Tanzania’s Menstrual Hygiene Management Enterprise – WomenChoice Industries Secures $200k Funding from Gray Matters
US-based impact investor Gray Matters Capital has today announced $200,000 funding in Tanzania based WomenChoice Industries. WomenChoice Industries is a manufacturer and distributor of...
Kaspersky is calling on tech startups to apply for its Open Innovation Program
Kaspersky Innovation Hub (IHub) is calling on tech startups from across Africa and the rest of the world to apply for the second round...
Microsoft launches initiative to support social enterprise startups
Microsoft has today announced the launch of the Global Social Entrepreneurship programme to support startups in 140 countries around the world. The programme was...
12 African ed-tech startups to receive funding from Mastercard Foundation
The Mastercard Foundation Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning in Information, Communications, and Technology (ICT) has announced the first 12 African EdTech startups for its first...
Santam Insurance invests in South Africa’s Insurtech startup JaSure
South Africa’s on-demand insurance technology (Insurtech) startup JaSure has raised funding from the country’s leading short-term insurer Santam.
Details about the funding amount of funding...
Ecobank Opens Applications For Its 2020 Fintech Challenge
Ecobank Group is calling on African startups and developers to apply for its 3rd edition of the Ecobank Fintech Challenge.
The fintech challenge gives the...
Kenyan fintech startup Wapi Pay raises capital to scale across Africa
Singapore and Kenyan based Fintech startup ‘Wapi Pay’ has raised seed capital through the accelerator Future Hub making it its first Fintech Investment in...
Egyptian E-health startup Vezeeta raises $40m Series D funding round led Gulf Capital
Egyptian e-health startup Vezeeta has raised a US$40 million Series D funding led by UAE-based Gulf Capital, alongside further investment from existing Riyadh-based investor...
Nigerian fintech startup Aella raises $10m financing round
Nigerian fintech startup Aella has raised a $10m debt financing round from Singapore-based HQ Financial Group (HQF). This debt financing round is Aella’s second...
Egyptian food delivery startup Elmenus raises $8m series B funding
Egyptian food delivery startup elmenus has raised $8 million Series B funding round. The round was co-led by Global Ventures, a UAE-based VC fund...
Africa-focused VC Firm TLcom Secures $31M For Its TIDE Africa Fund, Closes At $71M
TLcom, the Africa-focused Venture Capital firm has secured an additional $31M for its TIDE Africa Fund. This new funding now brings the VC's its...
Five African credit scoring startups selected for ENGIE challenge at the Africa Tech Summit
French multinational energy utility company ENGIE has announced the five credit scoring startups that will pitch on the Africa Startup Summit at the Africa Tech Summit...
On-demand delivery platform Sendy raises $20 million round
Kenyan on-demand delivery platform Sendy has raised a $20 million Series B led by Atlantica Ventures. The funding was also backed by Toyota Tsusho Corporation,...
[Column] There’s not enough women-led tech startups – and it’s costing us all
Africa’s technology startup scene is vibrant – and growing fast. There are currently over 640 active technology hubs across the continent, and according to...
Google launches its first Developers Space for African startups and developers in Nigeria
Google has launched its first Google Developers Space for African developers, entrepreneurs and startups in Lagos, Nigeria.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai made a commitment to...
African tech startups raised $491M funding in 2019, Disrupt Africa report
2019 was the best year yet for investment into the African tech startups, with 311 companies banking a combined US$491.6 million. This is according...
CDC Group to invest £2 billion in African businesses over the next two years
CDC Group is to commit a further £2bn into African businesses over the next two years, as it looks to double the size of...
Women-Led Janngo Announces EUR 60 Million Fund To Support African Tech Startups
Janngo has announced a Euro 60 million fund to support African tech startups accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the continent.
The women-led...
Online Travel Agency Timbu Launches New Fund To Invest In Kenyan Travel Startups
Timbu, a Mauritian based online travel agency has launched an investment arm to fund and invest in Kenyan travel and hospitality startups.
Timbu will invest...
Here Are The Five Zambian Startups Selected For FinTech4U Accelerator Programme
Five Zambia-based fintech startups have been selected to join the FinTech4U Accelerator Programme in January 2020. The five were selected out of the 35...
Bolt has raises €50M in venture debt from the European Investment Bank to expand...
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed a €50 million venture debt facility with ride-hailing app Bolt. The funding will go towards supporting the...
Applications for the 4th edition of Digital Lab Africa’s acceleration programme opened
Digital Lab Africa (DLA) has opened applications for its fourth edition of the DLA acceleration programme (DLA#4). Creatives and cultural entrepreneurs from across Sub-Saharan...
African Guarantee Fund receives $33M financing to support African SMEs
Africa’s leading Guarantee Institution, African Guarantee Fund (AGF) has received an additional USD 33M financing from German lender KfW Development Bank. The financing is...
Nigerian Fintech Startup Trove Secures An Undisclosed Amount Of Funding From ARM
Nigerian micro-investing fintech startup Trove has secured an undisclosed amount of funding from asset management firm, ARM.
This is the first announced funding round of...
4G Capital Raises $4million Funding For Onward Lending To MSMEs in Kenya And Uganda
4G Capital has announced the completion of its second round of fundraising. The investment was secured by a $2m debt facility from Ceniarth LLC,...
Kenya’s Agritech Startup Farmshine Raises US$ 250,000 Funding
Nairobi based agritech start-up Farmshine has raised a USD 250,000 funding from US-based impact investor Gray Matters Capital’s gender lens sector-agnostic portfolio – GMC...
Kenyan Media Production Firm Portable Voices Signs Partnership Deal with Afripods
Kenyan based media production and podcast start-up Portable Voices has announced a partnership deal with Afripods, an African focused platform for podcasters with head...
Nigeria’s edtech startup uLesson raises $3.1 million seed round led by TLcom Capital
uLesson, Sim Shagaya’s edtech startup from Nigeria that aims to address infrastructure and learning gaps in Africa has raised $3.1mn Seed Round led by...
Africa’s startup ecosystem on the brink of massive growth
The growing number of startups securing major financial commitments, sets the stage for an entirely new era of growth in the African venture capital...
VC4A has launched a dedicated online training program for Africa’s Business Angels
Venture Capital for Africa (VC4A) has launched a dedicated online training program for Africa’s Business Angels - ‘Mentor-Driven Capital
Over the past two years, VC4A ...
Visa is investing $200 Million in Nigeria’s fintech firm Interswitch
Visa is investing $200 million for a 20% stake in Nigeria's digital payments company Interswitch. This minority equity stake acquisition by Visa now makes...
Here are the winners of the 2019 edition of the Orange Social Venture Prize...
Orange has unveiled the names of the three winners of its Orange Social Venture Prize in Africa and the Middle East. The winners were...
Bolt launches €10 environmental impact fund with maiden transaction in East Africa
Bolt (Formerly Taxify) has launched a dedicated environmental impact fund with seed capital of €10 million aimed at initiatives which deliver global social and...
Agritech startup WeFarm secures $13 Million funding to scale its Smallholder Agricultural Ecosystem
London-based farmer-to-farmer digital network WeFarm has raised $13 million in a Series A round of funding. The round was led by Silicon Valley venture...
Interswitch acquires Nigeria’s healthcare tech startup e-Clat
Nigeria’s leading e-payments company Interswitch has acquired a majority stake in healthcare technology startup e-Clat.
The deal was completed on September 30, 2019, and it...
On-demand deliveries startup Sendy raises $2m from Goodwell Investments
Nairobi based on-demand delivery platform Sendy has received a $2 million investment from Dutch impact investor Goodwell Investments.
According to a statement posted on Goodwell’s...
South Africa’s fintech startup uKheshe wins 2019 Global Fintech Hackcelerator Programme
South Africa’s QR cash card and microtransaction platform, uKheshe, has won the 2019 Global Fintech Hackcelerator Southern Africa competition. Launched by the South African Reserve...
Kenya’s agri-tech startup Twiga Foods secures $30M to digitize food distribution
Kenyan food distribution startup, Twiga Foods has raised $23.75 million in a Series B equity round led by Goldman Sachs. The round also saw...
How to Launch your Startup in a College
Your college years are the best time to launch a startup because it ensures you have feet to stand on once you graduate. The...
Boehringer Ingelheim launches Venture4Change idea competition for university students in Kenya
Leading pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim has launched a Making More Health Venture4Change idea competition for university students in Kenya. Boehringer Ingelheim has partnered with...
U.K announces a Ksh.1.3 billion fund to support Kenyan fintech startups
The United Kingdom has announced a Ksh. 1.3 billion fund to support fintech startups in Kenya. This announcement was made by The Lord Mayor...
VentureBuilder officially launches to support off-grid solar startups in Africa
VentureBuilder, which is focused on scaling African-owned and managed off-grid solar enterprises, has officially been launched. VentureBuilder has been launched with support from the...
List of tech startups shortlisted for the AppsAfrica Innovation Awards
The final shortlist for the 5th AppsAfrica Innovation Awards have been announced. The annual Awards attracted over 400 submissions from 52 countries, with solutions launched in African...
IFC is investing $1M in Tunisia’s Flat6Labs Anava Seed Fund to boost the country’s...
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has announced that it is investing $1 million in Tunisia’s Anava Seed Fund (ASF) to boost the country's Startup...
Glovo expands to Mombasa in continued market expansion push
Spanish delivery firm Glovo has launched its service in Kenya’s second city, Mombasa. The move will now see residents of Mombasa experience on-demand deliveries on...
Kenya’s e-Logistics startup Lori Systems expands to Nigeria
After 10-months of piloting, Kenya's logistics startup Lori Systems has officially launched in Nigeria. The startup has been doing the pilot in Nigeria with...
CredoLab, a Singapore-based credit scoring startup has launched in Kenya
Singapore-based fintech startup CredoLab has launched in Kenya. The firm had in July this year announced its plans to expand its operations to Sub-Saharan...
Nigeria’s CcHUB has acquired Kenya’s iHub for an undisclosed fee
Nigeria’s technology innovation centre Co-creation Hub (CcHUB), has acquired Kenya's iHub for an undisclosed fee. The deal will see iHub's team become part of...
Facebook London Accelerator opens to African startups for the first time
Facebook is inviting applications for the third edition of its Facebook London Accelerator programme, which is open for the first time to startups from...
Kenya’s Tiny Totos wins MIT Inclusive Innovation Challenge Africa finale
Kenyan-based startup, Tiny Totos, has been named among the winners of the MIT Inclusive Innovation Challenge (IIC) Africa finale. Tiny Totos was selected in...
Startup Insight: Develop your innovative idea into a viable business
Kenya is among the African countries with a vibrant startup ecosystem. According to VCA4 this is due to a number of factors including a...
Vodacom Tanzania and Smart Lab launch new $150k accelerator program for tech startups
Vodacom Tanzania and Smart Lab have launched a new accelerator program to support arly-stage and growth-stage technology startups. The “Vodacom Digital Accelerator,” program will run...
Applications for Standard Chartered Bank’s Women In Tech Accelerator 3rd Cohort Open
Standard Chartered Bank Kenya has opened applications for its Women In Tech Incubator third cohort. The application which will close on 31st November is...
Three Kenyan firms among top 12 finalists in the MIT Inclusive Innovation Challenge
Three Kenyan organisations are are among the 12 finalists, shortlisted for the Regional Finale of the MIT Inclusive Innovation Challenge (IIC).
The shortlisted Kenyan firms...
TechTribe Accelerator to offer training to hundreds of SADC startups
The TechTribe Accelerator (TTA), a brand-new online training platform wants to offer online training to thousands of African entrepreneurs across SADC members countries.
The TechTribe...
ENGIE acquires off-grid solar solutions provider Mobisol an undisclosed amount
French multinational electric utility company ENGIE has acquired Mobisol, a pioneer of off-grid solar solutions to expand its decentralized energy offering in Africa.
The two...
Logistics startup Kobo360 launches operations in Kenya
African e-Logistics startup Kobo360 has officially launched its operations in Nairobi, Kenya. The startup had announced plans to expand into Kenya back in March...
MEST Africa is investing $100,000 in each of these 11 startups from its 2019...
MEST Africa is investing US$1,1m in eleven early-stage startups from its 2019 graduating cohort. This is the largest single investment MEST has made in...
Ten African tech startups taking part in the CcHUB’s PitchdriveAsia Tour
Ten selected African startups utilising hardware and deep technology tools in their businesses are taking part in the second edition of CcHUB PitchdriveAsia Tech...
SA fintech startup uKheshe raises seed funding from FiTech Ventures and Ocean on 76.
South Africa's fintech startup uKheshe has raised its first seed investment round 10 months after launching its financial inclusion platform. The startup has raised...
Bosch calling on African startups to apply for its smart mobility pitch competition
German multinational engineering and technology company Bosch is inviting African startups to compete in its smart mobility startup competition. Headquartered in Gerlingen, Bosch says...
Global Impact Summit inviting tech startups to pitch and be part of Pangea Accelerator’s...
The Global Impact Summit (GIS) is calling on Kenyan tech startups to pitch their ideas for an opportunity to be part of Pangea Accelerator...
Three fintech startups admitted to Kenya’s Regulatory Sandbox
Three Kenyan fintech startups have been admitted to the Kenyan Capital Markets Regulatory Sandbox. The startups are Pezesha Africa, a micro-lending marketplace and Innova...
India Based B2B payments platform PayMate raises $25 million to expand to Africa
India based PayMate, a B2B payments platform has raised $25 million in a new series D round from Visa to expand to Africa, Eastern...
Branch International raises another KSh.500M from Centum-owned, Barium Capital
Mobile lender Branch International has announced its fourth commercial paper issuance from Centum-owned advisory firm, Barium Capital, raising Ksh500 million. Branch has also announced...
GABF launches new fund to invest in German-African energy startups
The Germany Africa Business Forum (GABF) has announced a multi-million Euro funding commitment to invest in German energy startups that focus on Africa. GABF,...
Kenyan Agri-Tech Startup Taimba Secures $100K Funding from Gray Matters Capital’s coLABS
Nairobi based B2B Agri-Tech startup Taimba has secured $100K in funding from US-based impact investor Gray Matters Capital's gender lens portfolio GMC coLABS. Taimba...
African female-led tech startups can now apply for the GreenHouse Lab Accelerator 2019 program
The GreenHouse Lab Accelerator has opened applications for early-stage female-led African tech startups.
The Lagos-based accelerator program is run by GreenHouse Capital in collaboration with...
CredoLab, Singapore-based credit scoring startup is expanding to Sub-Saharan Africa
Singapore-based fintech startup CredoLab is expanding its operations to Sub-Saharan Africa. The firm is expanding into the region’s fintech market with the addition of...
Nigeria’s Venture Garden, Kenya’s Umati Capital & Tanzania’s Ubongo Kids mentioned in Mauritius Leaks...
Nigeria’s Venture Garden, Kenya’s Umati Capital and Tanzania’s Ubongo Kids have been listed among firms extracting profits and avoiding tax in Africa according to a new report by ICJ dubbed Mauritius Leaks.
Mauritius...
Egypt’s fintech startup XPay raises $250,000 in pre-seed funding
Egyptian fintech startup XPay has secured $250,000 in pre-seed funding from two angel investors. XPay is part of the cohort currently participating in Startupbootcamp...
OPay raises $50 million to expand to other African markets
Nigeria-focused mobile payments company OPay which is incubated by Opera has raised $50 million in total funding to strengthen its position in Nigeria and...
FasterCapital seeking to fund startups in Kenya
On the 11th July 2019; more than 20 African countries brought into effect what is going to be the largest Free Trade Area in...
After Kenya, online ride-hailing service inDriver has now launched in Uganda
inDriver, an international online ride-hailing service has launched in Uganda. Uganda becomes its fourth African market after launching in Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa.
Founded in...
Facebook, MainOne, to grace Nigeria’s #StartupSouth5 conference
Social media giant, Facebook, and West Africa’s largest cable data provider, MainOne is among the top tech companies that will grace the #StartupSouth Startup/Entrepreneurship...
MYDAWA receives LegitScript Certification
MYDAWA has become the first online pharmacy in Africa and part of the top 4% globally to earn the LegitScript certification that verifies internet...
Google’s Third Launchpad Accelerator Africa Class Graduate in Lagos
12 African startups that that were taking part in Google's Launchpad Accelerator Africa programme have graduated in Lagos.
This third class, which started on 1...
MIT D-Lab Scale-Ups Fellowship Program to provide $120,00 to Six East African Startup Entrepreneurs
Six East African startup entrepreneurs from Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda will receive $20,00 each from MIT D-Lab Scale-Ups Fellowships program. The one-year MIT D-Lab Scale-Ups fellowship program...
[Column] How to catch the attention of your future investor
What would you do if you were given free money for your business? Grants give the beneficiaries peace of mind to be able to...
Google News Initiative Innovation Challenge applications open in Africa
A few months after expanding Google News Initiative (GNI) Innovation Challenge to Africa, Google has now announced that accepting application submissions from news organisations in the...
AfriLabs Network Expands to 45 African Countries
Pan-African network of technology and innovation centres AfriLabs has admitted 27 new hubs into her network, extending her reach into 6 new countries and...
Fintech Startups can now apply and pitch at the Finnovation World Kenya Summit
The Finnovation World Kenya summit takes place in Nairobi on June 18. The event will bring together fitench players from Across Africa to discuss...
Kenya among African countries set to benefit from Microsoft’s Cloud Accelerator Programme
Microsoft has announced it is extending the reach of its Cloud Accelerator Programme to eight more countries including Kenya.
The Cloud Accelerator Programme is an immersive...
Azuri Technologies raises $26M expand its solar energy distribution efforts to new African markets
Azuri Technologies has raised $26 million led by Japan’s Marubeni Corporation with additional participation from existing shareholders, including IP Group plc. The pay-as-you-go solar solutions...
Africa50 Innovation Challenge seeking solutions to help increase access to internet in Africa
Africa50 has launched the Africa50 Innovation Challenge to look for innovative solutions to help increase access to high-speed internet in under-served areas in Africa....
This startup wants to be Africa’s biggest fashion resale website and its launching in...
Rebivo, the startup that aim’s to be Africa’s biggest fashion resale website is launching in Nairobi. The startup through its online is now accepting...
Cortex Group launches VC fund for AI-Only focused startups in Africa
African Artificial Intelligence (AI) Software and Solutions company Cortex Logic has launched a new fund for AI-focused startups. Known as Cortex Ventures, the venture...
Delivery firm Glovo partners with Simbisa Brands for food deliveries in Nairobi
Global Delivery firm Glovo recently secured a $169M Series D funding round led by technology entrepreneur VC Lakestar, and Drake, owner of global pizza...
How to qualify and apply for Jack Ma’s US$10 Million Africa Netpreneur Prize Initiative
African startups seeking to clinch a share of $10 Million of The Africa Netpreneur Prize Initiative courtesy of the Jack Ma Foundation have been...
![[Podcast] What makes a startup African? - Jumia](https://i1.wp.com/techtrendske.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Jumia.jpg?resize=218%2C150&ssl=1 "[Podcast] What makes a startup African?")
[Podcast] What makes a startup African?
In this episode of our Africa Startup Roundup podcast, Nick and Allan discuss the recent listing of Jumia New York Stock Exchange. The listing...
SafeBoda raises funding from GO-JEK, plans to venture into mobile payments and insurance
Ride-hailing platform SafeBoda has raised an undisclosed Series B round co-led by Allianz X, the digital investment unit of the Allianz Group, Go-Ventures, an...
E-healthcare startup MYDAWA secures $3M funding from Africa HealthCare Master Fund
Kenya’s leading e-healthcare platform MYDAWA, has secured a $3M investment from Africa HealthCare Master Fund. This is the first round of external funding the...
Delivery app Glovo secures $169M funding
International delivery app Glovo has secured a $169M Series D funding round. The round was led by technology entrepreneur VC Lakestar, and Drake, owner...
Podcast startup PortableVoices opens its first recording studio in Nairobi
PortableVoices, a Kenyan audio production, and podcast startup has opened its first recording studio in Nairobi. The startup, which is focused on producing African...
World Bank allocates US$200 Million to support SMEs in Egypt
The World Bank has approved the allocation of $200 million to support SMEs in Egypt. The fund will focus on expanding the amount and...
This South African-founded podcast startup has just been acquired by global podcasting company Acast
South African-founded podcast technology startup Pippa has been acquired by large global podcasting company Acast.
Pippa provides people who create podcasts with a space to...
Kenya is hosting the fourth annual MEST Africa Summit in June
MEST Africa is bringing its fourth annual MEST Africa Summit to Nairobi. The Pan-African entrepreneurial training program, seed fund and incubator, has partnered with...
Seedstars is launching a $100M fund to invest in African tech startups
Seedstars has announced a new partnership with Paris-based First Growth Ventures to launch a $100 million fund to invest in African tech startups. Seedstar...
Mettā Nairobi kicks off its Clean Energy Accelerator Program
Mettā Nairobi in Partnership with What Design Can Do (WDCD), Social Enterprise NL and IKEA Foundation has announced the launch of Clean Energy Accelerator...
Branch raises $170 million funding round, announces new partnership with Visa
Visa and Branch International, have announced a partnership that will see virtual Visa prepaid debit cards offered to over 2 million consumers in Sub-Saharan...
Standard Chartered launches its first Africa eXellerator innovation hub in Kenya
Standard Chartered Bank today opened its Africa eXellerator innovation hub in Kenya to support and work with fintechs in the country and across Africa....
24Bit Podcast Episode 19: Value vs Brand Name
What's in a name? Well, turns out, a lot. Quite a lot.
Question, would you compromise on features of a product you want to buy...
EDITOR'S PICK
CA Orders GOtv And StarTimes To Allow Access To Free To...
The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has ordered two Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) service providers, Star Times and GOtv, to allow access to free...
Here’s why you should offer health insurance to your employees
Today, the cost of healthcare in Kenya has risen drastically, thanks to the evergrowing demand for medical services. Having health insurance is therefore very...