- October 19 2023
Bolt drivers in Abuja ignore security concerns, insist on offline trips
Bolt drivers in Abuja are taking offline trips to avoid paying Bolt’s high commissions. But what about the safety of passengers? One night in August, Safiya Usman, ordered a ride home on the Bolt app after meeting her friends for drinks. As soon as she got into the Toyota Corolla, the driver asked if it was a card or cash trip, to which she replied, “Card.” After asking how much the trip fare was, he informed her that he would only embark on the trip if they took it “offline”, to which she agreed as she didn’t want to spend more time waiting for another ride. It wasn’t until the next morning that Usman realised that she had left her purse in the car, and wasn’t able to reach the driver as the trip had been cancelled. Luckily for Usman, her driver was an honest man and returned her purse the next day. But things could have ended badly, as there is no way to trace a driver if one agrees to an offline trip. Offline trips on ride-hailing platforms like Bolt have become increasingly popular in Abuja since the fuel hike in May. Although fares were increased by about 30–40% after an extended conversation between the drivers and the company, the drivers still insist that the new prices are insufficient to cover operating costs, and have resorted to duplicitous means to avoid remitting the 25% commission to the company. Safety concerns in Abuja make offline trips a risky venture In the past few months, cases of “one-chance” kidnappings have been pervasive in Nigeria’s capital. These incidents are perpetrated by criminals who pose as taxi drivers to rob, kidnap or even murder unsuspecting passengers. For a number of people in Abuja now, moving within the city comes with an added layer of fear, which they try to assuage by opting for ride-hailing apps, as opposed to buses or taxis. Riders can access the names and plate numbers of drivers, and can even share trip details with friends if they feel that they are in danger. With offline trips, the entire safety point is defeated, according to Precious who works in a restaurant in the city. Since the news of taxi kidnappings and killings spread, she has started to use only ride-hailing apps to return home from work, even if they cost more. “I don’t bother to use Bolt again because almost every time, the drivers request an offline trip and even go as far as emotionally blackmailing you when you refuse,” she said.“I always refuse though because I don’t see the point. The only reason I’m [opting for Bolt instead] of going to take a bus or taxi at the junction is so that I can report if anything happens or my friends know the details of my car and driver at least,” she concluded. Lower costs for Bolt rides in Abuja raise questions about equity Bolt rides are cheaper in Abuja than in other cities like Lagos, which is due to lower operational, regulatory, and taxational costs, according to the company. However, the price of fuel in both cities is the same, forcing drivers in Abuja to question the fairness of the situation. “Our peers in Lagos are earning way more than us,” Austin, a bolt driver in Abuja shared as we waited for the traffic light to turn red. “I have friends there and know how much they earn per trip. Here, you do a trip of 30 minutes and Bolt charges ₦2,000, out of which I have to give them a commission. How much do you think I spend on fuel in a day?” he asked rhetorically. According to Charles*, another Bolt driver, conducting offline trips is the only way to earn a profitable income with the ride-hailing app in Abuja. “After buying fuel at a high rate of ₦630 per litre, and Bolt takes their 25% commission from every trip, amongst other expenses, how much do we have left?” he questioned. According to him, certain customers willingly opt for an offline trip because they are aware that the job no longer provides adequate earnings for the drivers. However, he has also come across customers who decline offline trips due to concerns about their safety. “Sometimes, I don’t ask. I have my way of doing it,” says David* when asked about the responses he gets from his customers after asking for an offline trip. “I can run an offline trip without you knowing and it will show on your phone that the trip is still on. Most customers don’t agree to do it because they feel unsafe, so I don’t bother asking,” David shared. *Names have been changed to protect the identity of anonymous sources.
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- October 19 2023
3 million technical talent portal: features, FAQs, and more
The technology minister’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) program wants to train 3 million Nigerians by 2027 using the 1-10-100 model. Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Nigeria’s minister of communications, innovation, and digital economy, announced at TechCabal’s Moonshot conference on October 11, that the ministry was going to train three million technical talents over the next four years. The minister said he would use a 1-10-100-model. This means training 1% of the three million in three months, then 10% over a defined period, then 100%. Days later, the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) portal was launched. TechCabal visited the 3MTT website, hosted by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and powered by Prembly, a Nigerian compliance and security infrastructure company. The website is easy to navigate, with the three primary segments —about 3MTT, how to apply, and FAQs— hanging on the top right corner. A significant feature missing from the website is an accessibility tool. The white and green colour-themed website may be difficult to use for people with varying degrees of visual impairments. While checking the website, we found some important information for applicants and anyone interested in the 3MTT program. Some of the information is inserted into extra documents embedded on the website. For instance, if you’re wondering where the tutors will come from, or what their registration is like, we have the answers. Courses The courses are listed as “skills in focus” on the main page, although you’ve to scroll down further to find the registration link. In the first phase, 3MTT will focus on twelve technical skills, namely; Software Development, UI/UX Design, Data Analysis & Visualisation, Quality Assurance, Product Management, Data Science, Animation, AI / Machine Learning, Cybersecurity, Game Development, Cloud Computing, and Dev Ops. These courses were selected in light of Bosun Tijani’s vision of positioning “Nigeria in the top 25% percentile in research globally across six pivotal Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technological domains, including artificial Intelligence (AI), Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, blockchain, and additive manufacturing”. 3MTT fellowship application process The fellowship is a five-stage application process where applicants will be asked to submit bio-data, contact information, background skills & employment status, training program choices, and finally a confirmation page to ensure the accuracy of data. It took us five minutes to complete an application form. A useful feature while selecting the course on the form is that prospective fellows get to see a summary of what their program entails, while also filling in what level of expertise they currently have. Perhaps, this will be used to separate fellows when the program starts. The process is completed after a candidate submits either their National Identification Number (NIN) or Bank Verification Number (BVN). An email is sent to candidates immediately, informing them that they’ll hear back if selected. 3MTT trainers’ application process One of the technology minister’s objectives is to “increase the level of digital literacy of our population to 70% by the end of 2027”. To support this, the 3MTT is looking to utilise as many talented people as it can access. Hence, it has a portal for trainers to join the 3MTT program. The trainers will support the program’s first three months and help to define a model that will be replicated during the 10% and 100% phases. Trainers are expected across the 12 courses. The 3MTT has a training providers requirements document which says trainers will create curriculum and training methods, provide proof of training experience, with a preference for trainers with internship model experience, be able to use a hybrid teaching system that’s inclusive, have the capacity to operate in chosen states or regions and create learning benchmarks with at least 80% completion rates among fellows. While the process for the trainers is important to get the best, we wonder if Nigeria’s tech ecosystem currently boasts of enough trainers to handle three million people training on this scale. Placement One of the extra requirements for trainers is that they must have the ability to provide placement for fellows within their care. This means the ministry expects the trainers to be organisations and not individuals. The 3MTT program demands that training providers should be able to place at least 50% of fellows in jobs that match their skill level within three months of completing the program. What this means for fellows is that the majority of them are assured of a job opportunity or internship at the end of their program. To ensure continuous growth, the 3MTT portal says providers have to “accurately evaluate the impact of the training on these individuals. It is essential for providers to have a system that periodically tracks the development of the fellows alongside their employers”. Timeline The program started with a call for fellows and training providers on October 13 and will move to the selection phase from November 1, 2023. The program will kick off on November 15, and will run for three months. The program uses an iterative model that will take lessons from one phase to improve the next phase. While the first phase is expected to end by February 2024, a new timeline will be shared as the 1% stage ends. Partners can join the program The program is calling for partners who want to sponsor the 3MTT program through direct or indirect funding, equipment, physical spaces and other infrastructural support, device support, local and international job placements, support for programme execution, and other forms of support possible. Interested parties can apply to be sponsors here. An easy guess is that where program trainers are unable to find employment for all fellows, the partners will support them by helping with placements. FAQs The homepage ends with an FAQ section for fellows and trainers. It answers questions like the form of financial support available, among other important things.
Read More- October 19 2023
Exclusive: Kippa lays off 40 employees as it exits agency banking
Finance management startup Kippa has discontinued its agency banking business and will also lay off the 40 employees who support the product. Kippa may also shelve another product, Kippa Start, in the coming months. Nigerian bookkeeping and finance startup Kippa has announced in a blog post that it will be shelving its agency banking business, KippaPay. TechCabal can exclusively report that Kippa has laid off 40 employees; reliable sources said layoff notices have been sent out and that the last day for affected employees is November 30. A spokesperson for the company confirmed the layoffs. “Those who will be staying back are directly connected to our other current and developing product lines,” Kippa said in an email to TechCabal. Kippa raised $8.4 million in September 2022 from global investors, including Goodwater Capital, TEN13 VC, Rocketship VC, Saison Capital, and others, for a push into agency banking after acquiring a super agent licence. Agency banking is a tightly contested space where incumbents with deep pockets—OPay and Moniepoint—have significant market share. The company recruited ex-regulators and former senior executives at top fintech startups, including OPay, BharatPe, Khatabook, TeamApt, OKCredit, NIBSS, and Unified Payments, amongst others, for its uphill fight. At the peak of its business, Kippa had around 15,000 agents, yet it struggled with margins. “The macroeconomic conditions in Nigeria, especially the devaluation of the naira, ate deeply into our margins, and our customers’ businesses have suffered over the past six months,” said a Kippa spokesperson. In his blog post announcing the discontinuation of KippaPay, Ekezie said, “Starting November 15, our KippaPay product will no longer be available for use by merchants. For now, the startup will be resolving any pending settlements and helping its merchants and partners transition off the product.” According to the source, the company will soon shutter Kippa Start, which allows users to register their small businesses online for ₦20,000 ($26). “This would leave us with just the bookkeeping app that made [Kippa’s] users fall in love with them,” said one employee. Kippa’s bookkeeping mobile app allows small business owners to keep track of their daily income and expense transactions, issue invoices, provide receipts to their customers and create marketing materials like business cards. It also keeps track of their debtors. Someone familiar with Kippa’s business also told TechCabal that the company plans to scrap Kippa Start, its business registration product, in the coming months. “We had achieved most of our revenue goal for the year by Q1, so it’s not like this decision is because the company has poor revenue,” said an employee who declined to be named to speak freely. According to them, the company decided to pull off the product to save the increasing cost of running the POS product.
Read More- October 19 2023
2023 Africa Tech Festival parades powerful line-up of speakers
Top-notch speaker list, including several government ministers, exemplifies the importance of tech to drive Africa’s needed economic big boom. Africa’s potential in economics, digital penetration, and business has positioned it for explosive growth, but there are challenges it must overcome first. These challenges, alongside innovative solutions, will be spotlighted at the 2023 Africa Tech Festival, happening in Cape Town, from November 13–16. The festival will feature a strong line-up of headline speakers, including several African government ministers. “Businesses across Africa have benefited enormously from leap-frogging traditional technology to the digital world and wireless connectivity, and this is spurring incredible growth across the continent,” says James Williams, director of events at Informa Tech, organisers of the festival. “The incredible advantages of digitalisation are, however, dependent on a plentiful and reliable source of power, and it’s essential that the public sector has strong strategies in place to drive this growth.” Among the 200-plus speakers, presenters, and panellists will be Gwede Mantashe, minister of mineral resources and energy and Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, South Africa’s minister for electricity, both of whom will be providing insight on how the South African government is tackling load shedding and the country’s energy crisis. There will also be a panel on “Universal power access: Plotting a route through Africa’s electricity challenge”, which will place the future of digital transformation on the shoulders of electricity and citizens’ access to energy. In Africa, energy insecurity has been a chronic inhibitor of economic development for decades, and continues to cripple enterprise growth and innovation, and these panels will unpack why a staggering 30 of Africa’s 54 nations face daily power shortages and supply interruptions, all of which cause economic havoc to local businesses and hamper consumer activity. Another key area of public-sector engagement with the tech sector will be discussed in the keynote panel “Unleashing digital prosperity: How progressive policy is shaping Africa’s tech transformation”. This session will present African ministers from across the continent with an opportunity to share how they are tailoring policy to their unique national priorities. “The process of developing and implementing policy across myriad industries and sectors is, however, an inherently complex and lengthy process and relies heavily on industry consultation, sector-specific legislation and flexibility to evolve with rapidly changing sectors,” says Williams, highlighting the importance of the growing number of ministerial delegations at Africa Tech Festival year on year. Other African ministers of government that will be in attendance are Ousmane Gaoual Diallo, the Republic of Guinea’s minister of posts, telecommunications and digital economy; Peya Mushelenga, Namibia’s minister of information and communication technology; and Audrin Mathe, executive director and permanent secretary in the ministry of information and communication technology. Other high-level speakers that will be sharing with the government delegates over the three days of the festival are Dion Jerling, co-founder, Connect Earth; Richard Cazalet, head of strategy, Telkom SA; Robert Aouad, CEO, ISOCEL Telecom; Russell Southwood, CEO, Balancing Act; Vuyani Tati, managing partner, AfriTech Catalytic Growth Fund; Jocelyn Nyaguse, head of marketing and storytelling, Startupbootcamp AfriTech; Calvin Govender, general manager ICT fixed services, MTN; Marjorie Saint-Lot, country manager, Ghana and the Ivory Coast, Uber; Evan Jones, CEO, The Collective X; Nfaly Sylla, ministry of posts, telecommunications and digital economy, Republic of Guinea; Kellie Murungi, chief investments officer, East African Power; John Davies, TMT Analyst, Bloomberg Intelligence; and many others. The Africa Tech Festival is the meeting place of Africa’s largest community of tech champions and offers this vibrant grouping the ideal space to connect and interact. For more information, please visit the festival website, and to get your tickets, click this link.
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- October 19 2023
TechCabal Daily – Safaricom now owns M-Pesa Holding
In partnership with Share this newsletter: Lire en Français اقرأ هذا باللغة العربية Happy pre-Friday Twitter—or X—won’t be free for long. Yesterday, the platform started charging new users in the Philippines and New Zealand a $1 annual fee to join the app. Existing users are exempt from the “Not A Bot” fee, but anyone who wants to join the platform from these regions will have to fork over $1 to write on the platform. The new move will help reduce the amount of spambots and fake activity prevalent in those regions. They’ll be able to read for free, but they’ll have to pay 100 pennies to share their thoughts. In today’s edition Safaricom fully acquires M-Pesa Holding LeapFrog to invest $1 billion in Africa VIBRA shuts down in Africa Kuramo to invest $150 million in female-led startups Nigerian e-hailing drivers demand safety measures The World Wide Web3 Opportunities Acquisitions Safaricom fully acquires M-Pesa Holding GIF source: Tenor Safaricom now fully owns M-Pesa Holding. Yesterday, the telecommunications company announced its acquisition of the entire issued share capital of M-Pesa Holding Company Limited (MPHCL). Per the statement, Safaricom and its parent company, Vodafone International Holdings B.V., had reached an agreement on April 17, 2023, for Safaricom to acquire Vodafone’s entire 100% stake in M-Pesa Holding Company Limited from Vodafone BV. This comes after Vodafones’s CEO Margherita Della said the company was looking to simplify its processes to restore its competitive edge. ICYMI: The agreement was that Vodacom would sell M-Pesa trust company to Safaricom for $1. After receiving approval from shareholders and the relevant regulators, the deal has been sealed. M-Pesa Holdings is different from the M-Pesa service Safaricom offers. M-Pesa Holdings is a corporate trustee that holds all deposits of the M-Pesa service and invests them for the benefit of the customers. Zoom out: The holding company, per Vodafone, had €1.2 billion ($1.3 billion), as at April 2023, in customer funds which Safaricom could invest in short-term securities. Access payments with Moniepoint Moniepoint has made it simple for your business to access payments while providing access to credit and other business tools. Open an account today here. Funding LeapFrog Investments to invest $1 billion fund in Africa Image Source: YungNollywood This private equity firm is betting on the future of African startups, one leap at a time. LeapFrog Investments, a private equity firm investing in Asia and Africa, is set to raise $1 billion for its new fund, Emerging Consumer Fund IV. The fund will be invested in healthcare and financial businesses on the continent. A $1 billion fund: Several institutional investors and limited partners have backed the Emerging Consumer Fund IV. These include the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) which have committed $60 million and $50 million, respectively. Other investors include Prudential Financials ($500 million), AIA Group ($200 million), and Temasek, a Singapore-based investment company. The fund will hold a final close by February 2024. LeapFrog says it will make initial investments of $30–$70 million in 18–20 high-growth businesses. Since launching Fund IV in 2022, LeapFrog investment has invested in Sun King and Jumo in South Africa, Interswitch in Nigeria, Goodlife Pharmacy in Kenya, and Pyramid Group, which distributes orthopaedic and cardiac equipment. Lights out: LeapFrog’s Emerging Consumer Fund IV is a part of the growing queue of global investment firms and development finance institutions who are pumping VC dollars on the continent amidst the gruelling funding winter. Startups Crypto platform, VIBRA, shuts down in all three markets Vincent Li, co-founder of VIBRA. Image source: Afrikanheroes Another setback has befallen the African crypto ecosystem. VIBRA, the Africa-focused crypto platform co-founded by Vincent Li—co-founder of web3 accelerator Adaverse—has shut down in all three of its markets: Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya. This development contradicts earlier reports that indicated the shutdown was limited to Nigeria alone. What went wrong? Vincent Li stated that the company is currently undergoing a significant pivot. However, multiple reliable sources, including former employees who chose to resign, offer a different perspective. A former employee disclosed that in July, the team of over ten individuals was given the ultimatum to resign or face termination. During this period, it became evident that the company was grappling with existential challenges. In the same month, VIBRA communicated to its users, via email, that it would discontinue services by July 15. Although Li stated that the discontinuation was specific to Nigerian users, messages in the company’s Telegram group suggested a broader closure. Another ex-employee stated that user engagement on the VIBRA app had dwindled, and revenue from transaction fees had fallen. Furthermore, VIBRA had an education initiative, VIBRAinClass, where experts could earn money for teaching Africans about blockchain. However, an ex-employee claimed that VIBRA had a challenge in achieving substantial user turnover from their education initiative, and that may have contributed to the company’s closure. There’s more: Aside from educating users about cryptocurrencies, VIBRA also relied on offering incentives to acquire customers, a common strategy among blockchain startups. However, this approach turned out to be costly for the company. VIBRA joins other Africancrypto startups that have closed in 2023, including LazerPay, which shut down its operations in April, and Pillow, which shut down in June. Accept payments fast with the Paystack Virtual Terminal Paystack Virtual Terminal helps businesses accept blazing fast in-person payments at scale, with ZERO hardware costs. Enjoy instant transfer confirmations via WhatsApp, multiple in-person payment channels, and more. Learn more. Funding Kuramo Capital to invest $150 million in African women-led startups Executives of the Kuramo Capital and Kuramo Foundation Kuramo Capital Management, a private equity firm will invest $150 million in female-led startups across Africa over the next decade, according to a TechTrends KE report. The sub-Saharan Africa-focused investment management firm will make these investments through its Moremi platform—an initiative that empowers women enterprises and promotes gender-equitable fund management. The Moremi platform offers an accelerator programme, a warehousing/lending facility, and a Fund of funds. Kuramo has unveiled the first cohort of the accelerator programme consisting of 40 female
Read More- October 18 2023
In the wake of VIBRA’s shutdown, staff were asked to resign or face termination
VIBRA, the Africa-focused crypto platform co-founded by Vincent Li—co-founder of web3 accelerator Adaverse—has shut down in all three of its markets, not just Nigeria. TechCabal has confirmed that the crypto platform founded by Africa Blockchain Labs has shut down in its three markets—Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya—not just Nigeria, as we previously reported. Vincent Li, the co-founder of the African Blockchain Lab, which received $6 million in VC funding from investors like Lateral Frontiers and Everest Ventures for VIBRA, told TechCabal that the business is currently undergoing a pivot. But reliable sources, including former employees who resigned from their jobs, have stated otherwise. “In July, we were given the option to resign or be fired,” a former employee told TechCabal. At the time, the over-10-person team led by Hailey Yang had learned that the company was facing existential difficulties. The same month, the company emailed users that it would discontinue services by July 15. Li told TechCabal that the discontinuation was only for Nigerian users—its largest market—but the messages on the Telegram group named “VIBRA Africa” suggest that the closure was not regional. The shutdown was effected three weeks after another Asian-owned startup, Pillow, shut down in Africa and months after Lazerpay closed shop too. Web3 startups were reeling from the impact of the persisting bear market and the crash of popular crypto exchange FTX. User engagement on the app, which allowed people to swap, send, receive, save, and spend cryptocurrencies, was waning. The company’s website says that VIBRA had over 100,000 agents in the three markets, but it is unclear how many users the company had at the time. “There were not many users,” an ex-employee said. They declined to state an exact figure or range but confirmed that user activity on the app fell, and consequently, the startup’s revenue from charges made from transactions plummeted. “The company may have also closed because they could not work out how to get commensurate user turnover from the user education we were doing,” an ex-employee told TechCabal. When Africa Blockchain Lab announced that it had raised $6 million for VIBRA, it said it would “drive the mass adoption of digital assets and blockchain technologies in Africa.” The startup had an education initiative, #VIBRAinClass, where experts could earn money for teaching Africans about blockchain. Tutors could earn up to $400 or $100 per class in four months. Students could also earn up to ₦1,000 in each class. However, it appears the downtime in the crypto sector discouraged new adopters. Aside from education, incentive-driven customer acquisition typical of blockchain startups proved to be very expensive for the startup. “ Nigerians are very crypto-curious and are willing to try new ways to earn money, but they also have huge expectations of crypto companies,” said a former employee. “Nigerians who see cryptocurrencies as a path to quick wealth creation need to know that you can fly ten people out to Dubai,” the former employee said, referencing the expensive promotion tactics employed by popular exchanges like Binance in Nigeria. VIBRA’s co-founder Li has declined to comment.
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- October 18 2023
TechCabal Daily – Amazon comes to South Africa
In partnership with Share this newsletter: Lire en Français اقرأ هذا باللغة العربية Good morning LinkedIn is costing people their jobs. This week, the platform announced that it will lay off 668 employees across its product, finance, R&D and talent teams. This comes five months after the company laid off 716 people, and weeks after it announced a renewed focus on AI. Does that mean AI is taking people jobs? We’ll leave that question open for now. Here’s what we do know: at least 243,000 tech workers have been laid off in 2023. In today’s edition Patricia asks customers to buy shares Amazon to launch in SA in 2024 eMedia and MultiChoice have a second round SA to probe its digital space The World Wide Web3 Opportunities Startups Patricia pleads with customers to convert owed funds to company shares Image source: Techpoint Africa Patricia and its customers are now in a conversation about balances. Per Techpoint Africa, a representative from the crypto exchange told customers that the only option available for users who want to get their money back is to convert the funds into company shares. Backstory: The Nigerian crypto startup has been at loggerheads with its customers due to a hack it suffered in January 2022, which cost it $2 million, and led to the company freezing withdrawals in May 2023. Following that, customers have been unable to retrieve their assets, and Patricia has been actively issuing several updates to its customer base without providing a clear timeline for when they can access their money. In August, in what it termed a move to protect customer assets, it converted all user assets into its recently introduced Patricia Token (PTK) backed by the US dollar. Unfortunately, users were not given prior notice of this conversion, and they still couldn’t access their funds even after the conversion. The last known update was in October, when the company planned a new repayment plan through fundraising. CEO Hamu Fejiro announced, at a town hall meeting, that the company had secured some funding and would reopen its app soon. Now, sources from Techpoint allege that Patricia is pleading with customers to convert their funds to company shares as a “last resort”. What now? Customers are confused about this sudden conversion to shares, and despite concerns, the representative assured customers they would eventually regain access to their money. There have been promises of more details via email, but many have yet to receive any information. Patricia also claimed they would contact customers by phone, but so far, only two have reportedly received such calls. Access payments with Moniepoint Moniepoint has made it simple for your business to access payments while providing access to credit and other business tools. Open an account today here. E-commerce Amazon to launch online shopping service in South Africa in 2024 Image Source: Amazon Amazon is finally setting up shop in South Africa. The e-commerce giant will launch its online shopping service in South Africa in 2024. South Africa will become the second African country, after Egypt, to host a locally-dedicated Amazon shopping website. Amazon said, on Tuesday, that independent sellers in South Africa could register their businesses on its marketplace website—Amazon.co.za—starting next year. The launch of Amazon’s service comes at a time when South Africa has seen a sharp rise in online shopping after the pandemic brought an opportunity for e-commerce to finally take hold and contribute meaningfully to traditional sales. Amazon’s launch in South Africa should have happened earlier. However, the e-commerce giant experienced a push back after a Western Cape High Court ordered a stop to the construction of its African headquarters. The South African Court of Appeal overturned this decision. Amazon’s platform in South Africa is still being finalised, as it must comply with local competition laws requiring online retailers to separate their retail and marketplace businesses. Zoom out: The launch of Amazon in South Africa will provide sellers in the country an opportunity to grow, and scale their businesses. The move also presents competition to Naspers’ Takealot.com, the dominant online shopping service in the country. Accept payments fast with the Paystack Virtual Terminal Paystack Virtual Terminal helps businesses accept blazing fast in-person payments at scale, with ZERO hardware costs. Enjoy instant transfer confirmations via WhatsApp, multiple in-person payment channels, and more. Learn more. Streaming eMedia, Multichoice battle head to Competition Commission GIF source: Tenor eMedia’s tussle with Multichoice is reaching a new high. Openview owned eMedia has taken Multichoice to the Competition Commission over its refusal to broadcast rugby matches live on its free-to-watch channels. Round two, fight: eMedia previously took Multichoice to a high court over a dispute about broadcasting rights for the Rugby World Cup. However, the court dismissed the case saying that it would be financially unwise for Multichoice to give up the exclusivity of the broadcasting licence which it paid heavily for. eMedia accused Multichoice of being “overtly anti-competitive” by not airing rugby matches for free on its channels. The broadcaster also says that its unrelenting pursuit to upturn the case is in the nation’s interest. However, MultiChoice South Africa CEO, Marc Jury, said eMedia’s case was a “classic example of free-riding—seeking to profit off another’s expense without contributing at all”. Zoom out: While the South African high court justified Multichoice’s move, it remains to be seen what the Competition Commission thinks of the case. Attend the Ugandan National Science Week The National Science Week (NSW) is a hallmark event in Uganda’s calendar, celebrated every year to honor Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI). The event will feature a dedicated Investor Summit, bringing together some of the world’s leading pan African Venture Capitalists, Investors, and Startups. Find out more here. Media South Africa’s Competition Commission begins market inquiry into digital media GIF source: Zikoko Memes In more news about South Africa, its digital media space is under scrutiny. The country’s Competition Commission has launched a Media and Digital Platforms Market Inquiry (MDPMI) to scrutinise the distribution of media content on South African
Read More- October 17 2023
Adbot partners with MTN Nigeria to launch ad services for SMEs
Adbot has partnered with MTN Nigeria to avail its AI-powered online ad campaign management platform to the telco’s SMEs customers. South African startup Adbot is expanding to Nigeria in a partnership with MTN Nigeria. Adbot offers AI-powered automated ad campaign management. The company claims that the platform enables SMEs to get their Google and Bing ads online within 10 minutes. Through the partnership, Adbot will enable MTN’s Thryve Google Ads services to all SMEs on MTN Nigeria’s network. MTN Thryve Google Ads Bundle provides 1Gb of data, a minimum of 10 website conversions and 500 ad views on Google to SMEs. Users provide simple inputs like target location, keywords, and ad copy, after which the Adbot system extends these inputs, launching campaigns and leveraging machine learning for continuous optimisation, ensuring optimal click-through rates at minimal costs. For MTN Nigeria, Lynda Saint-Nwafor, chief enterprise business officer, stated that the partnership will enable Nigerian SMEs to search engines and digital platforms in order to accelerate growth. Why Nigeria for Adbot? Adbot announced its seed round in June this year, after which it outlined its intentions to expand to Nigeria. Speaking to TechCabal, founder Michelle Geere stated that one of the reasons for expansion was that people don’t understand automation yet, a challenge in South Africa. How Adbot is using AI to make online advertising efficient for small businesses In Nigeria, according to Geere, the company will seek to leverage education to show the market that automated online advertising can be done on a much larger scale than just social media advertising, which is more common in the West African nation. “This partnership marks a momentous milestone as we venture into Nigeria, a thriving hub of innovation and entrepreneurship,” Geere said. “By teaming up with the nation’s largest telecoms company, we have an extraordinary opportunity to bring our cutting-edge advertising tool within reach of over 40 million MSMEs in the region.”
Read More- October 17 2023
Amazon enters SA amidst regulatory pushback again e-commerce leaders
Amazon has announced that its South Africa e-commerce marketplace will commence operation in 2024. Amazon has announced that it will launch its marketplace in South Africa in 2024. The marketplace will sit on Amazon.co.za starting today and independent sellers in South Africa can register their businesses on sell.amazon.com/south-africa. “We look forward to launching Amazon.co.za in South Africa, providing local sellers, brand owners, and entrepreneurs — small and large — the opportunity to grow their business with Amazon, and deliver great value and a convenient shopping experience for customers across South Africa,” said Robert Koen, general manager of the Sub-Saharan Africa region for Amazon. Naspers’ owned Takealot currently leads South Africa’s online retail market with a gross merchandise value (GMV) of R27 billion. Other players include Massmart-owned Makro, Checkers Sixty60 and Mr Price. Data from Statista projects that the e-commerce market will grow by 11.89% over the next three years. While an estimated 2% of retail sales happen online, high internet and smartphone penetration and a change in customer behaviour driven by Covid 19 are expected to propel growth to around 6.8%. News of Amazon’s marketplace launch initially broke in early 2022, with February 2023 slated as the launch date in South Africa. Over the last few months, the company has made hires in South Africa for the marketplace, signalling its imminent arrival. Some of the roles it hired for include merchant development, software development, and operations. Amazon enters a South African e-commerce market fraught with regulatory complications. In July, the country’s competition regulator released a report outlining the findings of an investigation into competitive practices of some leading online platforms. For Naspers’ owned Takealot, the regulator stated that the platform faced a conflict of interest on its site as its retail division competes with the marketplace sellers leading to behaviour that has disadvantaged sellers. As a remedial action, Takealot was ordered to segregate its retail division from its marketplace operations, preventing its retail services from accessing seller data and unilaterally stopping sellers from competing for certain brands. This factor will also impact Amazon as it offers both its own retail division and a marketplace for third-party sellers. South Africa’s e-commerce industry will see the amalgamation of factors, including competition and regulation, play the role of kingmaker among incumbents such as Takealot and Massmart, as well as new arrivals including Amazon, in an industry with growth prospects.
Read More- October 17 2023
Kenya’s Little Logistics is now serving some of Sendy’s ex-clients
Per Kamal Budhabhatti, Group CEO at Craft Silicon, building a sustainable logistics business can go a long way in staying in business. Kamal further mentioned that some of Sendy’s customers moved to Little Logistics. Kamal Budhabatti, the Group CEO of fintech services provider Craft Silicon, shed some light on the prevailing trend in Kenya’s e-logistics sector. He mentioned that many logistics companies are prioritising rapid growth while overlooking sustainability. At the same time, Budhabatti touched on Sendy’s exit from the market. It emerged that some of Sendy’s customers have since sought the services of Little Logistics, which also marks one of Craft Silicon’s many services, including Little Cab, which is slowly transitioning into being a super app that integrates multiple services such as payments, financial products such as Little Wallet and entertainment services. In your opinion, what are the key challenges that e-logistics firms face in Kenya, and what can new startups learn from these experiences (after the closure of Sendy)? The challenges faced by e-logistics firms in Kenya are Financial sustainability, customer centric approach, regulatory and legal challenges, High operational cost, and access to funding, as exemplified by Sendy’s experience, require innovative solutions, adaptability, and a relentless focus on cost efficiency and customer satisfaction. While the closure of a prominent player like Sendy is a setback, it can also serve as a valuable learning opportunity for new startups to navigate these challenges better and find sustainable success in the Kenyan logistics market. We also feel most funded players want to scale up to increase their valuation. And in doing so, they forget the sustainability aspect. I learned that Little offers logistical services as well. How has adopting technology, such as mobile apps and tracking systems, contributed to the success or failure of e-logistics companies in Kenya, and what future technology trends should startups consider? Adopting technology, including mobile apps and web App tracking systems, has played a significant role in logistics success, and it’s a critical factor that startups should consider for their future success. In our company, for instance, Little Logistics mobile and web apps have made it easier for our product to reach customers, receive orders, and facilitate payments. We provide a convenient platform for both customers and delivery personnel/partners. Are there any strategic partnerships or collaborations that logistics startups should pursue with local businesses, governments, or organisations to enhance their chances of success? Partnerships with governing bodies or manufacturer associations can help a lot. What strategies can e-logistics startups employ to build and maintain customer trust and improve overall customer satisfaction in a market with unique challenges like Kenya? When pursuing these partnerships, startups should ensure they align with their business goals and values. Effective partnerships can provide logistical startups with resources, market access, and expertise that can significantly boost their chances of success. Such partnerships are not limited to local communities but also emergency services, security providers, e-commerce companies, etc. Shed light on what happens to former sendy clients. What do they do after Sendy’s collapse? Have some of them sought Little’s services? We have seen several Sendy clients coming on board or seeking Little Logistics services because of various factors, including Little’s market presence, reputation, and aligning their services with specific needs. The choices made by individual businesses would likely vary, and we are open to customisation of these services to meet these needs. We believe the technology stack of Little is quite superior, which has also attracted several customers from other platforms to Little.
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