Finance (93)
Despite a funding slowdown in 2023, Africa's technology sector continues to attract investors, with a major company closing a new fund dedicated to the continent's burgeoning startups.
Technology investment firm Partech has closed its second Africa-focused fund, Partech Africa 2, at 280 million euros (over 300 million USD), the company announced on Monday.
The fund, exceeding its initial target, received strong backing from existing investors, with nearly all participants from Fund I reinvesting and some increasing their commitments. Partech also attracted new strategic investors from the US, Middle East, and Africa, marking their first foray into the continent's tech scene.
Partech Africa 2 will target investments ranging from $1 million to $15 million across various stages, from seed rounds to Series C fundraising. The firm aims to support approximately 20 startups across the continent.
"We are grateful for the support and commitment of our investors: almost all Fund I investors reinvested and some, more than doubled their commitment. [...] We are also honored to get the support from a new set of strategic investors from the US, the Middle East, and Africa, and for some of whom, this marks their first commitment in African Tech," said Cyril Collon, General Partner at Partech.
This announcement comes despite a 54% decline in VC funding for African startups in 2023, according to Partech Africa's "2023 Africa Tech Venture Capital" report released in January 2024. However, the firm emphasizes that the sector's attractiveness remains undimmed, citing consistently high investment amounts and the influx of new players like themselves.
Partech has also opened a new office in Lagos, Nigeria, to deepen its African presence, joining its existing locations in Dakar, Senegal, and Nairobi, Kenya. The new fund has already invested in three startups: a real estate platform in Egypt, a payment orchestration firm in South Africa, and an e-commerce platform in Senegal.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
Cryptocurrency adoption is growing across Africa, driven by factors such as financial inclusion and diverse uses. However, regulatory ambiguities and security concerns cloud the optimism surrounding the technology.
U.S. financial technology company Visa announced a partnership with Web3 infrastructure provider Transak to offer cryptocurrency withdrawals in fiat currencies to Transak users in 30 African countries, according to a January 30th post on Transak's X account.
The service will utilize Visa Direct, a real-time money transfer solution, allowing users to convert over 40 cryptocurrencies into local fiat for spending at millions of Visa-accepting merchants.
"By enabling real-time card withdrawals through Visa Direct, Transak is delivering a faster, simpler, and more connected experience for its users — making it easier to convert crypto balances into fiat, which can be spent at the more than 130M merchant locations where Visa is accepted," said Yanilsa Gonzalez-Ore, head of Visa Direct and global ecosystem readiness for North America at Visa, in a statement.
Africa has emerged as a global leader in cryptocurrency adoption, with transactions in sub-Saharan Africa reaching $117.1 billion between July 2022 and June 2023, according to Chainalysis data. Nigeria leads the continent with $56.7 billion in transactions during the same period and ranks second globally in the Chainalysis Cryptocurrency Adoption Index.
"We believe this partnership is an inflection point for Web3 as a whole. Now, millions across the globe have a straightforward way to cash out their digital asset holdings to their local currency in real-time and intuitively," said Sami Start, co-founder of Transak.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
The prominent Nigerian fintech company is expanding its payment gateway by aligning with leading payment solutions providers, including a recent collaboration with an African unicorn at the start of 2024. This partnership represents a significant step towards increasing the reach and functionality of its platform.
Nigerian fintech leader Interswitch Group announced on Sunday the integration of OPay Wallet into its Interswitch Payment Gateway (IPG), expanding payment options for users and merchants. This move further strengthens Interswitch's position as a digital payments pioneer in Africa.
The integration allows IPG users to pay directly through their OPay Wallets alongside existing options like bank cards, Quickteller, QR codes, and USSD. "Through our latest collaboration with OPay, we are excited to introduce a new dimension of payment convenience to users and merchants. This partnership reflects our dedication to introducing innovations that enhance the digital payment experience, and we are eager to witness the positive impact it will have on the entire payment ecosystem," said Muyiwa Asagba, Interswitch Managing Director of Digital Commerce & Merchant Acquiring (Paymate).
Having achieved unicorn status in 2019 after a 20% stake acquisition by Visa, Interswitch has established itself as a leading African fintech. Last September, it partnered with Google to integrate Google Pay into IPG, further diversifying its offering. This focus on user convenience aligns with the company's mission to simplify everyday life.
OPay, meanwhile, reached unicorn status in 2021 following a $400 million funding round. The fintech has since become a major player in African mobile payments. This partnership exemplifies the rapid growth of the continent's fintech sector, the most attractive for investors. Notably, among Africa's unicorns, only Jumia operates in e-commerce, highlighting the dominance of fintech in the region.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
Through this equity investment, the AfDB is indirectly supporting startups that are among the least financed in Africa. This initiative comes against a backdrop marked by a 36% drop, to $3.2 billion, in fundraising by African startups in 2023.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) is boosting early-stage innovation and job creation across Africa with a $10.5 million equity investment in Seedstars Africa Ventures, the development bank announced Wednesday.
The move aims to empower Seedstars, a venture capital fund focused on high-growth African startups, to expand its reach and attract further investors. This will strengthen the continent's entrepreneurial ecosystem, supporting crucial sectors like financial inclusion, healthcare, and off-grid energy.
The AfDB's contribution comprises $7 million from its own resources and $3.5 million from the European Union's Boost Africa program. This injection will enable Seedstars to invest up to $75 million in seed and early-stage startups, providing initial investments of around €250,000 with potential follow-on funding of up to €5 million.
This partnership is expected to unlock vital capital for promising African businesses, creating over 9,000 full-time jobs, particularly for women. It aligns with Boost Africa's goals and reinforces the development bank’s commitment to poverty reduction, sustainable development, and regional integration through entrepreneurship.
Seedstars will prioritize investments in financial inclusion, healthcare technologies, off-grid prepaid energy, retail platforms, and agri-food value chains. This aligns with the AfDB's "High 5" priorities, which focus on agriculture, energy, industrialization, integration, and improved living conditions for Africans.
Samira Njoya
Following a steep decline in venture capital (VC) funding for Africa's tech ecosystem in 2023, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has partnered with African leaders to launch a new initiative aimed at revitalizing this critical sector.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) unveiled a ground-breaking $1 billion initiative, Timbuktoo, at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday, January 17, aiming to empower African startups and transform millions of lives.
This pan-African fund seeks to mobilize and invest $1 billion in catalytic and commercial capital to unlock immense potential: transforming 100 million livelihoods and creating 10 million dignified new jobs across the continent.
"Timbuktoo is a new model of development. We are gathering key actors to push on all fronts at the same time. From startup-friendly legislation, global-class startup building, and de-risking capital to increase investment, to the UniPods – University Innovation Pods - across Africa, we aim to fill critical gaps and support the startup ecosystem," declared UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner.
Timbuktoo arrives at a crucial juncture. Recent data from CB Insights indicates a projected 40% decline in African tech ecosystem funding in 2023, reaching a meager $1.8 billion – the lowest since 2020. While this decline reflects a global trend, the UN agency is particularly concerned about Africa's unique challenges. These include the low global value of African startups (0.2%), the heavy dependence on foreign venture capital (89%), and the concentration of funding in just four countries – Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and Egypt.
Timbuktoo seeks to reshuffle the deck and ensure all young African tech talents have access to the resources they need. Rwandan President Paul Kagame emphasized this goal: "We cannot accept that another generation of African young people do not have the tools to reach their full potential. With Timbuktoo’s billion-dollar target, we can create more opportunities for Africa’s youth to put their talent and creativity to good use." President Kagame further announced a $3 million contribution to launch Timbuktoo's African Innovation Fund, to be headquartered in Kigali, Rwanda.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
Despite a downturn in sector investment, Africa’s tech ecosystem continues to draw interest. The continent is seeing an influx of new investors keen to support innovative start-ups.
BEI Monde, a subsidiary of the European Investment Bank (EIB), has pledged a $30 million investment in the Seedstars Africa Ventures I venture capital fund, as announced on Wednesday, January 10. This initiative is backed by the secretariat of the Organization of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS) through the Boost Africa program with a contribution of $10 million, and by the European Union via the ACP Trust Fund with a sum of $20 million. The objective is to spur growth and job creation across the continent by investing in businesses that utilize digital technologies to provide essential services and enhance business efficiency.
“Encouraging and promoting innovation and digitalization is crucial to developing strong and sustainable economies. African entrepreneurs hold the key to the continent’s future, creating jobs, reducing inequality, and improving quality of life. The EIB, as part of Team Europe, is committed to supporting African businesses, and we are proud of the success of Boost Africa and the ACP Trust Fund,” stated EIB Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle.
Despite a 36% decrease in fundraising by African startups to $3.2 billion by 2023, as reported by TechCabal Insights, the introduction of a new venture capital entity focused on Africa is a positive development. Startups can now access this fresh funding source to realize their projects and/or initiate their startup’s growth phase.
Most investors active on the continent are drawn to the tech ecosystems of Kenya, South Africa, Egypt, and Nigeria. In 2023, startups from these four countries represented 74.9% of financing rounds on the continent. The first four deals of Seedstars Africa Ventures I affirm this trend, with the fund backing two Kenyan startups (Poa! Internet and Shamba Pride), one Nigerian (Beacon Power Services), and one French (Bizao) startup with a focus on Africa.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
High transaction costs in financial dealings are a significant issue across Africa. To address this problem, some actors are exploring the use of blockchain technology, with the endorsement of the Central Bank.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has given its approval for the launch of a stablecoin, a type of crypto asset that maintains a steady value against an official currency, providing an alternative payment method. The stablecoin, named cNGN, is set to launch on February 27 and will be indexed to the naira. The Africa Stablecoin Consortium (ASC), a collective of Nigerian banks and fintech companies, is behind the initiative, aiming to elevate the naira to a global digital currency.
“The cNGN ushers in a new era of financial fluidity, bridging the Nigerian Naira with the global market through blockchain technology. Backed 1:1 by Naira reserves held in designated commercial banks, the cNGN Stablecoin transforms the Naira into a dynamic tool for worldwide remittances, commerce, trade, and investment,” the CSA stated.
This development comes two years after the CBN introduced the eNaira, a central bank digital currency launched in October 2021 to increase financial inclusion and facilitate financial transactions, particularly cross-border remittances, at a lower cost. However, a May 2023 report by the International Monetary Fund titled “Nigeria’s eNaira, One Year After” revealed that the adoption of the eNaira has not met the CBN’s expectations.
The CSA believes that the cNGN will address the shortcomings of the eNaira. Unlike the eNaira, the cNGN will not require a dedicated wallet and will be accessible on certain public blockchains like other cryptoassets.
“More than just a currency, cNGN shortens settlement times, enabling payments that traverse the globe swiftly, mirroring the speed of a text message and at a fraction of the cost. This breakthrough paves the way for instantaneous financial transactions, seamlessly connecting Nigeria’s vibrant economy with international markets and offering unprecedented efficiency in both domestic and global financial interactions,” the statement read.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
Building on its recent foray into Senegal, British financial technology company TerraPay has secured a strategic partnership in Mali.
Orange Finances Money Mali and British fintech firm TerraPay have joined forces to enable seamless cross-border mobile money transfers for Malian users, connecting them to a vast network across Africa and the world.
The partnership, announced Monday, empowers Orange Money Mali customers to directly receive funds from multiple countries through TerraPay's global platform. "This strategic collaboration simplifies transactions, making them quick and secure, enhances the customer experience for Orange Money users, and strengthens financial inclusion in Mali," said Djeneba Tandjigora, Chief of Transfer Services and Core Business at Orange Finances Money Mali.
Mobile money has revolutionized African finance, with the continent leading the globe in adoption. According to the GSMA's "State of the Industry Report on Mobile Money 2023," Africa boasts 781 million active accounts, representing 48.81% of the world's total. This translates to a 17% surge compared to 2021.
"With a direct connection to Orange Finances Money Mali, TerraPay can ensure a seamless cross-border payment experience, reducing operational issues and providing prompt assistance to our partner’s clients," said Amel Kane, Regional Sales Manager Francophone West Africa at TerraPay.
TerraPay's robust network spans over 120 countries for receiving funds, and over 210 for sending, and connects to over 7.5 billion bank accounts and 2.1 billion mobile wallets worldwide.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
In recent years, East Africa has emerged as an economic powerhouse in Africa. To get even better results, the region has turned its attention to digital development as a key driver for further acceleration.
On Tuesday, December 5, the World Bank announced the approval of $130 million in financing for a series of regional digital integration projects in East Africa. The funding aims to bring broadband connectivity to communities in Djibouti and Ethiopia, including border areas, refugees, and host communities.
"This project is not only a significant milestone for regional integration, but also a powerful catalyst for national inclusion. By fostering a single digital market in the Horn of Africa, this initiative extends its benefits to both Tadjourah and Obock regions in Djibouti, making a substantial contribution to the country’s digital inclusion strategy," said Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh, Djibouti’s Minister for the Economy and Finance, in charge of Industry.
The financing is part of a series of initiatives supported by the World Bank to promote the expansion of a digital market in the Horn of Africa. The first operation in the series covers Somalia, South Sudan, and Kenya. This brings the total number of countries covered to five.
In choosing Ethiopia and Djibouti, the World Bank aims to address one of the main challenges facing the two countries, namely the lack of well-developed basic fiber optic networks. The World Bank's support should enable network operators, including mobile network operators, satellite operators, and internet service providers, to promote a regional digital market conducive to growth.
Ultimately, the funding will advance the integration of digital markets in the East African region by improving affordable access to regional broadband connectivity, strengthening the environment and policy convergence for cross-border digital trade and data flows, and developing digital skills.
Last week, the World Bank also approved $266.5 million in financing for a digital transformation program in West Africa.
Samira Njoya
Despite ongoing endeavors to expand international connectivity and the deployment of fiber optic backbones across West Africa, significant hurdles remain. The steadfast support of the World Bank is poised to further accelerate progress in this critical domain.
The World Bank has approved $266.5 million in financing for the Digital Transformation for Africa (DTfA)/West Africa Regional Digital Integration Program (WARDIP). This transformative initiative aims to revolutionize the digital landscape of Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and Mauritania, laying the foundation for a connected, innovative, and inclusive future.
"DTfA/ WARDIP is a crucial step toward an interconnected, innovative, and inclusive future for West Africa. Beyond shaping a digital landscape, it aims to foster regional integration through collaboration and strategic investments,” commented Boutheina Guermazi, World Bank Director for Regional Integration for Africa and the Middle East.
This timely intervention comes amidst West Africa's burgeoning efforts to digitize the region. While mobile broadband coverage has expanded, substantial gaps in digital connectivity, access, and usage persist. According to World Bank data, mobile broadband adoption rates remain below 40%, primarily due to prohibitively high retail prices.
The World Bank's support will empower ICT companies and service providers to capitalize on opportunities to foster a growth-conducive regional digital market. Public sector entities, universities, and regulatory bodies will also receive targeted support to enhance their contributions to digital development. The project will further bolster the efforts of the Smart Africa alliance, building the capacity of African decision-makers and policymakers in digital transformation.
Ultimately, the program will lower the digital divide by reducing the cost of Internet services in the region, stimulating competition among service providers, and upgrading underlying infrastructure. This transformation is expected to generate new employment opportunities, expand access to services for 1.3 million inhabitants, and reduce gender inequalities in digital skills, entrepreneurship, and financial services. The goal is to ensure that women have equal opportunities to benefit from the digital economy, with a target of reaching 50% of women and people with disabilities.
Samira Njoya
More...
The South African government is stepping up initiatives to accelerate the adoption of broadband Internet as part of its digital transformation ambitions. It is supported in its efforts by a number of key international partners.
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) and South African investment bank Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) recently committed to investing a total of $49.2 million in the Eastern Cape fibre project piloted by Liquid Intelligent Technologies. Each of the two parties will invest 450 million rand ($24.6 million).
"Not only will this investment from RMB and IFC help fund the expansion of our fibre backbone network in the Eastern Cape, but it will also help us upskill more South Africans and create employment. We believe this collaboration sets a new benchmark for the financing and development of digital infrastructure in South Africa," said Hardy Pemhiwa (photo, center), Group Chief Executive Officer of Liquid Intelligent Technologies.
The funding granted to Liquid Intelligent is part of the three companies' collective commitment to advancing broadband connectivity in South Africa in general, and particularly in Eastern Cape, one of the country's least connected regions.
According to statistics quoted by Liquid, only 65% of households in the Eastern Cape have access to the Internet. What's more, only 5% of the province's households have Internet access from home, which is twice as low as the South African average, where 10% of the total population has Internet access from home.
Ultimately, the project will reduce the digital divide in the Eastern Cape and extend Internet access to underserved areas. The aim is to support the South African government's National Development Plan to achieve 100% broadband coverage in the country by 2030.
Samira Njoya
The sixth session of the India-Ethiopia Joint Trade Committee was held earlier this week in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. During the summit, several decisions were taken.
To solve all the problems hindering bilateral trade with Ethiopia and facilitate commercial exchanges with the country, India “invited” Ethiopia’s collaboration for the creation of a payment interface between the two countries. The request was made at the India-Ethiopia Joint Trade Committee (JTC) held on Monday, November 6, and Tuesday, November 7 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
"The Indian side invited the Ethiopian side to collaborate on the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) of India with Ethswitch– a share company owned by all banks in Ethiopia– of Ethiopia. Further, the Indian side also urged Ethiopia to explore the possibility of settlement of trade transactions in local currency which will help boost bilateral trade and conserve foreign exchange," reads a statement published by the Indian Ministry of Commerce.
The two countries signed a trade agreement in 1997 to strengthen their economic and commercial cooperation. Trade between the two countries in 2022-2023 is estimated to be worth more than $642.5 million. Also, to date, Indian companies have invested more than $5 billion in Ethiopia.
Last August, Addis Ababa was one of six countries to join the BRICS, a group of developing nations advocating a new economic world order. India is one of the founding members of this alliance, along with Brazil, Russia, China, and South Africa.
Let’s note that the new gateway is expected to boost Indian investment in Ethiopia.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
With the acquisition, Gozem enters another segment of the tech ecosystem while accelerating its growth on the continent.
Beninese fintech startup Moneex announced earlier today its acquisition by Togolese mobility solution Gozem. The amount of the transaction was not disclosed but the acquisition aims to launch a financial services arm, Gozem Money, in French-speaking African countries.
“Expanding our financial services through the Gozem Money solution represents the next frontier in our ongoing commitment to delivering essential digital services to our users across Africa. With the addition of the Moneex Team to our ranks, we are poised to accelerate the introduction of our innovative fintech offerings to the market,” said Martial Konvi (photo, left), Global Head of Product at Gozem.
Since its creation, Gozem has raised $11.7 million to accelerate its growth on the continent. The e-mobility startup, launched in 2018 and based in Togo and Singapore, is present in several French-speaking African markets such as Benin, Togo, and Cameroon. It has managed to add various services, such as parcel delivery, food ordering, and e-commerce, to its mobile app, becoming a super app.
Meanwhile, Moneex, the fintech created by Florent Ogoutchoro and Henry Ukoha, offers its customers multi-currency accounts, enabling them to convert funds at the best rates, receive international payments, and pay for goods and services worldwide.
The financial technology sector is the most attractive in Africa. Between July 2021 and June 2023, African fintechs raised $2.7 billion, according to the report "Finnovating for Africa: Reimagining the African financial services landscape 2023" published by Disrupt Africa.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
The African continent has a number of assets to help it become a leader in the field of artificial intelligence, including its young population. However, it needs to groom those assets to be able to capitalize on available opportunities.
The UK and partners have pledged £80 million ($100 million) to accelerate development in several African countries through the use of artificial intelligence (AI). The investment was announced, by the British government, at the AI Safety Summit held in England from November 1 to 2.
The first phase of the project, which will initially focus on sub-Saharan Africa, aims to, among other things: create or develop at least 8 responsible AI research labs in African universities; help at least 10 countries create robust regulatory frameworks for responsible, fair and safe AI; help reduce barriers to entry for African "AI-innovators" into the private sector.
"This collaborative initiative is of paramount importance as it empowers African countries to become producers, not just consumers, in the AI revolution, ensuring that we are at the forefront of shaping our own future and driving sustainable progress across the continent," said Paula Ingabire, Rwanda's Minister of Information Technology and Innovation.
According to a UK government's press release, this new collaboration is part of a wider UK commitment to harnessing the opportunities of AI and “ensure its use as a force for good.”
As part of the partnership, AI scholarships will be awarded to students at African universities. The collaboration will also support investment in the creation of data models ensuring an accurate representation of Africa. In addition, it will enable the establishment of responsible AI governance frameworks to manage the potential risks associated with its use.
Samira Njoya