Brief (434)
Nigeria’s Co-Creation Hub (CcHub) has launched “Let’s Build, Africa,” a program aimed at helping African startups expand across the continent. The initiative provides startups with strategic insights and resources to enter new markets.
Eligible startups must be registered in Africa, have an African founder, and be at the scale-up stage. Benefits include pitching to investors, travel and ecosystem tours, six months of post-tour support, and product showcases.
The application deadline is June 30, 2024, with program activities running from July 2024 to April 2025.
The Patoranking Foundation, led by musician Patrick Okorie (Patoranking), has partnered with ALX Africa to offer $500,000 in tech scholarships. Starting May 30, 2024, the initiative will train 40 young Africans in data analytics, cloud computing, and Salesforce Administration.
The scholarships aim to boost tech skills and provide internship opportunities with global companies. Applicants must complete the ALX admissions process and submit application videos and essays.
This new initiative aims to nurture Africa’s next generation of tech leaders.
The Nigerian Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, signed on May 30, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with KAOUN International, organizers of GITEX, to bring GITEX Africa to Nigeria in 2025.
The agreement was signed during the ongoing GITEX Africa by Kashifu Inuwa, Director General of NITDA, and Trixie LohMirmand, CEO of KAOUN International in Marrakech, Morocco.
Hosting GITEX Africa in Nigeria, the continent's most populous nation with a vibrant tech scene offers a significant opportunity to showcase the country's industries and startups to the world.
Rwanda will host the 80th public meeting of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) next month, marking the first time this event is held in East Africa. The Kigali Convention Centre will host the event from June 10 to 13, organized with Rwanda's Ministry of ICT and Innovation.
ICANN aims to promote a stable, secure, and unified global internet. This event underscores ICANN's commitment to international participation in Internet governance and highlights Rwanda’s growing influence in the ICT sector.
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.
Zimbabwe has granted Starlink a license to operate in the country, President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced on May 25.
The move aligns with Zimbabwe's Vision 2030, focusing on innovation, science, and technology.
The license aims to enhance internet access and support Zimbabwe's technological and economic goals.
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) unveiled the 'Digital Literacy for All' initiative on May 26, aiming to narrow Nigeria's digital gap and promote inclusive growth.
The program, set to achieve a 70% literacy rate by 2027, seeks to provide universal access to digital literacy. It empowers citizens with critical digital skills such as online resource utilization, cybersecurity awareness, effective communication, and proficiency in digital tools.
Statistics Botswana announced on May 16 that it will conduct the 2024 Botswana Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Household Survey from June to August 2024, collecting data from selected households nationwide.
The survey aims to produce indicators for evaluating ICT development goals, provide benchmarks for international comparisons, monitor progress towards building an information society, and offer critical data to enhance digital economy growth.
Data will encompass household ICT access, online safety, e-waste awareness, individual device usage, digital skills, e-education, e-commerce, e-government, security, privacy, and media habits.
The Organization of Information and Communication Technologies Professionals in Senegal (OPTIC) recently announced the 7th edition of the International Fair for Professionals of the Digital Economy (SIPEN). This event is scheduled to take place on June 27-28 in Dakar. The event will focus on the theme "Accelerating Digitalization: A Powerful Lever for the Competitiveness of the Senegalese and African Economy."
Kenya’s government has trained over 390,000 youth in digital skills and generated 139,000 online jobs within the past year. Information, Communication, and Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo revealed this at the launch of the Jitume ICT Hub in Ruiru on May 20.
Since 2016, Kenya's Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector has grown by an average of 10.8% annually, emerging as a key driver of economic development and job creation, with positive impacts extending across various sectors of the economy, according to the “Kenya Economic Update: Accelerating Kenya’s Digital Economy” 2019 report by the World Bank.
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Google is accepting applications for the 2024 Hustle Academy, a 5-day bootcamp to boost small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This year's program features a new focus on business-oriented artificial intelligence (AI) training.
Since 2022, the Hustle Academy has supported over 10,000 businesses in securing funding and creating jobs through education, mentorship, and networking. New AI modules will help businesses make data-driven decisions, optimize operations, and develop AI-powered marketing strategies.
Applications for the 2024 cohort are open to SME owners in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa.
Kenyan youth have secured free ICT training through a partnership involving Zone 01, the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (ULCGA), the County Government of Kisumu, and Lake Hub. The County Government of Kisumu revealed on May 17 in a release.
The selected cohort, 96, out of 13,000 applications received, will undergo a two-year training program for free using a peer-to-peer learning model.
The program aims to develop skilled professionals in web app development, data engineering, AI, video game development, blockchain, and cybersecurity.
Glint Ventures, an Egyptian consulting and investment firm, announced on Monday, May 13, the first close of Glint Fund II, its second venture capital fund, at $3 million. The fund aims to support Egyptian startups with investments ranging from $250,000 to $500,000.
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.