Brief_One (95)
Accelerex, a leading African fintech company, has launched the “Pay with Fingerprint” solution, Nigeria's first biometric-enabled PoS payment system.
Designed to address card fraud and eliminate the need for physical cards, the technology allows bank account holders to make secure payments using their fingerprints at merchant locations.
On Tuesday, June 25, Beninese Minister of Digital and Digitalization, Aurélie Adam Soulé Zoumarou, inaugurated the Technical Committee for Startup Labeling. Composed of seven members appointed for a renewable two-year term, the committee will be responsible for receiving and reviewing applications from micro, small, and medium enterprises. It will periodically publish the list of labeled startups, notify applicants of the decisions resulting from the application review, and issue decisions on the revocation of granted labels.
During her visit to Madagascar, Jennifer Bachus, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy, met with a Malagasy delegation led by Tahina Razafindramalo, Minister of Digital Development, Posts, and Telecommunications, on Thursday, June 20. The primary objective of this meeting was to promote a safe and secure cyberspace, enhance Madagascar's digital resilience, and support local initiatives for digital transformation.
Burundian Minister of Communication, Information Technologies, and Media, Léocadie Ndacayisaba, formally launched the operations of the Société de Télédiffusion Numérique du Burundi (STNB) in collaboration with China on Saturday, June 15. The institution will oversee the future national digital terrestrial television platform.
The transition to digital television, according to the Minister of Communication, aims to promote development across all sectors in the country.
Chad's Minister of Communications, Digital Economy, and Digitalization of Administration, Boukar Michel, held a meeting on Tuesday, June 18, with a delegation of American, Canadian, and Turkish investors. The delegation was accompanied by Kitoko Gata Ngoulou, Chad's ambassador to the United States. The discussions focused on the digital economy and the digitization of key sectors within the country. Boukar Michel emphasized that such partnerships would address the telecommunications needs of the population, highlighting the importance of international collaboration in advancing Chad's digital infrastructure and services.
EtriLabs, a Beninese startup incubator with a presence in Benin and Senegal, announced on Thursday, June 13, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, the selection of six startups operating in educational technologies for the inaugural cohort of the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship. The program aims to accelerate 36 edtech startups over a period of three years.
The selected startups—Irawo, Sewema, Logeco, Blemama, Tama, and Esseyi—will benefit from an eight-month acceleration program, mentorship, expert advice, and non-equity funding of $75,000.
On Friday, June 14, the Minister of Digital Economy and New Information Technologies, General Bonjean Frédérik Mbanza, met with a delegation from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Gabon. Led by its Resident Representative, Francis James, the UNDP delegation presented the University Pods (UNIPODS) incubator program to the minister. This initiative is established within major public universities across Africa.
From July 5 to 7, the Dakar City Hall will host a hackathon for technology enthusiasts. Called Dakar Innovation Days, this event will showcase the creativity of students, professionals, and hobbyists. Organized by the Dakar City Council, the initiative aims to identify and promote innovative start-ups that contribute to local development.
Burkina Faso unveiled its new e-certificate platform for Certificates of Citizenship on Friday, June 7, in the capital Ouagadougou. The platform, accessible at https://ecertificat-nationalite.gov.bf/, is designed to streamline the application process for Burkinabe citizens by allowing them to submit and track their requests online.
Dakar-based LAfricaMobile, a multi-channel, multi-operator, and multi-country digital cloud platform, said on Wednesday it closed a successful Series A funding round of €4.3 million. The investment, announced at GITEX Africa in Marrakech, Morocco, will be used to bolster its technology with artificial intelligence integration and fuel expansion across Francophone Africa.
More...
OpenseedVC, a U.K.-based venture capital firm focused on early-stage tech companies in Africa and Europe, announced the first close of its seed fund at $10 million on Monday, May 20. The fund will target investments in startups across various sectors, including e-commerce, fintech, healthtech, and productivity tools.
"Our thesis is that by backing experienced operators early in their journey with the right capital and support from peer operators, you can build a diversified portfolio that generates incredible returns for investors and provides crucial support for ambitious operators when they need it most," said Maria Rotilu (photo), founder of OpenseedVC.
“Every May, we commemorate Africa Month, marking a time when the colours of African heritage and the bright promise of its future are brought to the forefront through vibrant celebrations. This year, we're thrilled to partner with the African Union to amplify these celebrations, inviting the world to #DiscoverMyAfrica through the power of YouTube Shorts,” Google reveals
“The #DiscoverMyAfrica Challenge is part of the African Union’s collaborative effort in driving innovation through strategic partnership with Google, through the Office of the Youth Envoy, Make Africa Digital (MAD) initiative,” an AU release, dated May 2, states.
This initiative celebrates Africa's diversity and heritage, empowering youth to share their stories globally. The challenge covers various aspects of African life, including music, art, food, fashion, and landmarks.
Hikmatu Bilali
The Agency for Information Systems and Digital (ASIN) announced on Tuesday, April 30, it is hosting an Artificial Intelligence hackathon from May 13th to 16th, 2024. Participants can join virtually or attend in person at the Palais des Congrès in Cotonou.
BongoHive, Zambia’s leading innovation and technology hub, in collaboration with the German Cooperation (GIZ) and Zanga African Metrics, a Zambian firm, has recently unveiled the FIT4Mentorship program. This initiative is specifically designed for African women in the ICT sector. The program aims to bring about substantial transformations in the industry by offering mentorship, networking opportunities, and capacity-building for women. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply by May 31.