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Tech & Business
- With Yeeo—a web app—individuals have the privilege of saving their time and cost of printing cards, which often end up being dumped and ensure their money is invested elsewhere.
- Yeeo’s business strategy brings together environmental conservation and this vision to help enterprises save billions spent on card printing.
- Dubai-based Yeeo has already secured intellectual property rights in 179 countries around the world.
As I navigated through the bustling crowd of delegates from around the world at the Startups Showcase during the AIM Congress 2024, I felt a gentle tug on my jacket. It was Abdullah AlShetiwi, a determined look in his eyes and a welcoming smile on his face.
As I reached out to offer my business card to Abdullah, he intercepted with a gesture, saving me the customary exchange. Instead, he swiftly pulled out his phone, suggesting we swap contacts via a QR Code. With a quick scan …
- Four innovators from Kenya, Côte d’Ivoire, and Uganda, selected from a shortlist of 16, vie for the £50,000 (over $62,000) Africa Prize.
- Their innovations encompass recycling in construction, AI tools for healthcare and farming, and reengineered waste collection, addressing crucial societal needs.
- The three runners-up will each receive £15,000 (over $18,000), while a £5,000 (over $6,000) prize titled ‘One to Watch’ will be awarded to the most promising business among the shortlist.
- Since 2014, the Africa Prize has empowered nearly 150 entrepreneurs across 23 African countries, creating over 28,000 jobs and positively impacting more than 10 million people with their innovative products and services.
The Royal Academy of Engineering is set to host the final showdown of the 10th Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation, the continent’s premier engineering accolade, on June 13, 2024, in Nairobi, Kenya. Out of an initial pool of 16 visionary innovators crafting sustainable, scalable engineering solutions …
- Russian Investment Forum at AIM Congress 2024 highlighted Russia’s robust economic standing.
- Various Russian regions showcased unique investment opportunities, from the Far East’s oil and gas sector to Tatarstan’s diverse industries.
- Discussions also revolved around innovation and technology, with an emphasis on Abu Dhabi’s potential as a global technology hub.
Amidst the grandeur of the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), the Russian Investment Forum emerged as a unique centre of opportunities during the 2024 AIM Congress.
Under the International Partners’ Track, this forum brought together luminaries from Russia’s business landscape to showcase the nation’s unique investment propositions and affirm Abu Dhabi’s suitability as a global technology hub.
Spearheading the discussions was Sergey Katyrin, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation. Katyrin painted a picture of Russia’s robust economic stature, ranking first in Europe and fifth globally in terms of GDP.
He cited Russia’s …
- The economic benefits of green innovation primarily manifest through increased investment in the initial years.
- Research indicates that doubling green patent filings can elevate the gross domestic product by 1.7 percent after five years.
- The IMF advises against the use of government policies that restrict international trade to support domestic industries, cautioning against the act of protectionism.
The IMF states that the momentum of low-carbon innovation has now slowed, as promising technologies are not spreading rapidly enough to lower-income countries including in Africa where they can be particularly helpful.
This is in spite of the progress made in the recent past when green innovation reached its peak at 10 per cent of total patent filings in 2010.
“Since then, it has experienced a mild decline, reflecting various factors, including hydraulic fracking lowering the price of oil and technological maturity in some initial technologies such as renewables, which slows the pace …
- Startups can leverage the power of AI and automation to streamline operations, gain invaluable insights, and trim down expenses.
- Integrating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria is emerging as a pivotal trend, transcending buzzwords to become integral deal-breakers among startups.
- Startups that invest in robust remote work infrastructure and flexible policies are poised to attract top talent and adapt to evolving work preferences.
As we enter the dawn of a New Year, startups in 2024 are poised for a dynamic transformation, with several vital trends taking centre stage across the globe. AIM Startup delves into the forefront of these on-demand trends, offering valuable insights that investors and industry players should keenly observe.
According to the 13th edition of the Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) startup – a crucial platform under AIM Congress 2024 – the acceleration of digital transformation is set to define the entrepreneurial landscape this year.
Startups are no …
- MediaTek Technology says it aims to improve 5G adoption in East Africa as a strategic priority in 2024.
- Some of the best 5G smartphones in Kenya are powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity chipsets.
- Broadband demands are expected to continue rising in the Sub-Saharan region with the advent of augmented reality.
Fabless semiconductor company MediaTek Technology will collaborate with telecom operators and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in Kenya and greater East Africa region to promote the adoption of 5G and contribute to narrowing the digital divide in the region.
This partnership is occurring at a time when significant progress has been made in terms of 5G adoption, not only in Kenya but across the continent, over the past couple of years.
Kenya ranks as the third-largest country in Africa in the continent’s mobile phone market, with 5 million smartphones shipped annually.
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Some of the best 5G smartphones in the country are …
- Vienna Payment Solutions has joined the Kenyan market by partnering with Interswitch East Africa.
- Kenya has been a regional powerhouse in digital payments, with the 2023 Economic survey placing the value of mobile money transfers at $47.6 billion.
- Interswitch East Africa Head of Technology, Naomi Wachira, says the solution marks a significant leap towards bridging gaps in the payment industry.
Austria-based firm Vienna Payment Solutions has entered the Kenyan market through a partnership with Interswitch East Africa, as the increasing popularity of mobile money continues to open up a new frontier for spirited competition in the space.
Following the partnership, the two companies introduced VIPASO, a payment solution comprising two applications: a consumer app and a merchant app. This initiative aims to enhance payment solutions for banks, players in the hospitality industry, on-the-go services, financial institutions, and retailers.
This comes when merchant payment platforms are projected to grow and …
- Airtel Africa CEO Olusegun Ogunsanya has retired and will be replaced by Sunil Taldar, the new Managing Director and CEO.
- For the six months ending on September 30, the group reported a net loss of $13 million,
- Mittal further announced Ogunsanya’s post-retirement role as the Airtel Africa Charitable Foundation Chair.
Airtel Africa CEO set to retire
Airtel Africa PLC has announced that Chief Executive Officer Olusegun Ogunsanya will retire on 1 July 2024 and take an advisory role.
Ogunsanya, who joined Airtel in 2012, ran the Nigeria Operations of the Telecommunications and Mobile Money Company for nine years before he was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Group in 2021.
He led the company to maintain double-digit revenue growth and deliver new products to its customers across the continent.
Building on the work undertaken during his time as CEO, including the launch of the Company’s first Sustainability Strategy, and given …
- The Nigerian Central Bank (CBN) has taken a significant step in the financial sector by lifting the ban on cryptocurrency transactions.
- Nigeria has emerged as a leader in cryptocurrency adoption in Africa, with an estimated 22 million cryptocurrency owners.
- The growing trend of cryptocurrency ownership in Africa reflects the continent’s increasing adoption of digital assets.
Nigeria lifts ban on cryptocurrency transactions
The Nigerian Central Bank (CBN) has taken a significant step in the financial sector by lifting the ban on cryptocurrency transactions, a move that is expected to reshape the country’s digital economy landscape. This decision comes after a two-year restriction, reflecting a broader trend toward the adoption and regulation of cryptocurrencies globally.
According to a circular issued on December 22, 2023, signed by Haruna Mustafa, the Director of the Financial Policy and Regulation Department at CBN, the bank has directed all financial institutions to comply with new operational …
