Tag Resultaten

Published: 06-04-2018 16:44:00 | By: Nico Scherphuis | hits: 3789977 | 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.




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. 




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.


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.


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


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.


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).


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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 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.


Fintech startup Able raises $3.2m seed round to power the new creator economy
Published: 29-10-2021 | 16:21:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Able, the first income management platform designed for the new economy of independent workers has raised $3.29 million in seed funding led by Elefund with additional backing from Moonshots Capital.


P&G Ventures invites entries for its next Innovation Challenge
Published: 29-10-2021 | 16:05:09 | By: Pie Kamau
P&G Ventures, the early-stage startup studio within Procter & Gamble, announced the call for entries for its next Innovation Challenge.


Chinese SEI Robotics partners with Silicon Valley's Medtrics to bring telemedicine service to Android TV
Published: 29-10-2021 | 15:44:00 | By: Pie Kamau
SEI Robotics, a global innovator of smart IOT devices & provider of Android TV platforms for Pay-TV operators (MVPD), announced its strategic partnership with Medtrics, the Silicon Valley startup, player of digital health service.


Spiceware startup selected as finalist of UK's Trade's Global Fintech Competition
Published: 29-10-2021 | 15:20:55 | By: Pie Kamau
Spiceware, a cloud-based data security company and a member of Born2Global Centre, was selected as the "Joint Winner" at the Global Fintech Competition 2021 hosted by the British Ministry of International Trade (DIT).


Nigerian Auto financing startup Autochek secures $13.1m seed funding to deepen West African footprint
Published: 28-10-2021 | 16:55:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Autochek, the Nigerian automotive startup which recently expanded to Kenya, has secured $13.1 million in seed funding.


South African e-Health startup RecoMed concludes $1.5m funding round to scale its online healthcare marketplace
Published: 28-10-2021 | 16:44:00 | By: Pie Kamau
RecoMed, the online healthcare marketplace and booking platform in sub-Saharan Africa concluded a highly successful funding round of $1.5 million with a strong and diversified group of leading local and international investors.


JICA kicks off 2nd Cohort of its NINJA Accelerator in Kenya
Published: 28-10-2021 | 16:35:00 | By: Pie Kamau
The NINJA Accelerator in Kenya, powered by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in partnership with Double Feather Partners, Deloitte Tohmatsu and Kenyan implementation partner GrowthAfrica, is kicking off its 2nd cohort with five tech-enabled Kenyan startups.


Biotech startup Shiru closes $17m Series A to develop novel plant-based food ingredients
Published: 28-10-2021 | 09:32:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Shiru, a biotech startup that identifies and creates novel plant-based ingredients for the global food industry, closed a $17 million Series A round led by S2G Ventures and joined by returning investors Lux Capital, CPT Capital, Y Combinator, and Emles Venture Partners.


Chinese autonomous driving startup WeRide releases next-gen small, lightweight Sensor Suite 4.0
Published: 28-10-2021 | 09:15:00 | By: Pie Kamau
WeRide, a Chinese L4 autonomous driving company released WeRide Sensor Suite 4.0 (Suite 4.0), marking another key step towards the mass production of self-driving vehicles.


Abacus.AI startup raises $50m Series C funding, releases Computer Vision as a Service
Published: 28-10-2021 | 09:05:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Abacus.AI startup announced $50 million Series C funding from Tiger Global, Coatue, Index Ventures, and Alkeon. As part of this release, the company also announced support for Computer Vision use-cases.


London-based scale-up Wazoku acquires Colombian open innovation crowd Channge
Published: 28-10-2021 | 08:37:03 | By: Pie Kamau
London-based Innovation scale-up Wazoku has continued its global expansion and extended its reach into Latin America with the acquisition of Colombian open innovation crowd Channge.


Female-founded winery startup BOXT raises $9.35m to expand luxury brand of fine wine offerings
Published: 28-10-2021 | 08:13:00 | By: Pie Kamau
BOXT, the female-founded, direct-to-consumer winery, announced it has raised $9.35 million in equity and debt funding to drive the continued expansion of its luxury brand of fine wine offerings.


JAY-Z's VC firm Marcy Venture Partners invests in Iddris Sandu's impact-driven tech incubator, spatial LABS
Published: 26-10-2021 | 11:43:00 | By: Pie Kamau
JAY-Z's venture capital firm Marcy Venture Partners (MVP) has invested in 24 year-old technologist Iddris Sandu's impact-driven tech incubator: spatial LABS (sLABS).


Chinese startup MioTech raises additional financing to develop sustainability innovations that support net-zero global economy
Published: 26-10-2021 | 11:22:07 | By: Pie Kamau
MioTech announced it has secured investments to further its commitment to develop sustainability innovations that support a net-zero global economy.


Asymmetric Capital Partners launches $105m debut fund to invest in B2B startups
Published: 26-10-2021 | 10:50:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Asymmetric Capital Partners (Asymmetric), a new venture capital firm helmed by Rob Biederman, Co-founder, Chairman, and former co-CEO of Catalant Technologies, announced the close of its oversubscribed first fund at $105 million.


Seed-stage VC firm Cove Fund announces $30m third venture fund to invest in Southern California ecosystem
Published: 26-10-2021 | 09:28:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Cove Fund, a seed-stage venture capital firm that invests in the Southern California startup economy, announced the launch of its third fund, Cove Fund III.


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.


Pan-African fintech startup Payday joins Techstars Toronto Accelerator program
Published: 22-10-2021 | 14:34:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Payday, a Pan-African fintech startup announced it has joined Techstars Toronto Accelerator program.


Israeli mobile app startup Bites raises $5m seed funding for next-gen employee-communications and training application
Published: 22-10-2021 | 14:17:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Bites, a game-changing player in the employee communications and training industry, announced the completion of its seed funding round, raising $5 million.


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.


Healthtech startup Medicardia closes $3m post seed round to accelerate growth
Published: 22-10-2021 | 13:35:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Medicardia Health announced it has raised $3 million in its first major financing round. Founded in 2020, the company was initially bootstrapped by CEO and Founder Indrajit Choudhuri and associates, and was provided seed capital by angel investor Jeff Rusinow.


Basel-based DayOne Accelerator launches call for digital health startups
Published: 22-10-2021 | 13:19:00 | By: Pie Kamau
DayOne, the healthcare innovation initiative based in Switzerland, announced the extended deadline for the global call for its digital health accelerator to Friday, 5 November 2021.


MFS Africa signs agreement to acquire Nigerian fintech startup Baxi
Published: 22-10-2021 | 13:05:27 | By: Pie Kamau
Pan-African digital payments hub MFS Africa signed an agreement to acquire Baxi, one of Nigeria's super-agent networks. The deal, which is subject to approval from the Central Bank of Nigeria, will be the second highest fintech acquisition in Nigeria to date.


Nigerian fintech startup Brass secures $1.7m financing round
Published: 22-10-2021 | 12:57:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Brass, a Nigerian digital bank delivering easy access to affordable premium banking services for SMEs, secured $1.7 million in funding to address the heavily underserved banking needs of local entrepreneurs, traders, and fast-growing businesses.


London-based AI startup Humanising Autonomy raises $11m Series A funding to change how machines understand people globally
Published: 21-10-2021 | 14:10:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Humanising Autonomy, a behaviour AI company using modular, low-power computer vision technology to ethically understand and predict human behaviour raised an $11 million Series A funding round.


South Korean startup Humelo receives $2.6m pre-series A funding for AI voice synthesis solution
Published: 21-10-2021 | 13:42:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Humelo, a South Korean startup that specializes in AI-based voice synthesis solutions and a member of Born2Global Centre, recently received a pre-series A investment of $2.6 million (KRW 3 billion) from KT Investment and Kakao Investment.


Texas-based fintech startup CollateralEdge emerges from stealth with an oversubscribed $3.5m seed round
Published: 21-10-2021 | 13:24:00 | By: Pie Kamau
CollateralEdge, a Texas-based fintech company providing banks with a risk-mitigation tool to efficiently increase lending capacity without compromising credit quality, emerges from stealth mode with an oversubscribed $3.5 million seed round.


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.


Chinese autonomous driving startup WeRide named "AutoTech Startup of the Year" in 2021 AutoTech Breakthrough Awards Program
Published: 21-10-2021 | 12:49:00 | By: Pie Kamau
WeRide, a world autonomous driving company, has been named "AutoTech Startup of the Year" in the annual AutoTech Breakthrough Awards conducted by market intelligence organization AutoTech Breakthrough.


Slovenian healthtech startup MESI selected to join Google for Startups Accelerator, Europe
Published: 20-10-2021 | 15:57:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Slovenian healthtech startup MESI has been selected to join the Google for Startups Accelerator, Europe. The current three-month Google Accelerator programme brings together 15 of the most promising European tech startups in healthcare and well-being.


Tech-enabled PR startup Press Hook secures $1.5m funding to accelerate growth
Published: 20-10-2021 | 15:40:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Press Hook, a Brooklyn based, tech-enabled, public relations platform, announced $1.5 million in venture-funding after a successful year of growth, led by Emergent Ventures, The Fund and TnT Ventures.


Subscription Management startup Chargebee partners with Worldline to improve customer engagement and retention
Published: 20-10-2021 | 15:28:51 | By: Pie Kamau
Worldline and Chargebee announced collaboration to provide an end-to-end payment, subscription and revenue operations solution for merchants operating in a subscription model.


Nortal acquires minority stake in cybersecurity startup Talgen
Published: 20-10-2021 | 15:19:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Digital transformation company Nortal has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire minority stake in the cybersecurity startup Talgen to bolster cybersecurity capabilities and unlock new opportunities in Europe, North America, and the GCC countries.


Israeli deep learning development startup Deci raises $21m to accelerate commercial growth
Published: 20-10-2021 | 15:03:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Deci, the deep learning development company that helps enterprises build, optimize, and deploy AI to production, announced it has raised a $21 million Series A round led by New York-based global private equity and venture capital firm Insight Partners.


[Startup Interview] Adedokun Muhammed-Ali Adedeji, Founder, Brightcloud Automobile, Nigeria
Published: 20-10-2021 | 11:34:20 | By: Bob Koigi
Adedokun Muhammed-Ali Adedeji is a Nigerian innovator, entrepreneur and logistics manager. A green mobility advocate, Adedokun is the founder of Brightcloud Automotive.


Israeli bio-convergence startup X-trodes completes $4.5m seed round to improve quality of life, reduce hospital workload
Published: 19-10-2021 | 09:24:00 | By: Pie Kamau
X-trodes, a bio-convergence company that developed wearable technology for advanced electrophysiological measurement and analytics, has raised a $4.5 million seed round to improve the quality of life and reduce hospital workload


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.


Berlin-based on-demand delivery startup Gorillas secures close to $1b Series C funding, the largest European round in its sector to date
Published: 19-10-2021 | 08:45:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Gorillas, the European market player in instant on-demand grocery delivery, has successfully raised close to $1 billion in Series C funding round, being the largest funding of a non-listed business Europe's grocery delivery sector has seen to date.


Nigerian e-Commerce startup Sendbox raises $1.8m to digitize deliveries for African SMEs
Published: 19-10-2021 | 08:01:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Nigerian e-Commerce fulfillment startup Sendbox announced the completion of $1.8 million seed round from investors including 4DX Ventures, Enza Capital, FJLabs and Golden Palm Investments.


Google selects nine Kenyan startups to receive equity-free funding via its Africa Investment Fund
Published: 19-10-2021 | 07:40:00 | By: Pie Kamau
During its very first “Google for Africa” event held early this month, Google announced it will be investing up to $50 million in African early- and growth-stage startups via its Africa Investment Fund.


Paris-based music experience startup Stage11 raises €5m seed round to reimagine music for the metaverse
Published: 15-10-2021 | 12:29:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Immersive music experience startup Stage11 announced it has raised a €5 million euro seed round led by Otium Capital, a European venture capital fund, backed up by founder and CEO, Jonathan Belolo.


Canadian energy startup Pani secures $8m to scale up AI solution to improve water and energy efficiency in water treatment facilities
Published: 15-10-2021 | 12:01:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Pani, a Canadian software-as-a-service (SaaS) company, announced the completion of an oversubscribed $8 million CAD capital raise.


Insurance startup Branch partners with SimpliSafe to offer proactive protection, affordable home ssecurity to its members
Published: 15-10-2021 | 11:43:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Branch, the startup that pioneered instantly-bundled home and auto insurance, announced a partnership with SimpliSafe, maker of security systems, to offer its members significant discounts on their home insurance.


Global early-stage venture capital firm Antler raises over $300m, expands investment focus to Series C
Published: 15-10-2021 | 11:16:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Global early-stage venture capital firm Antler announced it has closed over $300m to date, allowing it an opportunity to provide continued support to its companies in subsequent funding rounds.


Google to invest $50m equity-based fund in African startups
Published: 15-10-2021 | 10:57:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Tech giant Google announced it plans to invest up to $50 million in African early- and growth-stage startups via its Africa Investment Fund.


Pan-African fintech startup Carbon partners with Network International to boost digital payment offering
Published: 15-10-2021 | 10:46:07 | By: Pie Kamau
Pan-African fintech startup and digital bank Carbon Bank has partnered with Network International, an enabler of digital commerce across Africa and the Middle East, as part of its plan to boost its digital payment offering.


African fintech startup Payday raises $1m pre-seed to build Africa’s PayPal
Published: 15-10-2021 | 10:38:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Payday, a Pan-African financial technology company has raised one million dollars to build out what they believe will be the “PayPal” for Africa.


[Startup Interview] Femi Apesin, OnePipe Growth & Marketing Lead, Nigeria
Published: 08-10-2021 | 14:07:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Femi Apesin is the Head of Growth and Marketing at OnePipe, a Nigerian startup that has raised almost US$1 million in a pre-seed round with a plan to make API integration seamless for banks and fintech companies.


Berlin-based startup Made of Air raises €5m seed round to make thermoplastics for Audi, H&M Group and other companies
Published: 08-10-2021 | 13:54:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Made of Air, the carbon negative materials startup that turns wood waste into thermoplastics, announced a €5 million in seed funding, led by Norwegian sustainability-focused family fund.


Israeli startup RepAir Carbon closes $1.5m seed round to develop cell for modular Direct Air Capture
Published: 08-10-2021 | 13:37:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Israeli startup RepAir Carbon closed a $1.5m seed round to develop cell for modular Direct Air Capture inspired by fuel cell technology. The seed funding will allow the RepAir team to refine the company's existing prototype cell.


Singapore gaming startup OP Games raises $8.6m to bridge game developers to Web 3.0
Published: 08-10-2021 | 13:16:00 | By: Pie Kamau
OP Games, a startup that enables game developers to monetize their work using Web 3.0, raised $8.6 million of seed funding.


APX Platform announces oversubscribed seed round investments by 20% within 60 days
Published: 08-10-2021 | 13:06:00 | By: Pie Kamau
APX Platform, the aesthetic industry's only cloud-based, business intelligence, training, educational and data analytics platform for aesthetic practices, has oversubscribed its seed round investments by 20 percent within 60 days.


Singapore cybersecurity startup BitTrap develops detection technology to address surge in cyberattacks
Published: 07-10-2021 | 13:52:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Singapore cybersecurity startup BitTrap announced a blockchain-based cybersecurity solution that leverages attackers' motivations to provide singular detection capabilities.


MXP Ventures announces $10m venture capital fund to propel next-gen of agency startups
Published: 07-10-2021 | 13:43:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Global incubator MXP Ventures announced the establishment of a $10 million venture fund to invest in new agency startups globally. The fund will focus on building and rapidly scaling new agencies across the marketing services spectrum.


French real-time engagement startup Sparkup expands in the Middle East
Published: 07-10-2021 | 12:59:47 | By: Pie Kamau
Sparkup, a French startup specializing in real-time engagement solutions, has chosen to expand in the Middle East and will introduce its latest innovations at GITEX and CABSAT in Dubai.


South Korean startup Aniai to participate in Microsoft for Startups Global Grand Final program
Published: 07-10-2021 | 12:25:31 | By: Pie Kamau
Korean startup Aniai, a member of Born2Global Centre, got selected as one of the 10 companies that will participate in Microsoft for Startups. Aniai has developed a labor solution for quick service restaurants by building a robotic kitchen.


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.


Westchester Angels announces first exit opportunity, parlays early fintech investment into major win
Published: 06-10-2021 | 14:46:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Investment group Westchester Angels announced its first exit opportunity, providing significant returns to a group of local investors and highlighting their intuition for spotting growth opportunities.


PHYTunes startup closes $1.5m seed round to develop solution for full 5G inside residential, commercial buildings
Published: 06-10-2021 | 14:32:00 | By: Pie Kamau
PHYTunes, a player in 5G at the Edge and wireless-wireline convergence, announced it has close its seed round of $1.5 million with investors Deutsche Telekom´s hub:raum.


Rendered.ai startup raises $6m to expand developer framework for synthetic data
Published: 06-10-2021 | 14:14:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Rendered.ai announced the closing of a $6 million seed round to expand staffing and operations to scale up the Rendered.ai Platform as a Service that supports data scientists, engineers, and business innovators.


Dalan Animal Health startup raises $1.9m seed funding for development of a breakthrough honeybee vaccine
Published: 06-10-2021 | 14:03:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Dalan Animal Health, Inc., a biotech company developing vaccines for new age production animals, announced it has closed funding for a $1.9 million seed round.


Japanese startup Autify raises $10m Series A to advance software testing automation through no-code solution
Published: 06-10-2021 | 13:29:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Autify, a no-code AI-powered software testing automation platform, announced today that it has raised $10 million in Series A funding. Leading the round is World Innovation Lab (WiL).


Hopscotch emerges out of stealth with $3.6m seed funding
Published: 05-10-2021 | 16:52:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Hopscotch, the platform bringing a consumer-like experience to B2B payments, today announced its emergence from stealth with $3.6 million in seed funding led by NOEMIS Ventures and Stellation Capital.


Chargebee startup adds revenue recognition capabilities to solve complex finance challenges for SaaS, subscription-based businesses
Published: 05-10-2021 | 16:40:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Subscription Management startup Chargebee announced its acquisition of revenue recognition platform RevLock to expand the company's product offerings.


European startup CircuitMess partners with Warner Brothers Consumer Products to launch STEM-based autonomous Batmobile
Published: 05-10-2021 | 16:30:26 | By: Pie Kamau
CircuitMess announced its licensing deal with Warner Brothers and its Kickstarter campaign for the CircuitMess Batmobile, designed to teach children seven and up about engineering and autonomous driving.


Insurtech startup VOOM raises $15m to provide usage-based insurance to underserved mobility segments
Published: 05-10-2021 | 16:17:00 | By: Pie Kamau
VOOM, creators of innovative insurance products for underserved mobility segments, announced $15 million in funding to expand its usage-based insurance model to additional mobility verticals.


Global Alts launches Unicorn Technology Fund II to provide investors access to private companies, create technological innovations for the future
Published: 01-10-2021 | 12:07:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Global Alts announced the launch of Unicorn Technology Fund II, to acquire a portfolio of late stage, venture-backed technology companies.


Frame Fitness startup raises $5m seed round to launch at-home digitally-connected pilates reformer
Published: 01-10-2021 | 11:44:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Frame Fitness was met with immediate interest from pioneers in the fitness industry and closed a $5 million seed financing round with substantial oversubscription, to launch first at-home digitally-connected pilates reformer.


UK-based music distribution startup Blarecast Systems closes seed round to harness the power of BSV blockchain
Published: 01-10-2021 | 11:20:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Blarecast Systems, the UK-based startup aiming to provide an elegant and equitable solution for the music industry with BSV blockchain technology, has closed a seed funding round.


German constructiontech startup Schüttflix raises $50m in additional financing, prepares to go international
Published: 01-10-2021 | 10:59:00 | By: Pie Kamau
After delivering more than 100,000 shipments in Germany, constructiontech startup Schüttflix announced it has raised $50 million of additional capital.


Silicon Valley-based VC firm BGV raises $110m to focus on Enterprise AI and cross-border investments
Published: 01-10-2021 | 10:45:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Silicon Valley-based venture capital (VC) firm Benhamou Global Ventures (BGV), which invests in Enterprise 4.0 companies globally, announced its fourth fund, closing at $110 million, 60% larger than its third fund.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.