Kenya’s Chpter spins off Pluto, a WhatsApp AI suite, as subsidiary
Chpter, a Kenyan social commerce start-up, has spun off Pluto, a WhatsApp API suite designed to help businesses automate customer interactions and process transactions. Launched in 2024, Pluto now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Chpter, with Andrew Bosson, formerly Chpter’s chief growth officer, as co-founder and CEO. Pluto’s launch comes as Kenyan businesses struggle to harness the growing trend of social commerce. While millions of Kenyans shop directly through social media platforms, businesses often lose customers when shoppers are redirected to external payment systems. Pluto wants to bridge this gap by enabling users to make payments within WhatsApp, eliminating the need to switch platforms. “Following our partnership with Meta, we were flooded with requests from multiple startups and companies requesting to build custom chat-based experiences for their customers on WhatsApp,” said Tesh Mbaabu, Chpter co-founder and CEO. “In less than a quarter, we’ve onboarded major clients across different sectors.” Despite the surge in social commerce, many Kenyan businesses have yet to fully capitalise on its potential. Cart abandonment rates remain high when customers are forced to exit their social media feeds to complete purchases. Pluto aims to position WhatsApp as a full-service channel for browsing, purchasing, and engagement. “By the end of 2024, it was clear we needed to make this possible, and the idea of Pluto was born,” said Mbaabu. Pluto’s customers include lender NCBA Bank, insurer Britam, local Safarilink, and the Kenyan Government. The company operates under a hybrid revenue model, charging businesses a monthly software-as-a-service (SaaS) fee ranging from $50 for small enterprises to $550 for larger ones. In addition, Pluto generates revenue from per-interaction fees related to sales and support, and outbound WhatsApp messages for marketing and operational purposes, as a Meta business partner.
Read MoreAbsa joins Middle East-Africa investment push with Dubai expansion
Absa Group Ltd., South Africa’s third-largest bank, plans to open an office in Dubai by early 2026, subject to regulatory approval. The move shows the growing competition among South African banks to benefit from increasing trade and investment between the Gulf region and Africa. Absa said it is opening a Dubai office to support clients looking for business opportunities between Africa and the Middle East. However, the move is also a response to competitors like Investec, Standard Bank, Rand Merchant Bank, and Nedbank, which already have offices there. Yasmin Masithela, CEO of Absa’s corporate and investment banking division, said the new office will bring the bank closer to clients. “You want to be closest to the clients that are driving the businesses that are aligned to your strategy, and infrastructure development has always been one of our strategic objectives,” she said. Gulf countries have invested over $100 billion in Africa since 2014. Trade between the UAE and Sub-Saharan Africa has grown by more than 30%, while trade between Saudi Arabia and Africa has increased 12 times. Recent developments, like the UAE’s trade agreement with Kenya and Jameel Motors entering the South African market, highlight the rapid growth of this investment trend. Absa’s Dubai office will expand its international presence, including locations in the UK, US, and a new unit in China.. Absa’s corporate and investment banking division expects moderate earnings growth this year, with some parts possibly achieving over 10% growth. However, the success of the Dubai office will be key to shaping the bank’s long-term growth in a fast-changing and competitive market. Absa’s ability to stand out from competitors and manage the challenges of this important trade corridor will be vital for its role in Middle East-Africa investments.
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DAZN secures exclusive rights to stream Nigeria’s Dambe sport
African Warriors Fighting Championship (AWFC) has secured an exclusive partnership with DAZN, the London-based sports streaming service, to bring Dambe, Nigeria’s centuries-old form of boxing, to a global audience. Through this collaboration, DAZN becomes the official global streaming partner for the Dambe World Series, a five-event tournament where Nigeria’s top fighters take on international contenders. It marks a major step in the globalisation of Dambe, a combat sport with roots in West African warrior traditions. While Dambe has already gained traction online—attracting over 15 million YouTube views via AWFC’s broadcasts—DAZN’s global reach could elevate its profile much like UFC did for mixed martial arts. In 2023, AWFC teamed up with Stake, the online casino known for sponsoring global sports like football and Formula One, marking Dambe’s first international partnership. “Dambe is a sport with deep cultural roots and immense athletic appeal,” said Maxwell Kalu, founder of AWFC. “Partnering with DAZN allows us to introduce it to a global fanbase. We are confident that 2025 will be the year Dambe captures the attention of fans worldwide.” Two fighters competing in a Dambe match/Image Source: AWFC Founded in 2018, AWFC promotes and organises professional Dambe events to develop the sport’s global presence. Its 2024 “King of Dambe” tournament featured the sport’s first European competitor. The upcoming Dambe World Series, which kicks off in June 2025, will build on this momentum. This partnership could also be a turning point for Dambe’s commercial viability. Beyond streaming, AWFC aims to attract sponsorship deals, merchandising opportunities, and a broader international fanbase. If successful, Dambe could follow in the footsteps of other combat sports, evolving from a regional tradition into a globally recognised competition with mainstream appeal. “Audience attention for global combat sports has seen a huge rise,” said Kalu. “It speaks to consumer trends where people prefer to watch bite-sized content. In terms of challenges for Dambe, it’s just raising awareness. Dambe is a sport that had a vibrant ecosystem before anybody discovered it, but it was very much a quiet sport. We are raising the production standards where necessary.” AWFC stages fights across Nigeria through a network of partner arenas, drawing paying spectators from various parts of the country. The matches are also streamed online, attracting viewers from the US and Brazil—two regions with dedicated Dambe followings, according to Kalu. DAZN, often referred to as the “Netflix of Sport,” boasts 20 million subscribers across 200+ countries and holds streaming rights to major sports, including boxing, football, and the NFL. It flows well, but it could be slightly smoother. In 2023, the company reported $2.8 billion in revenue, with backing from investors, including billionaire Sir Len Blavatnik’s Access Industries. By securing exclusive broadcasting rights to Dambe’s biggest events, DAZN is betting on the sport’s crossover appeal. For AWFC, the deal provides a crucial platform to showcase the best of Nigerian combat sports on the world stage.
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TechCabal Daily – Investors flock to Lagos coast
In partnership with Lire en Français اقرأ هذا باللغة العربية It’s mid-week! Which means the weekend is almost here. But first, we’re running a survey at TechCabal. We’d love to really hear your honest thoughts about how you feel about our work—the news reports, coverage, features, everything. Tell us what you think. Why data centre investors are racing to Lagos’ coastline Nigeria’s cNGN stablecoin is looking for more love, will crypto exchanges swipe right? What does BYD vehicle launch in Nigeria mean for EVs? AI can make WhatsApp donations easier World Wide Web 3 Opportunities Internet of Things Why data centre investors are racing to Lagos’ coastline Image Source: Wunmi Eunice for TechCabal If Lagos’ coastline were a nightclub, data centre investors would be standing in line, waving cash, and bribing the bouncer to get in. By 2027, the city’s data centre capacity is set to hit 80 megawatts (MW), making it the second-largest hub in Africa—right behind Johannesburg, which is still hogging the VIP section at 200MW. So, what’s making investors flock to Lagos? Fast internet, for starters. The city is home to eight submarine internet cables, including Google’s Equiano and 2Africa. The closer a data centre is to these underwater lifelines, the quicker your Netflix streams, Zoom calls, and trades. “It’s all about infrastructure and proximity to landing stations,” says Ayotunde Coker, CEO of Open Access Data Centre (OADC). Translation? Lagos Island is prime real estate, with 10 of Nigeria’s 16 data centers squeezed into Victoria Island, Lekki, and Eko Atlantic City. And more are coming: Equinix’s 20MW facility, Nxtra by Airtel’s 38MW center, and OADC’s 24MW hub are all in the works, set to push Nigeria’s total capacity to 200MW. But there is more. Investors are also drawn to, wait for it, Lagos’ steady power supply—Victoria Island and Lekki get up to 20 hours of electricity daily—and access to coastal waters for cooling the beasts that keep the internet running. For now, Lagos’ coastline is the hottest spot for digital infrastructure. The only question? Can investors keep up with the tide? There’s more. Freelancers & remote workers, we want to hear from you! Fincra is exploring the challenges Nigerian freelancers and remote workers face with international payments. Share your experience and help contribute to building better payment solutions. Take the survey now! Cryptocurrency Nigeria’s cNGN stablecoin is looking for more love, will crypto exchanges swipe right? Image Source: Bitcoinist/TechCabal Since launching in early February, cNGN—Nigeria’s naira-backed stablecoin—has quietly made moves. It’s already listed on Busha and Quidax, two provisionally licensed platforms. Now, it wants more listings. And the talks are already happening. The cNGN team have been in early conversations with platforms like Yellow Card and Roqqu, but nothing’s official yet. What we’re learning from leaders of both companies—COO Jason and CEO Eseoghene, respectively—is that vibes are currently more we’re still texting chatting than we’ve signed stuff. Why does this matter? Broader listings make cNGN easier to access for saving, investing, or sending money. Like many tokens, the catch is that cNGN is facing a classic network effects problem. It needs more users to become useful, but it also needs to be useful to get more users. The more people hold and transact with cNGN, the more enthusiasm exchanges will have to list it. Being on larger exchanges, in particular, will allow more users to discover the stablecoin and spread the word. Right now, that flywheel has spun on 161 holders, according to its website. WAGMI or NGMI? The next few months will be critical for the coin to tip the momentum—consider this an extra push. Paystack introduces its first consumer app, Zap! Zap by Paystack is an app for secure and fast payments via bank transfers in Nigeria. Download Zap on iOS and Android → Mobility What does BYD vehicle launch in Nigeria mean for EVs? BYD Atto 3, AKA ‘China’s Tesla’/Image source: Google BYD, a Chinese automaker, has entered the Nigerian market, introducing its Atto 3 and Dolphin electric vehicle (EV) models. This launch is in partnership with LOXEA Nigeria, a subsidiary of CFAO Mobility, a vehicle distribution company. Per Vanguard, LOXEA will lead BYD’s EV distribution and installation of charging stations, maintenance, and repair workshops across the country. BYD’s arrival could be a turning point for Nigeria’s EV adoption. While EVs remain a niche market due to concerns over charging infrastructure, affordability, and awareness, BYD’s global reputation for producing relatively affordable and reliable electric cars might help change the narrative. The Atto 3 and Dolphin are positioned as practical EV options, offering modern features and decent driving range. One of the biggest challenges for EV adoption in Nigeria is the charging infrastructure. Without a widespread charging network, potential buyers may hesitate. However, partnerships like this could encourage investment in charging stations, making EVs more viable in the long run. Affordability is another key factor. The pricing of BYD’s models in Nigeria hasn’t been disclosed yet, but the company is known for setting its prices in line with market conditions in the countries where it operates. This approach is largely due to its global competition with other EV makers, like Tesla, in those markets. However, in Nigeria, no major EV manufacturers are competing for market share in a carved-out auto market that is still in its early stages of development—so that ship might not sail. Nigeria’s high fuel costs and growing interest in alternative energy sources could make EVs more appealing if prices are reasonable. But widespread adoption will depend on pricing, infrastructure, and government policies. If BYD can navigate these challenges, it could pave the way for a larger EV market in Nigeria. Its entry comes at a time when other foreign auto-makers like Russia’s AvtoVAZ are making inroads into the country. Beyond Gifts, We Engineer Brand Connections Turn your brand essence into bespoke souvenirs that strengthen loyalty & recognition among employees, clients & partners. Let’s create meaningful keepsakes. Features AI can make WhatsApp donations easier Image Source: Android Talk Across Africa, friends,
Read MoreBootstrapped OneKitty tackles crowdfunding transparency with WhatsApp chatbots
Manny Anyango, a Kenyan digital communications and social media strategist, runs a chama through a WhatsApp group. Chamas are informal micro-savings and lending groups popular in Kenya and East Africa. Like Nigeria’s ajó or South Africa’s stokvel, members pool money together to invest, save or lend to individual members at little to no interest. Beyond micro-savings, these groups also form small closely-knit communities where members often fundraise for social causes or to support members in times of loss. Most of these groups operate on social messaging apps like WhatsApp and track member contributions there. According to Anyango, manually updating names and contributions, as opposed to utilising crowdfunding apps like M-Changa and GoFundMe, poses a headache. “People join, leave, or change numbers, and keeping track of who has paid is a constant struggle,” says Anyango. “You need to remember how much you had (in your mobile money wallet) or eventually trace to the first amount you received and from whom and add the total manually countless times,” says Eddie Saroni, a social media marketer who runs an Arsenal FC fan WhatsApp group of 258 members and often manages contributions for funerals, birthdays, and hospital bills. “Updates stream in, people call asking why you are yet to add their names and balances, etc. It’s messy.” Still, WhatsApp offers more transparency and accountability to the crowdfunding process in a low-trust market like Kenya. In 2023, 23-year-old university student Danche Nganga came upon the idea to create a crowdfunding alternative that worked on Telegram and WhatsApp where people were already trying to keep track of communal fundraising. Nganga, who was studying Applied Physics and Computer Science at Multimedia University of Kenya at the time, first saw this as an opportunity while discussing with his then partner, who was trying to support a fundraiser for a late cousin. “I suggested to her that we create a payment kitty (an informal term for a pool of money raised communally) where you can send money and automatically [receive] the funds in your wallets,” Nganga says. “We argued a little, but I recalled that contributors also like to track the contributions being raised via WhatsApp. That was the starting point,” he says. A real-time chatbot OneKitty, the product which resulted from that conversation, is a crowdfunding app integrated with social messaging chatbots that provide real-time updates of contributions to every member in the group. This not only eliminates the hassle, confusion, and delays in managing contributions manually, it also lends transparency to the process, giving every member of a fundraising community equal insight into the communal pot. Crowdfunding platforms like M-Changa and GoFundMe are popular in Kenya, but monitoring the progress of crowdfunding campaigns in ways that contributors can track did not happen in real-time on either service, Nganga claims. M-Changa, Kenya’s Mobile Money Crowdfunding Platform, is Raising Capital for Growth As the startup’s technical lead, Nganga sought operational proficiency in 28-year-old Shem Maina, who joined the business as chief finance and operations officer. “My background is not in IT and Computer Science like many techies,” says Maina, who holds an MBA in Strategic Management from the same university. Once they had a product, the two partnered to conduct AB tests with friends and classmates at their university and church, attracting responders both organically and through referrals. Some of their initial challenges were building a platform that was simple and worked end-to-end, the co-founders said. They also struggled with market entry and earning user and partner trust. “Taking someone through how the product works was not enough, as most Kenyans are sceptical when sending money online,” Nganga says. The app, through partnerships with banks and telcos, allows payments from mobile money wallets M-Pesa and Airtel Money, but it is the integration with peer-to-peer services like SasaPay, that has led to the company’s success so far, according to Maina. To mitigate fraud, OneKitty’s co-founders say that an inbuilt AI monitoring system, as well as dedicated financial fraud personnel, are among several safety measures it employs. Its chatbot also allows a group to set as many or few signatories as possible to authorise withdrawals to avoid embezzlement. Since its launch, OneKitty—whose team of seven hybrid employees work out of a head office in Nairobi—says it has facilitated over 10,000 fundraising campaigns for over 200,000 Kenyans on its platform. Differentiating from competitors OneKitty’s co-founders say they’re differentiating from their competitors with its WhatsApp chatbot integration. They are yet to roll out a chatbot for Telegram. “Our competitors, most of them; actually, all of them are not on WhatsApp,” Maina says. According to Statista, the number of Kenyans who use WhatsApp, which has steadily grown over the years, is estimated to reach 15.31 million of the country’s 22.7 million internet users in the next four years. With the chatbot integration, not only can a fundraising community see contributions as they come through in real-time on a messaging app they use frequently, they can see when withdrawals are made and by whom. OneKitty is also the most affordable option in the market at the moment, according to Maina. While GoFundMe charges a fee of 2.9% + $0.30 per donation, deducted from the total amount raised, and M-Changa charges a standard platform fee of 4.25% of the total funds raised, OneKitty charges 2.5% of the total contributions upon withdrawals. For chama contributions, the company charges 2% of all withdrawals, and 5% for events—the WhatsApp bot can be integrated into a group and used to sell event tickets, the co-founders say. In addition to M-Changa and GoFundMe, OneKitty is also competing with platforms like Thundafund, Kickstarter and even Safaricom’s M-Pesa whose Paybill and Short-Term Paybill products offer long term and short term crowdfunding solutions for institutional and individual projects respectively. Most of these platforms employ an all-or-nothing fundraising model which means campaign managers can only receive their funds if they meet their target fundraising goals. OneKitty does not use this model, offering flexibility and allowing projects to receive any funds raised, which is beneficial for
Read MoreWhy data centre investors are flocking to Lagos’ coastline
To get a slice of Lagos’ booming data centre market—projected to reach 70 megawatts (MW) by 2027—global investors are pouring capital into Victoria Island and the Lekki Peninsula, two of the city’s most affluent urban neighborhoods. Thanks to its proximity to eight submarine internet cables, Lagos Island is positioned to become Africa’s second-largest data centre hub, trailing behind Johannesburg’s 200MW capacity. But the scramble for Lagos’ coastline reveals the promise and pitfalls of betting on Africa’s fragmented data economy. The closer a data centre is to a submarine cable landing station (CLS), the faster data can travel, reducing delays. Coastal data centers are built near these landing stations to improve speed and efficiency. They also serve as backup hubs, keeping networks running even if inland connections go down, said Ayotunde Coker, CEO of Open Access Data Centre (OADC). “It is the availability of infrastructure and proximity to landing stations and typical site selection parameters that make investors elect to build data centres in Victoria Island,” Coker told TechCabal. Google’s Equiano submarine cable, with a massive capacity of up to 144 terabits per second (Tbps), lands directly at OADC’s Tier III-certified, carrier-neutral facility in Lekki. Similarly, the MainOne submarine cable with a 10 Tbps is directly connected to the MDXi data centre, MainOne’s Tier III-certified facility in Lekki, Lagos. Nigeria’s eight submarine cables—including Google’s Equiano and 2Africa—make landfall along the Lagos Island coastline, connecting to terrestrial fiber-optic networks for broader distribution. Ten of Nigeria’s 16 data centres are already concentrated in Victoria Island, Lekki, and Eko Atlantic City, and operators are racing to add more capacity. Projects under construction include Equinix’s 5MW facility, Kasi’s 5MW centre, Nxtra by Airtel’s 38MW data center, and Open Access Data Centre’s 24MW facility—all slated for completion by 2027. These new data centres, alongside ongoing developments across the country, will expand Nigeria’s total capacity from 64MW to approximately 200MW. By bringing data processing closer to users, these facilities will reduce delays, enhancing the performance of cloud services, streaming, and online gaming. The increased capacity will also improve network reliability, minimizing downtime and ensuring more stable connectivity. Power, water, and urbanisation Investors are drawn not just by connectivity but by Lagos’ improving power infrastructure. As key urban hubs, Victoria Island and Lekki are designated “Band A” service areas, ensuring 20 to 24 hours of electricity daily—critical for data centre operations. “Power infrastructure in the Lekki Corridor today and in the future is more robust than other parts of Lagos,” said Wole Abu of Equinix West Africa. Another reason for choosing coastal areas is access to water for cooling systems, which prevents overheating and maintains efficiency. In 2023, data centers globally consumed an estimated 309 million gallons of water per day—enough to supply 3.3 million people—and this demand is expected to rise to 468 million gallons daily by 2030 as more AI-driven data centers emerge. The increasing investment in Lagos’s data centres reflects a global urbanization wave. A recent Bank of America Institute study identifies urbanization, aging populations, and evolving consumer behavior as key drivers of digital infrastructure expansion. The United Nations projects that by 2050, about 66% of the global population will live in cities, rising to 87% in developed nations, with Asia and Africa contributing 90% of this urban growth. One of the ultra-urban areas, Eko Atlantic, is envisioned as a cutting-edge smart city with world-class infrastructure, high-rise buildings, luxury real estate, and advanced flood protection systems. Though still under development, it has attracted major data centre investments, hosting two hyperscale facilities—Africa Data Centres’ Tier III data centre and Nxtra by Airtel. For now, Lagos’ coastline remains the hottest ticket in town if investors can navigate its tide. Here’s an opportunity to tell us how you feel about TechCabal. Join other readers to take this 10-minute survey now. Fill it via this link.
Read MoreNigeria’s cNGN stablecoin seeks listings on Yellow Card, Roqqu to drive adoption
The Africa Stablecoin Consortium (ASC), the developers of Nigeria’s first regulatory-approved stablecoin, cNGN, have held early talks with Roqqu and Yellow Card, two prominent African crypto exchanges, to secure listings for the Naira-backed token. While both companies confirmed the discussions, neither platform has committed to listing the stablecoin. ASC did not immediately respond to a request for comments. cNGN has secured listings on Busha and Quidax, the two provisionally licenced Nigerian exchanges. Yet, expanding to more platforms—especially those with a pan-African presence—is critical for its remittance use case. Without firm commitments from major exchanges, its growth remains uncertain. The reluctance poses a challenge to cNGN’s adoption, which hinges on exchange support, but exchanges are hesitant to do so without proven demand. The stablecoin, designed to facilitate remittances and cross-border transactions, risks stagnation in a market where digital Naira transfers are already widely accessible. “We have a lot of respect for any project that has been admitted to Nigeria’s SEC Accelerated Regulatory Incubation Programme (ARIP); we take it seriously,” said Jason Marshall, Yellow Card COO. “But we are very selective about the coins we list.” Yellow Card currently lists 14 tokens, six of which are stablecoins. Marshall cited market demand, financial backing, and compliance as key factors in the company’s listing decisions. “Before we would consider a coin most times, they would have raised the equivalent of ₦50 billion ($32.5 million) in capital reserves and have an accounting firm sign a document saying it validates those reserves,” said Marshall. “We would expect them to be well-capitalised to back the coin.” While ASC envisions cNGN as a bridge for African remittances, allowing users to swap it for other stablecoins like a Kenyan Shilling-backed token (cKES), Marshall remains unconvinced about its domestic use. “I think of the cNGN as a two-way street,” he said. “For domestic use cases within Nigeria, I’m not sure because the Naira is already digital. The Nigerian bank transfer system is very advanced; transfers are instant and low-cost, but we’re open-minded to domestic use cases—we’re just unsure as of yet.” Eseoghene Onomor, CEO of Roqqu, a Nigerian crypto exchange, confirmed discussions with cNGN’s developers but echoed concerns about market demand. “These things take time,” said Onomor. “It’s not enough to list a coin or token on your platform. It has to be something that people want. Not everyone is seeing the value of the cNGN right now, because adoption is low, but I see its value.” The ASC faces a chicken-and-egg problem: cNGN needs exchange listings to drive adoption, but exchanges want proof of demand before listing it. Without stronger institutional backing and clear utility, Nigeria’s first compliant stablecoin could struggle to gain a foothold in a market where crypto users remain sceptical.
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Quick Fire 
with Aderayo Adesokan
Aderayo Adesokan shapes how Moniepoint is seen and understood, leading its brand and communications across markets. She manages external messaging, campaign production, global experiential activations, and corporate brand perception, ensuring consistency in how the company presents itself. With experience spanning banking, finance, FMCG, BNPL, insure-tech, and entertainment, she focuses on narratives that reflect business priorities and connect with key audiences. She works closely with senior leadership to align communication with strategy, ensuring Moniepoint’s presence remains clear and trusted as it serves over 10 million businesses and individuals in its ecosystem. If you were explaining your work to a 5-year-old, how would you describe what you do? I’d say I’m like Blossom from the Powerpuff Girls – the one who keeps things organised and makes sure everyone’s doing what needs to be done. It’s a bit like being a headgirl for a school, making sure everything’s in order, representing the school in the best way, and ensuring the students are updated with the latest news. I also like being organised, making sure everyone is on the same page, and ensuring everything runs smoothly. And of course, I try to keep it relatable and impactful. How did you transition from working on digital strategies to leading communications for Moniepoint, one of Africa’s fastest-growing brands? I spent a lot of time in creative advertising, working with transformative technologies like augmented and virtual reality, helping big brands communicate in innovative ways. But I found myself wanting to focus more deeply, rather than hopping between industries. I realised my strength was in strategic thinking, ideation, and project management. After researching the tech space, I saw a great fit for my skills in roles like digital communications. When a role at Moniepoint opened up, I knew it was the right opportunity. Fast forward, here I am, leading brand and communications for one of Africa’s rapidly growing financial brands, and I don’t regret the decision for a second. What does it take to build a brand presence that not only stands out but also resonates globally in such a competitive tech landscape? It takes grit, intentionality and clarity. When I joined Moniepoint, we had almost no digital presence, so I had to build it from the ground up. The key was creating storytelling that resonated locally while also being globally recognised. Had to hack showing trust, impact, and connecting with real people. From the start, we knew we were shaping something bigger than just a payment system or financial solutions. It was purposefully creating value that felt genuine and belonged in people’s lives. It’s not always easy, and it takes persistence, but with the right direction and consistency, people will notice. You’ve worked on strategic communications that attracted investor interest in startups. What’s your approach to crafting messaging that inspires trust? It’s two words for me: impact and relatability. Investors want to see the value in what you’re doing but also want to feel a connection to the brand and its journey. Crafting a message that shows how your product or service can make a difference and speak to real needs is super crucial. Of course, numbers are important, but at the heart of it, investors want to know that the brand aligns with their values and has a clear, positive impact. There is a lot of critical thinking that goes into weaving even a sentence or a report to align with specific messages to a certain audience. Storytelling is central to your work. How do you balance the need for compelling narratives with driving measurable business results? Everything we do has to be measurable (Let’s not do things for vibes or because it’s cool). I’m fortunate to work with amazing colleagues like Tosin and Didi at Moniepoint, who have helped me refine the art of data-driven decision-making. We don’t create content just for the sake of it – I may sound like a broken record to people cause this is my mantra. Each story has a purpose. Each piece of communication, be it digital, a campaign, hard paper, or whatever, has to have a purpose or something you want people to take out that falls within the context of the business direction at the time cause we yield the perception. I always ask, and it’s embedded in my subconscious: Why are we telling this story? How does it connect with the brand and the audience? Does the data support it? In the end, it’s not just great storytelling; it’s important to align that storytelling with the company’s broader goals and making sure we can measure its impact. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned about shaping a company’s public perception, and how has it shaped your career? “Thank you very much for that question” *breaths in* … my biggest lesson- is it takes time to knock a narrative into people’s heads – I know that sounds a bit rough. So many theories tell you the what and the hows, but not how important it is to be a brand that people see themselves in. Experiences are great but ensuring your audience can relate to the brand’s journey. This has shaped my approach to communications, teaching me to be patient and deliberate. The longer you nurture a narrative, the more people will connect with it. It’s not always instant, but with consistency, people begin to see themselves in your brand story. What advice would you give someone starting out in communications who wants to follow a similar career path? Find what you’re truly good at and build on it. Communications is vast, and there are many paths to take. Start by focusing on what sets you apart, then think globally while staying locally relevant. Don’t be afraid to try new things, and remember that there are no bad ideas- only bad execution. Make sure you’re always learning, and don’t limit yourself to the boundaries of your current environment. The world is wide open. What excites you the most about the future of communications, especially in the African
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TechCabal Daily – AI for hands and brains
In partnership with Lire en Français اقرأ هذا باللغة العربية Eid Mubarak. Welcome to Q2 2025, where the moon’s fresh and the vibes are high. But for folks in Nigeria, it’s a bittersweet moment—plenty to celebrate, yet much to mourn. Adetunji “TeeJay” Opayele, CTO of Bumpa, a Base10-backed e-commerce startup, was killed by a reckless driver who walked away with little more than a slap on the wrist. Over 70,000 people have signed a petition demanding real justice. Here’s TechCabal’s profile of Teejay—read it to see why his life, and now his death, matter so much in this world. AI agents are getting better at doing our jobs MTN launches uncapped internet for $0.27 per day The path to exits, the support VCs provide, and Africa’s hottest sectors World Wide Web 3 Opportunities AI AI agents are getting better at doing our jobs Image Source: Botscrew How long should it take to go from idea to product? Before you answer that, artificial intelligence wants to make sure the answer is simply “minutes.” Cue in AI agents. AI agents are changing how software is built. Instead of developers spending days or weeks writing code, debugging, and setting up infrastructure, AI tools can now generate entire applications, deploy them, and manage backend operations in real-time. Need an MVP? An AI agent can spin one up in hours. Deploying updates? AI can automate that too. Even DevOps—once a highly specialised role—is now seeing AI-driven automation handle cloud configurations, monitoring, and scaling. This rise of “vibe coding,” where developers rely on AI to generate, refine, and deploy software, is shaking up the industry. For founders, this means lower development costs, faster time-to-market, and fewer technical bottlenecks. For engineers, the skills in demand are shifting—less manual coding, more strategic thinking, and a deeper understanding of how to work with AI systems effectively. It’s not a question of if AI will change software development as we know it, but how fast it will happen. And if AI gets its way, the answer to that opening question could go from “minutes” to “faster than you think.” Read our feature on Stakpak, a0dev, and Vzy—startups helping early-stage teams become multi-efficient. Freelancers & remote workers, we want to hear from you! Fincra is exploring the challenges Nigerian freelancers and remote workers face with international payments. Share your experience and help contribute to building better payment solutions. Take the survey now! Telecoms MTN launches uncapped internet for $0.27 per day Image source: MTN On March 18, Telkom, the South African-owned telecom operator, announced that it will raise its telecom tariffs by April 1, 2025. But guess who seized the opportunity to launch an uncapped internet service for just $0.27 per day? Its competitor, MTN South Africa. While competitors were expected to react to Telkom’s tariff hike, no one expected MTN to move this quickly. Its new product, GigZone, offers 5Mbps (megabytes per second) internet for just R5 ($0.27) a day. The speed isn’t exactly fast—streaming high-definition videos or downloading large files may be a challenge—but at that price, it’s hard to complain. For many people in township communities, this could be the most affordable way to stay connected. Other telecom players are also looking at the low-cost internet market, but most of the competition so far has come from fibre-based providers like Riot Network, Vumatel, and Wire-Wire Networks. These companies have been working to bring affordable fibre to South African townships, but they face a major hurdle: rolling out last-mile infrastructure is expensive and takes time. MTN, on the other hand, already has mobile towers in these areas, allowing it to launch GigZone without building new infrastructure first. This means it can expand much faster than traditional fibre operators. Right now, GigZone is only available in parts of Gauteng and the Western Cape, but if the pilot is successful, MTN could quickly scale it across the country. South Africans are facing price hikes for different services that improve their livelihoods: electricity (Eskom), internet (Telkom), and streaming service providers (like MultiChoice) have increased prices—almost at the same time—making downsizing a likely option for many of them, especially those in lower-income areas. A $0.27 uncapped internet per day looks like a good deal, and only Wire-Wire Networks previously offered internet service at this amount. Yet, with more people joining its network, it became slow. From the pilot test, MTN’s GigZone doesn’t appear to have that problem. Commercially, it remains to be seen. Paystack introduces its first consumer app, Zap! Zap by Paystack is an app for secure and fast payments via bank transfers in Nigeria. Download Zap on iOS and Android → Venture Capital The path to exits, the support VCs provide, and Africa’s hottest sectors Image source: Wunmi Eunice for TechCabal In an ideal world, venture capitalists cash out via initial public outings (IPOs) or blockbuster acquisitions. But in the past five editions of TechCabal’s Ask an Investor, where fund managers from Oui Capital to Launch Africa were grilled, we see that in Africa, securing funding is only half the battle—investors must also creatively extract returns for their LPs. With IPOs and acquisitions scarce, secondary sales have become the go-to exit. Take Oui Capital: In 2021, they bet $150,000 on a 1.2% stake in Nigerian fintech Moniepoint. Three years later, with Moniepoint a unicorn, they sold part of that stake for $8 million—enough to return their first fund twice. HoaQ, meanwhile, scored a 6x return flipping a Raenest stake at Series A. Olu Oyinsan of Oui Capital admits secondaries aren’t the gold standard, but “any liquidity is better than no liquidity.” Nonetheless, while secondaries are a practical workaround, favourable terms do not come easy either. So whether it is secondaries, IPOs or acquisitions, squeezing returns in Africa requires patience, discipline, and sometimes building the exit yourself. Read TechCabal’s recap to see how these five VCs pull it off, the hands-on support they give founders, and which sectors are the hottest on the continent right now. Get notified when the Moonshot
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