- October 9 2023
Next Wave: Somalia should be part of the tech ecosystem conversation in Africa
Cet article est aussi disponible en français <!– In partnership with –> First published 8 October 2023 With the inclusion of venture debt, venture inflows to Africa totalled $6.5 billion across 853 deals – but Somalia did not get any of this share. In a skeletally vibrant African tech ecosystem, the spotlight often shines on well-established hubs in West Africa, such as Nigeria, and in the southern regions, like South Africa. Kenya, Rwanda, and Ethiopia have garnered attention for their growing tech ecosystems. Yet, amid these developments, quiet underdogs exist, such as Somalia. While discussions of fundraising rounds typically bypass the country, its growing potential within its borders should not be ignored. The tech scene in Somalia might be small on the global stage today, but a transformational foundation has been set up based on activities that have been taking place there. With increased visibility and venture capital interest, it could start making a name for itself. Join us for TechCabal Battlefield, Moonshot’s startup competition where you can showcase your startup idea to a global audience and an esteemed panel of judges and stand a chance to win up to 2.5 million naira in funding for your business! Click to register for TC Battlefield <!–Chart section 1 A sample of African startups that have gone from raise to bust. | Infographic by Victoria Olaonipekun, TC Insights Somalia’s geographical location makes it an attractive space for investment Somalia is geographically based in the Horn of Africa and has over 18 million people. It has a strategic coastal location adjacent to some of the world’s busiest maritime routes, and its proximity to the Middle East and South Asia makes it an attractive prospect for global enterprises seeking expansion opportunities. After the stabilisation of the nation following the 2012 polls, Somalia has attempted to work towards rebuilding itself as a regional hub for commerce, transportation, trade, and industry. Several factors have facilitated this development, including the rising adoption of digital technologies, rapid urbanisation, and planned investments in critical sectors such as energy, ports, education, and healthcare. The World Bank supports the nation’s commitment to instituting reforms and re-engaging with the region, which can open channels for human capital rejuvenation and overall economic growth. Per a Somalia startup ecosystem report, there is synergy between the public sector and local entrepreneurs that has given rise to innovations addressing the nation’s most pressing issues. This has jumpstarted the nation’s startup ecosystem, marking Somalia’s potential for growth. For instance, investments have been directed towards renewable energy, with Somalia’s vast resource potential positioning it as a leading contender for onshore wind power generation in Africa, capable of producing 30,000 to 45,000 MW. The emergence of the Service as a Service (SAAS) sector has also supported its startup landscape that cuts across transportation, food, healthcare, and education. However, given these numbers and the potential in Somalia, why don’t we hear about a lot of startup activity in the country, and is there a way to address this? Article continues after this ad Techies Meet Testars Testify is celebrating 22 veteran software testers with impactful years of experience. To read more, click here! Join the first-of-its-kind tech hangout on November 11 at The Zone, Lagos State. Games, food, and networking with tech professionals RSVP NOW A look into the tech players in Somalia Somalia has a growing startup space with key startups in many industries, including healthcare, logistics, renewable energy, mobile money, and communication. For instance, OGOW provides electronic medical records and practice management systems for hospitals and clinics, helping them to boost patient care. Gulivery is a third-party delivery service that helps businesses focus on their services by handling the delivery logistics. SECCCO provides clean, low-cost, and sustainable renewable energy solutions, improving the lives of thousands of Somalis. SolarGen is a renewable energy and water solution provider that focuses on distributing solar products and the engineering, procurement, and construction of world-class projects. SoPay is an all-in-one mobile money solution that allows users to transfer money, pay utility bills, make online payments, and request money. WAAFI is an app that combines mobile money, communication, and productivity. SIMAD iLab is a place where people can learn about and start new businesses—and recently, it launched an innovation theatre, a space for startups and MSMEs, and a corner for private-sector leaders and civil servants. Other players, too, such as accelerators and boot camps, want to make a mark in the tech ecosystem in Somalia. Fikrcamp, for instance, teaches young people how to code in native languages such as Somali and has even expanded to Ethiopia with the same goals. SOMINVEST seeks to attract foreign investment and improve investment policies. The Women Business Accelerator Program offers training and funding for female-owned startups. The Somali Technology Association Centre, established in 2018, offers tech training services. HarHub Business Incubation supports early-stage startups with entrepreneurship training and incubation services. iRise is an innovation hub in Mogadishu offering workspaces and office spaces for startups. The IITE Institute incubator assists SIMAD University students with mentorship and resources. Partner Content: Meet DockHive: A marriage between docker and blockchain technology Admittedly, Somalia has been plagued by political instability and conflict for decades, which has hindered the development of a robust tech ecosystem, so its presence in the African tech ecosystem has been muted. With massive VC investment in Africa, Somalia is yet to spark interest According to the African Private Capital Association, by deal volume, 2022 was a record year for venture capital investment in Africa. Although the total amount of capital invested in African startups dropped slightly in 2022, it remained stable compared to the record set in 2021. With the inclusion of venture debt, venture inflows to Africa totalled $6.5 billion across 853 deals. West Africa remained the top region for venture capital investment in Africa, with Nigeria as the most active country per volume at 22%. Despite these developments in African venture capital, Somalia received no investments or mentions in the African Private Capital Association report. Can
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- October 9 2023
TechCabal Daily – Broken Bridges
In partnership with Share this newsletter: Lire en Français اقرأ هذا باللغة العربية Happy Moonshot Week We’re two days away from the Moonshot Conference where Africa’s most audacious thinkers and doers will celebrate innovation on the continent. For our TC Daily readers, we’ve got some great news: our partner, Enza Capital, is giving out tickets to Moonshot! To win these tickets, simply post on social media using the #MoonshotxEnzaCapital and #MoonshotbyTechCabal, and tell us why you too want to attend Moonshot. That’s it! In today’s edition Dash shuts down Co-founders Bridge Network split up Telkom Kenya loses 1.6 million subscribers TC Insights: Do Africans like credit? The World Wide Web3 Opportunities Two days till the Moonshot Conference Calling all creators Join Korty EO, Fisayo Fosudo, Adetutu Laditan, Abiodun Animashaun, and Ruth Zakari at Moonshot to learn hw to create engaging content, monetisation options, and how to grow your audience for long-term success Get your ticket now! Startups Dash shuts down Dash, a Ghanaian fintech founded in 2019 to connect mobile money wallets and banks in Africa, is shutting down. The shutdown was confirmed last week at a virtual company-wide meeting where the company informed its 70+ employees that it would be winding down, and laying off all staff members. The startup raised $86.1 million in five years and attracted big-name investors like 4DX Ventures and Global Capital Partners. In 2021, it closed a $32.8 million seed round—the second-largest seed round for an African startup. More than a dash of salt: Dash’s slowdown began when its board started to raise eyebrows at the startup’s reported numbers and ex-CEO Prince Boakye Boampong’s activities. Prince Boakye Boampong Two years after launch, Dash reportedly had 200,000 users and had processed $250 million in transactions by October 2021. Barely five months later, the startup announced that it had reached 1 million users across Ghana, Nigeria and Kenya; it also said it had processed $1 billion in transactions, numbers many now believe to be false. In February 2023, the startup’s board of directors suspended Boampong due to allegations of financial misreporting, and instituted a financial audit of the company. While Dash’s board of directors did not confirm the reason behind Boampong’s suspension, sources revealed that the company’s executives repeatedly hid firm financials and fostered a disorderly workplace where employees were fired at will. Boampong was eventually fired and replaced by Kenneth Kinshua. The internal audit later revealed that Boampong inflated and exaggerated user numbers. Tech publication Weektracker also reports that the audit revealed a shortfall of $25 million in the company’s account. Dash—which has no revenue—was allegedly burning $500,000 per month, paying its ex-CEO Boampong, $50,000 per month. Zoom out: The news has ignited discussions on board oversight for startups and ignited questions on how or if Boampong—who is accused of financial impropriety—is evading accountability for his actions. Get a working card from Moniepoint With the Moniepoint personal banking app, you get reliable payments every time and a card that always works. Enjoy seamless payments powered by the infrastructure that 1.5 million businesses trust. Download the app. Startups Co-founders of Bridge Network split up Image source: Tenor The founders of Barbados-based crypto startup Bridge Network have split up. Last week, TechCabal confirmed that founding director Kimberly Adams and COO Favour Uzoaru have left the company, leaving former CTO Samuel Eke as the new CEO. How the bridge broke: Founded in 2021 to help people move digital assets from one blockchain to another, Bridge Network raised $3.8 million from about 50 investors including the now-bankrupt FTX. Things began to fall apart when my brother Jaja as the company struggled to gain traction shortly after launch—it saw only 600–1000 transactions daily, one source confirmed. With the company’s struggles exacerbated by the bitcoin crash of late 2022, squabbles began to arise among the founders. While some sources claim that Adams and Uzoaru often discussed kicking Eke out, others sources claim that it was Uzoaru who wanted Adams out. The dispute escalated in December 2022 when Adams requested Uzoaru’s signature to revoke Eke’s access to the company. When Uzoaru declined—and informed Eke of Adams’ plan—Adams requested that both co-founders step down, and restricted their access to company tools which temporarily caused their platform, the Brigde app, to shut down. The co-founders also failed to reach an agreement on how much would be paid in severance. After a slew of letters to investors from both Adams and Uzoaru which saw Adams resigning in February 2023, investors began to lose confidence in the company and began asking for refunds. By April 2023, Uzoaru also left the company to focus on personal projects, leaving Eke as the CEO. Zoom out: According to new CEO Eke, the company has refunded all the investors who demanded refunds and is still operating even though the repayment of investors has left a hole in the company’s finances. The company’s domain name has, however, expired and its token BRDG was delisted from crypto exchange platform MEXC. Eke has, however, assured users that he’s speaking with potential investors to turn the situation around. Telecoms Telecoms: Telkom Kenya lost 1.6 million subscribers in one year GIF Source: Zikoko Memes Kenya’s SIM card crackdown is having adverse effects on its telecoms. Telkom reportedly lost 1.6 million subscribers in one year, according to a report by tech publication Business Daily. Per the report, Telkom had 2.25 million active Kenyan subscribers in June 2023, a 39% drop from March 2022’s 4.14 million subscribers. What went wrong? In April 2022, the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) began switching off inactive and irregularly registered SIM cards in the country. Per the CA, these SIM cards are used to perpetrate mobile money fraud, cybercrime and money laundering. The CAK had previously carried out similar exercises in 2012 and 2018. Its latest event was scheduled to turn off over 11.5 million improperly-registered SIM cards by October 2022. It is unclear whether this is the number of SIM cards that were deactivated, or if some Kenyans were
Read More- October 6 2023
Ghanaian fintech Dash shuts down after raising $86.1 milion in five years
Dash, the Ghanaian fintech has shuttered after a tumultuous run. The company did not achieve its vision to solve cross border payments for Africans by connecting mobile money wallets. Dash, the Ghanaian fintech company with a mission to connect mobile money wallets and bank accounts across Africa, has confirmed that it is shutting down operations. The startup’s closure was first reported by WeeTracker. Dash was founded in 2019 by Prince Boakye Boampong, and investors were excited by the problem the startup wanted to solve. Dash was working to ensure interoperability between mobile money wallets and bank accounts across Africa; its solution would have made sending money across Africa easy and efficient. The startup raised $86.1 million in five years and attracted big-name investors. It raised $32.8 million in a seed round—the second largest seed round for an African startup—in 2021. Insight Partners led the round and other investors, like Global Founders Capital, 4DX Ventures and ASK Capital, participated. It went on to raise additional funding with convertible notes and debt financing from October 2021 to 2022. In 2021, Dash began sharing eye-popping growth numbers. Per one publication, Dash claimed to have processed transactions worth $1 billion and said it had acquired a million users from Ghana, Nigeria and Kenya. Those numbers represented a 5x increase in its users in only five months. In February, at least two publications reported suspicions about Dash’s user numbers and metrics, and later that same month, Prince Boakye Boampong was suspended as CEO. Internal audits of Dash’s numbers proved that Boampong misrepresented and exaggerated user numbers. He was eventually fired and replaced by Kenneth Kinshua. New reporting suggests that the damage was already done by the time Kenneth Kinshua became CEO. The publication claimed that upon another audit of the company’s account, there was a shortfall of at least $25 million that was unaccounted for. With a reported burn rate of $500,000 per month and no revenue, Dash’s primary problem appeared to be its high overhead, as it had operations across five countries. As reported by WeeTracker, Boampong was earning $50,000 per month and allegedly diverted at least $8 million. There are claims that the money was used to buy property and luxury cars. Boampong has not spoken publicly about any of the allegations.
Read More- October 6 2023
Exclusive: Cofounders of FTX-backed Bridge Network split after power tussle
The three co-founders of web3 startup Bridge Network have split after a fight for control of the company. They raised over $3.8 million from several investors, including FTX. Two co-founders of Bridge Network, a web3 startup backed by FTX, have left the company after a management dispute. The conflict centred on control of the company and a disagreement over access to the company’s bank accounts. Kimberly Adams, the founding director, and Favour Uzoaru have left the startup, leaving Samuel Eke, the third co-founder and former chief technology officer, as the company’s CEO. Samuel laid off nearly two dozen employees shortly after becoming the company’s CEO. He moved operational funds to a new crypto wallet, which triggered an investigation by Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). “The EFCC investigated the matter and cleared me because the matter was civil and not criminal,” Samuel told TechCabal. He said the layoffs were necessary because the company ran out of cash. Kimberly and Favour declined to comment on the matter. Bridge Network was founded in 2021 after Kimberly shared the idea of a solution that would allow people to move digital assets from one blockchain to another with her co-founder, Favour. They connected on a forum discussion on the social audio platform Clubhouse. At the time, Favour was working at YC-backed fintech BuyPower and was reportedly looking to build his own tech startup. Two sources said Favour recruited Samuel, who could write code in Solidity—a programming language for developing blockchain applications. He also recruited a product designer to join the team. Together, the four-person team worked on the minimum viable product for Bridge Network. The Barbados-based startup raised over $3.8 million from FTX and around 50 other investors. Its primary product was Token Bridge, which enabled interoperability across various blockchain networks, allowing cryptocurrency users to transfer their digital assets seamlessly across networks. The startup was also developing NFT Bridge and Bridge Pay. NFT Bridge allows users transfer non-fungible tokens (NFTs) across blockchains while Bridge Pay is a multi-chain non-custodial payment tool that enables users to connect Web3 wallets to fiat virtual or physical debit cards to spend their assets in the real world. The payment solution was focused on emerging markets. Next Wave: Crypto’s quick-money promise for Africa is collapsing In an email seen by TechCabal, the company’s former chief operating officer called the dispute “a well-coordinated palace coup,” claiming that Kimberly tried to force him and Samuel out of the company. In February, Kimberly tweeted that she left the startup “due to the differences amongst the co-founders and myself on how the project should be run.” The use case for Bridge Networks is compelling. The company’s Token Bridge allows users to easily move one asset from one blockchain to another. This is increasingly important as the number of blockchain networks has grown into the thousands. Given how expensive it is to move assets across a blockchain, Bridge offered access to cheaper alternate blockchain networks. But the startup has struggled to gain traction. One source with knowledge of the company’s numbers said it averaged 1.3 million transactions in three months. “But when Bridge finally launched it, it only saw 600–1000 transactions daily,” the source told TechCabal. As the company struggled to gain traction, sources said Kimberly’s confidence in her team—which had grown to about 25 people—waned. According to one source who worked at the company, “She took a swipe, calling all employees ‘incompetent’ and not of great quality.” It’s unclear if her claims were true. While Samuel, the CTO, wrote in his public profile that he had years of experience working as a software engineer, he only spent four months working in a blockchain-related role before joining Bridge Network. According to the same sources, Favour and Kimberly occasionally discussed possibly replacing Samuel as the company experienced delays in developing other products, NFT Bridge and Bridge Pay. Another source close to Kimberly told TechCabal that it was Favour that Kim wanted out. “The only person who meaningfully contributed to the project was Samuel. The only thing Favour did was connect Kimberly to Samuel,” the source said. The dispute escalated in December 2022 when Kimberly requested Favour’s signature to revoke Samuel’s access to the company’s multi-signatory account, where the startup’s USDC assets were held. In an email to investors, Favour said he believed taking such action without first discussing it with Samuel was unfair, so he declined. He also told Samuel about the situation. Subsequently, Kimberly demanded that the two co-founders step down. In a letter to investors, Favour claimed she restricted him from accessing his work email and the company tools. She also removed Samuel’s AWS account from the backend, causing the Bridge app and website to go offline temporarily. In January 2023, Kimberly told at least one investor that she had asked one of the co-founders to step down to reduce the burn rate. At the time, the price of Bitcoin had fallen 75% from its all-time high in 2021, and Bridge Network’s notable investor, the cryptocurrency exchange FTX, had collapsed, dampening confidence in the crypto market. Kimberly told investors in an email seen by TechCabal, “This decision has caused a ripple effect which brings us to this point,” referring to the ensuing dispute between her and her co-founders. An investor who asked not to be named told TechCabal, “On the one hand, Favour was sending [investor] emails from [his personal email account] saying that Kimberly was trying to kick him and Samuel out. On the other hand, Kimberly told me that they were trying to strong-arm her out of the company.” Kimberly resigned from her position as director of Bridge on January 9 but reversed her decision the following day, citing concerns that her two cofounders could not deal with the pressure of running the business. One of her emails to investors read, “My co-founders have since spent over 100K USD of company funds on legal fees, something I did not approve. These proceedings have hurt our treasury but not my passion and
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- October 6 2023
Twiga confirms it’s in talks with Incentro Africa over $260k cloud bill
Twiga argues that the court case filed by Incentro was done in bad faith. However, it looks forward to settling the matter in a timely manner. Twiga has confirmed to TechCabal that it is in talks with Incentro Africa, a Google services reseller, to resolve their ongoing legal tussle. Twiga was taken to court by Incentro to recover a $261,878 debt. Incentro Africa asked the court to give a liquidation notice to Twiga if the debt remained unpaid. In this case, Incentro is owed money, and its request for liquidation from Twiga implies that Incentro has lost confidence in Twiga’s ability to repay and wants faster resolution. It may also be a strategic move to pressure Twiga into settling the debt and position Incentro as the first to receive payment from selling Twiga’s assets in case of liquidation. Twiga appealed the notice, arguing that Incentro’s court filing was in bad faith. The startup also confirmed that it is in talks with Google Ireland over the cloud service bill. While Twiga is disputing the amount it was billed, the company insists it’s in great financial health. Despite recent layoffs and overall business overhaul, it also disputed the amount and declared its financial health. Twiga objected to the liquidation demand, citing that it was made in bad faith. It is currently engaged in discussions with Google Ireland Limited, the primary provider of Google Cloud Services. “The Company (Twiga) disputes owing the amount of USD 261,878.75 as set out in the Statutory Demand the statutory demand, (which) is made in bad faith and with ulterior motives and in particular and attempt to compel the Company settle a disputed debt and the Company is solvent and still operational,” a court document seen by TechCabal stated. Twiga’s legal head, Daniel Ngugi said that any liquidation proceedings would harm the company’s reputation and trigger cross-default clauses with its lenders. “In the event Incentro Africa Limited is permitted to file and publish a liquidation petition, it will cause extreme damage and prejudice to the Company as a wrongful impression will be created to its employees, business partners, bankers, funding partners, creditors, the Kenya Revenue Authority, etc,” the countersuit argued. Per a person close to the matter, Twiga may have been battling cashflow issues. “It points to a cash flow problem,” a source told TechCabal. Cash flow problems in agro-tech firms like Twiga stem from the seasonal nature of business, which leads to uneven revenue streams and challenges in meeting vendor payment schedules. Have you got your tickets to TechCabal’s Moonshot Conference? Click here to do so now!
Read More- October 6 2023
Exclusive: VFD’s Nonso Okpala shares the firm’s investing thesis and plans ahead of NGX listing
VFD Group Plc will list its shares on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) this Friday. The company’s Group Managing Director/CEO, Nonso Okpala, spoke exclusively to TechCabal on the thinking behind the move. After securing regulatory approval, VFD Group Plc, a Lagos-based investment firm, will officially list its shares on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX). According to notes in its 2022 financial statements, VFD Group Plc first considered an NGX listing over a year ago; at the end of September, the company was delisted from the NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange. Nonso Okpala, the company’s Group Managing Director/CEO, told TechCabal that VFD was always prepared to list on a stock exchange from its creation 14 years ago. The company was started by 35 friends and associates who raised N2.4 million. “When you bring 35 people together, you need a level of governance that costs more than the initial investment. From the get-go, the core of our business is broad-based shareholding and the necessity of using governance. So we have always known we will get listed at a stock exchange,” Okpala said. VFD’s approach to investing focuses on long-term profitability and fundamentals. “We never play a valuation game, so we are never on to the hottest thing,” said Okpala. “We look at businesses that are focused on serving the needs of their sector. It is more about the sustainability of the businesses. We don’t want them to grow too fast but at their own pace.” “As an investment company, access to long-term and collaborative partnerships and visibility within the investment community is most important for us. The NGX is the only platform that you can do that in Nigeria,” said Okpala. In February 2022, VFD acquired a 5.2% stake in the NGX. Other portfolio companies include VBank, VerifyMe, and Piggyvest, where it holds a 12% stake. “Our business model is a long-term relationship with the businesses we invest in. If you put it in relationship terms, it is like a marriage. In the situations where divorces happen—we call them divestment—we make money regardless. We do not look for exits. The money we have invested is a long-term investment to the success of the business,” he added. A requirement for long-term investing is patient capital. “One key advantage about getting listed is gaining access to more funding and carrying out investment in different sectors, especially those you are precluded from as a non-listed company,” said Okpala. VFD’s funds under management currently stand at N55.7 billion. While the company declined to provide estimates and projections, it expects that figure to increase in the short to medium term following its listing. According to its half-year 2023 financial statements, VFD posted a profit-after-tax of N3.7 billion. The company announced plans to raise N32.5 billion via equity and debt in July after shareholders ratified the move. In the last decade, there has been an intentional effort to woo companies to list on the NGX; telco giants MTN and Airtel are currently listed. Despite this, the sense is that the NGX still has some way to go before it becomes the exchange of first choice for mature companies operating in Nigeria.
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- October 6 2023
TechCabal Daily – Zambia gets Starlink
In partnership with Share this newsletter: Lire en Français اقرأ هذا باللغة العربية TGIF We’re five days away from The Moonshot Conference where Africa’s most audacious thinkers and builders will share insights and celebrate innovation on the continent from October 11–12. Here are five of the Moonshot events I’m personally looking forward to: The Welcome Mixer on October 10 where we’ll get to network with 200 industry leaders. TC Battlefield on October 11 where African startups will pitch for $3,200. The future of content panel with Jola Ayeye, FK Abudu, and Koromone Asabe-Yobaere. How to build and monetise as a content Creator with Fisayo Fosudo, Adetutu Laditan, and Eniola Olanrewaju. The Keynote Speech by Nigeria’s minister of communications, innovation, and digital economy Bosun Tijani. Don’t miss out. Buy your tickets for Moonshot Conference here, and get a 25% discount with our Independence flash sales. In today’s edition Dangote backs $500 million Africa-focused fund Opay denies data privacy allegations Google selects 12 Africans startups for AI programme Zambia gets Starlink Funding Tracker The World Wide Web3 Job openings Funding Africa’s wealthiest man and US billionaire investors back $500 million Africa-focused fund Africa’s richest man: Aliko Dangote. Aliko Dangote, Africas richest man, has teamed up with US billionaire investors to back a $500 million Africa-focused fund. The investors, Alterra Capital Partners, an Africa-focused private equity firm, has ambitious plans to raise up to $500 million in the coming months and has already secured $140 million in its initial closing. Other investors: Alterra’s fund has also attracted investment from notable institutions including Standard Bank Group Ltd., International Finance Corp., Norfund AS, Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft GmbH, and Allianz SE’s AfricaGrow fund. The firm’s investment strategy is centred around critical sectors, including telecommunications, technology, logistics, healthcare, consumer services, and retail. Alterra Capital Partners, which assumed responsibility for Carlyle’s assets related to sub-Saharan Africa during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in mid-2020, is spearheaded by a team of seasoned investors who have achieved six successful company exits, returning $600 million to investors. Per Bloomberg, the firm has invested approximately $1 billion across 23 companies in Africa, indicating a significant track record in the region. Get a working card from Moniepoint With the Moniepoint personal banking app, you get reliable payments every time and a card that always works. Enjoy seamless payments powered by the infrastructure that 1.5 million businesses trust. Download the app. Fintech Opay deny claims of opening account for people without consent Gif Source: Tenor Chinese-backed fintech Opay has denied claims that it opened accounts for customers without their consent. The Nigerian fintech, on Tuesday, started an internal investigation on the matter. Zoom in: The allegation of these accounts began earlier this week when a user shared on X that he and other members of his family had Opay accounts without ever opening one. The tweet quickly went viral with more people claiming they also had already existing Opay accounts without their knowledge. Opay has, however, denied such allegations claiming that the complaints via social media have been checked and resolved. “It is also important to note that OPay has never created nor does it operate any account on behalf of any individual,” OPay said in its statement to TechCabal. One theory is that users might have had these accounts through OPay former superapp offerings—ORide, OFood or OKash—which were powered by the Opay wallet. However, several users insist they never used any of those services. Zoom out: The Nigerian consumer protection body is currently investigating the case of these phantom accounts and requires Opay to provide explanations for the phantom accounts 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. Innovation Google unveils startups for its Africa AI First accelerator programme The 11 African Startups for the inaugural Google Africa AI First Accelerator programme Google has introduced its inaugural Africa AI First accelerator programme. According to Google, eleven startups were selected to address Africa’s challenges and broader global issues. These startups will undergo a 10-week accelerator journey, gaining access to Google’s AI expertise, receiving $350,000 in Google Cloud Credits, benefiting from mentorship, technical guidance, and extensive networking opportunities. The selected startups are; Avalon Health (South Africa), Chatbots Africa (Ghana), Dial Afrika Inc (Kenya), Famasi Africa (Nigeria), Fastagger Inc (Kenya), Garri Logistics (Ethiopia), Izifin (Nigeria), Lengo AI (Senegal), Logistify AI (Uganda), Telliscope (Ethiopia) and Vzy (Nigeria). Zoom out: Google’s support for African startups dates back to 2017, and the company has collectively helped raise $263 million and create over 2,800 job opportunities. Internet Starlink is live in Zambia Image source: Telecom Review Africa Zambia has become the latest to join a growing queue of countries with access to Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite-based internet service. Starlink got its operating licence for Zambia in June. Paratus Zambia, a telecom operator, will handle its distribution in the country. Per Starlink’s website, it costs 10,744 Zambian kwacha ($505) for Starlink’s hardware, and 507 Zambian kwacha ($24) for the monthly subscription. Zambians will enjoy download speeds of up to 120mb/s on the internet service. Since its launch on the continent in January, Starlink has expanded to 6 African countries—Mozambique, Rwanda, Mauritius, Sierra Leone and Nigeria—with Zambia being the latest addition. However, Africa’s largest internet-consuming nation, South Africa is yet to join this list. ICYMI: Starlink’s launch in South Africa has been stalled due to the internet provider’s refusal to give up a 30% stake of its equity to the country. In a bid to a get the licence required to run in the country, Starlink requires a IECS and IECNS licence which requires that it gives up 30% of its equity to a “historically disadvantaged group”. Zoom out: Starlink’s launch in Zambia scores a win for the service adoption on the continent as it has faced several regulatory hurdles. The service is set to launch in 19 more African
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- October 5 2023
Starlink goes live in Zambia
The country becomes the sixth in Africa to have access to the service. Starlink has officially launched in Zambia today, October 5. The company initially engaged with the country’s government in September 2022, and following a year of ticking off regulatory and technical boxes, it has gone live. The service got its operating licence in June, and its distribution in the country will be handled by Paratus Zambia. “Starlink is now live in Zambia,” tweeted the country’s president Hakainde Hichilema. “Access to technology and information is no longer a luxury for our people. A great step, as we work towards affordable digital access for all.” According to the Starlink website, the service will cost 10,744 Zambian kwacha ($505) for the hardware and 507 Zambian kwacha ($24) for the monthly subscription. Data by UK research firm Cable shows that Zambia has the fourth most expensive data prices in Africa. On average Zambia’s data was priced at US$8.01 for one gigabyte, with the cheapest pegged at US$0.45, while the most expensive one was at US$45.33. Zambia becomes the sixth African country that Starlink has launched in. The others are Mozambique, Rwanda, Mauritius, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. In Zimbabwe, the government has announced that it is in the process of vetting the company’s application for an operating license. Zimbabwe confirms Starlink has applied for operating licence Despite making strides on the continent, the service is still facing pushback in South Africa where its importation and usage have been banned. According to the country’s competition regulations, the service’s South Africa subsidiary must allocate 30% ownership to historically disadvantaged groups, a provision the company seems to be pushing back against. Have you got your tickets to TechCabal’s Moonshot Conference? Click here to do so now!
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- October 5 2023
How startups are trying to address SA’s healthcare access gap
Healthcare startups in South Africa are playing their part in helping to address the inequality in the country’s healthcare sector. As the world’s most unequal country, South Africa’s lopsided wealth distribution has created a two-tiered healthcare system whose inequality mirrors that of apartheid, a system supposedly replaced by democracy 29 years ago. On the one hand, there is a mostly dilapidated public healthcare system servicing 85% of the population, and on the other hand is a world-class private healthcare system which ranks as the best on the continent. To access efficient healthcare in private institutions, employed middle-class South Africans rely on medical aid schemes which subsidise around 90% of medical expenses. Despite this advantage, medical aid costs have surged in South Africa over the years, with coverage now costing an average of over R2,000 ($102). This has forced more people into the public healthcare system which already services unemployed inhabitants who make up 33% of the country’s population. Additionally, it is characterised by understaffing, dilapidated infrastructure, and constant medical supplies shortages. In June, South Africa’s national assembly passed the National Health Insurance (NHI) act which seeks to provide universal access to quality healthcare in the country. However, according to academics, until the NHI gets to a point where it can fulfil its mandate, technology innovators still have a large role to play in plugging the current gap. “Healthcare and services promoting health as a resource in South Africa are ripe for systemic innovation that capitalises on resource scarcity,” writes Katusha de Villiers, senior project manager at Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship. “The work of social innovation provides an opportunity to develop transformative and systemic solutions that move the system as a whole closer to achieving health equity.” To that end, there are numerous startups in the country, which are innovating for healthcare equity in the southern Africa nation. Role of startups in the quest for healthcare equity One of those startups is Welo Health founded by Zanele Matome in 2020, which offers on-demand health services by connecting healthcare providers with patients via a model Matome refers to as “Uber for health.” “Our core product comprises a B2B model which allows employees who are sick at home to use our app to match with a nurse,” Matome told TechCabal. “The nurse can choose to accept the appointment and attend to the patient, after which they upload information on their dashboard which is shared with patient and insurer.” To accommodate unemployed and uninsured South Africans, the company had a B2C product which enabled delivery of medication to users. According to Matome, the service brought much needed convenience and dignity to users of the public healthcare system, but as the company pivoted to a B2B model, it slowed its focus on the product. However, after realising the need of such a service, especially in underprivileged communities, the company will be doubling down on the product after it raises its Series A round. “For people who use public healthcare facilities, you have to wake up at 5 a.m. to queue at the clinic and have nurses shouting at you the whole day. There’s no dignity in the whole process,” she said. “ So this product addresses that pain point by offering delivery services on behalf of users. It is already live for our B2B clients, but after we secure funding we will also roll it out again to the B2C market.” The company, which has so far raised $72,000 in grant funding from AlphaCode Incubate and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation-backed Investing in Innovation Africa (i3) initiative, claims that its B2B product offering bring in over R500,000 ($27,000) of monthly recurring revenue. As the company looks to relaunch the B2C offering amidst a significant demand, they will be hoping to see how much its social impact will contribute to the company’s bottomline. Pocket Couch is another healthtech startup addressing the need for equitable access to healthcare in South Africa. Founded in 2019 by Onkgopotse Khumalo, the company enables users to better manage their mental health. Via a mobile app, users can access therapists and mental health care experts, screening, and tracking tools as well as content specific to whatever kind of support the user might be looking for. “The whole idea started with the intention of making mental health care as accessible as possible, especially in communities where accessibility is hard,” Khumalo told TechCabal. “ We address the issues of cost, convenience and removal of stigma around mental health.” Although Pocket Couch mainly works with enterprise clients to provide its services to their employees, it appreciates its role in catering for the rest of the population. To that end, it is engaged in various ways to ensure accessibility to mental health services in a country where 30% of the population has experienced a mental disorder in their lifetime. One of those ways is engaging in advocacy work to urge the government to contribute more towards mental healthcare in the country. According to data by the National Health Institute, the South African government spends only 5% of its healthcare budget on mental healthcare projects. This comes down to $140 dollars per capita of the uninsured population in a year. In comparison, the healthcare spend in the private sector is $1,400 per capita annually, a 900% difference. “The government’s spend on mental healthcare is low compared to the vastness of the problem so we are actively engaged in policy advocacy which we hope will pave the way for efficient legislation,” Khumalo added. Additionally, the startup is increasing the participation of social workers and community-based leaders in administering care. According to Khumalo, this helps reduce the cost of administrative care which will widen the net of people able to access their services. Women’s healthcare is another area rife with access inequalities in South Africa. According to data from Statistics South Africa, only 18% of women have medical aid to access healthcare services they cannot find in public facilities. Additionally, women of colour in
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- October 5 2023
The leading African tech moves from September 2023
1. Funding: Q3 brings in the lowest funding of the year In September 2023, 22 African tech startups raised $116.7 million across 22 fully disclosed* raises. Compared to August 2023’s $243.7 million total raise, this represents a 52.11% decrease. This also represents a significant YoY decrease—about 69.6%—from September 2022 when African startups raised $383.4 million. With this, September marks the month with the second-lowest funding following March’s $66 million raise. In total, Q3 saw African startups raise $492.6 million across 67 fully disclosed deals. It’s a decline from Q2’s $877 million total raise, and an even sharper drop from Q1’s $1.3 billion. So far, African startups have raised $2.57 billion. Per region, Southern African startups made a surprising appearance in first place with $69 million in raises, about 59.1% of the total funding. This is mostly led by energy startup Wetility’s $48 million raise. West Africa comes second with $26.1 million, East Africa with $20.2 million, and North Africa with $1.4 million. Image source: Timi Odueso/TechCabal Per sector, the top three sectors for September 2023 are energy with $60 million (51.41%)—led by the Wetility raise and Kenya’s SunCulture’s $12 million raise, fintech with $27.5 million (23.56%), and retail/e-commerce with $11.6 million (9.94%). Image source: Timi Odueso/TechCabal The top five disclosed deals of the month are: South African energy startup Wetility’s $48 million debt and equity round. Kenyan energy startup SunCulture’s $12 million syndicated debt facility. Ghanaian agritech Complete Farmer’s 10.4 million pre-Series A round. Zambian fintech Lupiya’s $8.25 million Series A funding. South African retail startup Rentoza’s $6 million raise. *Note: This data is inclusive only of funding deals announced in September 2023. Raises are often announced later than when the deals are actually made. This data also excludes estimated grants from accelerators. 2. Investments: Enza Capital launches a $58 million fund In September, Kenyan-based venture firm, Enza Capital, raised $58 million to support startups on the continent. The VC company, which invests from first cheque, is also kickstarting a new shared ownership model that allows startup founders the ability to own part of the firm. Enza capital has allocated 10% of its carry pool to founders. Another VC firm, P1 Ventures, also closed a $25 million fund which it plans to invest in African businesses across fintech, SaaS, AI and healthtech ventures. 3. M&As: Risevest acquires Chaka, WhoGoHost acquires SendChamp Q3 also ended with a few acquisitions. First, earlier in the month, Nigerian cloud infrastructure company WhoGoHost acquired SendChamp, a cloud communications startup, for an undisclosed amount. Much later, Nigerian trading startup Risevest announced its acquisition of digital trading startup Chaka for an undisclosed sum. 4. Shutdowns: 54gene shuts down Last month, TechCabal also confirmed that Nigerian genomics startup 54gene is shutting down. The news was confirmed by ex-CEO Ron Chiarello. The startup, which raised $54 million since its founding in 2019, struggles through several leadership changes and impulsive spending habits. Meanwhile, founder and ex-CEO Dr. Abasi Ene-Onong launched a new genomics startup, Syndicate Bio, in the same month. 5. Sendy goes into administration, PayDay searches for a buyer September saw Kenyan logistics startup Sendy enter into administration—an independent person, Peter Kahi, will take control of the company until it can resolve its financial crisis. This comes after the company, which was reportedly burning $1 million per month in operating costs, failed to find a buyer. Meanwhile, Nigerian fintech startup PayDay also confirmed its search for a buyer in September. The company, which raised $3 million in March 2023, faced a series of challenges including contentious salary increases, impulsive management choices and faulty infrastructure. 6. Economy: Kenya joins PAPSS In September, Kenya became the tenth African country to join the Pan-African Payments and Settlement System (PAPSS). Trade secretary Moses Kuria made the announcement noting that the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) had signed the agreement and completed all the necessary formalities. So far, the service—which is used by nine central banks—has reportedly saved African companies $5 billion in transaction charges. 7. Layoffs: mPharma lays off 150 staff One year on, and layoffs are still occurring in the tech space. In September, Ghanaian healthtech mPharma announced that it had laid off 150 employees—including 40 from its Nigerian team. Per CEO Gregory Rockson, the layoff are—unsurprisingly—due “macroeconomic conditions driven by the devaluation of the naira”. This comes 19 months after the startup raised $35 million in a Series D round. 8. Economy: Sama to provide 2,100 Kenyans with AI jobs Months after Meta cut ties with it, Kenyan content moderation firm Sama is taking a new turn. In September, the company announced a pivot from content moderation into artificial intelligence (AI). Per Kenya’s cabinet trade secretary Moses Kuria, the company was set to hire 2,100 Kenyans to work in several AI-focused teams including machine learning, and business process outsourcing (BPO). 9. Social Media: Kenya is still going after TikTok While Sama might not be interested in moderating content anymore, several other Kenyan players are. September saw Kenyan officials with a renewed drive to ban TikTok…or at least parts of it. The Kenyan Film Classification Board (KFCB) reportedly requested that TikTok disable its Live feature in the country in a meeting with TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew. The meeting was held with the Kenyan president to discuss a petition to ban TikTok earlier received by the Kenyan Parliament. Meanwhile, similar petitions to ban TikTok have surfaced in Uganda and Egypt. 10. Global News: TikTok fined $370 million in the EU Looks like the social media company is fighting fires everywhere. In the European Union, TikTok was fined €345 million ($370 million) for violating privacy laws relating to the processing of children’s personal data. Per Ireland’s Data Protection Commissioner, TikTok committed a number of breaches between July and December 2020 including non-verification of age for underage users, and setting visibility for under-16 accounts to “public” by default. Have you got your tickets to TechCabal’s Moonshot Conference? Click here to do so now!
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