Tag Resultaten
Kenyan green entrepreneurs mark Day of Zero Waste with festival
The Fest culminated a week-long digital campaign dubbed #BeatPlasticPollution aimed at addressing the plastic pollution menace in Mombasa.
[Kenya] Livestock sector players review investment opportunities, challenges in unique forum
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.
Kenya startups raised the highest amount of funding in Africa in 2023, report
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.
EIB Global announces $30 million investment in Seedstars Africa Ventures I, a VC fund for African entrepreneurs
Innovative businesses and start-ups across Africa will benefit from better access to risk capital thanks to a US$30 million equity investment by EIB Global in the Seedstars Africa Ventures I venture capital fund.
Kenyan climate tech startup Amini raises $4 million seed funding raises to accelerate growth into new sectors
Amini’s successful raise follows a $2 million pre-seed funding round that closed in March 2023. The pre-seed round was led by Pale Blue Dot, backed by Superorganism who also participated in this seed round alongside new investors such as Satgana.
[Kenya] Mombasa innovators showcase green innovations during the royal visit
Mombasa’s young innovators addressing marine plastic pollution caught the attention of King Charles III and Queen Camilla during their royal visit to Kenya.
[Column] Christopher Saul: Kenya’s AI revolution can happen with the IT you already have
AI is set to become the most prolific and impactful technology trend in the world.
STHL East Africa bets on demand for power tools to grow revenues
German power tools manufacturer, STIHL East Africa, has reported a significant increase in revenue in its first year of operation since upgrading its marketing office to a fully-fledged sales subsidiary.
Lipa Later announces close of Sh500 million privately placed debt issuance
According to the company, the journey to empower Kenyan consumers with convenient and accessible financing options has been met with enthusiasm from customers and the private capital markets.
Kenyan insurtech startup Turaco acquires Ghana’s MicroEnsure
Turaco, the Kenyan insurtech startup, has acquired MicroEnsure Ghana from MIC Global.
Five Kenyan cleantech startups selected for JICA’s Project NINJA accelerator
Five Kenyan cleantech startups have been selected for the 3rd cohort of JICA.
STIHL East Africa set to introduce battered powered products
STIHL East Africa has announced plans to introduce battery powered products in the East African Market as the firm celebrates its one year anniversary in the region.
The place of Kenyan startups in growing the medtech sector
Investment in the medical devices segment of Africa’s startup space has the potential to hit $259 billion by 2030. Currently, the sector has attracted $500 million in investments.
Kenyan healthtech startup Zuri Health secures additional investment from Marula Square
Zuri Health has secured additional investment from Marula Square.
Safaricom Shareholders approve two new subsidiaries to invest in Kenyan tech start-ups
These significant developments, approved at Safaricom’s 15th Annual General Meeting (AGM), represent a momentous step towards supporting tech entrepreneurs, fostering innovation, and fortifying Safaricom's role as a key enabler of the Kenyan tech community.
Kenyan households bet on food MSEs for affordable meals
An estimated 60 per cent of rural and urban Kenyan households access their daily meals from micro/small enterprises (MSEs) at local markets.
Kenyan healthtech startup Zuri Health raises undisclosed funding from Five35 Ventures
Kenyan healthtech startup Zuri Health has raised an undisclosed amount of funding.
Kenyan agritech startup Kyosk acquires KwikBasket, expands into fresh produce market
Kenyan agritech startup Kyosk, is expanding into the African fresh produce market.
Kenyan e-Health startup MYDAWA raises $20m funding from Alta Semper Capital
MYDAWA has received $20m capital injection from private equity investor.
Kenyan fashion e-Commerce startup ShopZetu raises pre-seed funding to fuel growth of its marketplace
Kenyan fashion e-Commerce startup ShopZetu has raised $1m pre-seed funding.
Kenyan startup MESH grows to reach 150,000 young entrepreneurs
Kenyan startup MESH, announced it has reached 150,000 members.
Kenyan mobility startup Stima secures €100k investment
Stima Mobility has secured €100,000 investment from DEG Impulse.
[Column] Patrick Ndegwa: Journey to the centre of the cloud; why Kenya should store data locally
Kenyan businesses are migrating to the cloud en masse.
[Interview] Caroline Mutuku, General Manager, Glovo, Kenya
Caroline Mutuku is Kenya's General Manager of multi-category app Glovo.
Fintech firm LemFi expands diaspora remittance services to Kenya
LemFi announced it has formally launched its diaspora remittance services in Kenya.
[Kenya] Entrepreneurs tackling marine plastics problems feted
The awards, which showcased the most effective solutions to tackle Mombasa’s marine plastics problem, were the culmination of a six-month initiative funded by USAID and Global Affairs Canada.
[Column] Mukesh Bector: A simple place to start if you’re lagging on digital transformation
Digital transformation: we’ve all heard the phrase a thousand times.
Nigeria's regtech startup Youverify launches its full cycle compliance solutions in Kenya
Youverify has officially entered the Kenyan market.
[Column] Joanne Mwangi – Yelbert: Entice more women in tech to bridge skills gap and bolster growth
Incredible improvements in tech are rapidly reshaping our world.
STIHL EA to invest Sh100 million to boost local manufacturing
Power tools manufacturer STIHL East Africa has announced it will invest Sh100 million in local accessories manufacturing every year as it seeks to localise its product development in the region.
Kenya's B2B e-Commerce startup Wasoko expands to Zambia
Wasoko has revealed plans to invest over $1 million in Zambia. The B2B retail and e-Commerce made this announcement while announcing its official entry into the Southern African country.
Nigerian fintech startup Grey expands into Kenya
Nigerian fintech startup Grey has picked Kenya as its East African Hub as it expands operations in the largest economy in the East African Community.
Mobile app points Ugandan stakeholders to reliable fisheries data
Trained data collectors consult with fishers to update the easy-to-use app with data such as fish catch quantity, type of fishing nets and boats used, and how much money the fishers expect to earn.
The Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council appoints Elgon Kenya MD for advisory role
The Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, CWEIC, has selected agro input company Elgon Kenya as its strategic partner and appointed its Managing Director Dr. Bimal Kantaria to its global advisory council.
GRASP fellowship invests in African women researchers
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
Factor[e] Ventures launches a new venture studio to transform the African startup ecosystem
Delta40 focuses on technology-driven energy, agriculture, and mobility ventures led by diverse, experienced founders.
Insurtech startup Turaco and Airtel Money launch low-cost hospital cash insurance product in Uganda
Kenyan and Ugandan insurtech startup Turaco, has partnered with Airtel Mobile and Prudential Assurance to launch a low-cost hospital cash insurance product with Funeral Benefit.
[Column] Veerakumar Natarajan: How tech can help stimulate micro economies
Technological progression plays a crucial role in fostering economic growth. A lack of access to technology can hinder local economies, particularly in developing countries such as Kenya and other African nations.
[Column] Didi Onwu: Understanding youth entrepreneurship in Kenya - why fintech is an attractive sector
Boasting one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa, Kenya is on the rise to become a powerhouse of innovation on the continent. This is largely in part due to the country’s thriving culture of entrepreneurship and its significant startup ecosystem.
Elgon Kenya partners with Ministry of Agriculture to reward young farmers
Agro input company Elgon Kenya has partnered with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Education to reward pupils and their teachers for participating in food production in a wider scheme that seeks to motivate school going children into farming.
[Interview] Mikhail Marchenko, Co-founder, JuicyScore, Kenya
Mikhail Marchenko is the Co-founder of JuicyScore, which recently launched its operations in Kenya. JuicyScore offers anti-fraud and risk management solutions to digital lenders, insurance companies, e-commerce and classifieds.
CcHUB launches $15m accelerator for edtech startups in Kenya and Nigeria
Co-Creation Hub (CcHUB), touted as Africa’s largest innovation and incubation hub, announced it is launching a $15 million accelerator program for targeting edtech startups.
Insurtech startup Lami joins forces with Unchorlight to provide insurance covers for Boda Boda riders in Kenya
Digital insurance provider Lami Technologies is partnering with Unchorlight Kenya (UNK), to provide boda boda riders in the country with access to suitable and reliable insurance covers.
Kenyan fintech startup Power Financial raises $3m seed funding to accelerate growth
Power Financial Wellness, a Kenyan fintech startup that seeks to advance the financial well-being of its customers has secured a $3 million seed funding.
Mombasa Plastic Prize selects 60 Kenyan innovators to tackle plastic pollution along the coastline
Aged 18-25, the finalists are grouped into 15 teams and are now in a race to be one of the top three teams to win over KES 7 million of cash prizes. The first-place team will take home KES 3.5 million.
Africa’s mobility startup eWaka secures $540K loan from SECO to accelerate growth
Kenyan mobility solutions provider eWaka has secured a $540K loan from the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) of the Swiss Confederation.
Kenyan government drops fraud charges against Nigerian fintech Flutterwave
The Kenyan government has dropped charges of financial impropriety against Flutterwave, according to a new report by Bloomberg.
Kenyan rural Internet Service Provider Mawingu raises $9m to scale its operations across the country
Rural Internet Service Provider (ISP), Mawingu has raised $9 million in Series B funding to scale its operations across Kenya.
[Startup Interview] Don Okoth, General Manager, Sendy, Kenya
Don Okoth is General Manager for Kenyan Fulfillment and Logistics startup Sendy. In this interview, he talks about the current state of logistics in Kenya and beyond, including Sendy's role in shaping the industry.
Kenyan healthtech startup Zuri Health raises funding to expand across Africa
Kenyan healthtech startup Zuri Health announced it has raised an undisclosed amount of funding from Moroccan VC UM6P Ventures. The funds will be used to support Zuri’s growth and expansion across Africa.
Workstyle Africa and SNDBX launch entrepreneurship centers in East Africa
Serviced office space provider, Workstyle Africa, has partnered with SNDBX International, a business growth ecosystem, to open five one-stop-shop entrepreneurship centres and workspaces in East Africa.
Mobility startup BasiGo and AVA to assemble 1,000 electric buses in Kenya
BasiGo, the Kenyan-based electric manufacturer has partnered with the Associated Vehicle Assemblers (AVA), to assemble its buses in the country.
Kenyan fintech startup Kwara raises $3m seed extension
Kenyan fintech startup Kwara has raised a $3 million seed extension. The new investment was led by existing backers DOB Equity, Globivest and the founder of Kobalt Music.
Maven Mentorship programme to equip teenagers with skills for the future
Former Principal Executive Director at Britam PLC Stephen Wandera has launched a mentorship programme aimed at equipping teenagers with the necessary skills to be prepared for the future.
Kenya to host sixth edition of continental agriculture expo
Kenya will host the 6th edition of Africa Agri Expo in February 2023 , endorsed by Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development aimed at bringing the entire agricultural value chain under one roof.
The Kenya Trade Network Agency launches trade facilitation tool
The Trade Facilitation Platform facilitates trade in Kenya by reducing delays and lowering costs associated with clearance of goods at the Kenyan borders, while maintaining the requisite controls and collection of levies, fee and duties, where applicable, on imports and exports.
African tech startup SeamlessHR picks Nairobi as its East African Hub
Nigeria’s tech startup SeamlessHR has launched its offices in the Kenyan market, choosing Nairobi as its East African Hub.
Identity verification startup Verified.Africa launches in Kenya
Verified.Africa, the pioneer of ID verification, document verification and digital KYC compliance solutions, announced it has launched in Kenya.
Canadian B2B automotive trading startup TRADE X opens new trading facilities in Kenya
TRADE X, a B2B cross-border automotive trading platform based in Ontario, Canada, announced it has opened a new Kenyan trading corridor, which includes both a shared bonded warehouse in Mombasa and an office in Nairobi.
Kenyan fintech startup Hisa unveils realtime stocks trading
Fintech startup Hisa has launched an application that allows Kenyans to invest in the stock market directly from their phones using mobile money.
Kenyan supply chain and logistics startup Leta secures $3m pre-seed funding to accelerate growth
Leta, the supply chain and logistics startup driving distribution optimization, announced the close of $3 million Pre-Seed equity round.
Kenya to host international poultry expo next year
Demand for poultry products is on the rise in Kenya driven by an emerging middle-class created in existing and new urban settlements as a result of devolution.
Kenyan agritech startup Stable Foods raises $600k funding to grow its climate smart smallholder platform
Stable Foods, a Kenyan agritech startup offering a host of solutions to small-scale farmers, has raised $600k funding round, to build out its climate smart smallholder food production platform.
Mobility startup BasiGo secures $6.6m funding to accelerate electric bus uptake in Kenya
BasiGo, the first company to introduce electric buses into Kenya, has announced $6.6 million in new funding led by Mobility54.
ACRE Africa targets Kenyan farmers with climate smart insurance
Insurance can help cushion smallholder farmers from crop and financial losses that occur as a result of climate change, yet many are reluctant to invest in such schemes. But why?
Kenyan logistics startup Sendy raises funding from Japanese VC MOL PLUS to accelerate growth
Kenyan fulfillment and logistics startup Sendy, announced it has received funding from MOL PLUS the Corporate Venture Capital of Japanese transport firm Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL).
500 Global launches its Pan-African accelerator Manager Bootcamp in Kenya
Venture capital firm 500 Global, has partnered with Germany’s economic development agency Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GIZ and its Make-IT in Africa initiative, which fosters the growth of Africa’s innovation ecosystems.
Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa lead fintech growth in Africa, Mastercard
A report by payment services company Mastercard has revealed that South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya are among the most vibrant fintech markets in the continent.
YEGO ride-sharing platform from Rwanda launches in Kenya
YEGO Global, a ride-sharing platform from Rwanda has entered the Kenyan market to take on Uber and Bolt through its subsidiary - YEGO Mobility Kenya.
Kenyan fintech startup Tanda announces agency banking entry in Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania
Kenyan fintech startup Tanda announced plans for agency banking entry in Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania to accelerate growth within the East African markets.
Kenyan home furniture startup MoKo raises $6m to accelerate growth
Kenyan home furniture startup MoKo announced it raised $6.5 million in a Series B funding round, which is a combination of debt and equity.
Kenyan start-up unveils diabetic friendly cookies
Gerassimos Fourlanos, Founder, Ofelos Limited says, the cookies are targeted to consumers with diabetes or pre-diabetes, along with other medical conditions where blood sugar levels need to be monitored.
Kenyan startup Kyosk Digital expands to Uganda
Kyosk Digital Services aims to address some of the challenges that vendors of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs) go through in sourcing products and restocking their outlets.
APA insurance unveils new payment plan for comprehensive car insurance
The comprehensive car insurance payments are made over 12 months which allows clients to spread the cost over the course of a year.
[Startup Interview] Ehsan, Mohammad, Reza, Co-founders, Coco, Austria
CoCo is a social media analysis platform. It helps to increase the effectiveness of advertising campaigns on social networks.
German tech startup NeoCarbon raises €1.25 million to reverse climate change
NeoCarbon, a Berlin-based tech startup which retrofits cooling towers to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, announced it has raised €1.25 million in a Pre-Seed round co-led by PropTech1 and Speedinvest,
Fintech startup Tongo raises $7m seed funding to accelerate growth in its real estate market
Tongo, a fintech company realigning income and expenses for the commission economy, announced it has raised $7 million in seed funding.
Plug and Play Alberta announces 50 startups for the second cohort of its accelerator programs
Plug and Play Alberta has announced 50 startups for the second cohort of its industry-specific startup accelerator programs. The companies will participate in one of the following programs: Health, Sustainability, and Sector Agnostic.
South Africa's home services startup SweepSouth closes $11m investment round led by Alitheia IDF
SweepSouth, an online home services platform with a presence across Africa has completed a $11 million investment round led byAlitheia IDF (AIF), Africa’s first and largest gender-lens private equity fund.
Estonian startup KOOS raises $4m funding to accelerate the new era of ownership
KOOS, an Estonian-based startup, announced $4 million worth of seed funding led by high profile investors at Plural Platform with participation from investors including LocalGlobe, Tiny.vc and Matt Clifford.
Tech startup Coalesce secures $26m Series A funding to reinvent data transformation in the snowflake data cloud
Coalesce.io, the data transformation company, announced it has secured $26 million in Series A funding led by Emergence Capital, with participation from seed investors 11.2 Capital.
Daiichi Sankyo joins Munich-based Startup Creasphere's program powered by Plug and Play
Startup Creasphere, the Munich-based digital healthcare platform of Plug and Play, has announced its new partnership with Daiichi Sankyo.
London scaleup Wazoku raises £8.5m series B funding, acquires Danish intelligence startup Mindpool
London-based innovation scaleup Wazoku has closed a series B funding round of £8.5 million through investment from Octopus Ventures along with follow on from existing investors including Calculus Capital.
FNHIC launches to invest $2.5b in startups improving hunger and health outcomes through food
S2G Ventures, Food Systems for the Future and other partners launched the Food, Nutrition and Health Investor Coalition (FNHIC), a call to action to drive $2.5 billion in private investment.
UK scaleup White Label Loyalty launches in the U.S.
UK-based loyalty technology experts White Label Loyalty is entering the US market for the first time, with opening of its firrst overseas office in New York.
London-based Pheon Therapeutics launches with $68m financing to advance novel ADC for treatment of solid tumors
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.
Deep tech startup MATSUKO and European telcos partner to develop holographic presence
European telecom operators Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica and Vodafone, together with the deep tech startup MATSUKO, have conducted a pilot to make holographic calls easy.
Canadian Lia 27 becomes the new face of AI after closing seed funding round at $5m valuation
Canadian Artificial Intelligence (AI) company Lia 27 Inc, announced it has closed a seed funding round valuing the company at $5 million. The funding launches the one-year-old business into the next dimension.
New Utah startup Oops offers doorstep return pickups for in-store and online purchases
An early-stage startup born in the heart of Utah's Silicon Slopes, Oops is offering doorstep return pickups for in-store and online purchases across the Wasatch Range.
Ghanaian agritech startup Farmerline raises $1.5m from Dutch investor Oikocredit
Ghanaian agritech startup Farmerline announced the second close of a Pre-Series A investment raise with an additional $1.5 million investment from Dutch social impact investor Oikocredit.
Dallas-based workforce finance startup Meritize taps JP Morgan vet as Business Development VP
Meritize, developer of merit-based financing solutions and a technology platform that connects career starters and mid-career professionals with high-impact skills training, announced it has hired Jeff Parks as the firm's Vice President of Business Development.
Ghanaian fintech SecondSTAX raises $1.6m pre-seed funding to expand to other countries
Ghanaian fintech SecondSTAX (Secondary Securities Trading and Aggregation eXchange), announced it has raised $1.6 million in pre-seed funding from private investors and venture capital firms, including LoftyInc Capital and STEMeIn.
French startup Prophesee closes €50m C Series round to drive commercialization of revolutionary neuromorphic vision technology
Prophesee, the inventor of advanced neuromorphic vision systems, announced the completion of its Series C round of funding with the addition of a new investment from Prosperity7 ventures.
Capacity trading startup Stere closes $5m seed to expand tech-driven solutions for the insurance sector
Stere, a capacity trading platform specializing in capacity sourcing and unique digital capabilities for embedded insurance partners and MGAs, announced it has closed a $5 million funding round.
Detroit cloud-based startup KODE Labs raises $8m to advance its smart building platform
KODE Labs, a Detroit cloud-based smart building startup, announced it has raised a Series A investment of $8 million led by I Squared Capital and other strategic investors.
Vendease secures $30m to transform procurement and business operations for restaurants across Africa
Vendease, a Y Combinator-backed digital platform that allows restaurants in Africa to buy supplies, access financial services and power their business operations, has raised $30 million funding round.
West african fintech startup Julaya raises $5m extension round to expand its operations
Julaya, a fintech stratup based in Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and France, announced it has raised $5 million extension round led by European venture capital fund Speedinvest to expand its operations in West Africa.
[Startup Interview] Yashu Kapila, Founder, BugRaptors, India
The startup provides a highly diversified range of services varying from standard testing services, specialized testing services, to test advisory services.
London-based Genie AI launches Startup Starter Pack, a free open source legal template library for startups
Genie AI, a machine learning company based in London, has launched Startup Starter Pack, a free open source legal template library with contract templates for small businesses and startups.
Norwegian audio-tech startup Nomono secures €3.55m seed round to scale its podcasting and audio solutions
Nomono, the pioneering developer of audio recording and collaboration tools that help podcasters and journalists tell immersive audio stories, announced the closing of €3.55 million investment round.
NYSHEX closes $25m Series B funding to improve reliability and efficiency of global shipping
NYSHEX, the ocean contract performance technology servive provider,, announced a $25 million Series B funding round led by Collate Capital. In addition, Blumberg Capital, Goldman Sachs and NewRoad Capital participated.
CrowdStrike’s Falcon Fund invests in API security startup Salt Security
CrowdStrike, a pioneer in cloud-delivered protection of endpoints, cloud workloads, identity and data, announced that its strategic investment vehicle, Falcon Fund, has invested in Salt Security, the pioneer in Application Programming Interface (API) security.
[Column] Nick Durrant: Lead generation strategies that work
Marketers often focus most of their attention on design aesthetics, ignoring the many other factors that could turn website visitors into hot prospects.
ABB partners with Dutch AI predictive maintenance scaleup Samotics to expand condition monitoring services
ABB and Samotics, the provider of ESA technology that is a high-growth scaleup company, have entered a strategic long-term partnership to provide enhanced condition monitoring services.
Crypto tax reporting app Binocs nets $4m funding round as it adds institutional investors to retail base
Crypto tax reporting app Binocs has announced a $4 million fundraise to cater to institutional crypto investors and enter geographies like the US, UK, Australia etc.
Sustainable and AI concrete startup AICrete raises $4m seed funding to accelerate growth
AICrete, the recipe-as-a-service platform optimizing local materials for cleaner and more cost-efficient concrete, announced it has raised $4 million in a seed funding led by CLEAR Ventures.
Starburst Ventures launches pre-seed and seed fund to focus on aerospace and defense innovation
Starburst Ventures, the first venture capital fund dedicated to investing across aviation, space, and defense, announced the launch of its new early-stage fund.
Stockholm-based R-evolution launches venture capital arm to boost greentech startups
Hexagon AB, a global pioneer in digital reality solutions combining sensor, software and autonomous technologies, announced a new venture capital arm of R-evolution, the sustainable innovation and green-tech investment subsidiary of Hexagon.
Nigerian fintech startup Kippa launches business registration platform to support SMEs
Nigerian fintech startup Kippa has launched Kippa Start, a business registration platform to enable Nigerian MSMEs scale through their businesses.
Kenyan agricultural insurtech startup Pula appoints Michael Joseph as Board Chair
Former Safaricom CEO Michael Joseph has been appointed as Board Chair of a Kenyan agricultural insurtech startup Pula.
Ethiopian fintech startup Chapa launches online payment gateway service for businesses
Ethiopian fintech startup Chapa has launched an online payment gateway to enable businesses accept payments from people worldwide.
Healthtech startup Remedial Health secures $4.4m to provide access to credit for pharmacies in Nigeria
Remedial Health, a healthtech startup that develops solutions to make Africa’s pharmaceutical value chain more efficient, has raised $4.4 million in seed funding to accelerate its expansion across Nigeria.
Swiss biotech startup Hedera Dx raises €14m seed funding to accelerate global adoption of liquid biopsies
Hedera Dx, a Swiss biotech startup, has raised €14 million in funding to launch a blood-based testing solution to profile cancer DNA circulating in the blood, helping patients access better treatments.
Idealist Capital announces first close of its Climate Impact Fund to accelerate energy transition
Idealist Capital, a North American fund with a primary focus on the Canadian market, announced the first closing of the Idealist Climate Impact Fund LP (the Fund) with capital commitments totalling C$250 million.
Human Ventures announces anchor partnership with Bank of America to invest in early-stage founders
Human Ventures, one of New York City's premier emerging venture funds, announced an anchor partnership with Bank of America for Human Ventures Fund II.
Israeli data security startup Sentra launches in the U.S.
Sentra, an Israeli cloud data security company, announced its arrival in the U.S. market with the opening of its new North American headquarters in New York City.
Google-backed startup Massage Robotics launches equity crowdfunding via StartEngine
Google-backed startup, Massage Robotics announced the launch of equity crowdfunding via StartEngine, to show how robots can help people heal with free massage therapy.
Canadian Raven Indigenous Capital Partners launches Fund II at $46m, eyes U.S. markets
Raven Indigenous Capital Partners, North America’s only Indigenous-led and owned venture capital intermediary, launched its second fund (Raven Fund II) with an initial close of $46 million, and a target size of $75 million.
Gradient Ventures leads $6m investment in LatAm's tax-technology startup Heru
Heru, an AI-based tax platform that simplifies the tax-filing process and provides intelligent insights for future filings, announced a $6 million seed round led by Gradient Ventures, Google's AI-focused venture fund.
MedGeo secures $4m equity investment and joint venture agreement with Jackson Healthcare company
MedGeo Ventures announced it has secured a $4 million equity investment and joint venture agreement with Jackson Healthcare company.
Dutch sustainable blockchain startup GRNGrid secures $50m to drive connectivity with crypto exchanges
The GRN Association announced it has secured an investment totaling $50 million for the GRNGrid project from GEM Digital, a venture capital focused on digital currencies.
Nigerian blockchain payments startup Bitmama closes $2m pre-seed round to scale growth
Nigerian blockchain payments startup Bitmama announced a pre-seed extension of $1.65 million, adding to the $350,000 it received last October, thus closing the round at $2 million led by Unicorn Growth Capital and Launch Africa.
Unicorn Growth Capital, EchoVC join Celo Foundation to support Web3 projects across Africa
Unicorn Growth Capital and EchoVC have joined the Celo Foundation to support growth of Web3 projects across Africa through newly dedicated Celo ecosystem investment funds.
French AI and cloud media startup Newsbridge closes €7m funding round to develop U.S. presence
Newsbridge, the French AI & Cloud Media company has raised €7 million Series A funding round to continue its expansion to the U.S.A, and hire top AI and Media Engineering talent.
Dutch-based Builders studio raises €1.5m for development of HR and proptech startups
Rotterdam-based startup studio Builders has raised €1.5 million in funding in its second closing, to develop HR and proptech startups and start international expansion.
Ghanaian health tech startup mPharma acquires majority stake in Nigeria’s HealthPlus
Ghanaian health tech startup mPharma has acquired a majority stake in HealthPlus, a pioneer pharmacy chain in Nigeria.
Security and management supplier Verkada raises $205m to build an operating system for the physical world
Verkada, a pioneer in cloud-managed enterprise building security and management, announced a $205 million Series D funding round with new and existing venture partners.
India's fruits and vegetables platform Sahyadri Farms raises €40m growth capital to support smallholder farmers
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
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.
Industrial automation and agritech startup Agtonomy closes seed III funding round
Agtonomy, a cutting-edge software and service agritech startup, announced the successful closing of another round of funding for a total investment of $13.5 million.
Tallinn-based climate tech startup Arbonics raises €1.8m pre-seed funding to fight climate change in Europe
Arbonics, a new climate tech startup, is launching its unique data- and science-driven tool to make calculating the potential carbon income of land and forests quicker and easier for landowners in Europe.
African fintech startup Flutterwave launches eNaira payments for businesses in Nigeria
Flutterwave, Africa's payments technology company announced its merchants can now process payments in eNaira, the Nigerian digital currency issued and distributed by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Kenyan insurtech startup Turaco secures $10m funding to drive insurance adoption
Turaco, the insurtech driving mass market insurance adoption, has announced the close of a $10 million Series A equity round led by AfricInvest, via the Cathay Africinvest Innovation Fund.
Nigerian fintech startup Kippa raises $8.4m seed round to accelerate growth
Nigerian fintech startup Kippa has raised $8.4 million in an oversubscribed seed round led by Goodwater Capital, TEN13 VC, Rocketship VC, Saison Capital, Crestone VC, VentureSouq, Horizon Partners, and Vibe Capital.
BRV China-backed HPC-AI Tech startup completes $6m seed and angel round financing
HPC-AI Tech, an artificial intelligence high-performance optimization startup announced the closing of $6 million seed and angel rounds, with BlueRun Ventures China (BRV China) acting as the lead investor for the angel round.
Irish e-Commerce growth unicorn Wayflyer secures $253m debt financing from Credit Suisse
Wayflyer, the revenue-based financing and growth platform for e-Commerce businesses, has secured $253 milion debt financing facility from Credit Suisse.
Hyperspec AI startup releases software platform for autonomous driving development
Hyperspec AI, an artificial intelligence startup, released a new tool for developers working on ADAS enabled and autonomous vehicles (AV).
Fintech startup Power emerges from stealth with $16.1m seed funding and $300m credit facility
Power, a fintech startup with plans to reshape global commerce, has finally teased early progress as it emerges from stealth with $16.1m in seed funding, a $300m credit facility, and a fast-growing list of customers.
Carrier Ventures invests in next-gen sustainable technology startups Archilogic, Butlr and Transaera
Carrier Global Corporation, the global provider of healthy, safe, sustainable and intelligent building and cold chain solutions, has completed three new investments through its Carrier Ventures group.
Copenhagen-based Monta lands €30m additional financing to accelerate the buildout of EV charging infrastructure
Monta, the Copenhagen-based all-in-one EV charging management platform, announced it has secured an additional €30 million as part of a Series A+ round led by Energize Ventures.
Tech startup Alcatraz AI receives $25m Series A funding to accelerate international growth
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is supporting the product development, sales and marketing of Bulgaria and US-based tech startup Alcatraz AI with an equity investment, as part of a $25 million.
ff Venture Capital launches first US VC Fund to back Ukrainian founders and startups
ff Venture Capital (ffVC), an early-stage venture firm, has launched the ff Blue & Yellow Heritage Fund, the first US venture capital fund exclusively for Ukrainian founders and startups.
Copenhagen-founded open podcast startup Podimo secures €58.6m funding to accelerate market expansion
Copenhagen-founded startup Podimo, the subscription service for podcasts and audiobooks, announced it has secured another €58.6 million in an up round of funding, led by 83North.
Multimedia startup Tract raises $7m to empower kids develop 21st century skills through content creation
Tract, the online community where kids teach kids through multimedia, announced its $7 million seed funding round led by NEA.
Amcor increases investment in digital flexible packaging startup ePac
Amcor, a global player in developing and producing responsible packaging solutions, announced a further strategic investment of up to $45 million in ePac Flexible Packaging (ePac), a player in high quality, short run length digitally-based flexible packaging.
[Startup Interview] Tesh Mbaabu, CEO, MarketForce, Kenya
Tesh Mbaabu is a serial entrepreneur who lives to blend commerce and technology. He is the Co-founder and CEO of Kenyan-based B2B platform for retail distribution of consumer goods and digital financial services in Africa today, MarketForce.
Africa's gender equal tech VC fund Janngo Capital reaches first close of its €60m fund
Janngo Capital Startup Fund (JCSF) has announced its first close at €34 million in capital commitments, to invest 50% of its proceeds in companies founded, co-founded, or benefiting women.
Finnish biotech startup Onego Bio secures €4.5m additional funding to accelerate Research & Development
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.
Dutch game-tech startup Enliven raises €1m for groundbreaking empathy training in virtual reality
Together with Oost NL, LUMO Labs is investing €1 million in game-tech company Enliven. This Dutch startup from Arnhem offers groundbreaking empathy training for the prevention of physical and emotional violence in home and workplace.
Austrian SaaS startup Shopstory raises €2.2m in second round funding to back e-Commerce brands
Austrian startup Shopstory is raising a million-dollar investment from tecnet equity, Startup300 and business angels Patrick Pöschl (Co-Founder Scalable Capital) and Hansi Hansmann in its second round of financing.
Cyber security starup SaaS Alerts secures $22m to scale its security monitoring and response platform
SaaS Alerts, the cybersecurity company purpose-built for Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to protect and monetize their customers' core business SaaS applications, announced it has secured a $22 million growth investment.
Fireblocks surpasses $100m ARR milestone, cements its status as SaaS centaur
Fireblocks, an easy-to-use platform to create innovative products on the blockchain and manage day-to-day crypto operations, announced that its 2022 Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) has surpassed $100 million.
Newly launched Accelerator Geekz Ventures joins Techstars Foundation
Atlanta-based entrepreneur Kunbi Tinuoye's new initiative to support minority founders has been selected to participate in the highly competitive Techstars Foundation's Accelerate Equity cohort.
Smart energy startup Flair raises $7.6m Series A funding to expand climate tech for home and grid
Flair, creators of smart vents, thermostats and easy-to-use software for room-level temperature control, announced the closing of a $7.6 million Series A funding round.
Google announces 60 African startups selected for its second Black Founders Fund
Google has announced 60 qualifiers for its Google for Startups Black Founders Fund (BFF) for African startups.
Nigerian fintech startup NowNow raises $13m seed round to expand across Africa
Nigerian fintech startup NowNow Digital Systems has raised $13 million in its seed round for expansion across Africa.
Waya digital banking startup for African immigrants goes official
Waya, a Kenyan and US-based fintech startup has announced the official launch of its full-service digital bank and money transfer app targeting the African Diaspora.
Fintech startup Duplo raises $4.3m seed funding to transform business-to-business payments in Nigeria
Duplo, a business-to-business payment platform that makes it easier for African businesses of all sizes to pay each other, has raised $4.3 million in seed funding to launch new products and expand into new business verticals in Nigeria.
San Francisco-based startup HumanQ raises $2m seed round to expand its technology products
San Francisco-based HumanQ (formerly known as Experiential Insight), announced a $2 million seed round of funding, led by Kindred Ventures, to further expand on its technology products.
Constitutional Reserve Fund of Monaco allocates €10m to London-based Ocean 14 Capital impact fund
The Ocean 14 Capital fund, which focuses exclusively on the multi-trillion-dollar ‘blue economy’, has received a commitment of €10 million from the Constitutional Reserve Fund of Monaco to support its mission of funding sustainable solutions.
BioInnovation Institute announces new cohort of companies entering the Venture Lab program
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.
Polish startup DoxyChain raises €2.2m early seed funding to expedite security in document management
DoxyChain, a Polish startup building a solution for traditional document management transition to web 3.0 world, announced it has raised €2.2 million from international investors to power its growth.
Swiss crypto startup 21.co raises $25m, becomes Switzerland's largest crypto Unicorn
21.co, the world's player in providing access to crypto through simple and easy to use products, announced a $25 million round led by Marshall Wace.
Edge computing startup EDJX appoints Benjamin Thomas as new CEO, raises seed funding round
EDJX, the pioneer in decentralized global serverless edge computing, announced it has hired a new CEO while simultaneously raising a seed round of funding.
Singapore-based web3 cybersecurity startup Silence Laboratories raises $1.7m seed funding to acccelerate growth
Silence Laboratories, a web3 focused cybersecurity startup working on libraries for MPC and Proofs-based Decentralised Security-as-Service (DSaaS), has closed a $1.7 million round in a seed funding.
Dutch solar-powered car startup Lightyear secures €81m additional capital investment
Lightyear, a Dutch high-tech startup developing the world’s first solar car, announced a total investment of €81 million, which includes capital from the public consortium consisting of Invest-NL.
Infrastructure and private equity investment manager Foresight launches in Dublin, Ireland
Foresight Group (Foresight), a private equity and infrastructure investment manager, has announced the opening of its new office in Dublin, Ireland.
Missouri-based insurtech startup iCover raises $5m pre-Series A funding to accelerate growth
iCover, a Missouri-based insurtech startup that provides an algorithmic underwriting and QUI based eApp Service for life insurance companies, raised $5 million in pre-Series A funding.
Puna Bio startup raises $3.7m seed funding to restore soil health with desert microbes
Puna Bio announced $3.7 million in seed funding that will be used to commercially launch its first soybean seed treatment in Argentina that is cost competitive to existing biological solutions, expand field trials for wheat and corn.
Customer engagement startup OneSignal raises $50m Series C funding to accelerate global expansion
OneSignal, the the customer engagement platform, secured $50 million in Series C funding to advance its unified messaging and orchestration capabilities, enhance its mobile data-driven email product.
African fintech startup Flutterwave secures switching and processing license from Central Bank of Nigeria
Flutterwave, Africa's payments technology company has been granted a Switching and Processing License by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), widely regarded as CBN's most valuable payments processing license.
Japanese foodtech startup Yo-Kai Express partners with IPPUDO and TableMark to bring ramen and udon dishes to its autonomous restaurant platform
Yo-Kai Express announced new partnerships with TableMark and Chikaranomoto, to jointly develop and market varieties of new udon and ramen menu options.
Chinese biotech startup CellOrigin partners with Qilu Pharmaceutical to develop "off-the-shelf" CAR-iMAC cell therapy
CellOrigin Biotech has made an agreement with Qilu Pharmaceutical on strategic global collaborations to develop, manufacture and commercialize a proprietary "off-the-shelf" CAR-iMAC cell therapy.
London-based mental health startup Thalamos raises $1m to digitise the Mental Health Act
London-based mental health startup Thalamos announced it has raised €1 million seed round to digitise the Mental Health Act.
Swiss foodtech startup Planted raises €70m Series B funding to accelerate international growth
Swiss foodtech startup Planted, known for its natural biostructured meat made from alternative proteins, announced it has successfully closed its Series B financing round of €70 million.
Nigerian mobility fintech Moove joins forces with Uber UK to bring electric vehicles to London
Nigerian fintech moblity startup Moove has announced its launch in London as part of its global expansion through a new partnership with Uber.
Kenyan fintech startup Pezesha raises $11m to expand across Africa
Pezesha, a Kenyan fintech that has built a platform where small and medium enterprises can access funding, has raised $11 million in a pre-series A equity and debt funding.
Kenyan B2B e-Commerce startup Wasoko opens innovation hub in Zanzibar
Wasoko (formerly Sokowatch), an African B2B e-Commerce startup that leverages technology to transform the informal retail supply chain, announced the official launch of the “Wasoko Innovation Hub” in partnership with the Zanzibar government.
Kenyan startups raised $820m in VC funding in the first half of 2022, data
Kenya has secured an enviable position among the most competitive innovation and investment destinations in Africa. The country’s attractiveness has seen Big-Tech companies troop in to set shop in the capital, Nairobi.
[Startup Interview] Collins Kathuli, Co-founder and CEO, Kyanda, Kenya
Kyanda is a Kenyan fintech startup that offers Digital Financial Services to businesses, SMEs and citizens.
UK-based Medi-science International partners with Kenyan healthtech startup Afya Rekod to enhance healthcare delivery
UK-based Medi-science International and Kenyan healthtech startup Afya Rekod have announced a strategic collaboration to transform healthcare delivery through improved access to personal health data.
Kenyan e-Logistics startup Lori Systems raises funding from Google to facilitate expansion efforts
Kenyan e-logistics startup Lori Systems which operates across East Africa, announced it has raised an undisclosed amount of Round B funding from Google, to facilitate the company’s expansion efforts.
Kenyan agritech startup IProcure secures $10.2m Series B funding to accelerate growth
iProcure, Africa’s tech and data-driven agricultural inputs supply company, announced the close of a $10.2 million Series B funding round that raised debt and equity from a diverse group of international investors.
German manufacturer The Stihl Group enters Kenyan market
The subsidiary dubbed Stihl East Africa will be its Eastern Africa hub servicing countries that include Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, DRC, Rwanda, and Burundi among others.
Kenyan mobile commerce startup Copia unveils manufacturing unit for sugar and rice production
Copia Global, a Kenyan-based mobile commerce platform has unveiled a new manufacturing unit to enhance its output of affordable sugar and rice to the Kenyan market.
Kenyan insurtech startup Lami Technologies raises $3.7m to expand across Africa
Kenya-based insurtech startup Lami Technologies has raised a $ 3.7 million seed extension to expand its insurtech product across Africa.
Kenyan-based startup FaidiHR secures funding, eyes expansion
The startup, which offers digital human resource solutions to African companies, said they would use the investment to expand their business in East Africa, eyeing entry into Uganda, Tanzania and DRC.
Kenyan wealth-tech startup Ndovu partners with Tulix to empower Africa’s diaspora to invest back home
Africa’s wealth management platform Ndovu has announced a strategic partnership withTulix, an Antler & Catalyst Fund portfolio company.
Kenyan startup unveils multi -company single log-in cloud solution for HR -payroll consultants
The multi-company log-in module allows an individual consultant or company to manage centralized data, which facilitates payroll processing, pay slip, and report generating for different clients, under one account.
Kenyan healthtech startup AfyaRekod launches Universal Patient Portal for worldwide health data mobility management
Kenyan-based AfyaRekod launched the fully automated Universal Patient Portal – a block-chain driven technology that will transform the face of patient care across Africa and the World.
Nigerian fintech startup Mono launches in Kenya
Mono, a Nigerian fintech startup that builds open banking infrastructure to enable access to customer financial data and bank payments for digital businesses in Africa, announced it has expanded its services to Kenya.
Nigerian Lab testing startup HealthTracka raises $1.5m funding for expansion to Kenya and Ghana
Nigerian at-home lab testing startup HealthTracka has raised $1.5 million in funding to expand its operations into Kenya and Ghana. The pre-seed funding which was led by Ingressive Capital.
Kenyan startup unveils innovation that supervises spending for dependents
A Supervised Payment is a Digital Escrow Payment sent by a guardian to a dependent with the former setting the parameters of funds usage and the app supervising the actual use of the funds by the dependent.
Yearly funding for Kenyan start-ups to hit Sh100 billion by 2025
In the first three months of 2022, Kenyan Startups raised Sh48 billion venture funding more than the country did in all of 2021 where start-ups raised Sh41 billion.
Kenyan insurtech startup mTek secures $3m funding for expansion across the country
On the heels of a recent $1.50 million (KSh 170 million) investment, Kenyan insurtech startup mTek has secured an additional $3 million (KSh 340 million) investment, through both debt and equity from African-focused fintech platform, Finclusion Group.
AfricArena partners with FMO to accelerate tech startups in Ghana, Morocco and Tanzania
AfricArena, the African series of tech events, announced a partnership with FMO Ventures Program, the Rise Open Innovation Challenge, which focuses on accelerating the growth of startups looking to improve the state of Africa.
Kenyan fintech startup Power Financial Wellness partners with Penda Health to extend healthcare services to users
Kenyan fintech Power Financial Wellness has signed a partnership agreement with private healthcare solutions provider, Penda Health, to see both companies mutually benefit from their tech services.
Kenyan E-health startup Maisha Meds hits 1000 active facilities, expands to Nigeria
Kenyan digital pharmacy network Maisha Meds announced it has reached1,000 active facilities, making it one of the largest digital pharmacy networks in sub-Saharan Africa.
Nelson Maina: Betting on agriculture for economic transformation in Kenya
The gathering of experts drawn across the divide came amidst rising concerns over escalating costs in both production and consumer goods, an environment that doesn’t favour food security.
Kenyan fintech startup Hisa joins the NVIDIA Inception Programme
Hisa App, a Kenyan mobile investment platform that allows anyone in Kenya to invest in U.S. stocks and ETFs using mobile money, announced it was selected to join the NVIDIA Inception programme.
Pan-African fintech app Bamba raises $3.2m seed funding to scale growth
Kenyan fintech startup Bamba secured $3.2 million in seed funding to scale its app and build out its team. Venture capital firm 468 Capital led the round with participation from Presight Ventures.
Nelson Maina: Taming fertilizer prices to boost food security in Kenya
Kenya’s cost of living has hit unprecedented highs with prices of basic commodities being out of reach for many citizens.
realme addresses internet coverage gap with affordable smartphones
Phone manufacturer realme has captured the Kenyan market by making smartphones affordable hence closing a widening internet coverage gap, despite huge investments in high-speed internet across Africa.
Kenyan healthtech startup Zuri launches Whatsapp chatbot to democratize access to healthcare
Kenyan healthtech startup Zuri Health has launched a WhatsApp chatbot for its users across the country.
Glovo announces winners of its tech startup pitch competition in Kenya
On-demand delivery platform Glovo has announced the winners of its tech startup pitch competition in Kenya.
Kenyan farmer finds fortunes in herbs farming
The herbs and spices farming has captured international markets while creating a new age farming renaissance in an area that has traditionally been synonymous with farming of traditional low yielding crops.
Kenyan electric vehicle startup Opibus rebrands to ROAM
Kenya’s leading electric vehicle (EV) maker Opibus has changed its name to ROAM. The company was among the earliest entrants into the local electric vehicle manufacturing sector.
Kenyan mobile commerce startup Copia appoints former Amazon Executive to its Board
Copia Global, a Kenyan-based mobile commerce platform has announced the appointment of former Amazon executive Jason Murray to its Board.
Kenya-focused social e-Commerce startup Elloe raises over $1m in pre-seed round
Elloe, a US-based social e-Commerce startup focused on Kenya and emerging markets, announced the raise of an undisclosed amount in pre-Seed funding. Investors for the round were led by Philippines’ Mad Ventures, Inc.
AliExpress Co- Founder Tom Gong appointed CTO of Kenyan BNPL company Lipa Later
Tom Gong, Co-Founder AliExpress and former Technical Program Manager for Google Wallet, will be joining Lipa Later as the new Chief technology Officer effective March 2022.
Kenyan social commerce startup Tushop raises $3m pre-seed funding to accelerate growth
Tushop, a Kenyan social-commerce platform that enables group-buying of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs), announced it has raised $3 million in pre-seed funding, led by 4DX Ventures.
On-demand transport platform Bolt launches 2nd edition of its Women in Tech internship program in Kenya
On-demand transport platform Bolt announced it has rolled out the second edition of its Women in Tech internship program in Kenya.
Konza Technopolis and ASSEK sign MoU to support startups in Kenya
Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA) and the Association of Startups and SME Enablers in Kenya (ASSEK) have signed an MoU to enhance innovation and support startups in Kenya.
Lipa Later selects Hotpoint as new retail partner
Lipa Later, a payment option that allows customers to purchase commodities through affordable monthly instalments has on-boarded Hotpoint as a new retail partner. Hotpoint appliances is Kenya’s premier supplier of Home Appliances and Electronics.
Kenyan fintech 4G Capital raises $18.5m Series C funding to scale lending to MSMEs
Kenyan fintech credit provider 4G Capital has raised $18.5 million in Series C funding from global private equity firm Lightrock.
Kenyan e-Commerce startup Sokowatch raises $125m, rebrands to Wasoko
Kenyan based B2B e-Commerce startup Sokowatch has raised a $125 million Series B equity round, the largest venture financing round ever raised for a non-fintech startup in Africa.
EV startup BasiGo flags off first electric buses in Kenya
Nairobi headquartered e-mobility startup BasiGo flagged off the first electric buses in the country for passenger use.
[Kenya] Applications for 5th cohort of Standard Chartered Bank's Women in Tech program open
The Standard Chartered Bank has opened applications for the 5th cohort of its Women in Tech incubator program.
On-demand delivery platform Glovo launches pitch competition for early-stage tech startups in Kenya
On-demand delivery platform Glovo has launched a pitch competition targeting early-stage tech startups in Kenya that are delivering value to SMEs.
GE Healthcare partners with Kenyan healthtech startup Afya Rekod to simplify access to medical records in Africa
GE Healthcare and Kenya-based startup Afya Rekod have announced a collaboration that seeks to transform care delivery through improved access to personal health data in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa.
Kenyan foodtech startup Kune starts commercial operations in Nairobi
Kenyan foodtech startup Kune has officially launched commercial operations with four meal hubs located in strategic locations in Nairobi.
Kenyan retail tech startup MarketForce raises $40m Series A to scale up super app for Africa’s informal merchants
MarketForce, the Nairobi-headquartered B2B platform for retail distribution of consumer goods and digital financial services in Africa, announced the closing of a $40 million Series A round.
Wealthtech startup Ndovu launches in Kenya
Wealthtech startup Ndovu officially launched in Kenya. Founded by Radhika Bhachu, Ro Nyangeri, and Gianpaolo De Biase, Ndovu is an investment platform that provides easy access to financial markets.
Kenyan insurtech startup Lami acquires Bluewave Insurance Agency
Kenyan insurtech startup Lami Technologies has acquired Bluewave Insurance Agency, another Kenyan-based insurtech startup, for an undisclosed amount.
Kenyan healthtech startup Afya Rekod raises $2 million in seed funding to scale across Africa
Afya Rekod has seen interest from various health parties in Africa, Europe, Asia and the United States increase significantly since its launch in April 2020.
Kenyan logistics startup Amitruck raises $4m seed funding to accelerate digital solutions across Africa
Kenya-based digital trucking logistics startup Amitruck has announced it has secured $4 milllion in a seed funding round that had the participation of investors from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the U.S.
JICA’s NINJA Accelerator completes 2nd Demo Day in Kenya, sends delegation to Silicon Valley
Shamba Pride, Saada Tech, Kijenzi, M-Paya Energy, and MyMovies.Africa are the five startups that shined during the 2nd Demo Day of the NINJA Accelerator in Kenya.
Call for startups to Pitch Live at 2022 Africa Startup Summit in Nairobi, Kenya
Africa Tech Summit has opened applications to the 2022 edition of Pitch Live at the fourth Africa Startup Summit.
Online platforms lift the fortunes of Kenyan artists
Kenyan artists have not been left behind and are embracing digital platforms with impressive results.
Swedish-Kenyan electric vehicle tech startup Opibus launches first electric bus designed and developed in Africa
Swedish-Kenyan electric vehicle technology startup Opibus has introduced the first all-electric bus in Kenya as well as the first African designed electric bus ever.
Kenyan mobile commerce startup Copia raises $50m to ramp up African expansion
Kenyan-based mobile commerce platform Copia Global raised $50 million in a Series C equity round led by Goodwell Investments.
Kenyan fintech startup Zanifu closes $1m seed financing round to accelerate growth
Kenyan fintech startup Zanifu announced it has successfully closed a $ 1 million seed financing round to scale its business and improve on its platform.
Kenya's Poa Internet announces first close of $28m financing round by Africa50
Poa Internet and Africa50 announced the completion of Africa50’s equity investment into Poa. This funding is part of the $28 million financing round led by Africa50.
[Kenya] Sankore announces pitch competition targeting blockchain startups
Nairobi-headquartered blockchain community Sankore is launching the Sankore Pitch Competition Tour (PCT) in Nairobi.
Kenyan BNPL startup Lipa Later secures $12m funding to expand across Africa
Lipa Later, one of it’s kind buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) company operating in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Nigeria, has raised $12 million from a consortium of investors.
Kenyan ride-hailing startup MARAMOJA opens its API to fintechs and insurtechs
Kenya's ride-hailing platform MARAMOJA Transport has opened its API to local fintechs and Insurtechs. Through a new partnership with Switchlink Africa, service providers will be able to connect with MARAMOJA's drivers and customers.
African scientists make a case for home grown research on continent’s food systems
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.
Kenyan fintech startup Paylend raises $2m seed investment to accelerate growth
Paylend, a Kenyan fintech startup focused on providing access to finance and digitizing MSMEs in Kenya announced it has raised $2 million seed investment from Next Chymia Consulting HK Limited.
Kenyan fintech startup Tanda inks deal with Twiga Foods to enable vendors vend its digital financial services
Kenya’s fintech startup Tanda announced a new partnership with Twiga Foods that will see Twiga vendors become a one-stop-shop for a variety of digital and financial services offered by Tanda.
The University of Nairobi and Elgon Kenya to develop agriculture technology and innovation centre
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.
Kenyan tech startup Wowzi raises $3.2m seed funding to expand across Africa
Kenyan tech startup Wowzi has raised $2 million in seed funding to expand its digital marketplace across Africa.
African mobility fintech Moove enters Kenyan market, broadens vehicle financing to bikes and trucks
Moove, an African mobility fintech, has launched operations in Nairobi, its first city in East Africa and sixth on the continent.
Kenyan smallholder farmers insulated from weather vagaries by picture-based insurance
A climate-smart crop insurance scheme introduced in Kenya has come to their rescue by combining satellite data and smartphone imagery to provide farmers with much needed protection.
Adanian Labs opens January 2022 cohort applications for its Venture Building Program
Adanian Labs has launched the Adanian Labs Venture Building Program call for startups for 2022. The program invites applications from tech entrepreneurs for the 2022 cohort of exceptional startups to join Adanian Labs in Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Nigeria and South Africa.
Kenyan e-health startup Zuri Health launches in Senegal
Kenyan health tech startup Zuri Health has launched its operations in Senegal. The startup has partnered with Expresso Senegal to launch its operations in the country.
AUDA-NEPAD, JICA, Afreximbank & BCG partner to support 5 East African healthcare startups
The 5 healthcare startups were feted for their completion of the Home Grown Solutions (HGS) Accelerator for Pandemic Resilience.
Kenyan-based Penda Health partners with femtech e-Commerce startup Kasha to ease contraceptive access for consumers
Healthcare solution provider Penda Health announced a partnership with Rwandan femtech e-Commerce startup Kasha, to enable increase access to contraceptive products via the Kasha digital platform.
Kenyan e-pharmacy platform MYDAWA receives $1.2 million funding in fight against HIV & AIDS
This grant is aimed at increasing access to PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) services through MYDAWA’s award winning e-pharmacy model, supporting the fight against HIV& AIDS in Kenya.
Kenyan fintech startup Asilimia raises $2 million funding to expand into new markets
The startup raised $1 million in pre-seed funding from a wide range of investors, including two-time unicorn founder, Fredrik Jung Abbou (co-founder of Kry and Lendo), Norrsken Impact Accelerator and other prominent founders from across Europe.
Kenyan gaming startup Usiku Games develops Africa’s first mobile football game
Kenyan gaming startup Usiku Games unveiled an amateur football mobile game to promote outdoor physical activities and encourage sportsmanship among youths in East Africa.
Tech startup wowzi to create one million jobs for African youth
Kenyan tech startup Wowzi has announced plans to create one million gig jobs for African youth in 2022 through its online marketplace, after successfully delivering over 150,000 paid jobs in 2021.
Kenyan fintech startup Kwara launches regional offices to reach SACCOs across the country
Kenyan fintech startup Kwara opened regional offices in the Western, Central, Rift Valley and Coastal regions of Kenya as part of its expansion in the country.
Kenyan entrepreneurs reap returns from rearing insects for feeds
Aware of this fact, the Insect Feed for Poultry, Fish and Pig Production (INSFEED) project has been exploring the use of insects, such as black soldier flies (BSF) and crickets, within animal feeds.
Kenyan Mental health startup Shamiri Institute raises $1m, expands to the rest of Africa
Shamiri Institute, a Kenyan mental health startup has raised $1 million in funding from the Templeton World Charity Foundation to tackle the scourge of mental health in Kenya and the rest of the African continent.
Kenyan fintech startup Kwara and Lami Technologies partner to provide insurance products for SACCO members
The partnership will allow SACCO members to conveniently access innovative insurance products ranging from health, general, life, business, and property coverage through the Kwara platform.
Kenya-based electric mobility startup Opibus secures $7.5 million funding
Opibus says it will use this new funding to scale its operations in electric motorcycle and bus manufacturing.
Kenyan fintech startup Kwara partners with Lami Technologies to give SACCO members access to insurance products
Kenyan digital banking fintech startup Kwara has partnered with insurance technology company, Lami Technologies, to provide SACCO members with affordable and transformational insurance products.
Kenyan-based payroll startup Workpay expands to Nigeria
Workpay, a Nairobi-based YC graduate, is expanding its operations to Nigeria. The cloud-based workforce management startup will now offer Core HR, Payroll, and employee record services to organizations in the country.
JICA kicks off 2nd Cohort of its NINJA Accelerator in Kenya
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.
Google selects nine Kenyan startups to receive equity-free funding via its Africa Investment Fund
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.
[Kenya] Mavazi Elevate program targets fashion industry creatives with business skills
A training initiative is empowering creatives in the fashion industry and small local businesses across the 47 counties in Kenya.
[Column] Patrick Ndegwa: Growing a successful tech startup in Kenya, 4 key elements
The tech scene in Kenya is thriving. Even amid a global pandemic, economic uncertainty, and election fever, our dynamic African country has found a way to cut through the clutter and establish itself as the world’s ‘Silicon Savannah’.
Absa partners with Melanin Kapital to launch unsecured lending for startups in Kenya
Absa Bank Kenya has partnered with Pan African impact investment platform Melanin Kapital, to launch an investor readiness program that places startups driving social impact on the path to accessing up to KES3 million in unsecured lending.
Pangea Trust opens applications for its Startup Connect Programme
Pangea Trust has opened applications for its Startup Connect Programme, to increase the deployment of diaspora remittances and networks to provide investment capital to MSMEs and startups in Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia.
Kenyan female entrepreneurs embrace digital platforms to power operations
A group of trailblazing Kenyan women are carving their own paths to success. From doctors to content creators, they are using the power of online platforms to amplify their voices and help others flourish.
Kenyan retail tech startup MarketForce raises $100,000 funding from Harambeans Prosperity Fund
The Harambeans Prosperity Fund, a donor advised investment vehicle formed through the Harambe Entrepreneur Alliance’s network of prominent families and corporations co-invested $100,000 in Y Combinator Harambean venture MarketForce.
Kenyan fintech startup Kwara selected for Mastercard Start Path program
Kenyan fintech startup Kwara is among the 11 startups that have been selected to join the Mastercard Start Path program.
BimaLab accelerator programme launches to support Insurtech startups in Kenya
FSD Africa, the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) and Tellistic Technology Services have launched BimaLab, a KES 5.3 million accelerator programme designed to support insurance startups in Kenya.
Kenyan startup Marketforce appoints Ore Omolaja as Country Manager, Head of Business for Nigeria
Marketforce, the Kenyan-based B2B platform for retail distribution of consumer goods and digital financial services in Africa, announced the appointment of Ore Omolaja as the Nigeria Country Manager and Head of Business, effective 15th July 2021.
Kenyan startup MarketForce raises $2m pre-Series A to scale B2B retail marketplace, RejaReja
MarketForce, the Kenyan-based B2B platform for retail distribution of consumer goods and digital financial services in Africa, announced a $2 million pre-Series A round, bringing total funding to-date to $2.5 million.
Forum advocates for collaboration to strengthen African food systems
Speaking during the Alliance for a Green Revoluton in Africa (AGRA) organized Africa Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) Summit, speakers reiterated that food security cannot be achieved without a gvernment facilitated enabling environemnt for agribusiness to thrive.
Catalyst Fund announces Circle of Corporate Innovators to accelerate startup-corporate partnerships
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.
Kenyan insurtech startups benefit from IRA, Prudential innovation hub
Three Kenyan insurtech startups each received Ksh 1.25 million in cash awards from an innovation hub steered by the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) in collaboration with Prudential Life Assurance and other partners, to promote insurance inclusivity.
MarketForce acquires Digiduka startup to consolidate distribution of consumer goods with digital financial services in Africa
MarketForce, the end-to-end retail distribution platform for consumer brands in Africa, announced the strategic acquisition of Digiduka, a startup on a mission to bring informal retailers in Africa into the digital economy.
Kenya's Industrialization Ministry launches Startup Savanna, a business acceleration programme for early-stage startups
The Kenyan Ministry of Industrialization, Trade and Enterprise Development (MoITED), launched Startup Savanna, an international business acceleration programme that will link Kenyan startups to global angel investors.
BMZ launches startup support programme for Kenyan entrepreneurs
The Federal Development Ministry (BMZ), has expanded its developPPP Ventures programme in Kenya to support local startups.
Venture builder Satgana launches first portfolio startup in Kenya, Mazi Mobility
After its launch in September last year, venture builder Satgana has announced its first portfolio startup from Nairobi, Kenya, Mazi Mobility, to address the issues faced by the public transport industry in the Global South by electrifying the motorcycle industry.
Pangea announces $3m scale-up program for locally funded Kenyan startups
Norwegian-based accelerator Pangea has unveiled a scale-up program offering private funding of up to $3 million and business support to enable locally funded Kenyan startups accelerate their enterprises to the next level.
Five women-led tech startups awarded $10k funding by Standard Chartered Women in Tech Incubator in Kenya
The Standard Chartered Bank has awarded 5 women-led businesses with KES 1,000,000 each. The businesses were picked from the 4th cohort of the Standard Chartered Bank Women in Tech incubation program.
Legatum Center launches inaugural Legatum Foundry Fellowship for entrepreneurs in Africa
At an inflection point in their entrepreneurial journeys, Fellows will learn from MIT faculty, connect with investors, and expand their network of peer innovators.
Rice sector players set for conference on boosting research and inclusivity
Rice sector players in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia are set to lead discussions on accelerating progress in rice research & development, inclusive markets & value chains.
Kenyan fintech startup Kwara selected for Japan-led Ninja Accelerator programme
Digital banking platform and fintech company Kwara has been selected for the first cohort of the Ninja Accelerator programme in Kenya.
Kenyan insurtech startup Lami Technologies raises $1.8m in seed funding
Lami Technologies, a Kenyan insurance technology (insurtech) company that aims to democratize insurance products and services for low-income Kenyans, has raised $1.8 million in seed funding.
CBK partners with E4Impact Foundation to support Kenyan fintech startups
The MoU will leverage on programs run by the two organizations. These include the E4Impact Accelerator Program, the Afro-Asia Fintech Festival and the Annual Hackathon hosted by CBK and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).
Kenyan e-mobility startup Ecobodaa secures funding from Persistent Energy Capital
Persistent Energy Capital announced a strategic venture building investment and partnership with Ecobodaa, a pioneer e-mobility startup, leading the revolution of the electric motorbike taxi (bodaboda) in Kenya.
Kenya paint manufacturer Crown Paints announces COVID-19 safety net initiative
A recent study on how Covid-19 had caused an economic toll in nine countries, including Kenya, shows that 45 percent of people were forced to miss or reduce meals.
Ericsson launches Graduate Programme in Kenya
The programme aims to grow the technical skills of the graduates, training them on the Ericsson technology, solutions and, delivery and providing them with an understanding of Ericsson’s processes, methods and tools.
Interviews.
[Interview] Caroline Mutuku, General Manager, Glovo, Kenya
Caroline Mutuku is Kenya's General Manager of multi-category app Glovo. Caroline joined Glovo in December 2022 from Swvl Kenya where she also served as the General Manager from December 2021. In this interview...read more here
[Interview] Renate Swanepoel, COO, INC. Networking
Renate Swanepoel is an entrepreneur, global networker and inspirational speaker that has helped thousands of people around the world to find their purpose. She has gained significant networking and communication...read more here
[Interview] Anne-Marie Chidzero, Chief Investment Officer, FSD Africa
Anne-Marie Chidzero is the Chief Investment Officer at the Financial Sector Deepening Africa (FSD Africa) Investments. In this interview, she talks about the risks and opportunities in backing Africa’s early-stage startups...read more here
[Interview] James Kilpatrick, Chair, Gravitilab, UK
Gravitilab is a "Space as a Service" business providing research, testing and qualification facilities to space agencies, government, academia and commercial enterprises. The company’s Chair and Chief Finance Officer...read more here
[Interview] Ramanjeet Singh, CEO, Woosper, USA
Woosper is a US-based digital advertising and marketing agency focused on creating experiences that help clients discover their place in the digital world. The CEO Ramanjeet Singh...read more here