(L-R) LemFi’ co-Founders – Ridwan Olalere (CEO), Rian Cochran London/ Lagos, 17 June 2025 – LemFi, the fast-growing financial platform for immigrants, has announced the acquisition of Pillar, a UK-based fintech startup that enables newly arrived immigrants to access credit cards by porting their credit histories across borders. This move comes after LemFi’s $53M Series B raise in January to transform financial services for immigrants. While neither company has shared deal specifics publicly, industry sources say this marks a strategic step in LemFi’s ambition to launch credit products tailored to immigrant communities, beginning in the UK. (L-R): Pillar co‑founders Adam…
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Are you a startup using Llama to build bold, transformative solutions for Nigeria? Apply now to the Llama Impact Accelerator Program, focused on advancing impactful AI innovation in: Agriculture (Livestock Innovation) Security & Safety (Smart Cities, Environmental Safety, etc.) Healthcare (Biogenetics, Diagnostics, Health Access) Wild Card (for standout solutions beyond the core focus areas) This accelerator offers 6 weeks of hands-on training, mentorship, and development support, led by experts. The program culminates in a Demo Day, where selected startups will pitch for a chance to receive up to $25,000 in equity-free funding. After Demo Day, participants receive 6 months of…
Nigeria’s Otasowie Obayuwana – CEO & Co-Founder, TFS Cycles NEW YORK (June 13, 2025) – The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) have announced the regional ventures for the 2025 ASME Innovation Showcase (ISHOW), the prestigious international accelerator of hardware-led social innovation. Eight social ventures from throughout Africa will pitch their innovative, affordable, and sustainable hardware technology solutions that address agricultural, energy, healthcare, and transportation challenges. They will also participate in an extensive design and engineering review with industry experts online beginning Tuesday, June 10. These eight ventures will vie for three spots in the 2025 ISHOW cohort, offering a share…
Unlocking Africa’s Agribusiness Potential: The Power of Youth & Mentorship.A significant portion of Africa’s youth remains excluded from economic opportunities, even as agribusiness offers a pathway to job creation, food security, and economic growth.To bridge this gap, FANRPAN and AGRA are championing a new initiative: structured mentorship sessions tailored for young entrepreneurs in agriculture.Through this program, seasoned mentors will share their journeys and practical strategies, providing youth with essential guidance and access to valuable networks. By supporting youth-led production, processing, and trade ventures, this initiative aims to foster inclusive and sustainable food systems across Africa.Empowering youth through mentorship isn’t just…
The Africa Food Prize 2025 is open for nominations. Do you know an individual or organisation leading the transformation of African agriculture, Africa’s food systems, driving innovation, empowering smallholder farmers, or making real strides in food security, sustainability, and economic growth? Now is your chance to shine a spotlight on their impact. Nominate or apply today—and help grow a food-secure, prosperous Africa The winner(s) will receive a $100,000 cash prize, increased visibility, networking opportunities, and knowledge sharing. This is a time to celebrate Africa’s food champions and inspire the next generation of innovators.The deadline for submitting nominations or applications for the Africa…
Nominations are open now for the AWIEF Awards 2025!From groundbreaking startups to innovative business leaders and women driving digital and sustainable solutions, the AWIEF Awards honour those shaping Africa’s future. Nominees for the AWIEF Awards 2025 must meet the following general criteria: Must be female entrepreneurs, founders, co-founders, or leaders of organizations or ventures based in Africa. Must be at least 18 years old at the time of nomination. Must have demonstrated outstanding initiative, innovation, and leadership in their field or industry. Must have shown measurable impact and success, such as business growth, community engagement, or industry disruption. Must be…
📸Chukwuwezam Obanor Chukwuwezam Obanor, widely recognised for co-founding and scaling the Nigerian edtech company PrepClass, is now setting his sights on a new venture: FicientAI, an AI startup aimed at revitalising dormant sales leads through personalised, one-to-one conversational engagement. Obanor, a Mandela Washington Fellow and Forbes Africa rising entrepreneur, famously helped grow PrepClass from a two-person operation into a 60‑plus employee company, connecting tens of thousands of students with tutors across Africa. With FicientAI, he plans to bring a similarly transformative edge to sales and marketing functions. Obanor gives an insight into the expected origins and capabilities of FicientAI: So…
Dr. Ola Brown – Founder/GP at Healthcap Africa [📸 Author] Dr. Ola Brown, a leading investor in African healthtech and fintech, shares her insights on venture capital (VC), an often-misunderstood yet vital engine of innovation. Despite its critical role in building scalable solutions for healthcare and financial inclusion across Africa, many outside the venture ecosystem don’t grasp what VC entails. To demystify this powerful force, Dr. Brown has launched a free YouTube course designed for anyone curious about understanding what venture capital is, how it functions, and why it’s especially crucial for Africa’s future. She says: My name is Dr.…
Are you a woman impact entrepreneur using business as a force for good? The Cartier Women’s Initiative is an annual international entrepreneurship program that aims to drive change by empowering women impact entrepreneurs. Founded in 2006, the program is open to women-run and women-owned businesses from any country and sector that aim to have a strong and sustainable social and/ or environmental impact. The Cartier Women’s Initiative supports women-led businesses driving positive change through funding, visibility and tailored support. To join a lifelong community of changemakers, submit your application here by June 24, 2025, at 2pm CEST. Numeris Media is…
📸 Nelly Agbogu The appointment of Nelly Agbogu (aka NaijaBrandChick) as the Director of Entrepreneurship & New Media for the Nigeria Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI) can have a significantly positive impact on the trajectory of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria. Here’s a breakdown of the potential benefits: 1. Enhanced Digital Marketing and Online Visibility: Expert Guidance: Nelly Agbogu is renowned for her expertise in leveraging social media for business growth. Her platform, NaijaBrandChick, specifically focuses on empowering Nigerian SMEs to effectively use social media for promotion and sales. Her appointment means NASSI members will have direct…