📸 Maria Rotilu Maria Rotilu (ex Octopus Ventures and Oxford Seed Fund) is the Founder of OpenseedVC and wants to be the proverbial first cheque received by startups that are launched by experienced operators across Africa and Europe.Based in London, OpenseedVC has just reached the first close of its $10 million angel-style, early-stage fund, and fully intends to provide cheques of up to $150,000 to startups focusing on the future of commerce (including B2B software, AI, and fintech), future of work, and digital health. Says Rotilu: We exist to back the most talented and experienced operators from day zero. As…
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At the 3i Africa Summit (R): Jones Amegbor (Founder & CEO, PayAngel) Multi-award winning high integrity payment service, PayAngel, is well represented at the ongoing 3i Africa Summit, taking place at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) in Ghana. The 3i Africa Summit is a platform of opportunity for shaping Africa’s future in FinTech, and stands on three pillars: Innovation, Impact, and Investment —each crucial in sculpting Africa’s future. Led at the Summit by CEO Jones Amegbor, the PayAngel team is demonstrating to visitors the multiple channels through which the company provides solutions for businesses and individuals. PayAngel services enable…
🎥 AirPeace Unsolicited recommendations or endorsements always serve as a testament to the skills, expertise, and character of an individual or brand. Private Nigerian airline, Air Peace, is understandably leveraging the very best type of endorsement as the brand recounts a recent, priceless experience: It was great having the former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo , on our Lagos-London and London-Lagos flights recently.He [President Obasanjo] said: “I went, it was pleasant. I came back, it was even more pleasant”.Thank you for flying with us, Your Excellency. MArch 30, 2024. The Air Peace inaugural Lagos-London Gatwick flight: Sir Allen Onyema (Founder & Chairman,…
Rita Idehai (CEO of sustainability company, The Ecobarter Company) has just won the 2024 Deji Alli ARM Young Talent Award by Asset & Resource Management Holding Company.Says Idehai: In the spirit of DAAYTA, the work we do The Ecobarter Company improves the lives of people, especially waste workers and poor urban community dwellers who get to access basic services, using their wastes as a currency. Our work also significantly contributes to environmental sustainability and climate action by helping cities adapt better to climate risks such as flooding.Winning this award is another pat on the back and a call to do…
Folarin Aiyegbusi (Head of Startups Ecosystem, Africa at Google) Applications are now open for the 2024 cohort of the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa, which invites Seed to Series A tech startups building innovative solutions for Africa to apply. The program – which offers equity-free support, Google Cloud credits, mentorship, workshops, and a global network – is a 10-week equity-free accelerator that accepts applications from startups in Algeria, Botswana, Cameroon, Côte D’ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. Success story: In the bustling markets and vibrant streets of Senegal, a local…
Uche Ofodile (CEO, MTN Benin & Chairwoman, MTN Benin Mobile Money) at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between MTN Benin and Huawei Technologies On Wednesday, April 24, 2024 a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between MTN Bénin and Huawei Technologies Limited, with a clear objective of equipping girls and women with the skills and knowledge required to excel in an increasingly dynamic technological landscape. Central to the partnership is a commitment to education and skill-building, through a series of targeted programs and initiatives. MTN Bénin and Huawei are expected to work hand in hand to provide women…
With just $200 to her name, Adja Sembene Fall, the 29-year-old CEO of the luxury brand tea company Contanna was forced to establish her company fpurely online, due to financial constraints. 📸afbd.org With just $200 in hand at the start of her business, Adja Sembene Fall, the 29-year-old Senegalese entrepreneur and CEO of the luxury tea brand Contanna was forced to establish her company solely online, due to financial constraints. Said Adja: “Due to [lack of] finance, it was not possible to get a physical shop. We started out in the backyard of my brother’s house. We sold our teas…
Author, Julie Roy 📸Jessi Sallenbach Reach Your Personal Potential: Self-Made Multimillionaire, ‘Serial’ Entrepreneur, Wife and Mom of Four Shares Her Secrets OMAHA, Neb. — In The Multi-Million Dollar Mompreneur: Your guide to business mastery, uncommon freedom and legacy wealth (GWN Publishing; May 1; ISBN: 978-1-959608-84-4, Print; 978-1-959608-85-1, Hardcover), Julie Roy shares some major takeaways from her journey to financial freedom and a fulfilling life. While offering insights and concrete action items to help anyone striving to propel their business, the author speaks directly to highly motivated women who are seeking to harmonize high net-worth entrepreneurship and family. “Balance is impossible,” Roy…
Demi Ariyo (founder, MeetLendoe), Leory Lawrence (founder, Pigee), Leon Wilson (founder, PollenPay) The 1000 Black Voices Fintech Trade Mission, scheduled from April 08 to 12, 2024, in the vibrant city of New York, has officially taken off! Founders on the Trade Mission, who will be exploring opportunities for fundraising and their expansion to the US, include: Demi Ariyo, Managing Director, Lendo – an access to funding platform for underestimated entrepreneurs. Leroy Lawrence, CEO of Pigee Inc – a payment app that increases tourist focused merchant sales 400%, by sending travel shopping home directly from brick-and-mortar shops in 117 countries. Leon…
As 44-year-old Bassirou Diomaye Faye is sworn in today as Senegal’s youngest president since independence from France in 1960, Senegal is on the brink of an historic moment as it inaugurates its fifth (5) President, whose’s victory follows a resounding 54.28% of the votes cast by the citizenry. In a region where a large majority of the population are under 30, his victory offers hope to those young people yearning for economic opportunities. And with its population, oil windfall and infrastructure, Senegal technically has the resources to support its ambition to become the continent’s next economic powerhouse. Under the leadership…