👨🏿‍🚀TechCabal Daily – Kenya approves spyware
Lire en français Read this email in French. 1 MAY, 2023 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH Happy Labour Day Twitter is working on a feature to allow publishers to ask users to pay per click for articles. This means if you see an article you want to read on TechCabal’s Twitter page, you’ll have to pay to read that specific article. Much is still unknown on how Chief Twit Musk plans to pull off this micro-payments feature, but Musk himself says it will be a win-win for everyone. In today’s edition SA firm to pay $3.4 billion for crypto fraud Kenya approves spyware for phones OpenAI raises $300 million TC Insights: Gaming for good The World Wide Web3 Job openings KENYA APPROVES SPYWARE FOR PHONES Kenya wants to curb the sale and distribution of fake phones and its solution is a spyware software on every mobile device in its territory. Last week, the Supreme Court of Kenya approved the installation and use of the Device Management System (DMS) on all mobile phones to help curb counterfeit devices. A six-year journey: The use of DMS was first proposed in 2017 by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK) which, at the time, was already testing the DMS across the country. DMS would reportedly use mobile networks to remotely access devices’ International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number and ban those that were counterfeit. The proposal was blocked in 2018 but the Court of Appeal, in 2020, overturned the block and allowed the CAK to continue developing DMS. By October 2022, CAK revived the application for roll out to much public outcry. Privacy concerns: Mobile network providers, especially Safaricom, have pushed against the use of the DMS, stating that the software would allow Kenya’s communications regulator to access customer data including calls and messages. In October, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) also petitioned the Supreme Court to stop the implementation of the DMS for the same privacy concerns. The Supreme Court dismissed all appeals citing that the CAK via its regulatory act had the power to monitor compliance with its laws. This approval will see to the creation of an Equipment Identification Register (EIR), which will detect all devices, isolate the illegal ones, and deny fake devices service. Big picture: The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has a similar yet more robust registry, the Régistre des Appareils Mobiles (RAM), which registers devices including phones, tablets and laptops, by matching the 15-digit IMEIs to buyers. With RAM, users can get stolen phones blocked and the DRC can monitor counterfeit devices registered within its territory. WORK WITH MONIEPOINT At Moniepoint, we’re creating the best workplace for global talent using the 4M framework- Meaning, Membership, Mastery and Money. This isn’t an ad designed to convince you to join us, but it has all the reasons why you should. Watch it here. This is partner content. SA FIRM TO PAY $3.4 BILLION FOR CRYPTO FRAUD Cornelius Steynberg, CEO of MTI Once again, it appears South Africa has found itself at the centre of some of the world’s biggest crypto fraud cases. What’s up? A federal US court in Texas has ordered the CEO of a South African firm to pay $3.4 billion for bitcoin fraud. This is now the biggest fraud case involving bitcoin. In July 2022, Cornelius Johannes Steynberg, head of Mirror Trading International (MTI), was charged by the Commodities Future Trading Commission (CFTC) for running a $1.7 billion bitcoin scam. From 2018 to 2021, Steynberg, via his firm, told customers that his firm would help trade bitcoin. By the end of 2021, however, the firm had misappropriated over 29,421 bitcoin worth $1.7 billion from over 23,000 victims. While Steynberg was charged with the $1.7 billion fraud in 2022, a federal judge last week ordered him to pay $3.4 billion—$1.7 billion in restitution to victims, and another $1.7 billion as a penalty. Victims may get nothing: Last year, MyBroadBand reported that the liquidators of MTI recovered 1,281 bitcoin frozen by its former brokerage in Belize, FXChoice. The liquidators immediately sold the bitcoin and received R1.1 billion (~$65 million) for the assets. Unfortunately, victims of MTI’s fraud may not receive their dues as several government agencies are after the firm for one fee or the other. The South African Revenue Services (SARS) slapped the firm with a $55 million fine for back taxes while liquidators of MTI and Steynberg are also clamouring for legal fees which reportedly cost over $13.3 million. At this point, Steynberg is considered a fugitive from South African authorities while MTI has been declared a pyramid scheme. OPENAI RAISES $300 MILLION OpenAI, parent company of ChatGPT and DALL-E, recently closed a $300 million raise. This funding round, which includes participation from Tiger Global, Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Thrive and K2 Global, brings OpenAI’s valuation to $27 billion—$29 billion. Another investment? TechCrunch reports that this round is separate from a January 2023 undisclosed funding round with Microsoft. At the time, Microsoft announced that it was extending its partnership with OpenAI and investing billions more in the AI company. Sources at TechCrunch, however, noted that Microsoft’s investment was worth $10 billion. At this stage, neither investors nor OpenAI have commented on the latest funding event or what OpenAI will use it for. Already, OpenAI’s products have gained popularity with users across the world with its ChatGPT reaching 100 million users within four months of launch. OpenAI’s success has also spurred other tech companies to incorporate AI into their systems. Examples include Google’s Bard, Canva Magic, and even Dropbox which recently laid off 16% of its staff, in a pivot to AI. TC INSIGHTS: GAMING FOR GOOD Picture this: virtual battles, racing games, and candy-crushing everywhere! According to a 2021 report by Carry1st and Newzoo, between 2015 and 2021, the number of mobile gamers in sub-Saharan Africa more than doubled to 186 million people, with countries like South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and Ethiopia leading the charge. This number is projected to reach over 310 million by
Read More👨🏿‍🚀TechCabal Daily – Kenya approves spyware
Lire en français Read this email in French. 1 MAY, 2023 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH Happy Labour Day Twitter is working on a feature to allow publishers to ask users to pay per click for articles. This means if you see an article you want to read on TechCabal’s Twitter page, you’ll have to pay to read that specific article. Much is still unknown on how Chief Twit Musk plans to pull off this micro-payments feature, but Musk himself says it will be a win-win for everyone. In today’s edition SA firm to pay $3.4 billion for crypto fraud Kenya approves spyware for phones OpenAI raises $300 million TC Insights: Gaming for good The World Wide Web3 Job openings KENYA APPROVES SPYWARE FOR PHONES Kenya wants to curb the sale and distribution of fake phones and its solution is a spyware software on every mobile device in its territory. Last week, the Supreme Court of Kenya approved the installation and use of the Device Management System (DMS) on all mobile phones to help curb counterfeit devices. A six-year journey: The use of DMS was first proposed in 2017 by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK) which, at the time, was already testing the DMS across the country. DMS would reportedly use mobile networks to remotely access devices’ International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number and ban those that were counterfeit. The proposal was blocked in 2018 but the Court of Appeal, in 2020, overturned the block and allowed the CAK to continue developing DMS. By October 2022, CAK revived the application for roll out to much public outcry. Privacy concerns: Mobile network providers, especially Safaricom, have pushed against the use of the DMS, stating that the software would allow Kenya’s communications regulator to access customer data including calls and messages. In October, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) also petitioned the Supreme Court to stop the implementation of the DMS for the same privacy concerns. The Supreme Court dismissed all appeals citing that the CAK via its regulatory act had the power to monitor compliance with its laws. This approval will see to the creation of an Equipment Identification Register (EIR), which will detect all devices, isolate the illegal ones, and deny fake devices service. Big picture: The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has a similar yet more robust registry, the Régistre des Appareils Mobiles (RAM), which registers devices including phones, tablets and laptops, by matching the 15-digit IMEIs to buyers. With RAM, users can get stolen phones blocked and the DRC can monitor counterfeit devices registered within its territory. WORK WITH MONIEPOINT At Moniepoint, we’re creating the best workplace for global talent using the 4M framework- Meaning, Membership, Mastery and Money. This isn’t an ad designed to convince you to join us, but it has all the reasons why you should. Watch it here. This is partner content. SA FIRM TO PAY $3.4 BILLION FOR CRYPTO FRAUD Cornelius Steynberg, CEO of MTI Once again, it appears South Africa has found itself at the centre of some of the world’s biggest crypto fraud cases. What’s up? A federal US court in Texas has ordered the CEO of a South African firm to pay $3.4 billion for bitcoin fraud. This is now the biggest fraud case involving bitcoin. In July 2022, Cornelius Johannes Steynberg, head of Mirror Trading International (MTI), was charged by the Commodities Future Trading Commission (CFTC) for running a $1.7 billion bitcoin scam. From 2018 to 2021, Steynberg, via his firm, told customers that his firm would help trade bitcoin. By the end of 2021, however, the firm had misappropriated over 29,421 bitcoin worth $1.7 billion from over 23,000 victims. While Steynberg was charged with the $1.7 billion fraud in 2022, a federal judge last week ordered him to pay $3.4 billion—$1.7 billion in restitution to victims, and another $1.7 billion as a penalty. Victims may get nothing: Last year, MyBroadBand reported that the liquidators of MTI recovered 1,281 bitcoin frozen by its former brokerage in Belize, FXChoice. The liquidators immediately sold the bitcoin and received R1.1 billion (~$65 million) for the assets. Unfortunately, victims of MTI’s fraud may not receive their dues as several government agencies are after the firm for one fee or the other. The South African Revenue Services (SARS) slapped the firm with a $55 million fine for back taxes while liquidators of MTI and Steynberg are also clamouring for legal fees which reportedly cost over $13.3 million. At this point, Steynberg is considered a fugitive from South African authorities while MTI has been declared a pyramid scheme. OPENAI RAISES $300 MILLION OpenAI, parent company of ChatGPT and DALL-E, recently closed a $300 million raise. This funding round, which includes participation from Tiger Global, Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Thrive and K2 Global, brings OpenAI’s valuation to $27 billion—$29 billion. Another investment? TechCrunch reports that this round is separate from a January 2023 undisclosed funding round with Microsoft. At the time, Microsoft announced that it was extending its partnership with OpenAI and investing billions more in the AI company. Sources at TechCrunch, however, noted that Microsoft’s investment was worth $10 billion. At this stage, neither investors nor OpenAI have commented on the latest funding event or what OpenAI will use it for. Already, OpenAI’s products have gained popularity with users across the world with its ChatGPT reaching 100 million users within four months of launch. OpenAI’s success has also spurred other tech companies to incorporate AI into their systems. Examples include Google’s Bard, Canva Magic, and even Dropbox which recently laid off 16% of its staff, in a pivot to AI. TC INSIGHTS: GAMING FOR GOOD Picture this: virtual battles, racing games, and candy-crushing everywhere! According to a 2021 report by Carry1st and Newzoo, between 2015 and 2021, the number of mobile gamers in sub-Saharan Africa more than doubled to 186 million people, with countries like South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and Ethiopia leading the charge. This number is projected to reach over 310 million by
Read More👨🏿‍🚀TechCabal Daily – Kenya approves spyware
Lire en français Read this email in French. 1 MAY, 2023 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH Happy Labour Day Twitter is working on a feature to allow publishers to ask users to pay per click for articles. This means if you see an article you want to read on TechCabal’s Twitter page, you’ll have to pay to read that specific article. Much is still unknown on how Chief Twit Musk plans to pull off this micro-payments feature, but Musk himself says it will be a win-win for everyone. In today’s edition SA firm to pay $3.4 billion for crypto fraud Kenya approves spyware for phones OpenAI raises $300 million TC Insights: Gaming for good The World Wide Web3 Job openings KENYA APPROVES SPYWARE FOR PHONES Kenya wants to curb the sale and distribution of fake phones and its solution is a spyware software on every mobile device in its territory. Last week, the Supreme Court of Kenya approved the installation and use of the Device Management System (DMS) on all mobile phones to help curb counterfeit devices. A six-year journey: The use of DMS was first proposed in 2017 by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK) which, at the time, was already testing the DMS across the country. DMS would reportedly use mobile networks to remotely access devices’ International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number and ban those that were counterfeit. The proposal was blocked in 2018 but the Court of Appeal, in 2020, overturned the block and allowed the CAK to continue developing DMS. By October 2022, CAK revived the application for roll out to much public outcry. Privacy concerns: Mobile network providers, especially Safaricom, have pushed against the use of the DMS, stating that the software would allow Kenya’s communications regulator to access customer data including calls and messages. In October, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) also petitioned the Supreme Court to stop the implementation of the DMS for the same privacy concerns. The Supreme Court dismissed all appeals citing that the CAK via its regulatory act had the power to monitor compliance with its laws. This approval will see to the creation of an Equipment Identification Register (EIR), which will detect all devices, isolate the illegal ones, and deny fake devices service. Big picture: The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has a similar yet more robust registry, the Régistre des Appareils Mobiles (RAM), which registers devices including phones, tablets and laptops, by matching the 15-digit IMEIs to buyers. With RAM, users can get stolen phones blocked and the DRC can monitor counterfeit devices registered within its territory. WORK WITH MONIEPOINT At Moniepoint, we’re creating the best workplace for global talent using the 4M framework- Meaning, Membership, Mastery and Money. This isn’t an ad designed to convince you to join us, but it has all the reasons why you should. Watch it here. This is partner content. SA FIRM TO PAY $3.4 BILLION FOR CRYPTO FRAUD Cornelius Steynberg, CEO of MTI Once again, it appears South Africa has found itself at the centre of some of the world’s biggest crypto fraud cases. What’s up? A federal US court in Texas has ordered the CEO of a South African firm to pay $3.4 billion for bitcoin fraud. This is now the biggest fraud case involving bitcoin. In July 2022, Cornelius Johannes Steynberg, head of Mirror Trading International (MTI), was charged by the Commodities Future Trading Commission (CFTC) for running a $1.7 billion bitcoin scam. From 2018 to 2021, Steynberg, via his firm, told customers that his firm would help trade bitcoin. By the end of 2021, however, the firm had misappropriated over 29,421 bitcoin worth $1.7 billion from over 23,000 victims. While Steynberg was charged with the $1.7 billion fraud in 2022, a federal judge last week ordered him to pay $3.4 billion—$1.7 billion in restitution to victims, and another $1.7 billion as a penalty. Victims may get nothing: Last year, MyBroadBand reported that the liquidators of MTI recovered 1,281 bitcoin frozen by its former brokerage in Belize, FXChoice. The liquidators immediately sold the bitcoin and received R1.1 billion (~$65 million) for the assets. Unfortunately, victims of MTI’s fraud may not receive their dues as several government agencies are after the firm for one fee or the other. The South African Revenue Services (SARS) slapped the firm with a $55 million fine for back taxes while liquidators of MTI and Steynberg are also clamouring for legal fees which reportedly cost over $13.3 million. At this point, Steynberg is considered a fugitive from South African authorities while MTI has been declared a pyramid scheme. OPENAI RAISES $300 MILLION OpenAI, parent company of ChatGPT and DALL-E, recently closed a $300 million raise. This funding round, which includes participation from Tiger Global, Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Thrive and K2 Global, brings OpenAI’s valuation to $27 billion—$29 billion. Another investment? TechCrunch reports that this round is separate from a January 2023 undisclosed funding round with Microsoft. At the time, Microsoft announced that it was extending its partnership with OpenAI and investing billions more in the AI company. Sources at TechCrunch, however, noted that Microsoft’s investment was worth $10 billion. At this stage, neither investors nor OpenAI have commented on the latest funding event or what OpenAI will use it for. Already, OpenAI’s products have gained popularity with users across the world with its ChatGPT reaching 100 million users within four months of launch. OpenAI’s success has also spurred other tech companies to incorporate AI into their systems. Examples include Google’s Bard, Canva Magic, and even Dropbox which recently laid off 16% of its staff, in a pivot to AI. TC INSIGHTS: GAMING FOR GOOD Picture this: virtual battles, racing games, and candy-crushing everywhere! According to a 2021 report by Carry1st and Newzoo, between 2015 and 2021, the number of mobile gamers in sub-Saharan Africa more than doubled to 186 million people, with countries like South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and Ethiopia leading the charge. This number is projected to reach over 310 million by
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Sudan throttles its internet
Lire en français Read this email in French. Editor’s Note Week 17, 2023 Read time: 5 minutes Hello! Did you miss us? The past few long weekends (thank you April!) meant we couldn’t be in your inbox, but this week, we’re back with interesting stories from around the world. Read on to learn all about Tech Nation’s new owner, Meta’s continuing losing streak in Kenya, and more. Enjoy! Pamela Tetteh Editor, TechCabal. Editor’s Picks Sudan throttles its internet In the past seven days, two army generals have unleashed military forces on the Sudanese population in a jostle for power. The crisis in Sudan is getting worse with reports of internet shutdowns across the country. Learn more. Zimbabwe’s gold-backed digital currency Zimbabwe’s Reserve Bank has announced its plans to introduce a digital currency that will be tied to the price of gold. This could be a game-changer for Zimbabweans who have been struggling to keep up with the country’s skyrocketing inflation rate. Learn more. Uber and Bolt drivers speak up Last week, we reported the most recent fallout between Uber, Bolt and the Nigerian ride-hailing union, AUATWON. This week, we interviewed drivers of Bolt and Uber, and they spoke about their understanding of the situation. Learn more. Should prisoners access computers? Considering how the popular Facebook Rapist Thabo Bester ran multi-million rand scams from a computer in prison, interest has grown in an upcoming case that will decide whether prisoners in South Africa should have access to computers. Learn more. Meta loses again in Kenya Meta is losing several battles in Kenya. On Thursday, a Kenyan court ruled against Meta in a lawsuit levelled against it by two Ethiopians who accused the social media giant of failing to moderate inciting messages on its platform. Learn more. Tech Nation finds a buyer Tech Nation is saying hello to a new owner but goodbye to the Global Talent Visa. Tech Nation, which recently lost its government funding, was acquired by Founders Forum Group. However, it is searching for its replacement as the endorsing body of the UK Talent Visa. Learn more. Lending in Nigeria Are you curious about the dynamics of borrowing between family and friends, and how technology can play a role in solving the problem? Then this report by Sycamore, in partnership with TechCabal Insights, is for you. It provides comprehensive analyses of the informal market and how technology can be leveraged to improve the family lending sector in Nigeria. Download here. MultiChoice hikes price of DStv and GOtv Multichoice, provider of DStv and GOtv, has increased the prices of its packages for the 3rd time since 2019. Multichoice users in Nigeria have no other choice than to unsubscribe from the service or pay the increase, if they can afford it. Learn more. Was Nigeria’s census agency hacked? Nigeria is set to count its citizens in May, but earlier this month, a staff of the census agency claimed that the agency’s servers had been hacked. The agency —Nigeria’s population commission—responded this week. Learn more. Africell launches mobile money in Angola Mobile network operator Africell has launched its mobile money service “Afrimoney” in Angola. The platform will offer financial services such as credit, savings, insurance, mobile recharge, deposits, transfers, payments, etc. Learn more. GTCO competes with Risevest and Bamboo The parent company of GTBank, Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO), has released its 2022 financial statements. The report shows the company will continue offering wealth management and payment service solutions like Risevest and Bamboo. Read more. Who brought the money this week? This week, Maholla, a South African reward app received $1.5 million in seed funding from Buffet Group, Castleton Capital, Praesidium Capital Management and Galloprovincialis. What else to read this weekend? How to pay for Apple Music using airtime It’s time to drop the “female founder” title There is no salvation for Nigerian banks in the cloud How are Nigerian online skitmakers pulling it off? Where does YC’s scaleback leave the African tech ecosystem? Why are startup accelerators are failing in South Africa? Fraudsters don’t think AI can do the job yet How to make ChatGPT work for your business Share TC Weekender Written by: Ngozi Chukwu Edited by: Pamela Tetteh 18, Nnobi Street, Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria Unsubscribe from TC Weekender
Read MoreSudan throttles its internet
Lire en français Read this email in French. Editor’s Note Week 17, 2023 Read time: 5 minutes Hello! Did you miss us? The past few long weekends (thank you April!) meant we couldn’t be in your inbox, but this week, we’re back with interesting stories from around the world. Read on to learn all about Tech Nation’s new owner, Meta’s continuing losing streak in Kenya, and more. Enjoy! Pamela Tetteh Editor, TechCabal. Editor’s Picks Sudan throttles its internet In the past seven days, two army generals have unleashed military forces on the Sudanese population in a jostle for power. The crisis in Sudan is getting worse with reports of internet shutdowns across the country. Learn more. Zimbabwe’s gold-backed digital currency Zimbabwe’s Reserve Bank has announced its plans to introduce a digital currency that will be tied to the price of gold. This could be a game-changer for Zimbabweans who have been struggling to keep up with the country’s skyrocketing inflation rate. Learn more. Uber and Bolt drivers speak up Last week, we reported the most recent fallout between Uber, Bolt and the Nigerian ride-hailing union, AUATWON. This week, we interviewed drivers of Bolt and Uber, and they spoke about their understanding of the situation. Learn more. Should prisoners access computers? Considering how the popular Facebook Rapist Thabo Bester ran multi-million rand scams from a computer in prison, interest has grown in an upcoming case that will decide whether prisoners in South Africa should have access to computers. Learn more. Meta loses again in Kenya Meta is losing several battles in Kenya. On Thursday, a Kenyan court ruled against Meta in a lawsuit levelled against it by two Ethiopians who accused the social media giant of failing to moderate inciting messages on its platform. Learn more. Tech Nation finds a buyer Tech Nation is saying hello to a new owner but goodbye to the Global Talent Visa. Tech Nation, which recently lost its government funding, was acquired by Founders Forum Group. However, it is searching for its replacement as the endorsing body of the UK Talent Visa. Learn more. Lending in Nigeria Are you curious about the dynamics of borrowing between family and friends, and how technology can play a role in solving the problem? Then this report by Sycamore, in partnership with TechCabal Insights, is for you. It provides comprehensive analyses of the informal market and how technology can be leveraged to improve the family lending sector in Nigeria. Download here. MultiChoice hikes price of DStv and GOtv Multichoice, provider of DStv and GOtv, has increased the prices of its packages for the 3rd time since 2019. Multichoice users in Nigeria have no other choice than to unsubscribe from the service or pay the increase, if they can afford it. Learn more. Was Nigeria’s census agency hacked? Nigeria is set to count its citizens in May, but earlier this month, a staff of the census agency claimed that the agency’s servers had been hacked. The agency —Nigeria’s population commission—responded this week. Learn more. Africell launches mobile money in Angola Mobile network operator Africell has launched its mobile money service “Afrimoney” in Angola. The platform will offer financial services such as credit, savings, insurance, mobile recharge, deposits, transfers, payments, etc. Learn more. GTCO competes with Risevest and Bamboo The parent company of GTBank, Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO), has released its 2022 financial statements. The report shows the company will continue offering wealth management and payment service solutions like Risevest and Bamboo. Read more. Who brought the money this week? This week, Maholla, a South African reward app received $1.5 million in seed funding from Buffet Group, Castleton Capital, Praesidium Capital Management and Galloprovincialis. What else to read this weekend? How to pay for Apple Music using airtime It’s time to drop the “female founder” title There is no salvation for Nigerian banks in the cloud How are Nigerian online skitmakers pulling it off? Where does YC’s scaleback leave the African tech ecosystem? Why are startup accelerators are failing in South Africa? Fraudsters don’t think AI can do the job yet How to make ChatGPT work for your business Share TC Weekender Written by: Ngozi Chukwu Edited by: Pamela Tetteh 18, Nnobi Street, Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria Unsubscribe from TC Weekender
Read MoreSudan throttles its internet
Lire en français Read this email in French. Editor’s Note Week 17, 2023 Read time: 5 minutes Hello! Did you miss us? The past few long weekends (thank you April!) meant we couldn’t be in your inbox, but this week, we’re back with interesting stories from around the world. Read on to learn all about Tech Nation’s new owner, Meta’s continuing losing streak in Kenya, and more. Enjoy! Pamela Tetteh Editor, TechCabal. Editor’s Picks Sudan throttles its internet In the past seven days, two army generals have unleashed military forces on the Sudanese population in a jostle for power. The crisis in Sudan is getting worse with reports of internet shutdowns across the country. Learn more. Zimbabwe’s gold-backed digital currency Zimbabwe’s Reserve Bank has announced its plans to introduce a digital currency that will be tied to the price of gold. This could be a game-changer for Zimbabweans who have been struggling to keep up with the country’s skyrocketing inflation rate. Learn more. Uber and Bolt drivers speak up Last week, we reported the most recent fallout between Uber, Bolt and the Nigerian ride-hailing union, AUATWON. This week, we interviewed drivers of Bolt and Uber, and they spoke about their understanding of the situation. Learn more. Should prisoners access computers? Considering how the popular Facebook Rapist Thabo Bester ran multi-million rand scams from a computer in prison, interest has grown in an upcoming case that will decide whether prisoners in South Africa should have access to computers. Learn more. Meta loses again in Kenya Meta is losing several battles in Kenya. On Thursday, a Kenyan court ruled against Meta in a lawsuit levelled against it by two Ethiopians who accused the social media giant of failing to moderate inciting messages on its platform. Learn more. Tech Nation finds a buyer Tech Nation is saying hello to a new owner but goodbye to the Global Talent Visa. Tech Nation, which recently lost its government funding, was acquired by Founders Forum Group. However, it is searching for its replacement as the endorsing body of the UK Talent Visa. Learn more. Lending in Nigeria Are you curious about the dynamics of borrowing between family and friends, and how technology can play a role in solving the problem? Then this report by Sycamore, in partnership with TechCabal Insights, is for you. It provides comprehensive analyses of the informal market and how technology can be leveraged to improve the family lending sector in Nigeria. Download here. MultiChoice hikes price of DStv and GOtv Multichoice, provider of DStv and GOtv, has increased the prices of its packages for the 3rd time since 2019. Multichoice users in Nigeria have no other choice than to unsubscribe from the service or pay the increase, if they can afford it. Learn more. Was Nigeria’s census agency hacked? Nigeria is set to count its citizens in May, but earlier this month, a staff of the census agency claimed that the agency’s servers had been hacked. The agency —Nigeria’s population commission—responded this week. Learn more. Africell launches mobile money in Angola Mobile network operator Africell has launched its mobile money service “Afrimoney” in Angola. The platform will offer financial services such as credit, savings, insurance, mobile recharge, deposits, transfers, payments, etc. Learn more. GTCO competes with Risevest and Bamboo The parent company of GTBank, Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO), has released its 2022 financial statements. The report shows the company will continue offering wealth management and payment service solutions like Risevest and Bamboo. Read more. Who brought the money this week? This week, Maholla, a South African reward app received $1.5 million in seed funding from Buffet Group, Castleton Capital, Praesidium Capital Management and Galloprovincialis. What else to read this weekend? How to pay for Apple Music using airtime It’s time to drop the “female founder” title There is no salvation for Nigerian banks in the cloud How are Nigerian online skitmakers pulling it off? Where does YC’s scaleback leave the African tech ecosystem? Why are startup accelerators are failing in South Africa? Fraudsters don’t think AI can do the job yet How to make ChatGPT work for your business Share TC Weekender Written by: Ngozi Chukwu Edited by: Pamela Tetteh 18, Nnobi Street, Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria Unsubscribe from TC Weekender
Read MoreSudan throttles its internet
Lire en français Read this email in French. Editor’s Note Week 17, 2023 Read time: 5 minutes Hello! Did you miss us? The past few long weekends (thank you April!) meant we couldn’t be in your inbox, but this week, we’re back with interesting stories from around the world. Read on to learn all about Tech Nation’s new owner, Meta’s continuing losing streak in Kenya, and more. Enjoy! Pamela Tetteh Editor, TechCabal. Editor’s Picks Sudan throttles its internet In the past seven days, two army generals have unleashed military forces on the Sudanese population in a jostle for power. The crisis in Sudan is getting worse with reports of internet shutdowns across the country. Learn more. Zimbabwe’s gold-backed digital currency Zimbabwe’s Reserve Bank has announced its plans to introduce a digital currency that will be tied to the price of gold. This could be a game-changer for Zimbabweans who have been struggling to keep up with the country’s skyrocketing inflation rate. Learn more. Uber and Bolt drivers speak up Last week, we reported the most recent fallout between Uber, Bolt and the Nigerian ride-hailing union, AUATWON. This week, we interviewed drivers of Bolt and Uber, and they spoke about their understanding of the situation. Learn more. Should prisoners access computers? Considering how the popular Facebook Rapist Thabo Bester ran multi-million rand scams from a computer in prison, interest has grown in an upcoming case that will decide whether prisoners in South Africa should have access to computers. Learn more. Meta loses again in Kenya Meta is losing several battles in Kenya. On Thursday, a Kenyan court ruled against Meta in a lawsuit levelled against it by two Ethiopians who accused the social media giant of failing to moderate inciting messages on its platform. Learn more. Tech Nation finds a buyer Tech Nation is saying hello to a new owner but goodbye to the Global Talent Visa. Tech Nation, which recently lost its government funding, was acquired by Founders Forum Group. However, it is searching for its replacement as the endorsing body of the UK Talent Visa. Learn more. Lending in Nigeria Are you curious about the dynamics of borrowing between family and friends, and how technology can play a role in solving the problem? Then this report by Sycamore, in partnership with TechCabal Insights, is for you. It provides comprehensive analyses of the informal market and how technology can be leveraged to improve the family lending sector in Nigeria. Download here. MultiChoice hikes price of DStv and GOtv Multichoice, provider of DStv and GOtv, has increased the prices of its packages for the 3rd time since 2019. Multichoice users in Nigeria have no other choice than to unsubscribe from the service or pay the increase, if they can afford it. Learn more. Was Nigeria’s census agency hacked? Nigeria is set to count its citizens in May, but earlier this month, a staff of the census agency claimed that the agency’s servers had been hacked. The agency —Nigeria’s population commission—responded this week. Learn more. Africell launches mobile money in Angola Mobile network operator Africell has launched its mobile money service “Afrimoney” in Angola. The platform will offer financial services such as credit, savings, insurance, mobile recharge, deposits, transfers, payments, etc. Learn more. GTCO competes with Risevest and Bamboo The parent company of GTBank, Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO), has released its 2022 financial statements. The report shows the company will continue offering wealth management and payment service solutions like Risevest and Bamboo. Read more. Who brought the money this week? This week, Maholla, a South African reward app received $1.5 million in seed funding from Buffet Group, Castleton Capital, Praesidium Capital Management and Galloprovincialis. What else to read this weekend? How to pay for Apple Music using airtime It’s time to drop the “female founder” title There is no salvation for Nigerian banks in the cloud How are Nigerian online skitmakers pulling it off? Where does YC’s scaleback leave the African tech ecosystem? Why are startup accelerators are failing in South Africa? Fraudsters don’t think AI can do the job yet How to make ChatGPT work for your business Share TC Weekender Written by: Ngozi Chukwu Edited by: Pamela Tetteh 18, Nnobi Street, Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria Unsubscribe from TC Weekender
Read MoreSudan throttles its internet
Lire en français Read this email in French. Editor’s Note Week 17, 2023 Read time: 5 minutes Hello! Did you miss us? The past few long weekends (thank you April!) meant we couldn’t be in your inbox, but this week, we’re back with interesting stories from around the world. Read on to learn all about Tech Nation’s new owner, Meta’s continuing losing streak in Kenya, and more. Enjoy! Pamela Tetteh Editor, TechCabal. Editor’s Picks Sudan throttles its internet In the past seven days, two army generals have unleashed military forces on the Sudanese population in a jostle for power. The crisis in Sudan is getting worse with reports of internet shutdowns across the country. Learn more. Zimbabwe’s gold-backed digital currency Zimbabwe’s Reserve Bank has announced its plans to introduce a digital currency that will be tied to the price of gold. This could be a game-changer for Zimbabweans who have been struggling to keep up with the country’s skyrocketing inflation rate. Learn more. Uber and Bolt drivers speak up Last week, we reported the most recent fallout between Uber, Bolt and the Nigerian ride-hailing union, AUATWON. This week, we interviewed drivers of Bolt and Uber, and they spoke about their understanding of the situation. Learn more. Should prisoners access computers? Considering how the popular Facebook Rapist Thabo Bester ran multi-million rand scams from a computer in prison, interest has grown in an upcoming case that will decide whether prisoners in South Africa should have access to computers. Learn more. Meta loses again in Kenya Meta is losing several battles in Kenya. On Thursday, a Kenyan court ruled against Meta in a lawsuit levelled against it by two Ethiopians who accused the social media giant of failing to moderate inciting messages on its platform. Learn more. Tech Nation finds a buyer Tech Nation is saying hello to a new owner but goodbye to the Global Talent Visa. Tech Nation, which recently lost its government funding, was acquired by Founders Forum Group. However, it is searching for its replacement as the endorsing body of the UK Talent Visa. Learn more. Lending in Nigeria Are you curious about the dynamics of borrowing between family and friends, and how technology can play a role in solving the problem? Then this report by Sycamore, in partnership with TechCabal Insights, is for you. It provides comprehensive analyses of the informal market and how technology can be leveraged to improve the family lending sector in Nigeria. Download here. MultiChoice hikes price of DStv and GOtv Multichoice, provider of DStv and GOtv, has increased the prices of its packages for the 3rd time since 2019. Multichoice users in Nigeria have no other choice than to unsubscribe from the service or pay the increase, if they can afford it. Learn more. Was Nigeria’s census agency hacked? Nigeria is set to count its citizens in May, but earlier this month, a staff of the census agency claimed that the agency’s servers had been hacked. The agency —Nigeria’s population commission—responded this week. Learn more. Africell launches mobile money in Angola Mobile network operator Africell has launched its mobile money service “Afrimoney” in Angola. The platform will offer financial services such as credit, savings, insurance, mobile recharge, deposits, transfers, payments, etc. Learn more. GTCO competes with Risevest and Bamboo The parent company of GTBank, Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO), has released its 2022 financial statements. The report shows the company will continue offering wealth management and payment service solutions like Risevest and Bamboo. Read more. Who brought the money this week? This week, Maholla, a South African reward app received $1.5 million in seed funding from Buffet Group, Castleton Capital, Praesidium Capital Management and Galloprovincialis. What else to read this weekend? How to pay for Apple Music using airtime It’s time to drop the “female founder” title There is no salvation for Nigerian banks in the cloud How are Nigerian online skitmakers pulling it off? Where does YC’s scaleback leave the African tech ecosystem? Why are startup accelerators are failing in South Africa? Fraudsters don’t think AI can do the job yet How to make ChatGPT work for your business Share TC Weekender Written by: Ngozi Chukwu Edited by: Pamela Tetteh 18, Nnobi Street, Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria Unsubscribe from TC Weekender
Read MoreSudan throttles its internet
Lire en français Read this email in French. Editor’s Note Week 17, 2023 Read time: 5 minutes Hello! Did you miss us? The past few long weekends (thank you April!) meant we couldn’t be in your inbox, but this week, we’re back with interesting stories from around the world. Read on to learn all about Tech Nation’s new owner, Meta’s continuing losing streak in Kenya, and more. Enjoy! Pamela Tetteh Editor, TechCabal. Editor’s Picks Sudan throttles its internet In the past seven days, two army generals have unleashed military forces on the Sudanese population in a jostle for power. The crisis in Sudan is getting worse with reports of internet shutdowns across the country. Learn more. Zimbabwe’s gold-backed digital currency Zimbabwe’s Reserve Bank has announced its plans to introduce a digital currency that will be tied to the price of gold. This could be a game-changer for Zimbabweans who have been struggling to keep up with the country’s skyrocketing inflation rate. Learn more. Uber and Bolt drivers speak up Last week, we reported the most recent fallout between Uber, Bolt and the Nigerian ride-hailing union, AUATWON. This week, we interviewed drivers of Bolt and Uber, and they spoke about their understanding of the situation. Learn more. Should prisoners access computers? Considering how the popular Facebook Rapist Thabo Bester ran multi-million rand scams from a computer in prison, interest has grown in an upcoming case that will decide whether prisoners in South Africa should have access to computers. Learn more. Meta loses again in Kenya Meta is losing several battles in Kenya. On Thursday, a Kenyan court ruled against Meta in a lawsuit levelled against it by two Ethiopians who accused the social media giant of failing to moderate inciting messages on its platform. Learn more. Tech Nation finds a buyer Tech Nation is saying hello to a new owner but goodbye to the Global Talent Visa. Tech Nation, which recently lost its government funding, was acquired by Founders Forum Group. However, it is searching for its replacement as the endorsing body of the UK Talent Visa. Learn more. Lending in Nigeria Are you curious about the dynamics of borrowing between family and friends, and how technology can play a role in solving the problem? Then this report by Sycamore, in partnership with TechCabal Insights, is for you. It provides comprehensive analyses of the informal market and how technology can be leveraged to improve the family lending sector in Nigeria. Download here. MultiChoice hikes price of DStv and GOtv Multichoice, provider of DStv and GOtv, has increased the prices of its packages for the 3rd time since 2019. Multichoice users in Nigeria have no other choice than to unsubscribe from the service or pay the increase, if they can afford it. Learn more. Was Nigeria’s census agency hacked? Nigeria is set to count its citizens in May, but earlier this month, a staff of the census agency claimed that the agency’s servers had been hacked. The agency —Nigeria’s population commission—responded this week. Learn more. Africell launches mobile money in Angola Mobile network operator Africell has launched its mobile money service “Afrimoney” in Angola. The platform will offer financial services such as credit, savings, insurance, mobile recharge, deposits, transfers, payments, etc. Learn more. GTCO competes with Risevest and Bamboo The parent company of GTBank, Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO), has released its 2022 financial statements. The report shows the company will continue offering wealth management and payment service solutions like Risevest and Bamboo. Read more. Who brought the money this week? This week, Maholla, a South African reward app received $1.5 million in seed funding from Buffet Group, Castleton Capital, Praesidium Capital Management and Galloprovincialis. What else to read this weekend? How to pay for Apple Music using airtime It’s time to drop the “female founder” title There is no salvation for Nigerian banks in the cloud How are Nigerian online skitmakers pulling it off? Where does YC’s scaleback leave the African tech ecosystem? Why are startup accelerators are failing in South Africa? Fraudsters don’t think AI can do the job yet How to make ChatGPT work for your business Share TC Weekender Written by: Ngozi Chukwu Edited by: Pamela Tetteh 18, Nnobi Street, Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria Unsubscribe from TC Weekender
Read MoreSudan throttles its internet
Lire en français Read this email in French. Editor’s Note Week 17, 2023 Read time: 5 minutes Hello! Did you miss us? The past few long weekends (thank you April!) meant we couldn’t be in your inbox, but this week, we’re back with interesting stories from around the world. Read on to learn all about Tech Nation’s new owner, Meta’s continuing losing streak in Kenya, and more. Enjoy! Pamela Tetteh Editor, TechCabal. Editor’s Picks Sudan throttles its internet In the past seven days, two army generals have unleashed military forces on the Sudanese population in a jostle for power. The crisis in Sudan is getting worse with reports of internet shutdowns across the country. Learn more. Zimbabwe’s gold-backed digital currency Zimbabwe’s Reserve Bank has announced its plans to introduce a digital currency that will be tied to the price of gold. This could be a game-changer for Zimbabweans who have been struggling to keep up with the country’s skyrocketing inflation rate. Learn more. Uber and Bolt drivers speak up Last week, we reported the most recent fallout between Uber, Bolt and the Nigerian ride-hailing union, AUATWON. This week, we interviewed drivers of Bolt and Uber, and they spoke about their understanding of the situation. Learn more. Should prisoners access computers? Considering how the popular Facebook Rapist Thabo Bester ran multi-million rand scams from a computer in prison, interest has grown in an upcoming case that will decide whether prisoners in South Africa should have access to computers. Learn more. Meta loses again in Kenya Meta is losing several battles in Kenya. On Thursday, a Kenyan court ruled against Meta in a lawsuit levelled against it by two Ethiopians who accused the social media giant of failing to moderate inciting messages on its platform. Learn more. Tech Nation finds a buyer Tech Nation is saying hello to a new owner but goodbye to the Global Talent Visa. Tech Nation, which recently lost its government funding, was acquired by Founders Forum Group. However, it is searching for its replacement as the endorsing body of the UK Talent Visa. Learn more. Lending in Nigeria Are you curious about the dynamics of borrowing between family and friends, and how technology can play a role in solving the problem? Then this report by Sycamore, in partnership with TechCabal Insights, is for you. It provides comprehensive analyses of the informal market and how technology can be leveraged to improve the family lending sector in Nigeria. Download here. MultiChoice hikes price of DStv and GOtv Multichoice, provider of DStv and GOtv, has increased the prices of its packages for the 3rd time since 2019. Multichoice users in Nigeria have no other choice than to unsubscribe from the service or pay the increase, if they can afford it. Learn more. Was Nigeria’s census agency hacked? Nigeria is set to count its citizens in May, but earlier this month, a staff of the census agency claimed that the agency’s servers had been hacked. The agency —Nigeria’s population commission—responded this week. Learn more. Africell launches mobile money in Angola Mobile network operator Africell has launched its mobile money service “Afrimoney” in Angola. The platform will offer financial services such as credit, savings, insurance, mobile recharge, deposits, transfers, payments, etc. Learn more. GTCO competes with Risevest and Bamboo The parent company of GTBank, Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO), has released its 2022 financial statements. The report shows the company will continue offering wealth management and payment service solutions like Risevest and Bamboo. Read more. Who brought the money this week? This week, Maholla, a South African reward app received $1.5 million in seed funding from Buffet Group, Castleton Capital, Praesidium Capital Management and Galloprovincialis. What else to read this weekend? How to pay for Apple Music using airtime It’s time to drop the “female founder” title There is no salvation for Nigerian banks in the cloud How are Nigerian online skitmakers pulling it off? Where does YC’s scaleback leave the African tech ecosystem? Why are startup accelerators are failing in South Africa? Fraudsters don’t think AI can do the job yet How to make ChatGPT work for your business Share TC Weekender Written by: Ngozi Chukwu Edited by: Pamela Tetteh 18, Nnobi Street, Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria Unsubscribe from TC Weekender
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