MarketForce, a Kenyan B2B retail and financial services distribution startup, has expanded into five additional markets across Africa to grow RejaReja — its retailer ‘super app’ that makes it possible for informal merchants to order and pay for inventory digitally, accept payments for utility bills, and access financing for their businesses. The startup has today […]
The Gambia to vote for first time since Jammeh forced into exile
Poll takes place as human rights groups express fears over record of successor Adama BarrowGambians are heading to the polls on Saturday for the first time since the former president Yahya Jammeh was forced into exile after 22 years in power.Jammeh, wh…
Norrsken Foundation’s hub opens in Rwanda, to house 1,000 entrepreneurs by next year
In 2019, Swedish coworking space and investment fund Norrsken Foundation announced the launch of its first entrepreneurship hub outside the Scandinavian nation in Rwanda. The center, located in Kigali, has finally opened up to the region, though it is happening in two phases. The first, which took place yesterday, will welcome 250 entrepreneurs. The second phase […]
South African crowd-solving startup Zindi building a community of data scientists and using AI to solve real world problems
Zindi is all about using AI to solve real world problems for companies and individuals. And the South Africa-based crowd-solving startup has done that over the last three years they have been in existence. Just last year a team of data scientists under Zindi used machine learning to improve air quality monitoring in Kampala as […]
Francophone African super app Gozem grabs $5M to expand and offer more services
Gozem, a super app that provides a host of services — including transport, e-commerce and financial services in Francophone Africa — has raised $5 million in Series A financing, the company confirmed to TechCrunch. The Togo- and Singapore-based company received investment from AAIC, Thunes (TransferTo), Momentum Ventures (SMRT), Innoport Ventures (Schulte Group), CMC Ventures (National […]
Activists call for revolution in ‘dated and colonial’ aid funding
Aspen Institute’s New Voices want donors to exercise humility and trust those receiving grants to know what their communities needAid donors are being urged to revolutionise the way money is spent to move away from colonial ideas and create meaningful …
South African talent marketplace OfferZen gets $5.2M to deepen European expansion
South African tech talent marketplace OfferZen is one of the beneficiaries of the growing global demand for tech workers: It confirmed to TechCrunch that it has raised €4.5 million ($5.07 million) in Series A funding from South African investment company Base Capital. This is OfferZen’s first round of funding since Philip Joubert, Malan Joubert and Brett […]
Even after 40 years the response to Aids in many countries is still held back by stigma | Hakima Himmich and Mike Podmore
It is hard to protect yourself from HIV when having sterile syringes or condoms can lead to arrest: discrimination is restricting progress in eliminating HIV Forty years after the first cases of Aids were discovered, goals for its global elimination ha…
Action over variant shows government keen to avoid Christmas calamity of 2020
Analysis: variant provides test of whether relaxation of rules and booster push is effective policySouth Africa to be put on England’s travel red list Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageLast Christmas, as ministers rashly promi…
South Africa to be put on England’s travel red list over new Covid variant
Flights from six countries will be banned as officials review travel measures after scientists voice concern over variant Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageFlights from southern Africa will be banned, with six countries placed…