- October 13 2023
Logistics company, truQ bags ₦2.5 million as TC Startup Battlefield winner
truQ, a logistics startup, has emerged winner of the debut TC Startup Battlefield, pitching against eight other startups at the just concluded Moonshot Conference by TechCabal. TruQ, a logistics startup streamlining mid-mile logistics across Africa, has won the TC Startup Battlefield competition. The startup clinched the ₦2.5 million cash prize ahead of nine other competitors. Jamit, a social audio network, emerged as runner-up, walking home with ₦1.5 million. The competition was held at the just concluded flagship Moonshot Conference by TechCabal. TC Battlefield competition is dedicated to showcasing local startups’ innovations to a global audience. The maiden edition featured only Nigerian startups which include: Flickwheel, an auto tech startup; Stackjunior, an edtech platform; Powerful Technology Limited; Royalty.io, a music cataloguing startup; Jamit, a social audio network; Payslice, a fintech startup; Fless, a money management platform for small business owners; Belarush, a food delivery startup; TruQ a logistics startup; and Deepbux, a growth-as-a-startup service. The competition was judged by Hope Dilthakanyane, investment principal at Founders Factory Africa—who also chaired the panel; Nela Ekpenyong, head of portfolio, Ingressive Capital; Uwem Uwemakpan, head of investments, Launch Africa VC Fund II; and Gloria Okorie, venture partner at Republic. Speaking on the win, Williams Fatayo, CEO of TruQ, said the win is a validation of the work that the startup is doing. This is not TruQ’s first rodeo; the startup was a recipient of the 2023 Google Black Founders Fund. The startup was also part of the Techstars 2022 accelerator cohort, and the V8 Growth Labs. According to Fatayo, TruQ’s win coincided with the startups seed raise which will be announced in the coming days. Jamit’s co-founder and CEO, Ike Orizu, is proud of the company’s win, which he sees as a confirmation of the team’s hard work and commitment to excellence. In an interview with TechCabal, Orizu noted that the money will be reinvested into the company. Beyond the cash prize, Orizu asserts that Jamit has gained increased global recognition and publicity with both local and international audiences. Launched in 2018 by Stan Agbadugo and Ike Orizu, Jamit is styled as “the African podcaster’s platform, built with love from Africa, for African podcast listeners and creators”. The startup released its first podcast in 2019, proceeding into podcast production and distribution, and became a podcast platform in 2020. According to Orizu, the startup has over 170 creators on its platform at the moment and has partnered with global giants, Dolby and Sony.
Read More- October 13 2023
How MTN aims to revolutionise SA fintech with MoMo 2.0
MTN South Africa’s chief financial services officer Bradwin Roper speaks on the recently launched MTN MoMo 2.0 platform. Two weeks ago, MTN South Africa announced a slew of products on its mobile money (MoMo) super app. Some of the services unveiled include MoMo Business Wallet, which will enable businesses to receive payments in real-time with no transaction fees. MoMo Eazi, a more consumer-facing product, enables users to make payments. Another product launched was International Remittances which will allow foreign nationals in South Africa and local residents to send money across 12 African countries without any data charges. MoMo also launched a point-of-sale device to take card payments from customers as well as a life insurance package. With these products, MoMo continues to double down on the South African market which it returned to in 2020 following a three-year hiatus. Currently, the service claims to have 9 million subscribers and has an outlined goal of “becoming one of South Africa’s premier financial services platforms”. To get a deeper understanding of the rationale for the launch of such an extensive suite of products, TechCabal spoke to Bradwin Roper, chief financial services officer at MTN South Africa. In the interview, Roper touches on why MoMo returned to South Africa after a three-year hiatus, the super app route was chosen for the new iteration of MoMo, as well as the future of the product in the southern African nation. Why were the new products launched in super-app format as opposed to launching them individually? Bradwin Roper: We want to offer convenience and access to products and services like no one else. Technically, I think every major company with a major fintech product has essentially the same strategy. We looked at the industry verticals and the industry opportunities and tried to solve them at a client level. So we look at the client and we say from when you kick start your day, commute to work, etcetera, how can we help you throughout the day and offer convenience? So we wanted to offer convenience on the mobile platform like never before. We wanted clients to have access to their wallets, payments, insurtech services, all in one place. Also, it makes sense to keep the features and benefits in sort of one app for customers to understand them. Additionally, from a digital and financial literacy perspective, it also makes sense that we aren’t siloed and we’re doing everything in one place. So if we can, for example, entice you and get you interested in prepaid funeral cover, you will get comfortable and recognise another product from the app to add to your list. A super app packs a very simplistic user journey and convenience for consumers. We will continue to innovate and add more features and benefits to it but in all honesty, we are not really chasing super app status but just convenience for our customers. Do you think that being within MTN, which is the second mobile network operator in SA, will help with the adoption of the product? BR: Yes, because we have the benefit of being a FinTech inside an incredible organisation. So, if you look at the accolades that MTN Group has achieved at the continental level, it is very impressive. It is a known brand which comes with a level of trust and sophistication. The group has always stood for digitisation as evidenced by what it has done in fintech across the continent where it has products which have tens of millions of customers. So for us as the SA team, it is great to solve problems within such an organisation and have a user base that is already familiar with the company’s vision. How do you plan to attract and retain customers within the product? BR: The level of sophistication that we have brought to the market with this launch signals to the market and customers that we will continue to look for opportunities where we believe customers are being exploited. So, for example, with the Business Wallet product, zero fees means that as a customer, when you transact R100, it remains R100. So, we will continue to look for opportunities where we can add value for customers. As MTN, we strive for shared value. Wherever we can leverage technology and digitisation to unlock shared value and create shared prosperity for our customers, that’s what we will be doing. We don’t really look much at the competition, but rather, we look at the industry and realise, for example, that less than 4% of people have insurance in the country. Then we ask ourselves, what’s the thing holding people back from actually getting insurance? Well, it’s a debit order. And, also, it’s the fact that I need to pay R55 until the day I die to be able to qualify for insurance. So then we go, how do we out-engineer that? And how do we say to citizens, “Hey, you can get insured, but you pay once from a mobile wallet, and by doing so, you’re going to save more than half what you would if it was running off a debit order?” So, in short, we will continue to scour the market for opportunities where we truly believe that customers can save. And in so doing, that’s how we’re going to continuously drive adoption. Where we believe we’re going to win is by creating shared value, but also really being revolutionary in terms of client experience and addressing the questions of clients’ needs and how we can use technology to innovate and solve those needs like never before. As the platform grows, will you build more in-house or consider some M&A deals and collaborations with startups along the way? BR: Because we want to solve for customers, we’re always going to be seeking for the best way to go about this. Do we build or buy or partner? I’ll give you an example. The remittance product that we launched was done with a South African called ClickSendNow. So
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- October 13 2023
What Kippa’s Kennedy Ekezie has learnt about building a fast-growing startup at 25
After moving back to Nigeria from Beijing in 2020, 23-year-old Kennedy Ekezie-Joseph and his brother, Duke, knew that they wanted to start a company. For seven months, they worked on building a software recruiting startup, which was profitable but did not grow as fast as the brothers wanted. This pushed them to think of another idea that was more tailored to the local market in Nigeria, and after two months of interacting with small business owners across the country, Kippa was born. Kippa is a fintech startup that’s revolutionising bookkeeping and digital payments for small businesses in Nigeria. In under two years, the startup has secured over $10 million from global fintech investors and has a workforce of 50. In an interview with TechCabal, Kippa’s co-founder and CEO, Kennedy Ekezie-Joseph shares what he’s learned building a startup in his early twenties as well as how he ensures the company grows fast to accommodate their over 500,000 small business owners. What are some things you’ve learned about building a bookkeeping and finance app? Kennedy Ekezie-Joseph: One thing I learned was that all solutions have to be tailored towards the pain points of the target audience. In our case, the small business owners. Psychographically, small businesses want to make more money, and they want to keep as much of that money in their pockets for as long as possible. This means that whatever solutions you’re building for them have to very directly address one of the pain points that affect their ability to do that. We also learned that imported solutions do not work. You cannot convince businesses that they need a solution that they are not convinced that they need, which has been an incredible pain point for us because there’s always a risk when building software and replicating a playbook. There’s the tendency to over-index on your playbook to the point where you lose touch with your customers and what their needs are. That is something important that we’ve learned so far. Are there other things that you’ve learned about building a startup and working with teams? KE: A big lesson we learned while building Kippa was definitely to not scale your team too early. You need to have very few people who are very hard-working and can take on multiple roles and multiple hats. Another lesson we learned was avoiding the temptation to throw money at problems. If you’re in a position where you can afford to throw money at problems, you have a quality problem, because most people don’t have the money to solve their problems, but it’s still not always the best solution. Kippa has seen rapid growth since its launch in 2021. What are certain things you think have contributed to this growth? KE: I think it’s mainly because we are building in one of the very few segments on the continent where rapid growth is possible. For the longest time, small businesses have not had anyone deeply building for these particular problems that they have, and so there’s ample opportunity to scale. Another reason is that as a startup, we move fast. It’s one of our ethos internally, and it’s always when I speak to people outside of my company that I realise how fast we move. It doesn’t always feel that way, but when I zoom out enough, I’m really able to understand how quickly we move from building products to shipping products which I think comes from how impatient leadership is. Why should we take 10 days to do what we can do in two days? We are very clear with deadlines and timelines internally, and there’s no task that is allocated without the person allocating the task issuing a hard deadline. That’s a muscle we spent time building, and we’ll continue to build. I think all of those micro things help us on the macro scale to move very quickly and experience the sort of growth that we’re seeing. Kennedy Ekezie What’s the team at Kippa like? KE: We’re a team that’s not afraid to have hard conversations. When we realise we’ve made bad decisions, which we’ve made in spades, we correct them very transparently. There is no one who is above correction, not me, not my co-founder, and definitely not any senior member of the team. I think that building and embedding that sort of culture in the team is also responsible for the growth that we’ve seen so far. Culture-wise, we’re not the sort of team where you come and find folks making TikToks at the office, or hugging each other and laughing with each other; not that anything is wrong with that. We run our business like it’s serious. We know that the work we’ve signed up for is a very hard task, and if we’re going to succeed, then we have to burn all cylinders. We can’t let anything slip through the cracks. Are you bothered by the funding winter that’s affecting some startups currently? KE: Yes, we are. We cannot afford to not be bothered about it, because that would be irresponsible. Our sector is also one that’s very capital-intensive, and so you actually do need capital to grow. Fortunately, we have a great team of investors behind us, and we are in a position where we can afford to put our heads down and focus on product building. However, we’re always paying attention and consistently monitoring how the market evolves. Beyond Kippa, what makes this path of helping SMEs scale important to you? KE: Even before Kippa, everything I’ve done has been very Africa-centric. I’d describe my personal mission as one that involves creating economic prosperity for Africa, and when we look at the stats, small businesses contribute to 60% of Africa’s GDP. SMEs employ about 84% of the total labour force and 96% of all businesses in Africa are small businesses. So economic prosperity for Africa is impossible if small businesses cannot grow sustainably and profitably. For me, Kippa was just a logical next
Read More- October 13 2023
Northflix is taking the Hausa film industry global
Viewers from about 100 countries can easily access Hausa films and shows on Northflix, a platform exclusively for streaming Hausa films. As the world slowly moves from TV to streaming platforms, Kannywood has been left behind as the industry does not have the necessary funding and talent to create films and shows that match the quality requirements of global platforms like Netflix or Prime Video. This has led to a big gap as Kannywood films have been left out of the streaming revolution, depriving producers of a wider, more global audience. At an event in Kano, where he was invited to give a lecture to graduates, businessman Jamilu Abdussalam had a conversation with veteran actor Ali Nuhu, where the actor mentioned the distribution problems wrecking the Hausa film industry. The desire to solve it pushed Abdussalam to create a streaming platform, Northflix, that offered a wide variety of Hausa films to people across the globe. What has the reception to Northflix been like? JA: We’re growing really fast. In the past five years, we’ve achieved over 100,000 subscribers from all around the world. When we started, we thought only people in Nigeria would watch content on our platform, but to our surprise, we have subscribers from close to 100 countries. People from Greece and Finland watch content on Northflix, and that’s a great thing. We’ve been featured on CNN and BBC as well, which I believe speaks volumes about how far we’ve come. What’s the relationship between Northflix and Kannywood like? JA: The relationship has evolved over time. When we started, we used to rent films on our platforms and split the revenue with producers. After about a year, we started to acquire the content licence from producers. So, we’re buying the licence that gives us the rights to be the exclusive streaming platform, but they can take the [same] films to TV stations. This relationship is the basis for our business. We came in for three purposes. One is to control the piracy problem in the industry. Secondly, we want to provide access to a distribution channel where people across the globe can have real-time access to the content. Lastly, we wanted to improve the quality of the films Kannywood produces. How do you navigate finding quality content for your platform? JA: One of the most challenging things we experienced was selecting the films to be streamed on our platform. There was a need for better-produced content and better stories if we wanted to appeal to a more global audience. People watch movies of a certain quality on platforms like Showmax, and you can’t expect them to go from that to low-quality content. We had to step up and be more deliberate about the kind of stories we tell and the quality of content available on the platform, which meant being more choosy with films and insisting that producers put in more effort. What we do to improve the quality of the content being produced in the industry is to join the production team or produce original content for our platform. Right now, we have over ten projects that have been scripted and they range from feature-length films to documentaries and even TV series. So far, we’ve produced only one TV series called Zaure (The Corridor) to test the market, and it’s doing well. Another challenge we struggled with was piracy but I’m glad to say that we’ve solved that. We’ve enabled technology that makes it impossible to record movies directly from our website which has greatly reduced the rate of piracy. What are some challenges that you’ve encountered so far? JA: As with every business, a challenge I’ve experienced is funding. With investors from the Northern part of the country where I’m from, it’s hard to sell them the idea of a streaming platform as a viable business opportunity. They’re used to traditional business ventures so telling them about subscribers and how they can yield revenue is not what they understand or want to hear. On the other hand, investors from other parts of the country or world do not understand why we’re exclusively a Kannywood streaming platform. We always get questions like “Why not include other Nollywood or Bollywood films?” or “What’s so special about the northern entertainment industry?” What’s so special about the northern entertainment industry? JA: I did not build Northflix just because I’m a Northerner. The reason I started Northflix is because Kannywood is a niche market with a lot of opportunities. There are over 200 million Hausa speakers around the world, which is a lot, and creating quality content in Hausa for these people is a great business opportunity. What are the next steps for Northflix? JA: We look forward to being listed as an IPO company and selling shares to the wider public, that’s our dream. We want to make Northflix bigger and create content of higher quality content that can compete with content from global streaming platforms. People watch Indian and Korean movies even when they don’t understand the language, and this is what we want for Hausa films and shows.
Read More- October 13 2023
Charting the way forward for logistics in Africa
Logistics is fragmented in Africa, but an all-around approach can solve the problems. Solving the problem of logistics for the African market is critical. Africa is still heavily reliant on roads which accounts for 80% of the movement of goods and passengers, according to the African Development Bank. Of that 80%, only 15% is paved in Nigeria, per this Stears report. On another hand, investment in logistics startups on the continent is not as easy as it seems. Ciku Mugambi, CEO of Kobo360, a Nigerian logistics startup, admitted that operating a logistic business in Africa is not “sexy” compared to other tech sectors like fintech, for instance. Mugambi said this during a panel session at TechCabal’s flagship conference, Moonshot, on Thursday, October 12. “We are literally just moving goods and people from one place to another and most people don’t find that to be very exciting. There is no doubt about how important logistics is. Nothing goes anywhere except we provide the means for that to happen,” Mugambi said. The inevitability of finance Very closely associated with the logistics business is the consistent need for finance. Mugambi said this is inevitable because the business deals with micro-fleet owners who need to get paid before they run their next trip. “For us to mobilise as many transporters to guarantee reliable supply to our enterprise clients, we need that velocity to be happening faster. Because our bank won’t extend purchase orders financing, we have to bridge that gap,” she explained. Another panellist, Miishe Addy, co-founder and CEO, Jetstream Africa, shares a similar view. Addy insisted that truck drivers should not be given loans to fulfil orders without any assets. She explained that unsecured loans can lead to loss of one’s investment in the business. “If lenders don’t have a security interest in a cargo, you are at a loss,” she said. Her argument is simple: no logistics company should give free money away. If credit is provided, it would have to be on top of the asset to mitigate against any form of default from the fleet owners. Solving the problem a step at a time Lack of finance is just one portion of the many issues that logistics companies face. Many logistic startups have to decide whether to own their own fleet or have another firm fulfil those orders. For investors, how these companies manage this aspect is top of mind at all times and the determinant factor for any investment. On the other hand, it is a challenge coordinating drivers of these trucks or e-hailing drivers in the mobility sector who battle fuel hikes, asset maintenance and poor road systems. Mugambi is positive about the outlook for logistics despite the fact that the sector is “highly fragmented, opaque and informal”. She admits that the business requires investors who are familiar with devaluation amidst the other economic situations plaguing the continent. “If I show my numbers when the naira was at ₦450 and now it’s ₦750, you are not asking what happened. Also, it requires investors who are in it for the long haul and a specific kind of capital attached to it,” she said. Another panellist, Onyeka Nduka, head of growth and marketing at Haul247, said it is time to activate the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement and get government buy-in on road maintenance. “We need more financing and structure for the businesses to have access. I believe that private-public sector partnership will drive that, and it makes projects more efficient,” she added.
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- October 13 2023
All important MTN USSD codes in South Africa 2023
Mobile network USSD codes, dialed directly from your mobile device, grant instant access to various services and information, simplifying the way users interact with their accounts. MTN is one of the most used mobile networks in South Africa. As such, we will provide you with a comprehensive list of essential MTN South Africa USSD codes, empowering you to manage your account, purchase services, and stay connected effortlessly. Here are some essential USSD for MTN South Africa: 1. MTN balance check USSD code Dial *136# to check your account balance. 2. Recharge airtime Dial *136*PIN# to recharge your airtime with a PIN. 3. Buy data bundles Dial *136*2# to purchase data bundles. 4. Check data balance Dial *136# to check your data balance. 5. Airtime transfer Dial *136*6328*(recipient number you’re sending airtime to)*(value of airtime)# to transfer airtime. 6. Check your phone number Dial *123*888# to retrieve your MTN phone number. 7. Check Voicemail Dial 132 to check your voicemail. 8. CallBack Dial *121*Recipient’s Number# to send a CallBack request. 9. Activate data roaming Dial *135# to activate data roaming services. 10. Customer Care Dial 135 for MTN customer care. 11. Buy Airtime/Data with recharge voucher Dial *136*10# and follow the prompts to load a recharge voucher. 12. Check MTN USSD codes To check for major USSD codes, simply dial *130*0#. 13 Detailed balance MTN USSD codes For comprehensive balance (data and airtime) dial *136*1# 14. MTN call diversion USSD codes Dial **61*the number to divert to#. 15. Call diversion cancellation Dial ##61#, and you’re good. 16. Cancel your data purchase Simply dial *136*5# to cancel your data subscription. 17. Find your IMEI number You can check your IMEI with the USSD code *#06#, regardless of what network you use. 18. International calling rates Dial the code *135*2# to check the rates. 19. International voicemail retrieval To retrieve an international voicemail, just dial *135# from youR line. 20. Manage subscriptions Manage your MTN subscriptions with the *136*5# . 21. Check prepaid roaming balance To check your prepaid roaming balance on MTN, dial the USSD code – *141#. 22. View prepaid roaming rates Dial *111*1#. 23. Pay4Me Access the MTN Pay4Me service with the USSD code *127*number#. 24. Device setup Dial *123# for your device setup prompts. 25. Compare and change price plans Dial *136*4#. 26. Recharge MTN via Absa Dial *120*2272#. 27. Recharge MTN via Capitec Dial *120*3279#. 28. USSD codes to recharge MTN via FNB Fial *120*321#. 29. USSD codes to recharge MTN via Nedbank Dial *120*001#. 30. USSD codes to recharge MTN via Standard Bank Dial *120*2345#. 31. MTN USSD to cancel an SMS Dial *136*5#. 32. MTN SMS roaming USSD Dial *135*14#. Final thoughts on MTN USSD codes Please note that USSD and services may change over time, such change happened recently in Nigeria. so it’s a good idea to double-check with MTN or visit their official website for the most up-to-date information.
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- October 13 2023
Latest on how to apply for UIF in South Africa 2023
The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) in South Africa provides financial support to individuals who find themselves unemployed due to various reasons. Whether you’ve recently lost your job or you’re a new parent, understanding how to apply for UIF can be invaluable during these challenging times. Here we highlight the process of applying for UIF in South Africa. 1. Check eligibility requirements Before you apply for UIF, it’s essential to ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria. Typically, South African citizens and permanent residents who have been contributing to the UIF are eligible. Additionally, individuals who are on maternity leave or parental leave may also qualify. If you’re eligible, proceed to the website to register online by following the prompts. If you will be going to a physical office, then you can continue reading. 2. Necessary documents To begin your application, you will need several documents, including your South African ID, a completed UI-2.8 form, and a pink copy of your unemployment book. Ensure that you have these documents ready as they are essential for processing your application. 3. Register as a jobseeker Visit your nearest Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) office or the nearest labour centre. Inform the officials that you would like to apply for UIF benefits. You’ll need to register as a jobseeker by filling out the necessary forms. Make sure you have your identification documents with you. 4. Complete the UI-2.8 Form The UI-2.8 form is the primary application form for UIF benefits. This form captures information about your employment history and reason for applying. Fill it out accurately, ensuring all the required details are provided. 5. Submit your application Once you’ve completed the UI-2.8 form and registered as a jobseeker, submit your application to the nearest DEL office or labour centre. Remember to keep a copy of the application for your records. 6. Await processing after you apply for UIF After you’ve submitted your application, the Department of Employment and Labour will review your information. The processing time can vary, but you can check the status of your application on their website. 7. Receive UIF benefits after you apply If your application is approved, you will begin receiving UIF benefits. These benefits are typically paid out on a monthly basis and are designed to provide financial support while you are unemployed. 8. Update your information It’s crucial to keep your information up to date with the UIF. If your circumstances change, such as you having found new employment or returning to work, make sure to notify the relevant authorities promptly. Final thoughts on how to apply for UIF The UIF in South Africa is a valuable safety net for those facing unemployment. To apply successfully, ensure you meet the eligibility criteria, gather the necessary documents, and follow the application process diligently.
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- October 13 2023
How to check Telkom data balance 2023
Whether you’re browsing the web, streaming videos, or using social media, keeping track of your data usage is crucial to avoid unexpected charges or abrupt exhaustion. Here, we will guide you through the steps to check your Telkom data balance. We also have an article for you here if you’re trying to check your Telkom airtime balance. 1. Using USSD code One of the quickest ways to check your Telkom data balance is by dialing *188# on your mobile phone. After dialing, press the call button, and you will receive a message displaying your remaining data balance. This method is handy when you’re on the go and need instant information about your data usage. 2. Via Telkom’s self-service portal Another convenient way to check your Telkom data balance is by visiting their self-service portal on the Telkom website. Follow these steps: Visit Telkom’s official website. Log in to your Telkom account or create one if you haven’t already. Navigate to the “My Account” or “My Telkom” section. Here, you can view your data balance along with other account details. 3. Using the Telkom Mobile App Telkom offers a user-friendly mobile app available for both Android and iOS devices. Download and install the app from your device’s app store, then follow these steps: Open the Telkom app and log in. Navigate to the “My Account” or “Usage” section. You will find your data balance displayed there. 4. Inquire Telkom data balance via WhatsApp You can also know your Telkom data balance by sending an an inquiry message to Telkom’s official WhatsApp number, 0811601700. Shortly after, you will receive a series of prompt that you can follow to check your remaining data balance. Final thoughts on how to check Telkom data balance Keeping tabs on your Telkom data balance is essential to manage your internet usage effectively and avoid unexpected costs. So, no matter where you are or what device you have, you can ensure that you’re always in control of your data usage.
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- October 13 2023
How to check Telkom account balance 2023
Checking airtime balance on Telkom is essential for customers to keep track of their usage and manage their telecommunications services effectively. Here are some convenient methods to check your account balance on Telkom. Meanwhile, you may also want to learn how to check your data balance on Telkom: simply read this article here. 1. Dialing USSD code to check balance on Telkom Telkom customers can easily check their account balance by dialing *188# from their mobile device. After dialing the code, you will receive a notification with your current account balance. 2. Using the Telkom Mobile App to check airtime Download and install the Telkom Mobile App from your device’s app store. Then log in with your Telkom account credentials. The app provides an option to view your account balance along with other account details, such as data usage and billing information. 3. Sending a balance inquiry WhatsApp message to check balance on Telkom Tellom’s customer care WhatsApp number is also available for you to make inquiries. Simply message their WhatsApp contact on 0811601700. Follow the prompts, and you’ll get your answer. 4. Calling Telkom customer service to check balance on Telkom Dial Telkom’s customer service number at 081180 from your Telkom mobile or landline. Follow the automated prompts to inquire about your account balance. 5. Online Account Management to check balance on Telkom Visit the official Telkom website and log in to your account. Once logged in, you can access your account balance, view billing statements, and monitor usage. Final thoughts Remember that standard charges like data may apply for some of these methods. Also, make sure you have your account details readily available when using those requiring you to login methods. These details would typically be your number and a means of identification. That’s about how to check your balance on Telkom.
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- October 13 2023
TechCabal Daily – To the Moon and beyond
In partnership with Share this newsletter: Lire en Français اقرأ هذا باللغة العربية Happy Moonshot Week It’s a wrap! We promised you two days of celebrating innovation on the continent, and it looks like we delivered—or at least that’s what all your reviews say ! If you have any thoughts on Moonshot, please drop them here. From the entire Big Cabal Media Team, thank you! A big shoutout to our headline sponsor Sabi, and all other sponsors, for their immense support. The dates for Moonshot 2024 are set for October 2 – 3, 2024. Please follow @moonshotbytc to keep up with all the updates. P.S. Shoutout to TC Daily readers Keji and Timi Joel who came up to say hi, and everyone else we didn’t get to meet. In today’s edition Sabi reaches $1 billion in GMV Possible EVS wants to produce up to 10,000 EVs annually Zimbabwe legislator wants X’s troubles to impact Starlink application Safaricom launches standing orders on M-PESA super app The World Wide Web3 Job Opportunities E-commerce Sabi reaches $1 billion in GMV Image source: TechCabal Sabi crosses the $1 billion threshold. Nigerian B2B e-commerce startup, Sabi, has crossed $1 billion in annualised merchandise value, according the startup’s CEO, Anu Adedoyin Adasolum. Adedoyin Adasolum shared this in a fireside conversation at TechCabal’s flagship Moonshot Conference yesterday, October 12, 2023. Sabi provides merchants and resellers with business tools and services that help them reach new customers, improve cash flow, and streamline logistics. Launched in 2020, Sabi started as a spinoff from Rensource, an African energy company that offers power-as-a-service to customers. A $300 million valuation: According to Adedoyin Adasolum, the ecommerce startup has over 200,000 merchants on its platform. The company also reached a $300 million valuation after raising $38 million in Series A funding in May 2023. Zoom out: Africa’s informal trade sector provides opportunities for startups like Sabi and Wasoko to tap into the $1 trillion informal retail market and connect informal retailers to manufacturers and large wholesalers via digital platforms. 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. Mobility Possible EVS, a Nigerian startup, wants to produce up to 10,000 EVs annually Image source: Possible EVS Possible EVS, a Nigerian electric mobility startup is making significant strides in the electric vehicle (EV) industry. The company is gearing up to launch EV assembly plants, which will be situated in the Idu industrial area of Abuja, Nigeria. Per the CEO, Mosope Olaosebikan, upon full operation, the manufacturing facility will produce up to 10,000 electric vehicles annually, including mini-buses, tricycles, pick-up trucks, and taxis. Funding strategy: To finance their ambitious plans, Possible EVS has raised $5 million internally for their initial funding and aims to secure more funds by Q1 2024. The company primarily generates revenue through EV sales and, according to Olaosebikan, they are actively seeking partnerships with financiers and hire-purchase providers. The average cost of an EV from Possible EVS ranges from ₦12 million ($15,629) to ₦200 million ($260,497). An EV-based taxi service: In addition to manufacturing EVs, Possible EVS has ventured into the electric taxi service. They are currently testing electric taxis in Abuja and plan to deploy them for public use soon. These electric taxis boast a range of 400 km on a single charge. Zoom out: To support EV adoption, Possible EVS set up a public charging station at their electric vehicle experience centre (EVEC) in Abuja. Olaosebikan also stated that the company is set to launch an EVEC centre in Lagos and expand its multiple charging points across the country before the end of the year. It will also expand its fleet of electric taxis to Lagos and Akwa Ibom states in Nigeria. Paystack is live in Kenya After 10 months in private beta, Paystack is announcing that all businesses in Kenya can now accept payments with our growth tools. Learn more → Internet EU Investigation might affect Starlink’s Zimbabwe registration image source: Starlink Starlink is on the brink of a new pushback. During a parliamentary session on October 11, a member of Zimbabwe’s parliament, Supa Mandiwanzira, asked that the European Union’s investigation of X be taken into account during the vetting process for Starlink’s licence application in Zimbabwe. The EU had accused X of being used “to disseminate illegal content and disinformation”, and opened an investigation on the social media platform afterwards. Mandiwanzi argued that Starlink, by virtue of being associated with Musk, should also be scrutinised on the basis that its founder is being investigated by the EU, even though X’s issues with the EU are in no way connected to Starlink. Zimbabwe’s minister of ICT, Tatenda Mavetera, dismissed Mandiwanzi’s statement saying that the case X has with the EU should not interfere with Starlink’s application. Starlink is yet to be issued an operating licence in the southern African country. The satellite-based internet provider was meant to get a licence from the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe or team up with a registered public network. However, it is yet to do either. Zoom out: Starlink has faced several instances of pushback against its adoption in several countries on the continent. It remains to be seen whether the EU investigation’s will impact Starlink’s licensing process in Zimbabwe. Telecom Safaricom launches standing orders on M-PESA super app Peter Ndegwa, CEO Safaricom PLC Safaricom officially introduced standing orders on its mobile money platform, M-PESA, following its hinting about the new service a month ago. What’s a standing order?The service allows customers to set up recurring payments for bills and money transfers to friends and family. Standing orders are available through a mini app, a service built on top of the M-PESA app. How standing orders work: To set up a standing order, customers must review and accept some terms and conditions. They can then opt into the service using their M-PESA
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