Startups

News updates on startups in Africa. Send tips to info@techtrendske.co.ke.

9 hours ago

Kenyan fintech startup Wapi Pay raises $2.2m funding to digitise Africa-Asia trade payments

Kenyan fintech startup Wapi Pay has raised $2.2 Million in pre-seed funding to scale up global payments and remittances between…

2 days ago

Bolt raises KES. 78 billion to expand its on-demand transportation network in Africa and Europe

Ride-hailing startup Bolt has raised KES. 78 billion in a Series E funding round led by Sequoia Capital. This fund…

2 days ago

These Are The 25 African Female Founded Tech Startups Joining The CMM PR mentorship program

Twenty-five African female-founded tech startups have been selected for the second edition of The Future is Female Mentorship Program. This…

5 days ago

5 Kenyan startups showcase their products at Japanese-led NINJA Accelerator program

5 Kenyan startups showcased their solutions during the 1st Demo Day of the NINJA Accelerator in the country, concluding the…

5 days ago

Nigerian Healthtech Startup Field Intelligence Expands into Eleven New Cities Across East and West Africa

Nigerian healthtech startup Field Intelligence has expanded into Rivers, Edo, Kaduna, Kano, Enugu, Delta and Kwara States in Nigeria, and…

1 week ago

West African solar startup MyJouleBox secures €3m Series A round to boost growth in core markets

MyJouleBox, a solar distributor startup has completed a €3 million Series A. The round is aimed at strengthening its position…

1 week ago

UN announces winners of “Good Food for All” competition in Africa

Thirteen small- and medium-sized businesses from Africa and the Middle East have been announced as winners of the “Good Food…

1 week ago

Top African regions set to become leading startup and investment hubs

On the back of Cape Town being recognised as the tech capital of Africa, topping international rankings for foreign direct investment strategy,…

2 weeks ago

KES 5.3 million accelerator programme launched to drive innovation in Kenya’s insurance sector

FSD Africa, the Insurance Regulatory Authority, and Tellistic Technology Services have launched BimaLab, a KES 5.3 million accelerator programme designed…

2 weeks ago

Glovo Expands Reach To Thika And Kiambu Towns

On-demand delivery startup Glovo has expanded its operations to Thika and Kiambu towns. The expansion comes from the back of…

2 weeks ago

Egypt’s social e-commerce startup Taager raises US$6.4 million seed round

Taager, an Egyptian social e-commerce startup, has raised a US$6.4 million seed funding round to help it scale its platform…

3 weeks ago

Nigerian fintech startup Lidya raises $8.3m pre-Series B funding round

Nigerian fintech and lending startup Lidya has announced the completion of its $8.3 million pre-Series B funding round. Alitheia Capital…

3 weeks ago

South African secure data collaboration startup Omnisient raises $1.4m for global expansion

Omnisient, a South African secure data collaboration platform, has achieved its second raise this year totalling USD1.4 million. The investments…

3 weeks ago

Banque Misr partners with Microsoft to support fintech startups in Egypt

Banque Misr has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with Microsoft Egypt to launch the first open innovation program in…

3 weeks ago

Kenyan startup MarketForce raises $2m pre-Series A to scale its B2B retail marketplace, RejaReja

MarketForce, the Kenyan-based B2B platform for retail distribution of consumer goods and digital financial services in Africa has raised a…

3 weeks ago

M-KOPA Expands to Nigeria, Appoints former SafeBoda Country Director its New GM

Connected asset financing platform M-KOPA, has expanded its operations to Nigeria. The move into the Nigerian market the company says…

4 weeks ago

Nigerian fintech startup TeamApt secures Series B funding

Nigerian fintech startup TeamApt has closed its Series B fundraising round, as it looks to expand its financial services beyond Nigeria. The…

July 2, 2021

Mobile commerce platform Copia expands into Uganda

Copia Global, a mobile commerce platform built to serve middle to low-income African consumers, has expanded its operations to Uganda.…

July 1, 2021

Ghanaian Fintech startup Zeepay raises $7.9 million Series A funding

Ghanaian Fintech startup Zeepay, has announced the completion of a USD7.9 million Series A.0 funding. The funding is a hybrid of both…

June 28, 2021

Catalyst Fund announces Circle of Corporate Innovators to accelerate startup-corporate partnerships

Global inclusive tech accelerator Catalyst Fund has announced pioneer members of its Circle of Corporate Innovators to accelerate startup-corporate partnerships.…

June 21, 2021

Three local InsurTech receive Ksh 1.25 million each from IRA, Prudential innovation hub

Three local startups have each received Ksh 1.25 million in cash awards from the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) innovation hub…

June 21, 2021

CMM PR launches 2nd edition of mentorship programme for African female tech founders

C. Moore Media International Public Relations (CMM), a New York-headquartered PR agency focusing on the US, UK, and African markets,…

June 18, 2021

Kenyan startup MarketForce acquires Digiduka to consolidate distribution of consumer goods with digital financial services in Africa

MarketForce, the Kenyan end-to-end retail distribution startup for consumer brands in Africa, announces the strategic acquisition of Digiduka, a startup…

June 16, 2021

Healthtech startup BASMA.com raises $3m funding to scale up its platform in the MENA region

UK-based, MENA focused, startup BASMA.com has closed a $3 million Series to scale up its healthtech platform in the region.…

June 14, 2021

Ethiopian-based edtech startup Gabeya launches its revamped marketplace

Gabeya, the Pan-African source for freelance professional talent, has expanded its revamped marketplace, the first of its kind in terms…

June 14, 2021

Nigerian e-health startup Helium Health launches in Kenya

Lagos-based e-health startup Helium Health has launched its operations in Kenya. The startup is partnering with three local providers, including Philips…

June 9, 2021

Speedaf express completes Round A+ financing to build China-Africa express brand

Speedaf Express, a China-Africa integrated logistics service provider, has announced the completion of its Round A+ financing. The round was…

June 9, 2021

Toyota AI Ventures rebrands to Toyota Ventures, adds $300m to invest in emerging tech and carbon neutrality

Toyota’s first standalone, early-stage venture capital firm, Toyota AI Ventures, will change its name to Toyota Ventures. The VC firm…

June 9, 2021

IFC launches program to support startups across North Africa

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has launched a new advisory program aimed at making it easier for startups in Algeria,…

June 9, 2021

WhereIsMyTransport, South Africa’s mobility startup announces a $14.5 million Series A extension round

South African-based mobility startup WhereIsMyTransport has announced a $14.5 million Series A extension round to expand to other markets. This…

June 3, 2021

BMZ expands its developPPP Ventures programme to Kenya to support local startups

German-based Federal Development Ministry (BMZ) has expanded its developPPP Ventures programme in Kenya to support local startups. Under this programme,…

June 3, 2021

Industrialization Ministry launches Startup Savanna, a business acceleration programme for local early-stage startups

The Kenyan Ministry of Industrialization, Trade and Enterprise Development (MoITED) has launched Startup Savanna, a business acceleration programme that will…

May 31, 2021

Dream VC Launches Fellowship Program For Aspiring VCs Africa

Dream VC Launches Fellowship Program For Aspiring VCs AfricaDream VC, a Remote Venture Capital Upskilling Institute, has launched a new…

May 25, 2021

Kenyan Fintech Firm Kwara Among African Startups Selected for Norrsken Impact Accelerator Program

Kenyan fintech firm Kwara is among the twenty startups, with eleven from Africa, selected to join the Norrsken Impact Accelerator. Norrsken…

May 21, 2021

[Kenya] Pangea announces upto $3 million scale-up program for local startups

Norwegian-based accelerator Pangea has unveiled a scale-up program offering private funding of up to Ksh 300 million and business support…

May 20, 2021

Satgana launches first portfolio startup in Kenya, Mazi Mobility

Venture builder Satgana announced its first portfolio startup from Nairobi, Kenya, Mazi Mobility, to address the issues faced by the public transport…

May 20, 2021

AlphaCode announces four startups taking part in the second phase of the its Incubate programme

AlphaCode has announced the four South African fintech startups that will be part of the second phase of the AlphaCode…

May 20, 2021

South African fintech startup Ukheshe expanding to Asia-Pacific

South African fintech startup Ukheshe Technologies has announced that it will be expanding its footprint into the Asia-Pacific region as it introduces…

May 19, 2021

Five women-led tech startups awarded Ksh.1M by Standard Chartered Women in Tech Incubator

The Standard Chartered Bank has today awarded 5 women-led businesses with KES 1,000,000 each. The businesses were picked from the…

May 12, 2021

IMPACC to invest up to $150k in social businesses in Africa

IMPACC today announced plans to provide smart equity investment of between $30,000 – $150,000 with a period of 6 to…

May 10, 2021

Nigerian social and video commerce platform Rabawa raises $163k funding for expansion

Nigerian social and video commerce platform Rabawa has raised US$163,000 in funding from US-based VC firm Aptive Capital to help…

May 10, 2021

UN launches hunt for startups and enterprises changing the face of food systems

The UN Food Systems Summit has announced a competition to identify startups and SMEs from across the world who are…

May 6, 2021

Kenyan Female Entrepreneur Raises $1.8M in Seed Funding for Lami Technologies

Lami Technologies, a Kenyan insurance technology (insurtech) company that aims to democratize insurance products and services for low-income Kenyans, has…

May 5, 2021

Kenyan fintech startup Kwara selected for Japan-led Ninja Accelerator Programme

Digital banking platform and fintech company Kwara has been selected for the first cohort of the Ninja Accelerator programme in Kenya.…

May 3, 2021

Google to offer Android and cloud development scholarships to developers across Africa

Google has announced a new programme to offer new scholarships for Android, Web and Google Cloud development to developers across…

May 3, 2021

Mastercard announces new investment in Rwandan female-focused eCommerce platform Kasha

Mastercard has today announced a new investment in Rwandan female-focused eCommerce platform Kasha. The companies say they will continue their…

April 29, 2021

Applications for the HiiL Justice Accelerator to close on 30th April

Southern African justice startups looking for the opportunity to take their business to new heights have until 30 April 2021…

April 22, 2021

Malian Insurtech startup OKO raises $1.2 million to bring innovative insurance to smallholder farmers across Africa

Malian Insurtech startup, OKO has closed a Seed investment of $1.2 million. The round was led by Newfund and ResiliAnce. Mercy…

April 20, 2021

African tech startups invited to apply for the Smart Cities Innovation Programme

African tech startups in the fields of mobility, housing, and fintech have been invited to apply for the Smart Cities…

April 19, 2021

Here are the twenty-two African startups joining the UNICEF StartUp Lab second cohort

UNICEF has announced the twenty-two startups that will be taking part in this year’s cohort of the UNICEF StartUp Lab.…

April 19, 2021

Applications for 2021 Grindstone Accelerator programme now open

Applications for this year’s Grindstone’s accelerator programme are now open. Grindstone Accelerator is an equity-free structured entrepreneurship development programme that…

April 12, 2021

[Rwanda] Electric Mobility Startup Ampersand Raises $3.5m from EIF

Kigali based electric motorcycle startup Ampersand has raised $3.5 million in funding from the Ecosystem Integrity Fund (EIF) to rapidly scale…

April 1, 2021

Applications Open for Jack Ma’s 2021 Africa’s Business Heroes Prize Competition

The “Africa’s Business Heroes” (ABH) prize competition, Jack Ma Foundation’s flagship philanthropic program spotlighting and celebrating Africa’s entrepreneurial talent has…

March 29, 2021

HiiL opens applications for Justice Accelerator for Southern Africa startups

The Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL) has opened applications for this years HiiL Innovating Justice Challenge. Successful applicants will…

March 29, 2021

Kenyan agency banking startup Tanda secures funding to expand regionally

Kenyan agency banking startup Tanda has announced that is expanding its operations regionally after closing a funding round in February…

March 26, 2021

Solar energy startup Jirogasy launches fundraising to finance its expansion in East Africa

After a year marked by the launch of its solar computer Jirodesk II, Malagasy startup Jirogasy has joined the Seedstar…

March 19, 2021

AECF Launches US$1.2 Million Fund to Support Renewable Energy Startups in Africa

The African Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF) has today launched a US$1.2 million Innovation Fund to support entrepreneurs using renewable energy…

March 18, 2021

Nigerian Fintech startup TeamApt launches internship program to support women in tech

Nigerian fintech startup TeamApt has launched an internship program to support women in Technology. The internship program is targeting female…

March 18, 2021

Fintech VC firm Flourish Ventures Opens new Office in Kenya

Flourish Ventures, a global fintech venture capital firm, has opened a new office in Kenya to support fintech startups across Africa.…

March 15, 2021

Ajua and MTN Nigeria launch Customer Management mobile app for SMEs

Kenyan based customer experience startup Ajua has partnered with MTN Nigeria to launch EnGauge, a digital eCommerce customer engagement management…

March 12, 2021

Lendable Passes $100 Million Investment Mark in Fintech Startups

Lendable has announced that it has invested over US$100 million in credit to help fintech startups in emerging and frontier…

March 11, 2021

Ghana’s healthcare startup mPharma to launch Haltons Pharmacies in Ethiopia

Ghanaian health tech startup mPharma has signed a franchise agreement with Belayab Pharmaceuticals to open Haltons Pharmacies in Ethiopia Through this…

March 9, 2021

Three Kenyan startups among recipients of $2-million African Jua fund

Three startups from Kenya are among the recipients of the inaugural $2-million Jua Fund, the largest African venture capital fund…

March 8, 2021

South African fintech startup Ukheshe confirms Middle East, Europe and Asia Pacific expansion

South African fintech startup Ukheshe Technologies has confirmed its global expansion. Having established itself as a formidable payment technology specialist…

March 4, 2021

Kenyan-based fundraising platform Raise secures $25k investment from Nigeria’s Microtraction

Kenyan fundraising and equity management platform Raise, has raised $25,000 funding from Nigeria’s Microtraction to help African startups fundraise and…

March 4, 2021

Visa announces 2021 edition of its Everywhere Initiative to support fintech startups

Visa has announced the 2021 edition of the Everywhere Initiative – a global innovation program and competition for fintech startups. This year,…

March 3, 2021

Nigeria’s Union Bank Launches 2021 UnionX Innovation Challenge To Support Local Startups

Nigeria’s Union Bank has unveiled the 2021 UnionX Innovation Challenge to support young startups in the country. Tagged ‘A New…

March 2, 2021

Nigerian fintech startup ImaliPay Raises Pre-Seed Funding from Australian VC firm TEN13

Nigerian fintech startup ImaliPay has raised an undisclosed amount of pre-seed funding from Australian venture capital firm TEN13. ImaliPay, which…

February 23, 2021

DFS Lab Announces Fintech and Digital Economy Design Sprint for startups in Egypt

Early-stage investor DFS Lab has announced that it will facilitate a virtual design sprint in March 2021 for fintech startups…

February 23, 2021

Teleporter mobile app 360VUZ joins first “Google for Startups Accelerator” in the MENA region

360VUZ, the immersive video mobile app has been selected to join the first ever “Google for Startups Accelerator” in the…

February 23, 2021

HAVAÍC expects bumper year for African tech startups

As one of South Africa’s most active Venture Capital investors, HAVAÍC says 2020 saw the commercial adoption of technology increase at unprecedented…

February 18, 2021

Bolt raises Ksh.19.8 Billion funding from D1 Capital To Improve Security on its Platform

Ride-hailing app Bolt has raised Ksh.19.8 billion funding from D1 Capital Partners to bolster safety and security measures on its platform. The…

February 17, 2021

Starting Your Own Online Sportsbook Business

The world of sports betting is as dynamic as the online casino industry. People equally love to place bets on…

February 17, 2021

KeNIA Establishes Technical Committee To Support Local Startups

The Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA) has established a National Innovation Technical Committee that will help build a comprehensive and…

February 3, 2021

JICA expands its startup NINJA accelerator program to Kenya

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is expanding its startup accelerator program (NINJA Accelerator) to Kenya. NINJA Accelerator is part…

February 3, 2021

Realness Institute and Netflix Extend Episodic Lab Entry Deadline For African Writers

Realness Institute has extended calls for submissions calls for Episodic Lab in partnership with Netflix from African writers. Online submissions will…

February 2, 2021

Google to Invest $5 million in Kenyan Start-Ups

American tech giant Google has pledged to invest $10 million in Kenya – about Ksh 1.1 bn – to support…

January 25, 2021

Algerian Private Incubator IncubMe to support tech startups in Kenya

Algerian Private Incubator IncubMe has announced plans to launch in Kenya in March this year. Under the patronage of the…

January 25, 2021

Echelon Capital to invest $1 million in early-stage tech startups in Nigeria

Venture Capital Echelon Capital has announced plans to inject US$1 million in funding in Nigerian tech startups beginning February 2021.…

January 25, 2021

VC-backed free money transfer service Taptap Send is now live in Kenya

Taptap Send, a venture-backed fintech startup that lets immigrants send money back home to emerging markets instantly has launched in…

January 19, 2021

Mobile Retail Platform Copia Global hosts MIT Global Entrepreneurship Lab project

Mobile retail platform Copia Global was among the startups from around the world selected to host a Global Entrepreneurship Laboratory…

January 18, 2021

Kinyungu Ventures Research calls for Changes to Cut-and-paste VC Strategy In Africa

There continues to be a wide misalignment between traditional venture capital models and the African market, this is according to…

January 11, 2021

Play Zuri launches its mHealth app in Kenya to help connect patients with doctors

E-health startup Play Zuri Health, a branch of the Play Communications Limited has today launched its mHealth app in Kenya…

January 8, 2021

Egypt’s Fintech startup Cassbana raises $1m pre-seed funding from Disruptech Ventures

Egypt-based fintech startup Cassbana has raised $1 million in a pre-seed funding round led by Egyptian fintech-focused venture capitalist fund Disruptech…

January 5, 2021

Kenyan-based digital bank Umba raises $2m seed funding to scale its product offerings

Kenyan-based digital bank for emerging markets Umba has raised a US$2 million seed funding round to help it expand product…

January 4, 2021

Kenyan e-health startup Damu-Sasa receives a $20,000 grant funding from Villgro Africa

Kenyan e-health startup Damu-Sasa has received a $20,000 grant funding from Villgro Africa to enable it to enhance its contributions…

December 18, 2020

Kenyan team wins $5000 IBM and David Clark Cause’s Call for Code Challenge

A team of developers from Kenya are the winners of IBM and David Clark Cause’s 2020 Call for Code Global…

December 16, 2020

Kenya e-commerce startup Sokowatch among winners of AppsAfrica Innovation Awards 2020

Kenyan based B2B e-commerce startup Sokowatch is among the winners of the AppsAfrica Innovation Awards 2020. The awards celebrates the…

December 16, 2020

Ivory Coast based Media Startup StarNews Mobile Raises $1.8m Funding

StarNews Mobile, an Ivory Coast based Media Startup has raised funding from Investors & Partners (I&P), a pioneering impact investing…

December 15, 2020

Kenyan e-health startup Ilara Health raises $3.75 million in Series A funding

Kenyan e-health startup Ilara Health has raised $3.75 million in Series A funding led by TLcom Capital, with participation from…

December 11, 2020

These are the startups shortlisted for the AppsAfrica.com Innovation Awards 2020

The final shortlist for the AppsAfrica Innovation Awards 2020 which celebrate the best startups in mobile and tech from across Africa has been…

December 9, 2020

IBM supports African agricultural startups through Digital4Agriculture Initiative

IBM has announced that it is supporting the Digital4Agriculture Initiative (D4Ag), which aims to foster African start-ups in the agricultural…

December 8, 2020

South African tech startup LetMeIn.to raises R2.2-million to scale its visitor and access management platform.

South African tech startup LetMeIn.to has raised R2.2 million in funding from an undisclosed impact investor to scale up and expand…

December 7, 2020

Nigerian fintech startup CredPal raises $1.5million funding round

Nigerian consumer credit startup CredPal has raised a $1.5million funding round. The funding came as the startup prepares to launch its…

December 1, 2020

These are the 25 African tech startups that have qualified for Seedstars 2020 regional competition

25 African tech startups have qualified for the Seedstars World Competition 2020. The startups are among the 94 from emerging…

December 1, 2020

Realness Institute opens call for submissions from African writers for Episodic Lab in partnership with Netflix

After announcing a new partnership with streaming giant Netflix last week to create an Episodic Content Development Lab for African writers, Realness Institute…

November 23, 2020

African fintech startup Chipper Cash raises $30 Million backed by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos

African fintech startup Chipper Cash has secured a $30 Million Series B funding round led by Ribbit Capital with participation…

November 17, 2020

Africa-focused VC fund Outlierz Ventures invests in three Nigerian startups

Africa-focused Morocco-based B2B VC fund Outlierz Ventures has announced new investments into three Nigerian startups – Bamboo, Youverify and Healthlane.…

November 17, 2020