- Kenyan startup AgriBORA provides certified storage and digital tools to help farmers manage and sell crops.
- The platform enables farmers to access financing of up to 70% of crop value through digital warehouse receipts.
- The solution aims to reduce post-harvest losses and improve market access for smallholder farmers in East Africa.
Kenyan agritech startup AgriBORA has developed a digital platform designed to improve crop management and commercialization for smallholder farmers.
The solution responds to structural challenges that affect African agriculture. Farmers across the continent face high post-harvest losses, limited access to financing and fragmented markets.
Several startups have begun developing digital tools to modernize agricultural value chains. AgriBORA operates within this broader innovation trend.
The platform relies on a certified storage system that allows farmers, cooperatives and traders to store cereals in secure and controlled warehouses. This system aims to reduce post-harvest losses, which remain a major challenge in many African countries.
Entrepreneur Kizito Odhiambo founded the startup in 2018. “We build a complete ecosystem around farmers, enabling them to access agricultural inputs, financial services and sales markets in a way that makes the process affordable, convenient and reliable for them and their trading partners,” the startup said.
“Our goal is to reduce risks associated with small-scale farming, improve agricultural productivity and facilitate efficient trade.”
The platform integrates a financing mechanism based on digital warehouse receipts. Farmers who deposit crops in partner warehouses receive an electronic receipt. They can then use this receipt as collateral to obtain financing. This mechanism allows farmers to unlock up to 70% of the value of their stored crops while retaining ownership of their production.
The platform also connects farmers with buyers. Producers can access price information through the system and sell crops to verified buyers when market conditions become more favorable.
This model aims to prevent farmers from selling crops immediately after harvest at low prices, a common practice in many rural markets. AgriBORA seeks to build a digital ecosystem that structures grain trade across East Africa. The company integrates digital tools, climate data and financial services to improve farm productivity and resilience.
By combining smart storage, financing and market access, the agritech platform aims to reduce risk for farmers and improve the efficiency of agricultural supply chains across the region.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
- Kenyan entrepreneur Boit Victor founded QuePay in 2024 to automate services through cashless payments.
- The system connects customer payments directly to physical equipment such as vending machines, turnstiles and buses.
- The technology automatically activates a service once the payment is validated, while recording the transaction in real time.
Kenyan embedded systems engineer Boit Victor has developed a technology platform that connects digital payments directly to the delivery of services.
Victor founded QuePay in 2024. The company offers businesses a system that enables them to accept cashless payments and automate service activation.
The platform uses automation to link each payment to the immediate execution of a service without intermediaries or cash transactions.
QuePay provides a smart hardware controller and an online platform that connect a merchant’s equipment to customer payment methods.
Businesses can link the system to vending machines, turnstiles, buses or other service infrastructure.
Once a customer completes a payment, the system automatically triggers the associated action. The equipment can therefore dispense water, open a gate or grant secure access immediately after payment confirmation.
Merchants deploy the system by installing a dedicated controller on their equipment. The controller connects the device to the QuePay platform.
Once connected, the system records transactions in real time, monitors sensors and enables remote management of the equipment. Customers interact directly with the machine equipped with QuePay when they want to access a service. They complete the payment using one of the available payment methods.
After the system validates the payment, the machine automatically performs the requested action. The customer receives instant confirmation on the screen or on a mobile phone, while the platform records the transaction immediately.
Victor also founded Veno Autobotics in 2020. The company specializes in automation and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies and develops custom systems designed to automate essential services across Africa.
Through these initiatives, Victor aims to expand the use of connected technologies that integrate payments, devices and service delivery into a single automated system.
Victor earned a degree in electrical and electronic engineering in 2017 from the University of Nairobi. He later completed advanced training in embedded software development and printed circuit board design in 2020, a program organized by the Noble Work Foundation.
Before launching his ventures, Victor gained professional experience in technology and research roles. He joined ZaOFISI Office Supplies as a web developer in 2018. He also collaborated with Firstdata Research Consultants, where he worked as a research supervisor on programming and consulting projects.
Melchior Koba
- Tanzanian fintech Laina Finance offers installment-based payment plans for consumers and businesses.
- The company provides financing for electronics, insurance premiums and short-term cash loans through flexible repayment schedules.
- Founder Tonny Missokia designed the platform to simplify credit access without requiring a traditional credit history.
Tanzanian entrepreneur Tonny Missokia has developed a financial platform designed to simplify access to credit for consumers and businesses.
Missokia co-founded Laina Finance and currently serves as its director. The company provides financial services that allow individuals and companies to complete purchases through installment payments.
Missokia built the platform to improve financial well-being in Tanzania and to make payment systems more flexible and accessible.
Missokia founded Laina Finance in 2018. The company positions itself as an alternative to traditional payment models. The platform offers flexible payment plans that allow customers to divide purchases into several installments.
The company targets a broad customer base across Tanzania. The platform serves public-sector employees, private-sector workers including SME staff, telecom subscribers and small entrepreneurs.
Laina Finance primarily finances the purchase of electronic devices through installment-based payments. The company also provides financing solutions that allow customers to pay insurance premiums through smaller and more manageable installments.
In addition, the company offers fast cash loans for telecom subscribers, civil servants and private-sector employees. The platform delivers all these services through flexible payment plans that customers can access online within a few clicks during the checkout process.
Customers can choose payment schedules based on their financial capacity. The platform allows users to select weekly, biweekly or monthly repayment options.
The application process operates entirely online through a simplified digital form. The system does not require a traditional credit history and delivers approval decisions almost instantly.
Missokia also co-founded Solocodes in 2022. The company develops technology solutions designed to improve efficiency within the financial sector.
Missokia earned a master’s degree in management and entrepreneurship in 2012 from the Häme University of Applied Sciences. Before launching his fintech ventures, Missokia built experience across several industries. He became chief executive officer of Anthony International in 2013. The company exports Battery Energy Drink from Finland to Tanzania. He later worked as head of sales and business development at Creditinfo Tanzania, a licensed credit reporting agency, between 2017 and 2020.
Melchior Koba
- Gebeya and InterNetX signed a strategic partnership to allow African entrepreneurs to register and manage web domains using local payment methods.
- The partnership integrates InterNetX’s AutoDNS platform into Gebeya’s ecosystem, including Jitume AI and Dala AI.
- The initiative aims to remove barriers linked to international payments and strengthen digital inclusion for African SMEs.
Pan-African digital platform Gebeya and European domain registrar InterNetX, a subsidiary of IONOS Group, signed a strategic partnership to simplify access to domain registration services across Africa.
The companies announced the agreement on March 9. The partnership will allow African entrepreneurs, freelancers and small businesses to register and manage web domains directly through the Gebeya platform while using local payment methods.
This initiative aims to address persistent technical and financial barriers that limit access to online business tools across the continent.
Gebeya’s leadership says the partnership responds to a growing need for accessible digital infrastructure. “Possessing a web domain has become essential for any company or professional seeking to grow in the African digital market,” said Amadou Daffe, Chief Executive Officer of Gebeya.
“This partnership with InterNetX simplifies this crucial step and removes obstacles related to international credit cards and currency restrictions,” he added.
Many African entrepreneurs face difficulties when they attempt to purchase domain services because international payment systems often restrict transactions or require foreign currency cards.
The partnership will integrate InterNetX’s AutoDNS platform into Gebeya’s digital ecosystem. This integration will connect the technology with Gebeya’s solutions, including Jitume AI, its digital talent marketplace, and Dala AI, its digital services studio.
Users will be able to purchase domains, configure SSL certificates and launch websites within minutes through the platform.
The system will support payments in local currencies, which allows entrepreneurs to bypass common constraints associated with cross-border transactions.
The initiative comes at a time when Africa’s digital economy continues to expand rapidly. Data from We Are Social and Meltwater show that Africa counted about 670 million internet users at the beginning of 2025. Start-ups and small businesses across the continent increasingly seek to strengthen their online presence in order to reach customers and scale their operations.
The partnership aims to deliver broader benefits beyond domain acquisition. Simplified access to domain management tools and SSL security certificates will help businesses secure their websites and expand digital commerce. The initiative also supports digital sovereignty and online entrepreneurship in Africa by reducing technical and financial barriers.
By enabling easier access to essential digital infrastructure, the collaboration seeks to accelerate SME growth and deepen digital inclusion across the continent.
Samira Njoya
The TEMS Africa ICT Exhibition and Conference will take place on April 23 and 24, 2026, at the Sarit Expo Centre in Nairobi. The event will bring together technology professionals, businesses, and tech enthusiasts for technology demonstrations, keynote speeches, and networking opportunities. The conference aims to showcase how ICT solutions can drive economic growth and digital transformation across the continent.
Zambian startup Padue is partnering with FasterCapital’s EquityPilot program to support the launch of its on-demand services app. The platform connects users with verified local service providers through geolocation, secure payments and customer support. The partnership will support the public rollout, the onboarding of providers across several cities, and a marketing campaign aimed at attracting 50,000 users in the first year.
South African fintech Orca has closed an oversubscribed $2.35 million seed round to strengthen its fraud detection platform, designed for mobile payments in Africa.
Founded by two former Stitch engineers, the company analyzes billions of transactions in real time to detect complex fraud patterns without blocking legitimate transactions. Orca plans to use the funds to accelerate its expansion into other emerging markets.
- Nigerien fintech iFutur launched the iPay Money payment aggregation platform to help merchants accept multiple digital payment methods through a single system.
- The platform enables businesses to accept mobile money, bank cards, payment links and QR code payments while managing transactions from a unified dashboard.
- The solution also supports offline merchants through USSD payments, allowing transactions on basic mobile phones without internet access.
Nigerien startup iFutur, which operates from Niamey, developed the fintech solution iPay Money to provide payment aggregation services for merchants, organizations and service providers.
The platform allows companies to accept multiple payment methods through a single infrastructure. Customers can pay using mobile money, bank cards, payment links or QR codes.
This approach aims to simplify payment collection for merchants while improving the payment experience for customers.
The platform enables businesses to centralize transaction management through a single dashboard. Merchants can track payments, manage incoming funds and transfer money to partners or suppliers from the same interface.
The system therefore reduces operational complexity for companies that handle several payment channels simultaneously.
The solution targets businesses with websites as well as merchants operating offline. Offline merchants can use tools such as USSD payments, which allow users to complete transactions from basic mobile phones without requiring internet connectivity.
This functionality expands access to digital payments in markets where smartphone usage and internet penetration remain uneven.
According to the company, the platform integrates several payment partners, including mobile money operators and bank card networks.
This integration increases the range of payment options available to users and allows merchants to accept payments from multiple financial ecosystems.
Beyond payment acceptance, iPay Money offers additional digital services. The platform allows businesses to collect funds online, create digital storefronts and automate payment transfers. These tools position the solution as a broader financial infrastructure for merchants and service providers.
Through this infrastructure, the fintech aims to support the digitalization of transactions in Niger and the wider region. The company also seeks to strengthen financial inclusion by making electronic payment tools more accessible to businesses and merchants.
This article was initially published in French by Adoni Conrad Quenum
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
- Somalia launched the Somalia Computer Incident Response Team (SOMCIRT) to coordinate the prevention, detection and response to cybersecurity incidents.
- The initiative follows the Cybersecurity Law approved by parliament in January 2026, which mandates the creation of the response center.
- Somalia continues to expand its cyber regulatory framework and international cooperation while ranking Tier 4 out of 5 in the 2024 Global Cybersecurity Index.
The Somali government launched the Somalia Computer Incident Response Team (SOMCIRT) on Saturday, March 7. The center coordinates the prevention, detection and response to cybersecurity incidents across the country.
Many African countries continue to strengthen national cyber defenses as digital services expand. Somalia has recently intensified efforts in this area and adopted new legislation to strengthen cybersecurity governance.
𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐲𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 –𝐒𝐎𝐌𝐂𝐈𝐑𝐓
— NCA Somalia (@SomaliaNCA) March 7, 2026
Mogadishu, Somalia – 7 March 2026 — The Prime Minister of the Federal Government of Somalia, H.E. Hamza Abdi Barre, today inaugurated the Somalia Computer… pic.twitter.com/LDAsGfznLW
According to the National Communications Authority, the center supports incident reporting and issues cybersecurity alerts and warnings.
The authority states that the center coordinates responses to cyber threats and promotes cybersecurity awareness across institutions.
The initiative also strengthens cooperation between government institutions, private-sector actors and international partners to improve protection of Somalia’s critical digital infrastructure.
Mohamed Hassan Mohamed emphasized the importance of stronger cyber defenses as digital services expand.
“As digital services continue to grow across Somalia, strengthening cybersecurity systems is essential to protect government institutions, telecommunications infrastructure and other critical sectors. SOMCIRT will play a key role in ensuring that our digital ecosystem remains secure and resilient,” he said.
Parliament approved the Cybersecurity Law in January 2026 and mandated the creation of SOMCIRT under that legislation.
The launch adds to several initiatives that Somalia has implemented in recent months to strengthen national capabilities against cyber threats and improve protection of digital infrastructure.
The Somali government has introduced several regulatory reforms in recent years to strengthen the country’s digital governance framework.
Authorities approved a cybercrime bill in August 2025. The government had already enacted a data protection law in March 2023, which led to the creation of the Agence de protection des données to oversee its enforcement.
Somalia has also expanded international cooperation in digital policy and cybersecurity. The country signed a memorandum of understanding with Turkey on February 10, 2026 covering several areas of digital cooperation, including cybersecurity.
Somalia has also strengthened ties with Malaysia and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime on cyber-related initiatives. These efforts take place as governments increasingly view cybersecurity as a prerequisite for benefiting fully from digital technologies.
The International Telecommunication Union ranked Somalia in Tier 4 out of 5 in the Global Cybersecurity Index 2024. The country recorded an overall score of 37.39 out of 100, which indicates that Somalia must intensify efforts in technical measures, legal frameworks and capacity development.
Isaac K. Kassouwi
- Egypt launched Wa3i.net, a digital awareness platform under the national Digital Citizenship and Online Protection initiative.
- Authorities aim to strengthen cybersecurity awareness among nearly 98 million internet users, representing about 72.2% of the population.
- Cybersecurity firm Kaspersky reported that 27.4% of Egyptian internet users faced online threats in 2024, while phishing and social engineering attacks rose 44% across the Middle East, Turkey and Africa region.
Egypt has chosen to strengthen public awareness of digital safety practices in order to reduce user vulnerability to cyber risks.
The Egyptian Ministry of Communications and Information Technology announced on Friday, March 6, the launch of a national initiative called “Digital Citizenship and Online Protection.” The program places the Wa3i.net platform at its core.
Authorities designed the platform to raise awareness of digital best practices and reduce citizens’ exposure to cyber threats.
The Wa3i.net platform operates as a knowledge hub dedicated to digital security. The platform provides Arabic-language educational content, practical guides and training resources. The platform targets several audiences, including children, teenagers, parents and teachers. Authorities aim to promote best practices in personal data protection, safe internet browsing and responsible technology use. The program follows the principle that awareness represents the first line of defense against cyberattacks.
Authorities believe that stronger digital literacy will reduce citizens’ vulnerability to threats such as phishing attacks, cyberbullying, online fraud and the spread of misinformation. Consequently, the government intends to build a stronger cybersecurity culture across society.
The initiative comes as internet usage expands rapidly in Egypt. Data from DataReportal shows that Egypt had nearly 98 million internet users, representing an internet penetration rate of 72.2% of the population.
However, the growth of digital services, social media platforms and online payment systems has also increased exposure to cybercrime. These risks affect individuals, businesses and public institutions alike.
Industry data confirms the scale of the challenge. Cybersecurity company Kaspersky reported that 27.4% of internet users in Egypt encountered online threats in 2024, including malicious websites or malware distributed through the web.
The company also reported that phishing and social engineering attacks increased by 44% across the Middle East, Turkey and Africa region, highlighting the increasing sophistication of cybercriminal methods.
The Egyptian government plans to address these challenges through a collaborative approach. The program includes partnerships with public institutions, international organizations and private sector companies.
Authorities expect these partnerships to facilitate knowledge sharing, promote best practices and strengthen national cybersecurity capabilities.
Samira Njoya
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- The AfCFTA Secretariat, Quest Ghana Limited, and the Seychelles government signed a memorandum of understanding to develop the archipelago as a digital trade hub.
- The initiative aims to integrate Seychellois companies, particularly MSMEs, into Africa’s digital value chains and cross-border e-commerce ecosystem.
- The Seychelles benefits from strong digital readiness, with internet penetration at 87.4%, while its e-commerce market could reach $46.41 million by 2027, according to Statista.
The African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat formalized a memorandum of understanding on March 5 with Quest Ghana Limited and the Government of Seychelles.
The partners designed the agreement to transform the Indian Ocean archipelago into a competitive hub for digital trade and cross-border commerce across Africa. The initiative focuses on integrating Seychellois businesses into Africa’s digital value chains.
Stakeholders said the project aims to enable local operators to participate more actively in dematerialized trade flows. The program will rely on trade facilitation mechanisms established under the African Continental Free Trade Area. Consequently, authorities expect the initiative to expand the role of Seychelles-based companies in the continent’s growing digital marketplace. The partnership plans to introduce a technical framework that will secure cross-border digital transactions.
The agreement emphasizes system interoperability, which partners consider essential for simplifying payments and commercial exchanges between companies operating under different jurisdictions. This technical alignment aims to reduce friction in cross-border digital trade and accelerate regional integration.
Today, the #AfCFTA Secretariat, Quest Ghana Limited and the government of the Republic of Seychelles signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance Seychelles’ digital economy, and digital trade under the AfCFTA.
— AfCFTA Secretariat Official (@AfCFTA) March 5, 2026
The collaboration aims to position Seychelles as a… pic.twitter.com/M4xsA9bnZZ
The initiative places particular emphasis on micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. Partners aim to improve MSMEs’ access to digital infrastructure in order to remove barriers that limit participation in intra-African trade. They expect stronger digital access to allow local companies to join Africa’s expanding digital commerce ecosystem.
The Seychelles supports this diversification strategy with a relatively advanced digital environment. Data from DataReportal shows that internet penetration in the country reached 87.4% of the population in early 2025.
At the same time, e-commerce continues to expand. Estimates from Statista indicate that the Seychelles’ online retail market could grow at an average annual rate of 14.35% between 2023 and 2027, reaching $46.41 million by 2027.
At the continental level, the project aligns with the AfCFTA’s ambition to build a single market of 1.3 billion consumers. Policymakers view e-commerce and digital services as key drivers for achieving a combined African GDP of $3.4 trillion. Officials expect digital trade to reduce transaction costs and accelerate the circulation of goods and services across African markets.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
- Senegalese entrepreneur Lamine Dabo founded Agro‑AI in 2025 to optimize irrigation through artificial intelligence.
- The platform analyzes weather data, soil conditions, crop needs and irrigation network data to generate irrigation recommendations.
- The system aims to reduce water consumption by 20% to 35% while improving crop protection and farm management.
Senegalese entrepreneur Lamine Dabo focuses on the intersection between deep technology and agriculture. He develops digital tools designed to improve the management of irrigation systems in agricultural fields.
Lamine Dabo serves as founder and chief executive officer of Agro‑AI, a deeptech company created in 2025. The company supports agricultural producers who seek to reduce water consumption while protecting crop yields.
The platform currently operates in a pilot phase. The system provides digital recommendations that indicate the optimal time and ideal quantity of water for each irrigation block or parcel.
Importantly, the tool does not replace existing irrigation infrastructure. Instead, the system connects with sensors and irrigation systems already installed on farms. The platform then converts raw agricultural data into practical recommendations for farmers.
The company generates irrigation recommendations by combining several types of information. The system analyzes meteorological data and evapotranspiration indicators, which measure water loss caused by climate conditions. The platform also evaluates soil characteristics, including moisture levels and water retention capacity.
At the same time, the system incorporates crop types and their specific water requirements. In addition, the platform processes operational data from irrigation networks, including flow rates, pressure levels and applied water volumes.
This approach allows the platform to provide a precise, block-by-block view of crop water conditions.
Agro-AI’s system aims to deliver more consistent, predictable and transparent irrigation management across farms. The solution allows different stakeholders—including farmers, irrigation managers and landowners—to monitor water usage more accurately. The company estimates that its technology could reduce water consumption by 20% to 35% for users.
Lamine Dabo graduated from Sorbonne University, where he obtained a master’s degree in the history of international relations in 2024. He also earned a master’s degree in international relations and affairs from Paris-Panthéon-Assas University in 2024. He later obtained a master’s degree in international business analysis in 2025 from Hult International Business School. He completed a publishing internship in 2023 at Présence Africaine Éditions in France.
In 2024, he worked as an artificial intelligence research analyst at LASPAD‑UGB in Senegal. He later joined Harvard University in the United States, where he worked until 2025 as a strategy and evaluation consultant.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
- Nigerian entrepreneur Ojiugo Uche co-founded Genti Media in 2021 to promote African stories through an audio-focused digital platform.
- The platform distributes African narratives, audio dramas and educational programs via a mobile app and web service.
- The project aims to expand the visibility of African creators while highlighting the diversity of languages and voices across the continent.
Ojiugo Uche serves as chief executive officer of Genti Media, an audio platform dedicated to African stories. She co-founded the company in 2021 with Ekemezie Uche.
The platform provides access through a mobile application and a web interface. It offers a range of Africa-focused audio content, including stories, audio dramas, educational programs and other narrative formats.
The platform places particular emphasis on the diversity of African languages and voices.
Genti Media aggregates African audio productions within a single digital space. On one hand, the platform provides African creators with a channel to distribute their stories in audio format. On the other hand, the service offers listeners a centralized gateway to narratives rooted in African realities.
This positioning increases the visibility of African audio productions and facilitates their discovery by broader audiences. Ojiugo Uche graduated from St. John’s College, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts and sciences in 2014. She completed an internship in 2013 at Wecyclers Corporation, a Nigerian company specializing in recycling.
Between 2017 and 2019, she worked as a business analyst. She first joined Sahel Capital Partners Ltd, an investment firm focused on the agribusiness sector. She later joined McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm, in Nigeria.
In 2019, she joined BudgIT Nigeria, a civic technology organization. She served as head of research and policy advocacy until 2020.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
Tech Unite Africa 2026 will take place on Thursday, March 26, on Victoria Island in Lagos. The event will bring together startups, investors and decision-makers to showcase artificial intelligence, fintech, cybersecurity, cloud computing and blockchain. The program includes conference sessions, hands-on workshops and a pitch competition, where emerging startups will compete for visibility. The winner will earn a place in the global grand finale of the Startup World Cup.