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Published: 06-04-2018 16:44:00 | By: Nico Scherphuis | hits: 3793463 | Tags:

San Francisco, London among most developed venture capital cities in the world, report
Published: 23-04-2024 | 17:25:53 | By: Bob Koigi
This dashboard leverages PitchBook data and PitchBook Institutional Research Group methodology to provide a consistently updated ranking system for the size, maturity, and growth rates of the VC ecosystem in leading cities around the world.


Global co-working spaces market to reach $48.1 billion by 2030, study
Published: 23-04-2024 | 17:23:55 | By: Bob Koigi
The global market for coworking spaces is experiencing rapid growth, driven by the evolving dynamics of today's workforce, technological advancements, and shifts toward more agile work cultures.
















[Kenya] Livestock sector players review investment opportunities, challenges in unique forum
Published: 01-03-2024 | 13:15:00 | By: Bob Koigi
With the demand for livestock products projected to grow by up to 50% by 2030, there’s a clear opportunity for strategic investments to drive growth and innovation in the sector.




Rwandan female researchers selected for food systems policy fellowship
Published: 21-02-2024 | 08:30:00 | By: Bob Koigi
The AWARD Policy Fellowship is cultivating a growing pool of African women in the policy field to catalyze the design and implementation of gender-responsive agricultural policies across Africa.








Indian agritech startup Fasal raises $12 million funding to grow its precision farming solution
Published: 12-01-2024 | 12:27:00 | By: Bob Koigi
Fasal's solution has already proven to improve crop yield and reduce operational costs at an affordable price to the individual farmer.


Kenya startups raised the highest amount of funding in Africa in 2023, report
Published: 11-01-2024 | 16:27:44 | By: Bob Koigi
For some time now, Nigeria has always received the biggest share of startup investments, however, in 2023, Kenya overtook the West African country, gaining the highest amount of tech funds on the continent. 












Mudrex launches Saber.Money to offer onramp and offramp services in India
Published: 19-10-2023 | 13:09:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Mudrex announced the launch of Saber.Money to offer services to B2B clients.


Aampe secures $7.5m to accelerate AI-driven customer engagement
Published: 09-10-2023 | 10:03:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Aampe the AI-native user engagement platform, announced a $7.5m pre-series A funding round.


Applied Ventures selects seven deeptech startups to transform disruptive possibilities into reality
Published: 02-10-2023 | 14:53:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Applied Ventures selected seven deeptech startups during its fourth cohort program.


CENTA platform crosses 1m, becomes world's largest community of teachers
Published: 02-10-2023 | 12:47:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Centre for Teacher Accreditation recently launched its enhanced native app, CENTA.


Unitus Ventures, Capria Ventures unite to create Global South VC powerhouse
Published: 25-09-2023 | 14:19:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Unitus Ventures announced it is joining forces with its US affiliate Capria Ventures.


Anita Rehman joins deep tech venture firm Celesta Capital as Partner
Published: 14-09-2023 | 12:17:15 | By: Pie Kamau
Celesta Capital has appointed Anita Rehman as Partner.


Indian healthtech startup Bonatra launches Wearable Smart Rings for wellness
Published: 12-09-2023 | 11:13:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Healthtech startup Bonatra has launched Wearable Smart Rings.


Investor-founder disconnect poses major threat to African tech funding
Published: 11-09-2023 | 11:39:00 | By: Pie Kamau
African tech investors will not invest follow-on funding in a startup failing to provide regular reporting updates.


Taurean Surgical secures funding to democratize robotic surgery in emerging markets
Published: 07-09-2023 | 15:11:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Taurean Surgical has announced a significant pre-seed funding round.


Generative AI has become an emerging risk for enterprises, Gartner survey
Published: 14-08-2023 | 15:33:00 | By: Pie Kamau
The availability of generative AI became a top concern for enterprise risk executives.


Closing the capital gap on impact investment in Africa, report
Published: 08-08-2023 | 11:35:00 | By: Pie Kamau
African fund managers face unique obstacles that impede their access to capital for social impact.


Upskilling startup AlmaBetter partners with Woolf to deliver accredited degrees to online learners
Published: 01-08-2023 | 13:41:00 | By: Pie Kamau
AlmaBetter has partnered with Woolf.


SatSure partners with Rabo Partnerships to revolutionize cash flow-based lending for smallholder farmers
Published: 28-07-2023 | 09:32:00 | By: Pie Kamau
SatSure announced partnership with Rabo.


German healthcare investor SHS Capital acquires majority stake in CAM Bioceramics
Published: 07-07-2023 | 15:56:00 | By: Pie Kamau
German healthcare specialist SHS Capital is investing in CAM Bioceramics to fuel growth


Yodaplus accelerates Indian startup boom with groundbreaking tech enablement
Published: 05-07-2023 | 16:19:00 | By: Pie Kamau
India is fast emerging as the Silicon Valley of Asia with its booming startup ecosystem.


New PitchBook survey finds majority of venture capitalists have invested in AI
Published: 03-07-2023 | 11:47:00 | By: Pie Kamau
PitchBook has released findings from a new survey in partnership with Collision.


Africa among top 3 regions prone to mobile financial scam, report
Published: 12-06-2023 | 14:58:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Throughout 2022 and the first quarter of 2023, 14% of installs of potentially unwanted mobile financial apps on Android phones were made.


7 in 10 UK tech workers consider hybrid working a key factor when considering a future employer, report
Published: 17-05-2023 | 12:47:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Techspace has released The Scaleup Culture Report, a national report diving into the current state of workplace culture across the UK tech industry.


Dairy Runway program launches to provide education and support for early-stage dairy innovators
Published: 10-05-2023 | 15:09:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Cornell University's Center for Regional Economic Advancement (CREA) and the Northeast Dairy Foods Research Center have launched the Dairy Runway program, an entrepreneurship curriculum for dairy innovators.


GCPL to invest $12m in early-stage Indian consumer startups
Published: 12-04-2023 | 13:41:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Godrej Consumer Products Limited (GCPL), announced that it will be investing INR 100 Crore ($12 million) in Early Spring, a new INR 300 Crore early-stage consumer fund being set up by Spring Marketing Capital (Spring).


GRASP fellowship invests in African women researchers
Published: 06-04-2023 | 12:15:00 | By: Bob Koigi
The Kenyan women, and others selected for the GRASP Fellowship, are set to participate in a series of interventions, including leadership and mentoring training, designed to enable them to become more effective policy practitioners


Fertility treatments aren't just for the 1%, Sunfish
Published: 28-03-2023 | 11:23:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Sunfish, a fintech company founded last year, aims to make fertility treatments more accessible and has recently designed a new product to help reduce the cost of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).


Indian Web3 startup NoCap Meta raises $243K to accelerate growth in metaverse, digital tech
Published: 23-03-2023 | 12:59:00 | By: Pie Kamau
NoCap Meta, a Mumbai-based Web3 startup that provides a wide range of services including blockchain based systems, metaverse development, and asset backed tokens, has raised approximately $243K to enhance its growth.


[Interview] Gharjyot Singh, CEO, Cerebrum Infotech, India
Published: 22-03-2023 | 12:59:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Gharjyot Singh is the CEO of Cerebrum Infotech, a software and web development company based in India.


SPJIMR launches innovative accelerator programme for startups in finance industry
Published: 22-03-2023 | 12:23:00 | By: Pie Kamau
The Centre for Financial Innovation (CFI) at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's S.P.Jain Institute of Management & Research has announced the launch of 'SPJIMR FinNovate Accelerator' in partnership with Mumbai Angels.


Al-Abdullah Group invests $50m in Indian EV startup Kabira Mobility to accelerate growth
Published: 21-03-2023 | 11:42:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Kabira Mobility, a prominent electric bike manufacturer in India renowned for its KM3000 and KM4000 models, announced it has secured a $50 million investment from its strategic investor, Al-Abdulla Group (Qatar).


Mumbai-based HRtech startup ZingHR invests in SaaS startup LokiBots to expand its AI-based products and services
Published: 21-03-2023 | 11:00:00 | By: Pie Kamau
HRtech startup ZingHR has made a strategic investment in Silicon Valley-based SaaS startup LokiBots. The investment will help ZingHR leverage its AI-based software bots.


5 innovation metrics (KPIs) every CEO should care about, Plug and Play
Published: 08-03-2023 | 12:27:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Are your innovative strategies paying off? As a CEO, innovating is part of the job description - but do you know if it's actually making a difference in your company? It’s time to get down to data-driven business.


Mexican TV audiences back AI dubbing over subtitles, report
Published: 07-03-2023 | 11:59:00 | By: Pie Kamau
The world's biggest entertainment distributors could win over millions of TV viewers currently swerving non-domestic content by deploying AI dubbing, new research suggests.


Indian SaaS startup Mintoak raises $20m Series A funding round to grow its product portfolio
Published: 23-02-2023 | 14:03:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Mintoak, an India-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform focused on merchant services, has raised $20 million in Series A funding round led by PayPal Ventures.


To stay competitive, startups must combat gender diversity debt, study
Published: 17-02-2023 | 10:25:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Entrepreneurship is booming, but women are underrepresented among its founders, investors and employees. A recent study investigates entrepreneurship's gender "diversity debt," a demographic disparity that can be difficult and costly to remedy.


[Interview] Seyi J. Matanmi, Founder, Hosteet, Nigeria
Published: 13-02-2023 | 11:21:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Seyi J. Matanmi is a technology product developer and entrepreneur. Educated in software development, research and analytics, he currently leads the cloud services outfit, Hosteet, operating out of Lagos, Nigeria.


Startup Genome partners with Endeavor to research the Detroit region's entrepreneurial ecosystem
Published: 31-01-2023 | 09:51:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Startup Genome and Endeavor are working together to study and support the Detroit region's entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem development.


Michigan State University biotech startup Iaso Therapeutics closes $1.25m equity series seed preferred financing
Published: 26-01-2023 | 13:02:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Iaso Therapeutics closed the first tranche of the company's $1.25 million series seed preferred round of financing.


African tech ecosystem raised $6.5 billion in 2022, report
Published: 25-01-2023 | 12:40:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Partech Africa, the VC fund dedicated to technology startups in Africa, has issued its annual report on Africa Tech Venture Capital, which reveals that despite the global VC downturn, the African tech ecosystem grew faster than all other markets globally. 


5 key insurance industry trends in EMEA region according to Plug and Play
Published: 23-01-2023 | 13:50:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Insurance industry trends over the past year have been significant, especially across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region.


YouBiz research reveals key trends and challenges facing Southeast Asian SMEs in 2023
Published: 19-01-2023 | 11:00:00 | By: Pie Kamau
YouBiz, the SME spend management platform by YouTrip, launched its first whitepaper studying emerging business spending trends and key business priorities for SME in 2023.


Innovation scale-up Wazoku launches Mindpool SME to help small businesses capture employee insights
Published: 19-01-2023 | 10:41:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Innovation scale-up Wazoku announced it has launched Mindpool SME, an employee insights dashboard that makes it simpler & faster for SMEs to listen to, understand, and act on employee insights.


Healthcare venture capital fundraising and investment remained strong in 2022, SVB reports
Published: 11-01-2023 | 11:42:00 | By: Pie Kamau
SVB released its 12th annual Healthcare Investments and Exits Report which shows venture capital fundraising and investment persisted in 2022.


Aerospace startup Space Kidz India launches satellite with support from Lumina Datamatics
Published: 05-01-2023 | 11:55:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Lumina Datamatics has partnered with Space Kidz India to launch a satellite into outer space. Launched in 2012, Space Kidz India is an aerospace startup designing, developing, and manufacturing small satellites to provide economical and sustainable access.


For women entrepreneurs, the West is the new promised land, report
Published: 04-01-2023 | 16:40:00 | By: Pie Kamau
America's original Westward Expansion was led by entrepreneurs of the day noticing great economic opportunities out of the West. A study by MerchantMaverick.com shows that a new slew of opportunities are appearing in Western states for women entrepreneurs.


Indian AI-based asset and plant performance startup UptimeAI raises $3.5m funding to expand in the U.S.
Published: 19-12-2022 | 08:44:00 | By: Pie Kamau
UptimeAI, an AI-based digital transformation solution provider for the energy, chemicals, and heavy industries, has raised a total of $3.5 million funding led by Emergent Ventures.


AWARD selects 50 African women for fellowship on improving policy in the agri-food systems
Published: 30-11-2022 | 14:00:00 | By: Bob Koigi
Inspired by the flagship AWARD Fellowship Model, the Gender Responsive Agriculture Systems Policy (GRASP) Fellowship, aims to grow a pool of confident and capable African women to lead policy changes to improve African smallholders’ livelihoods.


New Adevinta Ventures report reveals that B2B Marketplaces outperform other tech segments in VC funding
Published: 25-11-2022 | 09:19:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Adevinta Ventures, the early-stage investment arm of Adevinta, an online classifieds specialist, is launching a new B2B marketplaces report.


[Column] Natalia Ahmadian: Four ways to accelerate tech transfer in Europe
Published: 23-11-2022 | 10:27:41 | By: Pie Kamau
The importance of university spin-offs has been recognized for decades. Several studies showed that Tech Transfer is beneficial for social welfare and entrepreneurial activity


Fintech emerging as Africa’s most vibrant sector, study
Published: 28-10-2022 | 13:42:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Fintech startups in Africa grew 81% in 2021, with South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya emerging as key hubs on the continent, found a Mastercard study on the state of fintech in African markets.


Meet female scientists who develop cellular and gene therapies in China, Jiang and Zhang
Published: 27-10-2022 | 12:16:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Inside Namtai Inno Park in Guangming District hides a low-profile biomedical development firm; Shenzhen Wingor Biotechnology company.


[Startup Interview] Rupinder Pal Singh, CEO, Seasia Infotech, India
Published: 20-10-2022 | 10:31:21 | By: Bob Koigi
Seasia Infotech is an Indian-based company that offers digital solutions to businesses worldwide that help brands leverage design, development processes and software technologies with personalized customer experiences.


Novo Seeds portfolio company NMD Pharma reports positive top-line Phase I/IIa data in myasthenia gravis
Published: 11-10-2022 | 12:46:12 | By: Pie Kamau
Novo Holdings announced that its portfolio company NMD Pharma, reported positive top-line results from a Phase I/IIa clinical trial for its lead asset, NMD670.


India’s AI-enabled network intelligence startup Aprecomm signs a deal to go global
Published: 03-10-2022 | 10:08:00 | By: Bob Koigi
Aprecomm, India’s network intelligence company, has announced its partnership with Singapore-based Technology Distribution Specialists (TDS) for distribution of its Network Intelligence technology.


London-based Pheon Therapeutics launches with $68m financing to advance novel ADC for treatment of solid tumors
Published: 28-09-2022 | 10:49:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Pheon Therapeutics (Pheon), an ADC specialist developing next generation ADCs for a wide range of hard-to-treat cancers has launched, following the closing of a $68 million Series A financing.


[Startup Interview] Yashu Kapila, Founder, BugRaptors, India
Published: 23-09-2022 | 14:13:00 | By: Bob Koigi
The startup provides a highly diversified range of services varying from standard testing services, specialized testing services, to test advisory services. 


India's fruits and vegetables platform Sahyadri Farms raises €40m growth capital to support smallholder farmers
Published: 19-09-2022 | 09:19:00 | By: Pie Kamau
India's integrated platform for fruits and vegetables Sahyadri Farms has raised  €40 million growth capital from a group of impact-focused investors; Incofin, Korys, FMO and Proparco.


French biotech startup Tridek-One closes €16m to develop first-in-class immune checkpoint agonists
Published: 16-09-2022 | 12:07:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Tridek-One, a Paris-based biotech startup specialized in the research and development of CD31 agonists to restore the immune balance, announced it has closed a €16 million financing round led by the Swiss VC Pureos Bioventures.


Finnish biotech startup Onego Bio secures €4.5m additional funding to accelerate Research & Development
Published: 12-09-2022 | 11:57:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Business Finland, a public organization under the Finnish Ministry of Employment and the Economy, has awarded a grant of additional €4.5 million for Onego Bio's research and development work.


BioInnovation Institute announces new cohort of companies entering the Venture Lab program
Published: 07-09-2022 | 12:43:00 | By: Pie Kamau
BioInnovation Institute (BII), an international commercial non-profit foundation incubating and accelerating world-class life science research, announced the latest cohort of participants in its Venture Lab acceleration program for early-stage startups.


Growing need to support recycling even more today
Published: 30-08-2022 | 09:00:00 | By: Bob Koigi
The world is now growing at an even faster rate than it was a decade ago. This rapid growth has not only brought new technology to the world but also a fair square of equal responsibility that needs to be addressed along.


Early-stage startups don't stand to benefit from Inflation Reduction Act, Kruze Consulting
Published: 22-08-2022 | 13:01:00 | By: Pie Kamau
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 doubles the R&D Tax Credit from $250,000 to $500,000, a popular tax credit used by unprofitable startups. However, an analysis by Kruze Consulting shows that the earliest-stage startups will likely not benefit from this increased credit.


BASF Venture Capital and Dutch-based Aqua-Spark invest in Sea6 Energy as part of Series B financing round
Published: 19-08-2022 | 11:32:53 | By: Pie Kamau
BASF Venture Capital, the corporate venture company of BASF SE, Germany, and Aqua-Spark, a Dutch investment fund focusing on the global aquaculture industry, are investing in Sea6 Energy as part of a Series B round.


Immigrants have started more than half of America's billion-dollar startup companies, study
Published: 27-07-2022 | 16:37:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Immigrants have started more than half (319 of 582, or 55%) of America's startup companies valued at $1 billion or more, according to a new study from the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP), a nonpartisan research organization.


Indian no-code mobile startup Plobal raises $8.5m to expand presence in North America
Published: 20-06-2022 | 11:26:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Plobal Apps, a no-code mobile app platform for e-commerce stores, raised $8.5 million, led by Elevation Capital and Bessemer Venture Partners.


Alien Invasive Fruit Flies project comes to the rescue of Southern Africa mango farmers
Published: 20-06-2022 | 10:45:00 | By: Bob Koigi
In a bid to tame the voracious flies, the Alien Invasive Fruit Flies project in Southern Africa has come up with five technologies as part of an integrated pest management (IPM) package.


[Interview] Michelle Matthews, Director, Viridian, South Africa
Published: 14-06-2022 | 17:14:50 | By: Bob Koigi
Following the rising levels of unemployment among young South Africans, the UK-South Africa Tech Hub Launch League initiative undertook a research project.


African tech startup funding will double by 2025, research
Published: 14-06-2022 | 15:18:00 | By: Bob Koigi
African business leaders are forecasting a surge in spending on tech start-ups as foreign direct investment and improved internet connectivity helps establish the continent as a tech superpower, new research for blockchain-based mobile network operator World Mobile shows.


BCG Digital Ventures launches new innovation centers in India and Morocco
Published: 14-06-2022 | 13:15:00 | By: Pie Kamau
BCG Digital Ventures (BCGDV), the corporate innovation and business-building arm of Boston Consulting Group (BCG), is opening innovation centers in New Delhi, Mumbai and Casablanca, Morocco.


Indian data insights startup Synaptic raises $20m Series B funding to accelerate growth
Published: 01-06-2022 | 10:27:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Synaptic, an alternative data insights startup, announced the successful closure of $20 million in Series B funding round led by Valor Equity Partne


Birmingham-based startup Astound raises $1m seed round to improve university access to corporate-sponsored research funding
Published: 01-06-2022 | 09:56:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Astound, a Birmingham-based startup, secured $1 million in seed funding to develop the first marketplace to allow research institutions and universities to easily find corporate sponsors.


Biotech startup Transine Therapeutics closes £13.7m seed round to accelerate its platform and portfolio development
Published: 31-05-2022 | 12:01:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Transine Therapeutics (Transine), a biotechnology company, announced it has successfully raised £4.6 million in additional seed funding.


A5G Networks startup announces funding from Bharat Innovation Fund to accelerate growth
Published: 24-05-2022 | 16:07:00 | By: Pie Kamau
A5G Networks, a player in Distributed and Autonomous 5G Core Network Software for private and public networks, announced an investment by Bharat Innovation Fund, a deeptech focused venture capital fund in India.


Breakthrough Properties raises $3b to develop next-gen life science ecosystems
Published: 03-05-2022 | 16:46:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Breakthrough Properties, a joint venture of Tishman Speyer and Bellco Capital, announced the final closings for the Breakthrough Life Science Property Fund.


French AI startup Kryptview raises $650k in pre-seed to develop community-driven crypto research platform
Published: 25-04-2022 | 13:48:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Kryptview, a collective intelligence platform that provides peer-reviewed research for digital assets, announced the closure of its pre-seed round, raising $650,000 from crypto technology companies.


Startups increasingly use memorable, key-word rich descriptive domain names to stand out from competitors, study
Published: 20-04-2022 | 13:06:00 | By: Pie Kamau
TrueName, a global leader in descriptive domains, announced that more startups are choosing descriptive domains than in previous years per recent data by Marc Köhlbrugge.


What Africa requires to attain sustainable and effective food systems
Published: 07-04-2022 | 11:00:00 | By: Bob Koigi
A variety of factors constrain those who are reliant on farming for their livelihoods – particularly smallholders, including women and youth – from stepping up or stepping in to agriculture.


Swiss edtech startup Alphacruncher raises €1.45m for global rollout of research cloud workspace product
Published: 16-03-2022 | 13:36:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Swiss edtech startup Alphacruncher has raised €1.45 million funding from Austrian venture capital firm Alpine Equity, NGM, private investors and existing users, to enable the global rollout of its education and research cloud workspace product, Nuvolos.


Achieving inclusive cocoa and palm oil commercialization in West Africa
Published: 11-02-2022 | 11:30:00 | By: Bob Koigi
Abugre also noted that questions remain with regards to the future of cocoa production given global price trends, climate change, farmers stepping into the sector, and income distribution effects at the local level.


[Startup Interview] Venkatesh C.R., CEO, Dot Com Infoway, India
Published: 28-01-2022 | 13:43:00 | By: Bob Koigi
Dot Com Infoway (DCI) is a CMMI Level 3 multi-national IT company and a player in custom software development, Web Development, Internet Marketing, Open Source Solutions, mobile application marketing with offices in India and the USA.


Indian mobility tech startup EVage raises $28m to enhance Commercial EV revolution
Published: 17-01-2022 | 11:12:00 | By: Pie Kamau
US-based venture capital firm RedBlue Capital has invested $28 million in EVage, the all-electric commercial vehicle OEM in India supplying EV trucks to major delivery fleets such as Amazon India's Delivery Service Partner.


SaaS management startup Zluri raises $10m Series A funding round to accelerate growth
Published: 11-01-2022 | 10:41:00 | By: Pie Kamau
SaaS Management Platform Zluri has raised $10 million in a Series A round of funding led by MassMutual Ventures with participation from existing investors, Endiya Partners and Kalaari Capital.


Israel tech startups raised $25.4 billion in 2021, report
Published: 03-01-2022 | 09:54:13 | By: Bob Koigi
The unprecedented figure represents a 136% increase over last year, which concluded with a full-year total of $10.8 billion raised.


African scientists make a case for home grown research on continent’s food systems
Published: 24-12-2021 | 12:00:00 | By: Bob Koigi
A storytelling event organized by African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD), saw four accomplished African researchers working on agriculture and food security share their personal journeys in agricultural research, and discuss how they are working to transform farming on the continent.


Nigeria tech startups raised $1.7billion in 2021, report
Published: 20-12-2021 | 14:38:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Since the beginning of 2021, Africa-based tech startups have raised more than $2.9 billion with Nigerian startups which are creating new products, services, and platforms raising $1.7 billion of this total or about 60% of it, a new report has found.


The University of Nairobi and Elgon Kenya to develop agriculture technology and innovation centre
Published: 17-12-2021 | 17:40:11 | By: Bob Koigi
The agriculture sector in Kenya has received a major boost following a partnership between two leading institutions to set up a technology and innovation centre, the first of its kind in East Africa.


Netherlands emerging as 'Hottest Tech Hub' in Europe, not reaching its full potential yet, report
Published: 07-12-2021 | 15:31:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Atomico, an international investment firm that focuses on helping disruptive technology companies scale globally, announced that the Netherlands is emerging as Europe's hottest tech hub.


Bessemer Venture partners raise $220 million to back founders in India
Published: 03-12-2021 | 15:46:28 | By: Bob Koigi
Bessemer Venture Partners has announced the close of a dedicated $220 million fund in India to build on its long-standing success in the country and back the next generation of innovators in India.


Agritech startup FarmSense receives $2.2m SBIR funding for development of biosecurity measures against native and invasive pests
Published: 24-11-2021 | 08:27:00 | By: Pie Kamau
FarmSense, the agritech startup and creator of Smart Flight Sensors, announced it has been awarded Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funds in the amount of more than $2.2 million.


Retail media research startup Future Commerce announces launch of weekly podcast
Published: 20-11-2021 | 12:00:56 | By: Bob Koigi
Infinite Shelf recognizes that digital media and eCommerce tactics and strategies are no longer confined to traditional eCommerce channels and direct-to-consumer.


Illumina and Sequoia Capital select first startups to join Genomics Incubator in China
Published: 18-11-2021 | 08:56:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Illumina and Sequoia Capital China, an investment firm, jointly announced the selection of the first two startup companies joining the Sequoia Capital China Intelligent Healthcare Genomics Incubator, Powered by Illumina.


Robert Bosch Venture Capital GmbH joins Variantyx's $26m Series C funding round
Published: 17-11-2021 | 12:20:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Robert Bosch Venture Capital GmbH, the corporate venture capital company of the Bosch Group, has completed an investment in Variantyx, to improve personalized oncology treatment.


Indian full-stack agritech startup DeHaat raises $115m Series D round
Published: 03-11-2021 | 12:18:00 | By: Pie Kamau
DeHaat, the technology-based platform offering end-to-end agricultural services to farmers in India, announced it has raised $115 million in Series D funding, led by Belgium based investment firm Sofina and Lightrock India.


Indian e-Commerce startup LoveLocal raises $18m Pre-Series B investment round to accelerate growth
Published: 29-10-2021 | 16:33:00 | By: Pie Kamau
LoveLocal, India's hyper-local e-Commerce platform empowering local retailers, has raised $18 million in a Pre-Series B investment round.


Indian education infrastructure startup Teachmint raises $78m Series B round to accelerate growth
Published: 26-10-2021 | 07:48:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Teachmint, the education infrastructure startup and the creator of India's largest teaching platform, raised $78 million in Series B round led by Rocketship.vc and Vulcan Capital.


SaaS startup ProfitWheel secures $3m investment
Published: 22-10-2021 | 14:00:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Following close on the heels of its US operations launch in September 2021, SaaS startup ProfitWheel announced securing a total capital raise of $3 million.


North Carolina's SAS and Pappas Capital partner to propel agritech startups with analytics
Published: 21-10-2021 | 13:04:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Two North Carolina companies, analytics leader SAS and venture investment firm Pappas Capital, are joining forces to help advance the state as a global leader in agricultural technology.


Indian edtech startup ConveGenius raises $5m pre Series A funding to accelerate growth
Published: 19-10-2021 | 09:04:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Indian edtech startup ConveGenius AI has raised $5 million in Venture Capital funding to grow its conversational AI platform in India and South-East Asian markets.


India car search startup CarDekho joins unicorn club after $250 million fundraise
Published: 13-10-2021 | 14:08:06 | By: Bob Koigi
It is the largest ever fundraise by CarDekho and the proceeds will be used to accelerate CarDekho’s growth in the Used Car transactions, Financial services and insurance businesses.


Start-Up Nation Central signs MoU with TiE to boost technological innovation of Israeli and Indian startups
Published: 07-10-2021 | 11:40:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Israeli not-for-profit Start-Up Nation Central signed a Memorandum of Understanding with TiE to achieve full implementation of sustainable Israeli and Indian technologies in the foodtech sector.


Biotech startup Elevian raises $40m Series A to advance treatments for stroke recovery and age-related diseases
Published: 17-09-2021 | 12:24:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Elevian, an emerging biotech company developing medicines that restore youthful regenerative capacity with the potential to treat and prevent multiple age-related diseases, announced it raised $40 million in an oversubscribed Series A round led by Prime Movers Lab.


ITRI partners with Arm to provide resources for innovative IC design startups in Taiwan
Published: 15-09-2021 | 16:49:37 | By: Pie Kamau
To promote Taiwanese local IC design startups, the Industrial Development Bureau (IDB) under the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) is supporting the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) and Arm, in providing critical resources.


Israeli startup Quantum Machines raises $50m to make quantum computers ubiquitous and disruptive across all industries
Published: 07-09-2021 | 15:07:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Tel Aviv based startup Quantum Machines, creator of the Quantum Orchestration Platform, announced it has secured $50 million in Series B funding to expand its growth into quantum cloud computing and drive its worldwide distribution.


CB Insights launches algorithm to score the quality of startup's founding and management team
Published: 02-09-2021 | 13:05:15 | By: Pie Kamau
CB Insights, which enables world's leading companies to make smarter technology decisions, announced Management Mosaic, the first-ever algorithm to demystify the quality of a startup's founding and management team.


Next-gen research platform Litmaps closes $125K seed-stage investment from Quidnet Ventures
Published: 02-09-2021 | 12:55:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Litmaps, a Science software company based in Wellington, New Zealand has received NZ$125,000 in funding from Quidnet Ventures, a New Zealand-based venture capital fund with operations in Auckland, NZ, San Francisco and New York.


Financials, ICT remain the most attractive sectors for VC investment in Africa, report
Published: 07-07-2021 | 08:34:56 | By: Bob Koigi
Mapping Africa’s startup landscape between 2014 and 2020, the report provides data and analysis on venture capital (VC) deal activity in Africa in 2020 along with information about the types of investors that have participated in those deals.


AI startup LLENA (AI) partners with Southern University to support (USDA/NIFA) Agriculture and Food Research Initiative
Published: 29-06-2021 | 14:24:00 | By: Pie Kamau
LLENA (AI) Health Solutions, announced a partnership with Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana to support their "Center of Excellence for Nutrition, Health, Wellness, and Quality of Life" initiative to address diet-related health disparities.


Catalyst Fund announces Circle of Corporate Innovators to accelerate startup-corporate partnerships
Published: 29-06-2021 | 13:23:16 | By: Pie Kamau
Global inclusive tech accelerator Catalyst Fund, managed by BFA Global, today formally announced its Circle of Corporate Innovators, with its first members, Fidelity Bank, Ecobank, Sterling Bank, Access Bank and the VFD Group.


The nexus between gender-responsive research and agricultural productivity in Africa
Published: 27-05-2021 | 11:15:00 | By: Bob Koigi
Smallholder farmers across Africa are looking to science to boost farm productivity and to tackle emerging threats, partiuclarly with regards to climate change and pandemics as demonstrated by COVID-19, the report further noted.


Fact.MR redefines the way startups access market research
Published: 21-04-2021 | 12:54:00 | By: Pie Kamau
The number one reason for startup failure isn't lack of funding or stiff competition. The main reason is 'misreading market demand'. Therefore, it becomes important for startups to thoroughly research the market.


Indian fintech startup Avanti raises $26m in Series A funding round to further invest in its digital tech platform
Published: 13-04-2021 | 11:15:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Indian fintech company Avanti Finance (Avanti) secured $26 million in debt and equity from Oikocredit, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Nomura and the family office of Pratul Shroff.


CRIO secures Series A financing to accelerate growth, platform development
Published: 16-03-2021 | 15:10:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Clinical Research IO (CRIO), a Boston-based technology firm offering clinical research sponsors and sites a platform to streamline clinical trials, announced the completion of a $3.5 million Series A round led by Rally Ventures.


Edtech startup Quizizz raises $12.5m in Series A to empower teachers around the world
Published: 09-03-2021 | 13:51:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Quizizz, an edtech startup with a presence in India and the U.S., announced a $12.5 million Series A funding round led by Eight Roads Ventures with participation from GSV Ventures, Rocketship VC and existing investors Nexus Venture Partners.


Tech startup Mokusei offers 100% funding aid for individuals to cover their education and travel expenses
Published: 04-03-2021 | 12:14:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Incorporated on 17 Feb 2021, Mokusei Intelligence (Mokusei), is a social impact & education centric tech startup focused on developing AI/ML based algorithms and solutions.


Indian tech startup Mokusei announces $500 Press Challenge
Published: 04-03-2021 | 10:29:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Social impact & education centric tech startup Mokusei Intelligence (Mokusei), which funds & sponsors up to 100% of education or travel expenses of people, is on the lookout for talented communicators for their upcoming projects.


From grass to cash: Harnessing the power of climate smart forage grasses in Western Kenya
Published: 25-02-2021 | 08:45:00 | By: Bob Koigi
Kenyan researchers have been working with farmers in Western Kenya to test new varieties of fodder grasses known to have higher protein, low fiber and are fast maturing.


Investment in Forward BIOLABS paying off for bioscience startups
Published: 19-02-2021 | 12:02:04 | By: Pie Kamau
Forward BIOLABS, a co-working life science lab that helps bioscience startups grow, is celebrating early successes and honoring the companies that support the organization.


Boast.AI secures $100m to fuel R&D tax credit-based financing for startups
Published: 18-02-2021 | 09:14:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Boast.ai, a software innovator whose flagship product automates the complex process of applying for R&D tax credits, secured a $100 million credit facility from Brevet Capital, a leading alternative credit investment and specialty finance firm.


Vested Finance raises $3.6m to bring U.S. stocks to Indian investors
Published: 10-02-2021 | 13:07:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Vested Finance, a Silicon Valley-based online investment platform that enables Indian investors to invest in the U.S. stock market, announced it has raised a $3.6 million seed funding round.


Investcorp acquires SaaS based e-commerce solutions provider Unilog
Published: 20-01-2021 | 12:38:04 | By: Bob Koigi
Investcorp has announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Unilog, a Software as a Service (SaaS) based e-commerce solutions provider to small and medium businesses based in the United States.


Indian food and grocery e-commerce startup Jumbotail secures $14.2m Series B3 funding from VII Ventures
Published: 18-01-2021 | 16:44:00 | By: Pie Kamau
India's food and grocery e-commerce and new retail platform Jumbotail secured a $14.2 million Series B3 funding from VII Ventures (Seven Ventures).


Kinyungu Ventures calls for changes to cut-and-paste VC strategy in Africa
Published: 18-01-2021 | 16:14:00 | By: Pie Kamau
A new White Paper published by East African venture advisory firm Kinyungu Ventures shows there continues to be a wide misalignment between traditional venture capital models and the African market.


CropIn raises $20 million funding to deepen machine learning application in agriculture
Published: 14-01-2021 | 12:14:49 | By: Bob Koigi
CropIn, a global artificial intelligence and data-led agri-tech organization empowering stakeholders to reimagine agriculture with data, has raised $20 million in a Series C funding.


US venture exit value achieved $290 billion in 2020 alongside record years for investment and fundraising activity, report
Published: 14-01-2021 | 11:10:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Though the past year had a lot of uncertainty brought on by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the US VC industry demonstrated its resilience and long-term mindset, achieving new records in total exit value, deal value and capital raised by VC funds.


Egypt’s life science startup Nawah Scientific raises $1m round for market expansion
Published: 13-01-2021 | 08:22:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Egyptian life science startup Nawah Scientific announced the the closing a second pre-series A round of $1 million in mixed equity and debt capital, raising its total funding to $2 million.


India's Z3Partners announces first close of Tech & Digital Fund, invests in Cyfirma and DealShare startups
Published: 12-01-2021 | 10:36:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Z3Partners Tech Fund announced its First Close of $14 million and its investments in Cyfirma, a Cyber Threat Intelligence Software startup and DealShare, a Social Commerce-led online grocery startup.


Iron Pillar invests $4 million in cloud governance startup CoreStack
Published: 03-12-2020 | 13:48:26 | By: Bob Koigi
Iron Pillar, a venture growth investor backing companies built from India, has announced a $4 million investment in CoreStack, a cloud governance and compliance SaaS startup based in Seattle with development in Chennai.


Pet supply startup Petpal raises capital via equity crowdfunding to expand e-Commerce operations in India
Published: 01-12-2020 | 12:29:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Pet supply startup Petpal has developed a one-stop platform for pet owners to get the food, medicine, and accessories they need to keep their pets happy and healthy.


CerraCap Ventures, Exfinity Venture Partners join forces for new growth
Published: 30-11-2020 | 13:48:00 | By: Pie Kamau
CerraCap Ventures and Exfinity Venture Partners announced their global strategic partnership integrating CerraCap's unique Sales & Scale model with Exfinity's stated vision helping develop global enterprise startups leveraging the Indo-US corridor.


October Startup Sentiment Index shows three-month trend in advancing startup timelines
Published: 12-11-2020 | 12:57:50 | By: Pie Kamau
The number of respondents agreeing that now is a good time to start a business reached a three-month high at 60.6% in October.


Medtech startup Immertec partners with Orthopaedic Foundation to demonstrate effectiveness of VR surgical training
Published: 12-11-2020 | 12:42:56 | By: Pie Kamau
Orthopaedic Foundation has partnered with medtech startup Immertec, to conduct research to evaluate the effectiveness of VR for remote surgical training.


Nearly 60% of startup founders say operating costs are their top spending priority in the first quarter
Published: 11-11-2020 | 14:03:00 | By: Pie Kamau
While the long-term economic effect of the COVID-19 pandemic is still unknown, the remote work period has forced startups to adjust their spending priorities, according to a new survey from Clutch, a B2B ratings and reviews platform.


Mohammed VI Polytechnic University partners with Plug and Play to launch accelerator programme in Morocco
Published: 09-11-2020 | 09:13:33 | By: Pie Kamau
Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), an academic and research institution, has partnered with global innovation platform, Plug and Play, to launch an Open Innovation Hub in Morocco, with the support of OCP Group.


[Algeria] Sonatrach invests in university incubator for startups
Published: 22-10-2020 | 08:17:00 | By: Bob Koigi
Algeria state owned oil company Sonatrach has partnered with the National Agency for the Promotion of Research and Technological Development Results (ANVREDET), to establish a university incubator for start-ups.


[Startup Interview] Nitin Shingote,Nilesh Shingote, Founders, PropCheckup, India
Published: 14-10-2020 | 10:47:00 | By: Bob Koigi
PropCheckup is an Indian home inspection startup that has monitors over 100 property checkpoints and provides a detailed home inspection report which snags hidden issues like seepage, electrical faults, water leakage, wall dampening, carpet areas shortage and plumbing issues.


[Startup Interview] Muhammed Haleel, Founder, Expatriates.io, India
Published: 09-10-2020 | 16:50:00 | By: Bob Koigi
Indian-based startup Expatriates.io sells premium job posting and resume features to employers and companies. Its website has established a footprint in 249 countries. Muhammed Haleel the company’s founder explains the business model.


Unacademy acquires exam prep startup Coursavy
Published: 25-09-2020 | 12:23:17 | By: Bob Koigi
India edtech company Unacademy has acquired Coursavy, a platform for Union Public Service, UPSC exams preparation.


Servify raises $23 million financing for global expansion
Published: 25-09-2020 | 12:04:14 | By: Bob Koigi
Servify, the Indian-based device lifecycle management platform that integrates multiple OEM Brands and their sales and service ecosystem to deliver great after-sales service experience has announced that it has raised $23 million.


Amsterdam based startup Zeta Alpha launches AI platform to help experts navigate new research
Published: 22-09-2020 | 13:00:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Amsterdam based startup Zeta Alpha is launching AI Research Navigator, a new deep learning-based search platform, to help AI experts navigate new research.


Zuper raises $1.1 million seed funding to boost its workforce management Saas platform
Published: 19-09-2020 | 10:29:03 | By: Bob Koigi
Zuper, provider of an intelligent workforce and customer management platform has raised $1.1 million in seed funding.


[Startup Interview] Mangaldas Gupta, CEO, Magma Ash Tech, India
Published: 13-08-2020 | 12:13:00 | By: Bob Koigi
Magma Ash Tech is an Indian startup involved in the procurement, processing and export of Flyas, one of the residues produced during combustion of coal. Fly ash is used mainly as a bonding agent mainly in cement plants, ready mix concrete units, manufacture of blocks, bricks and boards.


London based health tech startup Closed Loop Medicine secures £250,000 Innovate UK continuity funding
Published: 24-07-2020 | 15:46:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Closed Loop Medicine (CLM), London based therapeutics and health tech company has secured a £250,000 COVID-19 Innovate UK Continuity Funding award to support its ongoing clinical research programme.


Quantum technology startup Q-CTRL enters global partnership with Advanced Navigation
Published: 22-07-2020 | 10:40:33 | By: Bob Koigi
Q-CTRL, a startup that applies the principles of control engineering to accelerate the development of quantum technology, has partnered with Advanced Navigation, a leader in AI-based navigational hardware.


AI startup Deep Longevity launches with Series A financing
Published: 22-07-2020 | 10:31:00 | By: Bob Koigi
Deep Longevity, a biotechnology company transforming longevity R&D through AI-discovered biomarkers of aging, has come out of stealth from Insilico Medicine with financing from prominent investors worldwide.


Dutch online startup, scale-up community funds international research into COVID-19
Published: 20-07-2020 | 15:56:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Eighteen entrepreneurs from the Dutch online startup and scale-up community are joining forces to finance an international study by Erasmus MC into the clinical picture of COVID-19.


Microsoft and Accenture partner on startup challenge to accelerate innovation in ecosystem
Published: 09-07-2020 | 15:36:27 | By: Bob Koigi
Microsoft’s 100X100X100 program is collaborating with Accenture to host the third edition of the Accenture Ventures Challenge for startups in India.


Catalyst Fund announces seventh cohort of inclusive fintech startups
Published: 09-07-2020 | 15:35:37 | By: Bob Koigi
Catalyst Fund, the global inclusive fintech accelerator, has announced that six new fintech startups, from Nigeria, South Africa, Mexico and India are joining its existing portfolio of 31 companies.


[Startup Interview] Rajat Dayal, CEO, Yabx, India
Published: 07-07-2020 | 11:57:00 | By: Bob Koigi
Yabx targets the unbanked population in the emerging markets of Africa, Asia, and Latin America by leveraging the digital footprints of an individual and providing tailor-made financial services. The startup’s founder and CEO Rajat Dayal explains.


UNICEF Cryptocurrency Fund announces investment for startups in developing, emerging economies
Published: 23-06-2020 | 10:00:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Eight technology companies in developing and emerging economies will receive investment from the UNICEF Cryptocurrency Fund (CryptoFund) to solve local and global challenges.


[Startup Interview] Veer Varma, Founder, CoachDirect, India
Published: 16-06-2020 | 12:31:09 | By: Bob Koigi
CoachDirect is an Indian-based startup that works with schools and gated communities by providing sports, wellness and life coaching services. The startup CEO Veer Varma elaborates.


India’s Ola Electric acquires Dutch scooter startup Etergo
Published: 27-05-2020 | 15:06:00 | By: Bob Koigi
Ola Electric, an offshoot of Indian ride-hailing company Ola, has acquired Etergo BV, an innovative electric scooter OEM, based out of Amsterdam, the Netherlands.


[Startup Interview] Jose Dalappan, CEO, Costral Corporate Strategic Lab, India
Published: 27-04-2020 | 09:19:00 | By: Bob Koigi
Costral Corporate Strategic Lab is an India-based management consulting startup working with organizations in marketability of their product from market survey and other tools, branding and and business development. The company also assists businesses to re-vamp their business model.