Browsing: Startups

• Foodtech startups are leading a movement that aims to enhance food security and transform African agriculture into a model of economic viability and sustainability.
• Nile, a business-to-business (B2B) marketplace seeks to modernise agricultural trade by enabling direct connections between farmers and buyers.
• Another entity, Sand to Green, employs advanced agroforestry practices and technology to transform arid desert lands into fertile agricultural zones.

In the face of a future where 140 million people in Africa confront acute food insecurity, the emergence of foodtech startups across the continent is starting a new phase in agricultural practices and food production.

Armed with innovative technologies and visionary approaches, these startups are leading a movement that aims to enhance food security and transform African agriculture into a model of economic viability and sustainability.

A trio of visionaries from Amazon, JP Morgan and Luno have established a digital insurance platform Nile, a business-to-business (B2B) marketplace that …

• The Annual Investment Meeting and Emirates Angel Investors Association agree to turn UAE into a thriving base for startups.
• The collaboration is expected to create a positive impact on the United Arab Emirates’ startup ecosystem. 
• The partnership will link startups with a wide network of investors, as well as the necessary resources and mentorship.

The Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) and Emirates Angel Investors Association (EAIA) have joined forces to strengthen their efforts towards promoting startups. The collaboration between AIM and EAIA is expected to create a positive impact on the United Arab Emirates’ startup ecosystem. The UAE has been a fertile base for establishment and growth of startups. 

The partnership will provide startups with access to a wide network of investors. Benefitting entrepreneurs will also access necessary resources and mentorship to help them grow and succeed.

Commenting on the partnership, Director General of AIM Walid A. Farghal said, “The purpose …

• In Kenya, 37,000 metric tonnes of plastic get into the Indian ocean annually causing devastating disruption in our marine ecosystem.
• The successful innovations developed through the Afri-Plastics Challenge have paved the way to revolutionise Africa’s approach to reducing reliance on plastic.
• Out of the 9 shortlisted start-ups, five were women-led, and two from Kenya won a total of £500,000.

Kenya scored big at the inaugural Afri-Plastics Summit & Awards ceremony when five out of a total nine start-ups scooped £2M as part of the Afri-Plastics Challenge, a continent-wide plastics innovation challenge worth £4.1M.

The awards were the culmination of a four-year initiative designed by Challenge Works and funded by Global Affairs Canada to recognize trailblazing innovators that are tackling the global plastics problem and protecting the ocean. Out of the 9 shortlisted start-ups, five were women-led, and two from Kenya winning a total of £500,000, demonstrating the role women play …

• The Baobab network has called for applications for the Cohort 1, 2023 accelerator programme 
• The accelerator programme is designed to give Entrepreneurs in Africa  the funding and platform they need to take their ideas  global.
• The programme will offer start-ups $50,000 USD in funding, a three month cohort program including personalised two-week consultation sessions with tailored support, in exchange for 10 percent equity.

The Baobab Network has called for applications for the Cohort 1, 2023 accelerator programme aimed at supporting Africa’s boldest innovators to scale homegrown solutions.

The accelerator programme is designed to give Entrepreneurs in Africa the funding and platform they need to take their ideas  global.

The programme will offer start-ups $50,000 USD in funding, a three month cohort program including personalised two-week consultation sessions with tailored support in exchange for 10 percent equity.

Their venture team works with startups to accelerate growth, build capacity and unlock the …

• The Kenyan Startup ecosystem has employed 11,000 people according to the latest analysis by Disrupt Africa. 

• The Kenyan Startup Ecosystem 2022 report indicates that at least 308 tech startups were in operation across Kenya as of November 2022. 

• At least 242 Kenyan tech startups raised a combined US$1,281,918,200 between January 2015 and November 2022. 

A new report by Disrupt Africa has revealed that jobs by Kenyan startups hit 11,000 in 2022. 

The data dubbed ‘Kenyan Startup Ecosystem 2022’ indicates the jobs were created by 308 tech startups across Kenya as of November 2022. 

According to the report, these startups are also supported by a strong investment ecosystem. At least 242 Kenyan tech startups raised a combined US$1,281,918,200 between January 2015 and November 2022, a figure bettered only by Nigeria. 

By mid-November, 63 Kenyan startups had raised funding in 2022, with the country’s running total for the year standing at US$506,686,000. …

Every August, 10,000 teams will be allowed to register for that year’s African Startup League competition. The top 100 projects will win cash prizes (investments) of a minimum of US$10,000, with top startup projects walking away with a minimum of US$1,000,000 investment.

The rules of the African Startup League will be published in The Exchange on or before June 20th, 2022. The competition will run from August until December, with the winners being chosen and announced no later than December 15th of each year.…

World Bank further notes that the unified digitisation of the East African economy is estimated to generate up to a US$2.6 billion boost in GDP and 4.5 million new jobs that will largely benefit those at the bottom of the pyramid.

Data by GSMA reveals that by the end of 2020, 495 million people subscribed to mobile services in Sub-Saharan Africa, representing 46 percent of the region’s population, an increase of almost 20 million on 2019.

GSMA revealed that smartphone connections will more than double by 2025 in Sub-Saharan Africa with the East African Community registering the largest incremental growth, led by Rwanda and Tanzania. …

Norrsken22 plans on capitalizing on its general partners’ years of experience and investment philosophies to back startups in fintech, MedTech, Edtech, and market-enabling solutions such as B2B marketplaces and inventory management businesses.

Kolbe, whose previous firm Actis backed Egyptian fintech giant Fawry in 2019 as it prepared to go public, said Norrsken would look at Egypt ‘opportunistically.’ 

Deals from the country that may be of interest to the firm will be those planning an expansion into the four markets Norrsken22 is currently keen on, including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa.…

Based on a report by Disrupt Africa, funding for health tech startups in Africa jumped 257.7% from US$28.8m in 2019 to US$103m in 2020. These startups provide a wide range of services from scheduling medical consultations to telemedicine and digitalized imagery.

MaiSoin from Cote d’Ivoire uses a decentralized, gig-economy model, to facilitate the relationship between healthcare professionals and patients needing care at home or via telemedicine. In their first year of operations, they have had an average of 50% growth month over month and are already looking at potential expansions in the region.…