Brief (434)
From December 21 to 22, Morocco's economic hub, Casablanca, will host the 3rd edition of the "Digital Now!" conference. Organized by the business network Club des Dirigeants (CDD), this event has established itself as a pivotal gathering for professionals driving Morocco's digital and entrepreneurial landscape. This year's edition will delve into critical topics shaping the digital landscape, including digital transformation, the impact of artificial intelligence on businesses, tackling cybersecurity challenges, and safeguarding data.
Tanzania is currently finalizing its Digital Economy Strategic Framework 2023-2033, which is due for implementation in early 2024. A panel of digital experts has given the go-ahead to the suggestions and recommendations for the proposed national digital economy program.
According to local media reports, the program will serve as a roadmap for the country's day-to-day economic activities, guiding the processing and management of electronic messages and documents.
MPost, a Kenyan startup that revolutionizes postal services by converting phone numbers into virtual addresses, announced on Wednesday, November 29, its decision to relocate its headquarters to Kigali, Rwanda. The company will establish its base within the coworking space of the Norrsken Foundation, a prominent investment fund operating across the African continent.
“Our relocation to Kigali, Rwanda marks a significant step in our journey towards a broader international footprint. We are enthusiastic about the opportunities this move brings, as it sets the stage for MPost to deliver innovative postal solutions to a wider audience,” the startup wrote on its LinkedIn page.
South African logistics startup GoMetro announced on Wednesday, November 29, the successful completion of an $11.4 million Series A funding round. According to Justin Coetzee (photo), GoMetro founder and CEO, the funding will be used to accelerate the company's growth and expansion plans, with a focus on developing its engineering teams, distribution, and partner management teams as well as enhancing the management of electric buses and trucks.
LemFi, a Nigerian fintech company specializing in money transfers, recently announced the suspension of its operations in Ghana. The decision follows a recent announcement by the Bank of Ghana which identified several entities operating in the country without the required licenses
Digify Africa, a leading South African provider of digital skills training, has launched its Digify Pro program in Nairobi, Kenya. This initiative is undertaken in collaboration with Meta, the American technology giant that owns the Facebook social network. The program aims to foster digital literacy and equip young Kenyans with the skills they need to thrive in the digital era.
African tech ventures can apply for the Africa Tech Summit (ATS) Investment Showcase to be held in Nairobi on February 14th-15th, 2024. The showcase is a key element of the annual Africa Tech Summit, providing selected ventures with the chance to present innovative ideas to a diverse audience of local and international investors.
Ventures must be African-based, with an innovative, scalable product, and at least one African co-founder. Applications are open until December 19th, 2023.
In a statement issued on Monday, November 27, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) reiterated its support for Ethiopia's digitization efforts. "We work in tandem with the government as the country has a national digital strategy. We work with them and then we address all of the specific requests that come to ITU and that is how we actually work in Ethiopia and the entire continent," explained Anne-Rachel Inné (pictured), ITU Regional Director for Africa.
Kenyan platform Twiga Foods, which connects farmers with vendors, recently secured undisclosed funding during a refinancing effort following a KES 40 million debt collection lawsuit.
Investors, including Creadev, Juven, TLcom Capital Partners, and DOB Equity, who participated in Twiga's 2021 $50 million Series C, provided the funding. In a deleted Medium article, CEO Peter Njonjo announced the completion of the restructuring, ensuring suppliers that overdue payments would be settled, reversing Twiga's initial dispute over the debt collection.
Tunisian retail tech startup Winshot has announced the successful completion of a funding round for an undisclosed amount. The investment was led by 216 Capital, a venture capital firm based in Tunis. The capital will fuel Winshot's expansion efforts, with a focus on enhancing its technology platform and refining the customer experience for its partnered brands and retail chains.
More...
Cameroonian e-health startup Waspito has completed a $2.5 million funding round, we learn from a LinkedIn post by founder, Jean Lobe Lobe. The funds will finance tech upgrades and expansion into new markets. "We intend to continue expanding in Cameroon and Côte d'Ivoire, and launch our activities in Senegal and Gabon," explained a Waspito executive.
Kenyan fish farming startup AquaRech announced last week the successful completion of a $1.7 million funding round. "The funding and partnership provided by our investors will promote the growth of our mobile-enabled platform, which is unlocking barriers faced by smallholder fish farmers and bringing the various value chain actors together while remaining farmer-centric," explained Dave Okech, who founded the startup in 2019.
WayUp Sports, an Egyptian online sports equipment e-commerce platform, announced on Wednesday, November 22, the successful completion of a funding round of an undisclosed amount. The round was led by Beltone Venture Capital and Index Sports Fund. The startup, founded in 2021, will use the funds to accelerate its brand rollout, fuel its regional expansion, and improve the user experience on its web and mobile platforms.
Burkina Faso's Minister of the Economy Aboubakar Nacanabo (photo center), officially unveiled e-TIMBRE, the country’s digital stamp platform, in Ouagadougou last Monday.
The new platform aims to end tax stamp shortages, optimize production costs, and deliver a seamless user experience anytime, anywhere.