African tech took center stage in 2021

Two years ago, the African tech ecosystem saw newfound attention from global players that translated to the continent’s best year of receiving venture capital. From varying sources, it is estimated up to $2 billion went into African tech startups in 2019. With high-profile visits from the most famous Jacks (Ma and Dorsey), a long-awaited first […]

India’s Cars24, a used-vehicle sales platform, raises $400M, now at a $3.3B valuation, to double down on growth

With supply chains in the automotive industry continuing to be disrupted due to Covid-19, demand has surged in the used-car market. Today, one of the startups that’s seeing a lot of growth as a result of that is announcing a big round of funding to further tap the opportunity. Cars24, a startup out of India […]

Nigeria’s Helium Health acquires Qatar’s Meddy in rare Africa-GCC deal

Nigeria-based health tech startup Helium Health has acquired Meddy, a Qatar-headquartered and UAE-based doctor booking platform for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition, termed “a great deal” by Helium Health CEO Adegoke Olubusi on a call, is unusual in the sense that it overlaps two regions that rarely do in tech: Africa and the Gulf Cooperation […]

Tier scoots off with ‘first close’ of its $200M Series D

Berlin-based e-scooter rentals company Tier Mobility has announced what it’s billing as the “first close” of a $200 million Series D, as investors continue to plough money into urban micromobility. Today’s announcement follows a $60M debt raise this summer, and a $250M Series C last November (led by SoftBank). It’s not clear from its PR […]

NSO Pegasus spyware can no longer target UK phone numbers

Israeli maker of surveillance software blocked +44 code after detecting hack against Princess Haya, source saysThe powerful spyware used to hack into mobile phones belonging to Princess Haya and her divorce lawyer Fiona Shackleton is no longer effectiv…

Calls for investigation after court finds Dubai ruler hacked ex-wife’s phone

MPs and human rights groups ask parliament to look into how Sheikh Mohammed deployed sophisticated spywareMPs and human rights groups have called on ministers and parliament to investigate how the ruler of Dubai was able deploy sophisticated spyware to…

Dubai ruler hacked ex-wife using NSO Pegasus spyware, high court judge finds

Sheikh Mohammed used spyware on Princess Haya and five associates in unlawful abuse of power, judge rules‘The walls are closing in on me’: the hacking of Princess HayaRuling in Princess Haya case raises fresh questions for Cherie Blair The ruler of Dub…

From 1m trees to a tree graveyard: how Dubai’s conservation plans went awry

Hundreds of thousands of trees have died after costly real estate projects thwarted attempts to halt desertificationIt all began so beautifully, with the ruler of Dubai photographed planting the first tree of his ambitious environmental initiative, as …