By CHIMA AKWAJA Facebook said it is investing additional $100 million to support the news industry in the fight to contain the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic crisis. It said the news industry is working under extraordinary conditions to keep people informed…
Kenyan agri-tech startup Selina Wamucii opens platform to groups and cooperatives
BY TOM JACKSON Kenyan agri-tech startup Selina Wamucii, which helps businesses from anywhere in the world buy and import food and agricultural produce from any African country, has opened up its platform to organised farmers groups and cooperatives to sell…
Kenyan, Ethiopian entrepreneurs selected for Innovate for Life programme
BY TOM JACKSON Four entrepreneurs from Kenya and Ethiopia have been selected to take part in the Innovate for Life programme, which aims to support innovations in the health space. An initiative of Amref Health Africa’s Institute of Capacity Development…
Kenya’s Pezesha wins CATAPULT: Inclusion Africa 2020 bootcamp
BY TOM JACKSON Kenyan fintech startup Pezesha has won the Best Catapulter Award at the end of the CATAPULT: Inclusion Africa 2020 bootcamp. Thirteen Africa-focused fintech startups took part in CATAPULT: Inclusion Africa 2020, which helps companies focusing on financial inclusion to scale.…
7 African Countries To Benefit From World Bank $379m Data Initiative
By CHIKA IZUORA The World Bank has set aside a total of $379 million in International Development Association (IDA) credits and grants to help harmonise and strengthen statistical systems in seven West African countries. The seven countries are Burkina Faso,…
Temi Olajide: Balancing Family Time with Screen Time Since We’re All Staying Safe At Home
By Temi Olajide When you are not working, limit your online time by not taking your phone/computer/ipad into the bedroom or living room. You can also disable notifications for social media platforms so that you’re not tempted to check your…
10 entrepreneurial takeaways from Marek Zmyslowski’s “Chasing Black Unicorns
In October of last year, Polish entrepreneur Marek Zymslowski released his autobiography “Chasing Black Unicorns”, recounting his experiences of being accused – and cleared – of defrauding investors and becoming the subject of an Interpol Red Notice. The former chief executive…
“Crowd-farming” startups address vicious cycle, and eye wider impact
BY TOM JACKSON Africa is home to 25 per cent of the world’s farmland, but just 10 per cent of crops produced globally are generated on the continent. A vicious cycle exists here, but it is one being addressed by…
Nigerian on-demand music startup MePlaylist raises funding round
BY TOM JACKSON Nigerian on-demand music platform MePlaylist has raised an undisclosed amount of funding from investors that include Mathew Knowles, father of artists Beyoncé and Solange Knowles. A subscription and advertisement based on-demand music streaming application, MePlaylist aims to create an…
Impact investor Vital Capital launches debt fund to help African companies survive COVID-19 crisis
BY TOM JACKSON Sub-Saharan Africa-focused Vital Capital impact investor has launched a new debt facility providing loans to companies to help them get through the COVID-19 pandemic while continuing to offer essential services. Founded in 2011, Vital Capital is a leading impact…
