akinnuwa, Duplo’s co-founder and chief operating officer. “By bridging the gap between payment speed and back-office accounting, we are turning payment operations into a competitive advantage.”
Ozow Chief Growth Officer Catherine Korsten said the collaboration would extend the company’s payment capabilities to businesses seeking to optimise collections and improve cash flow.
Duplo counts companies such as Maersk, DP World and Baobab among its clients, while Ozow provides payment services to major South African merchants including Takealot, Mr D Food and Superbalist.
Ozow, founded in 2014, offers a range of digital payment products including pay-by-bank, card payments and instant refunds, and is licensed by the Payments Association of South Africa.
Pan-African lender Ecobank Group reported a 21% rise in profit before tax to $801 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, driven by strong growth across its corporate, investment, and consumer banking businesses.
Net revenues climbed 17% to $2.45 billion, supported by higher client activity, increased trade volumes, and expansion in payments and lending, the bank said on Tuesday.
Corporate and Investment Banking led the performance, with profit before tax surging 40% to $697 million, buoyed by trade finance, cash management and capital markets activity. Consumer and Commercial Banking also posted solid gains, with profit before tax up 27% to $480 million on stronger lending and deposit mobilisation.
Customer deposits rose by $4.9 billion to $25.3 billion, while loans increased to $12.8 billion, reflecting growth in trade finance and digitally enabled lending.
Ecobank said its cost-to-income ratio improved to a record 48.3% from 52.8% a year earlier, as revenue growth outpaced expenses. Return on tangible equity stood at 27.8%.
Regionally, Central, Eastern and Southern Africa was the fastest-growing segment, while West Africa remained a key profit driver.
Asset quality weakened during the year, with higher non-performing loans in Nigeria linked to legacy exposures and the end of regulatory forbearance. The bank increased its expected credit loss reserves to 7.8% of gross loans from 5.7%.
The group’s capital adequacy ratio remained strong at 16.7%, above regulatory requirements.
Ecobank’s board recommended a dividend payout of $40 million, or 0.16 U.S. cents per share, subject to shareholder approval.
Chief Executive Jeremy Awori said the results reflect continued execution of the bank’s Growth, Transformation and Returns strategy, alongside investments in digital channels and customer experience.
South African energy technology firm Plentify and property developer Balwin Properties have deployed 7,500 smart geyser controllers across 13 residential estates in an effort to reduce peak electricity demand and ease pressure on the national grid.
Electric water heaters account for up to 40% of household electricity consumption, making them one of the largest residential energy loads, according to Balwin Properties.
The devices, installed across completed developments, optimise when water is heated based on household demand patterns, solar energy availability and time-of-use tariffs, shifting consumption away from peak periods.
Data from the deployment showed a 46% reduction in peak electricity demand and a 36% decline in short-term demand spikes, the companies said. Solar energy use for water heating increased by 79%, while more than 1,400 tonnes of carbon emissions were avoided.
The system has also generated over 1 million rand in cumulative savings for residents.
South Africa continues to face electricity supply constraints, with efforts largely focused on expanding generation capacity. However, managing demand at distribution level is increasingly seen as critical to stabilising the grid.
“Ensuring power is available where and when it is needed is as important as how it is generated,” Balwin Managing Director Matthew Whalley said.
By lowering peak demand, some participating estates have qualified for load curtailment programmes run by Eskom and municipalities, reducing exposure to power cuts without the need for battery storage.
The coordinated systems effectively function as a virtual power plant, allowing households to collectively shift electricity usage.
As renewable energy capacity expands, technologies that align consumption with supply are expected to play a growing role in stabilising power systems.
The Galaxy S26 Nightography and the Visual Language of the After-Hours City
There is a specific kind of energy that only exists after the sun goes down. In a city like Nairobi, the “9-to-5” is only half the story. The real pulse of the city often skips a beat until the streetlights flicker on, giving way to a world of late-night artisans, chefs, and digital creators who find their best light long after the offices have closed. Historically, however, this nocturnal world was notoriously difficult to share with the rest of the world. The grain, the blur and the lost details of a low-light shot often meant that the best moments of the night stayed in the night.
With the arrival of the Galaxy S26, that barrier is disappearing. The latest evolution of Nightography is all about capturing the vibe of the city with the same clarity we’ve always had during the day. It’s a tool that is finally keeping pace with the city’s after-hours creative class. In the past, mobile photography in low light was a game of compromises. To let in enough light, sensors had to stay open longer, leading to blurred movement, or they had to artificially boost the gain resulting in the digital noise that flattens an image’s texture. For an artist or entrepreneur, this was an obstacle to professional branding.
In the modern lifestyle, visibility is everything. The quality of what you capture matters. The Galaxy S26 solves this through a massive primary sensor and an intelligent AI Image Signal Processor that handles the tricky physics of dark environments in real-time. Instead of a washed-out, grainy photo, the S26 preserves the rich textures of the scene against the black sky. For the urban creator, this means your social currency no longer devalues once the sun sets. You can produce professional-looking content on the fly, making spontaneous evening moments look like a high-budget production.
Beyond the aesthetics, there’s a practical side to this tech. The city’s night-time economy is fueled by people who work while others sleep. By providing a camera that can actually “see” in the dark, the Galaxy S26 is giving these businesses the ability to tell their stories. When you can capture the steam rising off a plate of street food or the intensity of a drummer’s performance in a basement club with 4K precision, you’re doing more than just taking a photo. You’re validating a lifestyle. The Galaxy S26 ensures that the city’s after-dark culture is no longer a dark spot on the map, but a vibrant, high-definition playground that’s always ready for its close-up.
The Galaxy S26 changes the game for anyone working after dark. Now, you can take professional-grade 4K video and sharp photos without needing extra lights or expensive gear. This technology turns challenging low-light environments into high-quality visual assets, making the night-time hustle look as polished and professional as any daylight office.
Zerobionic is developing assistive robotics solutions aimed at improving independence for people with disabilities, targeting a gap in accessible technology across the continent.
Qualcomm said the fourth edition of the programme, part of its Africa Innovation Platform, drew more than 1,200 applications from over 45 countries. The initiative supports early-stage startups working on technologies such as artificial intelligence, smart systems and connected devices.
Startups in the cohort will receive mentorship, engineering support and training on intellectual property, with those completing the programme eligible for stipends of up to $5,000 and potential funding through Qualcomm’s social impact initiatives.
“The quality and ambition of this year’s cohort reflect the rapid growth of Africa’s innovation ecosystem,” said Wassim Chourbaji, Qualcomm’s senior vice president and president for the Middle East and Africa.
The programme is run in partnership with the African Telecommunications Union (ATU). Other selected startups come from countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Namibia, Zimbabwe and the Republic of the Congo.
The vehicle insurance industry in the UAE is going through a noticeable shift. What was a process with many requirements like paperwork, office visits, and long waiting times has become easier and faster now due to digital platforms that are reshaping how people deal with car insurance.
Many drivers in UAE realise the difference nowadays. Steps to get insurance that used to take days can now be completed in minutes, often from home with just a smartphone and this transformation is changing expectations across the entire insurance experience.
In the past, getting vehicle insurance meant visiting multiple offices, speaking to insurance companies and agents, and dealing with physical documents.
The good news is that you no longer have to go through all of this to get insured because of AI and Technology that is Changing Car Insurance in the UAE, Digital platforms have simplified this process today by:
Browse multiple insurance options in one place
Compare coverage details side by side
Get instant quotes based on their profile
Complete the purchase online without paperwork
Speed is one of the most significant advantages of digital platforms when obtaining vehicle insurance. Instead of waiting for responses and approvals the traditional way, which can lead to delays, users now receive information electronically and instantly without needing to be physically present.
You might wonder how this is possible. Well, advanced technological systems that utilize artificial intelligence are now able to analyze user data, such as driving history, vehicle type, and usage patterns, to generate instant quotes. This presents users with numerous options, allowing them to make an informed decision.
This process not only benefits users but also insurance companies, whose efficiency improves thanks to the rapid electronic procedures, enabling them to provide greater customer support.
Policy details, coverage limits, and add-ons are now easier to review before making a decision.
Users now have greater control over their documents through mobile applications, allowing them to easily:
Upload documents electronically
Update personal information
Purchase policies and download them digitally
Renew coverage
Digital platforms are now professionally utilizing data to design vehicle insurance policies in the UAE that cater to individual needs as well as those of institutions and companies.
For example, a driver who uses their car lightly on a daily basis will have less insurance requirements than drivers who travel long distances or are exposed to some level of risk.
Instead of being forced to choose a generic package that may not suit them, drivers can now select a plan that fits their budget and individual needs, allowing for more tailored coverage and cost-effectiveness.
Digital platforms have transformed vehicle insurance in UAE, not only in choosing the right plan but also in providing seamless claims and support services through technology and artificial intelligence.
Previously, claims processing involved potentially cumbersome stages and long waiting periods. Now, digital platforms offer a much simpler process, including:
submitting car insurance claims online
uploading photos and documents
expediting approval procedures
tracking the status of claims until processing is complete.
This digital transformation in claims processing is a radical shift for many, especially in situations requiring rapid response, such as accidents.
To further facilitate the insurance sector through technology, mobile applications powered by digital platforms are designed to be simple and easy to use, from browsing quotes to claims, all with just a few clicks.
Despite the advantages that digital platforms have brought to the UAE’s car insurance sector, this digital transformation may present some challenges.
One unusual aspect is that some users may not feel comfortable with the electronic process and instead prefer direct interaction, which makes them feel more secure about their data privacy.
However, this does not prevent the shift towards digital insurance platforms from growing, accelerating, and evolving. A better user experience is expected to emerge through the use of artificial intelligence technologies.
Drivers who use their vehicles less or drive more safely benefit from lower insurance premiums.
Instead of paying a fixed price for coverage that a driver may not need based on their driving habits, thanks to technological advancements and digital platforms, vehicle insurance pricing in the UAE is now more closely linked to actual driving behavior.
Instead of navigating between different platforms, digital car insurance platforms allow users to manage everything related to their vehicles from one place by:
Purchasing insurance entirely online
Linking insurance to car financing options
Accessing roadside assistance and maintenance services
Customer service has become more seamless with the integration of artificial intelligence. Instead of relying solely on call centers, branch visits, insurance companies, or agents and brokers to understand vehicle insurance requirements.
Many digital platforms now use AI-powered chat systems to handle frequently asked questions, answer inquiries about insurance policies, coverage limits, and claims status updates.
Digital platforms provide assistance in automatically renewing vehicle insurance in the UAE by sending advance notices before expiry, or confirming pre-filled policy data to speed up the insurance renewal process, thus reducing the occurrence of fines or interruption in coverage.
Conclusion
Digital platforms have revolutionized the motor insurance sector in the UAE, making the experience more transparent, flexible, and responsive to user needs.
While some challenges and areas still require improvement, this digital experience has made insurance a seamless and accessible process, easily managed through mobile applications. This includes everything from obtaining and comparing quotes and purchasing policies online to claims and renewals. Further AI-powered technologies are expected to enhance the user experience in the insurance sector.
South Africa-founded startup Refiant AI has raised $5 million in seed funding to develop technology aimed at reducing the energy and computing costs of artificial intelligence systems.
The round was led by California-based climate technology investor VoLo Earth Ventures, the company said, without disclosing its valuation.
Founded in 2025 by Viroshan Naicker, Siddharth Gutta and Mathew Haswell, Refiant AI builds tools that compress and restructure AI models to make them more efficient. The company says its technology lowers the computational requirements of AI systems while maintaining performance, allowing them to run on smaller devices or local infrastructure.
The funding will be used to expand its platform, hire engineers and deepen partnerships with enterprise customers, the company said.
The investment comes as demand for AI drives a surge in spending on data centre infrastructure. Technology companies including Microsoft and Meta have committed tens of billions of dollars to expand capacity for AI workloads.
That growth has raised concerns over energy consumption. Data centres are among the fastest-growing sources of electricity demand globally, with projections showing usage could more than double in the next decade as AI adoption increases.
Refiant AI said its approach offers an alternative to scaling AI through larger infrastructure.
“AI’s growing energy footprint is one of the most urgent challenges in the climate space,” co-founder Siddharth Gutta said. “Our approach is to make the AI itself more efficient.”
The company said its technology could be particularly useful in regions with limited computing resources or high cloud costs, including for sectors such as banking, telecommunications and government services.
Refiant AI is in early discussions with multinational technology firms as it seeks to expand its customer base.
“AI’s biggest constraint isn’t demand — it’s energy,” said Joseph Goodman, managing partner at VoLo Earth Ventures. “Refiant’s approach focuses on efficiency rather than brute-force scaling.”
Saudi Arabia-based edtech startup GAGA has raised $2.5 million in a pre-Series A funding round led by Phoenix Venture Partners, bringing its total funding to $4.2 million.
Founded in 2021 by Abdullah Alkharsani and Eyad Alshabaan, GAGA provides live, interactive online education for students aged 4 to 18. The platform offers more than 1,000 programmes across 200 subjects, combining academic and skills-based learning through real-time teacher engagement.
The company differentiates itself from traditional recorded-content platforms by focusing on live, gamified sessions that aim to improve student engagement and learning outcomes.
GAGA is also developing AI-powered tools to personalise learning journeys, assess student performance and identify knowledge gaps, enabling more tailored education pathways.
The new funding will be used to expand its teacher network, strengthen its technology infrastructure and scale Arabic-language educational content across Saudi Arabia. It will also support the continued development of its AI capabilities.
GAGA is positioning itself as an alternative to private tutoring and passive digital learning platforms in the Kingdom.
Kenya’s Office of the Data Protection Commissioner has opened an investigation into the use of Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, citing growing concerns over privacy, surveillance, and the potential misuse of personal data in artificial intelligence training.
The regulator said it had initiated suo moto proceedings following reports that the AI-powered wearable devices may be capturing and processing personally identifiable information without adequate user consent, raising questions about compliance with Kenya’s data protection laws.
The inquiry comes after a formal petition by The Oversight Lab, which earlier in March called for scrutiny of the glasses’ surveillance capabilities and their broader human rights implications.
“The ODPC is taking this matter seriously and has decided to investigate,” said Mercy Mutemi, Executive Director at The Oversight Lab, who urged authorities to ensure a transparent and consultative review process. She added that the findings could set a precedent for how Kenya governs emerging digital technologies.
Public pressure has intensified, with more than 150 organizations and individuals backing calls for an inquiry and demanding greater accountability from both regulators and technology firms.
Concerns escalated further following local reports alleging that an individual used the smart glasses to secretly record women without their consent, an indecent incident that has amplified fears over the misuse of discreet recording features embedded in wearable devices.
Separately, international media investigations have raised questions about how data collected through such devices is processed. Some reports suggest that footage captured globally may have been reviewed in Nairobi by contracted workers, including sensitive and private recordings.
Regulators ‘playing catch-up’ on wearables
According to Maria Buza, Senior Policy Analyst at Digital Policy Alert, existing data protection frameworks including Kenya’s apply in principle to wearable technologies, but were not designed with always-on, body-worn devices in mind.
“These frameworks regulate the processing of personal data regardless of the device used,” Buza said. “The challenge lies in their level of specificity, particularly for technologies that continuously generate and infer data beyond traditional contexts.”
She noted that wearable devices can capture sensitive personal data such as biometric identifiers and behavioural patterns, making compliance more complex especially when data is collected passively in public or semi-public spaces involving individuals who are not aware they are being recorded.
Traditional consent models, she added, assume a clear relationship between users and data controllers, an assumption that breaks down when devices collect data continuously and from bystanders.
Maria Buza, Senior Policy Analyst at Digital Policy Alert
“Obtaining consent from all affected individuals may not always be feasible,” Buza said, pointing to the need for additional safeguards such as transparency measures, data minimisation, and privacy-by-design systems.
Global policy response taking shape
Buza pointed to emerging regulatory responses globally, noting that policymakers are beginning to adapt frameworks to address wearable surveillance risks.
In Switzerland, authorities have issued guidance on connected devices, warning that covert recording via wearables could constitute an offence. Brazil and parts of the United States are also considering laws requiring visible or audible recording indicators and stricter safeguards for AI-enabled glasses.
“These developments suggest a shift towards complementing consent with stronger transparency requirements and default safeguards,” she said.
Digital Policy Alert database provides a growing body of evidence tracking how governments are responding to such challenges. The platform monitors regulatory developments across G20 economies including the European Union and its member states as well as Switzerland and several Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
More recently, it has expanded coverage in Africa, tracking how countries including Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, and Rwanda regulate the digital economy and enforce emerging rules.
The database also tracks international cooperation frameworks addressing the digital economy, including those focused on artificial intelligence governance.
Cross-border data risks under scrutiny
The investigation also highlights concerns around cross-border data processing particularly where sensitive or non-consensual recordings are involved.
Buza warned that transferring data across jurisdictions can create compliance and accountability risks, especially where legal protections differ.
“Where data is collected in one country and processed in another, the level of protection depends on the safeguards in the receiving jurisdiction,” she said.
Kenya’s Data Protection Act provides several mechanisms for cross-border transfers, including adequacy decisions, appropriate safeguards such as binding corporate rules, necessity-based transfers, and explicit consent which is mandatory for sensitive personal data.
The issue is particularly relevant as Kenya and the European Union continue discussions on a potential data adequacy agreement, a move that could shape future digital trade and data governance.
Rethinking consent in the age of invisible recording
Buza said policymakers may need to rethink how consent is defined in a world where recording devices are embedded in everyday objects and are not easily detectable.
“The assumption that individuals are aware of data collection and able to make informed choices becomes less applicable,” she said.
Instead, regulators are increasingly exploring complementary approaches, including visible recording indicators, clearer disclosures, and mechanisms that allow individuals to opt out where feasible.
Global implications for Meta and AI regulation
The scrutiny extends beyond Kenya. Meta Platforms, which produces the glasses in partnership with Ray-Ban, is facing regulatory attention in multiple jurisdictions. In the United Kingdom, the Information Commissioner’s Office has launched a similar review into potential privacy breaches linked to the devices.
Meta is also confronting legal challenges in the United States over its handling of user data, adding to mounting global pressure on the company.
Buza noted that investigations such as Kenya’s could have broader ripple effects.
“Past cases show that investigative reporting and civil society engagement can influence regulatory responses,” she said, citing recent global scrutiny of AI systems and biometric data collection practices.
She added that findings from such probes could lead to new enforcement actions and legislation requiring stronger safeguards including clearer disclosures, visible recording indicators, and stricter limits on how data from wearable devices is used, particularly in AI training.
The ODPC said it would provide further updates once the investigation is complete.
The case underscores the growing tension between rapid innovation in AI-powered consumer devices and the ability of regulators to safeguard privacy, as technologies increasingly blur the boundaries between public and private life.
UAE-based credit scoring platform zypl.ai has raised $5.5 million in a bridge funding round led by Carbide Ventures, with participation from investors including Eurasian Resources Group CEO Shukhrat Ibragimov, the company said on Thursday.
The round values the artificial intelligence firm at $80 million and will support its global expansion and deployment of next-generation AI solutions for financial institutions.
Founded in 2021 by Azizjon Azimi, zypl.ai develops synthetic data technology designed to improve credit decision-making, particularly in volatile economic environments. Its proprietary generative AI model, known as zGAN, focuses on producing outlier synthetic data to enhance predictive accuracy.
The company’s technology is integrated into its no-code platform, Lucid, which enables banks and other financial institutions to build and deploy AI models independently.
“Carbide Ventures first invested in zypl a year ago and is thoroughly impressed with the team, product and growth over the past twelve months,” said Dan Weirich, general partner at Carbide Ventures. “When given the opportunity to invest more, we jumped on it immediately.”
zypl.ai currently serves more than 60 financial institutions across 20 markets and counts Prosus Ventures among its backers.
Ibragimov, one of the investors in the round, is CEO of Eurasian Resources Group and chairman of Eurasian Bank and Eurasia Insurance Company.
The funding marks a key step in zypl.ai’s efforts to scale its AI-driven credit scoring solutions across new markets.
Duck is a real-time data intelligence platform enabling consumer brands to monitor shop floor activity and prevent stockouts. ReportsAI provides AI-powered tools that transform raw data into institutional knowledge and compliance-ready reporting for impact organizations.
In the modern lifestyle, visibility is everything. The quality of what you capture matters. The Galaxy S26 solves this through a massive primary sensor and an intelligent AI Image Signal Processor that handles the tricky physics of dark environments in real-time. Instead of a washed-out, grainy photo, the S26 preserves the rich textures of the scene against the black sky. For the urban creator, this means your social currency no longer devalues once the sun sets. You can produce professional-looking content on the fly, making spontaneous evening moments look like a high-budget production.
