Olugbenga ‘GB’ Agboola (Founder, Flutterwave) Africa-focused venture capital firm, Norrsken22, has raised a total of $205 million, following the backing of more than 30 unicorn founders and institutions. The new tech investments will mostly be spread across Africa, with a focus on startups in Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa According to Natalie Kolbe (Managing Partner, Norrsken22), the fund is seeking what it refers to as the next generation of ‘tech giants; on the continent, in sectors such as fintech, edtech and meditech. Among Norrsken22 investors are the likes of Skype’s Niklas Zennström, Delivery Hero’s Niklas Östberg, and Flutterwave’s…
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Rokhaya Diagne, 25, a computer science major in Senegal, has channeled her teenage love for video games into a new passion using artificial intelligence to help 📸 Carmen Abd Ali for The New York Times Senegalese, Rokhaya Diagne is a 25-year-old A.I. entrepreneur whose clear goals include using Artificial Intelligence to help the world eradicate malaria by 2030. Rokhaya’s drive in using A.I. to improve health outcomes in the region stems from childhood experiences when hospitals struggled to provide consistent, good quality solutions to a spate of illnesses that she suffered. Currently a Computer Science major at the Dakar American…
Queen Maxima of the Netherlands (R) with Jehiel Oliver (Founder & CEO, Hello Tractor) 📸Hello Tractor Her Majesty Queen Maxima of the Netherlands last month visited Kenya as the United Nations (UN) Secretary General’s special advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development (UNSGSA) In a bid to bolster climate-smart agriculture as a basis for food security, her message was strong – through climate-smart agriculture, farmers would be able to weather through the shocks of climate change, drought, and floods and get better yields. During her visit, the Dutch regent made a symbolic pit stop at Hello Tractor, where she explored the…
📸 Tosin Eniolorunda The loneliness that comes with being an entrepreneur can sometimes be better imagined than explained. At a recent gathering where he hosted brunch for select founders, Tosin Eniolorunda (Founder & Group CEO, Moniepoint Inc) had this to say: “Entrepreneurship can be isolating, and, a lot of times, tough. My journey with Moniepoint has required a lot of grit, and I’m always fascinated when I see founders on a similar path.”With Nigeria being on the cusp of technological innovation, and a lot of people putting in the work to build lasting things, it felt important to give back…
🎥 Insider In January 2023, the World Economic Forum published a circular transformation white paper in collaboration with Bain & Company, the University of Cambridge and INSEAD. Insights from the paper revealed that companies that embark on circular transformation, creating more adaptable operating and business models, are better positioned to prosper, even in times of disruption, while contributing to sustainable growth. This kind of circular transformation is already happening in Uganda where TEXFAD – a banana textile company that produces handwoven textiles – transforms waste banana pseudo stems and other waste materials into high quality sustainable textile products. TEXFAD products Founded by Kimani…
The 2023 Africa Business Heroes (ABH) top 10 entrepreneurs have been named! Selected through multiple stages of interviews and evaluations from 27,267 applications across all 54 African nations, the finalists for the award are: Bola Bardet (Co-Founder & CEO, Susu – Ivory Coast) Ayman Bazaraa (Co-Founder & CEO, Sprints – Egypt) Andrew Takyi-Appiah (Founder, Zeepay Ghana Limited – Ghana) Christina Gyisun (Co-Founder & CEO, Sommalife Limited – Ghana) Thomas Njeru (Co-Founder & CEO, Pula Advisors Limited – Kenya) Ismael Belkhayat (Founder & CEO, Chari – Morocco) Ikpeme Neto (Founder & CEO, Wellahealth Technologies – Nigeria) Albert Munyabugingo (Co-Founder & CEO,…
🎥Sahara Foundation A total of 10 outstanding social impact fellows have each been awarded $5,000 in seed funding, courtesy of the Sahara Group Foundation. These game-changing enterprises whose creative solutions are transforming sustainable development across the African continent include: Paul Nnaluo (Founder, Gas Monkey, Nigeria); Kehinde Fashola (Founder, Fizzle Power Tech Limited, Nigeria); Muideen Adegoke (Founder, DigitAgric Integrated Limited, Nigeria). Other regional beneficiaries are: Andrew Mpashi (Co-Founder, Twalima Agro Solutions Limited, Zambia); Philipo Kitungano (Founder, Kigoma Eco-cultural Tourism Enterprise, Tanzania); Ainomugisha Shifra (Founding Director, SOLAFAM, Uganda); Joyce Rugano (Founder, EcoRich Solutions, Kenya); Muofhe Ratshikombo (CEO, Oumie’s Grandè, South Africa); Timothy…
Guy Kamgaing (Founder & CEO, StarNews Mobile) StarNews Mobile, founded by Guy Kamgaing in 2017, has just raised $3 million in pre-Series A funding to consolidate its efforts of providing monetisation platforms for African content creators. Although the round was led by Africa-focused venture capital firm, Janngo Capital, high-profile participating investors included French footballers Aurélien Tchouaméni of Real Madrid, Jules Koundé of Barcelona and AC Milan’s Mike Maignan. (L-R): Aurélien Tchouaméni of Real Madrid; Jules Koundé of Barcelona; and AC Milan’s Mike Maignan Managed by Excellence Sport Nation, an athlete representation agency, all three footballers have joined the ranks of a growing…
(R-L): Mevis Aiyeju (co-Founder, M. E. Solutions); Nkemdilim Begho (Founder, Future Software Resources); Elele Ogunsanya This photo of Mevis Aiyeju (co-founder & Managing Director of M.E. Solutions Limited) was taken at the recent German-Nigerian Business Conference, in honour of the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Dr. Olaf Scholz. Dr. Scholz’s diplomatic trip to Nigeria was part of Germany’s effort at strengthening economic relations with countries linked to the reform of Berlin’s ‘Compact with Africa’ initiative – this, ahead of the November 20 meeting of African and G20 countries in Berlin. Mevis does some interesting and important Agricultural Technology…
📸 Thelma Ekiyor Founded by Thelma Osadebey (pictured, right) in 2023, the Breathe Women’s Mental Health Foundation is an endeavour that supports women in Nigeria with the state of their mental well-being by offering active, long term solutions to overcome depression and maintain good mental health. In support of Ms. Osadebey’s new venture, her mentor, Thelma Ekiyor (pictured, left) says: “Mental health continues to be a taboo in Nigeria and across Africa. Women, regardless of class or status, suffer in silence and are unable to confidentially find help and resources.”That is why I am extremely proud of my Mentee and…