Olajide Igbalaye (Founder, Gigsdev Innovation Tech Hub) [📸 Author] DeepSeek R1 is revolutionizing AI technology with its groundbreaking capabilities, and here’s why it’s a game-changer for African countries like Nigeria:1. Affordable and High-Performance AIDeepSeek R1 offers incredible value with its cost-efficient design. At just $0.14 per million input tokens (compared to OpenAI’s $7.50), it makes advanced AI accessible to startups, researchers, and businesses in Nigeria. This affordability could transform sectors like agriculture, healthcare, and education by providing powerful AI tools at a fraction of the previous cost.2. Multilingual CapabilitiesWith its advanced language processing, DeepSeek R1 can understand and work with…
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Dr. Emmanuel Okeleji – Co-Founder & CEO, SeamlessHR [📸 Founder] Nigerian HR tech startup SeamlessHR has raised $9 million in its latest funding round led by the Gates Foundation and Helios Digital Ventures. What makes the company’s HR and payroll solutions intuitive is that they are tailored specifically for African businesses, addressing unique challenges such as local compliance, multi-currency transactions, and infrastructure limitations. This localised approach ensures better alignment with regional needs compared to generic global solutions. This latest funding – which aims to drive SeamlessHR’s expansion across Africa, enhance workforce productivity, and introduce innovative solutions such as embedded finance…
Jarvis in action [📸realjadrolita] Amadou Elizabeth Aminata, widely recognised as Jadrolita or Jarvis, has recently been appointed as a brand ambassador for Samsung Nigeria. This partnership, reportedly valued at over 100 million Naira, was announced during the Samsung Galaxy AI launch event on January 22, 2025. Jadrolita has gained prominence for her unique portrayal of an AI persona, captivating audiences with her robotic movements, speech patterns, and meticulously crafted costumes. Her innovative content has garnered significant attention on platforms like TikTok, where she engages viewers through live sessions and collaborations with other creators. Samsung Nigeria’s decision to collaborate with Jadrolita…
Obieze Agbo – Founder, Remote Gravity [📸ObiezeAgbo] In Nigeria, a flat tyre doesn’t mean a frantic search for the nearest petrol station. Instead, you’re likely to be hunting for a ‘vulcaniser’ – a roadside mechanic specialising in tyre repair. While essential, these informal services often lack digital visibility, making it difficult for locals and visitors alike to find them. In comes Obieze Agbo, founder of Remote Gravity, a company based in Lagos, Nigeria, specialising in location data for emerging markets. Remote Gravity aims to bridge the user-vulcaniser gap. By mapping and digitising these types of informal businesses, the company will…
Alvin V. Cheeks – ESG investor, policy advocate, start-up to scale-up growth expert, advisor to African startups [📸 Author] Article by Alvin V, Cheeks a strategic leader, investor, and policy advocate with a mission to drive sustainable growth and foster transformative opportunities in Sub-Saharan Africa. Cheeks’ work centres on promoting investment by the African Diaspora and creating the right environment for these investments to thrive, unlocking the region’s potential for economic and social impact. The Future of African Startups: Where to Spot Unicorns [📸 Author] Have you ever wondered where the next billion-dollar startup could emerge from—and how you can…
Team Deaf Square (L-R): Nour El Imane Nasfi (CMO & Co-founder); Sonia Kherigi Nasfi (CEO & Founder) Sonia Kherigi Nasfi and Nour El Imane Nasfi are the Founders of Tunisian-based DEAF SQUARE, an online career accelerator dedicated to bridging the gap between talented individuals who are hard of hearing and forward-thinking employers.By providing specialised training, mentorship, and job-matching services, the platform empowers the Deaf community to access high-quality education and employment opportunities in the tech industry. Key Features of Deaf Square: AI-Powered Learning: The platform utilizes artificial intelligence to offer adaptive learning experiences, including a virtual trainer designed to help…
Africa’s tech sector is booming! With the IT market projected to hit $150 billion by 2025 and growing at a 10.2% CAGR, it’s creating millions of jobs and driving innovation.* 🚀🌍In this thriving ecosystem, visionary leaders are transforming industries and shaping the continent’s digital future.Meet six exceptional tech leaders featured in Africa Tech Festival’s 100 of the Most Influential African Leaders in Technology & Telecommunications 2024 report:🚀 Tebogo Leshope, SENTECH Soc Ltd🚀 Deon Geyser, Liquid Intelligent Technologies South Africa🚀 Pushkar Gokhale, Openserve🚀 Ada Nduka Oyom, She Code Africa🚀 Tony Archibong, YouTube🚀 Strive Masiyiwa, Econet Group (Cassava Technologies & Econet Wireless…
Jennifer Dumle Daniel – Founder, Sasie,org [📸drjenniferdaniel.com] The New African Female Entrepreneur: Not Small Business, But Big Tech by Jennifer Dumle Daniel In a sleek co-working space in Lagos, a woman is pitching her fintech platform to a global VC firm. Across the continent in Nairobi, another entrepreneur is deploying a healthtech solution that could save lives in underserved communities. These women aren’t exceptions to a rule—they are rewriting the rulebook. Yet, the world stubbornly clings to an outdated narrative: African women entrepreneurs as small-scale operators, navigating markets with grit but limited scope. That story is not just tired—it’s wrong.…
Yassin El-Hardouz – Senior Analyst at Infomineo [📸Yassin ElHardouz] Linkedin post by Yassin El Hardouz – a Senior Business Analyst who is passionate about technology and what the next generation of startups can achieve. Before working at Infomineo, he was a tech entrepreneur. He says; “Don’t get fooled by the years I spent in medical school, I’m anything but a doctor”. 💰 Largest Startup Funding Rounds in Tunisia (2024) Despite the challenging funding landscape across Africa, Tunisia stands out as a resilient ecosystem where innovative startups continue to flourish. From fintech platforms advancing financial inclusion to AI-driven solutions revolutionizing language…
(L-R): Julie McKay (Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Consulate General in Nigeria); Juliet Ehimuan (Founder, Beyond Limits. Ex-Director, Google West Africa) [📸TheBeyondLimits] Meet Cohort 3.0 of the Beyond Limits Fellowship for Founders – a transformative program designed to empower early-stage startup founders in Nigeria. In partnership with the U.S. Consulate General, Lagos, the fellowship aims to elevate emerging tech entrepreneurs into exceptional leaders. These 30 startups (the third cohort) features 30 innovative startups selected from a competitive pool of hundreds of applicants, and they span various industries, including fintech, health tech, edtech, sustainability, and artificial intelligence, addressing pressing challenges in Nigeria…