- October 10 2023
Flutterwave hires ex-Chipper, Microsoft and Safaricom employees in Kenyan expansion drive
Flutterwave has multiple primary markets, including Kenya, Nigeria, and Egypt. However, it does not have a payments and remittance licence for its Kenya operation. Its recent activities imply that it is optimistic about its future in the East African country. Flutterwave is hiring more staff for its Kenyan operations as it expands its footprint in the country. The company has hired employees from prominent companies in the last few months, including Chipper Cash, Microsoft, Safaricom, and Wasoko. Leon Kiptum, the former country manager at Chipper Cash, joined Flutterwave as SVP for East Africa. Saruni Maina, a former Chipper Merchant Business Executive, has also been hired as Assistant Vice President (AVP) of Stablecoins. Flutterwave hired Edward Gondi as its People Operations Lead. Gondi worked for Wasoko, an e-commerce platform, and Safaricom before moving to Flutterwave. After a stint at The Room and Microsoft, Irene Wambui also joined Flutterwave as a Talent Manager. Bilha Mumbi joined Flutterwave this year as a Sales Manager after working in Kenyan banks and Telkom Kenya. More employment opportunities in Kenya These hirings are not limited to Kenya, as the company is expanding its presence in other markets and bringing in new staff. Currently, it is recruiting for the following positions: Manager for Global Expansion and payment Partnerships; Senior Manager, Country Compliance Officer; Senior Associate for Business Systems and Process Re-engineering; and an Analyst for Account Configuration, among other roles. A local Flutterwave office for Kenya is also in the pipeline The fintech company also plans to open a local office for its Kenya operations. However, the exact date for the launch is yet to be revealed. The company shared these updates during the Kauffman Fellow’s event held in Nairobi a month ago. At the conference, Flutterwave’s CEO, Olugbenga Agboola, told TechCabal that the company had already kick-started its hiring exercise. Opening a local office makes sense because Flutterwave names Kenya as its primary market, alongside Nigeria, South Africa, and Egypt. The company has also set up strategic offices in Rwanda, Ghana, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, and Senegal. Its Kenya operations, however, are limited to partnerships with the likes of Uber, where Flutterwave processes deposits made from M-PESA accounts to Uber wallets. Flutterwave is edging closer to acquiring a remittance and payments license from the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) after receiving name approval from the same regulator. With a plan to invest over $50 million in Kenya, it is clear that Flutterwave is positive about acquiring payments and remittance licenses for a full-fledged operation. While Flutterwave’s Nairobi office did not respond to TechCabal’s inquiry about these developments, it promised to shed more light on expansion plans in the coming days.
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- October 10 2023
5 vital topics to look forward to at Moonshot conference
Moonshot by TechCabal is the biggest tech event in Africa in 2023. We have highlighted reasons you shouldn’t miss it here. Here are five of the topics from the Moonshot tech event that attendees can look forward to: 1. Building the Rails for the Growth of the Digital Economy in the Next Decade This topic sets the stage for the entire event by exploring the foundational elements necessary for nurturing a thriving digital economy in Africa over the next ten years. Discussions here may revolve around infrastructure, policy, and innovation needed to create a solid framework for growth. 2. Expect to learn about Scaling AI’s Impact at Moonshot Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionise various industries across Africa. Attendees can expect deep insights into how AI is being harnessed and scaled to drive innovation and efficiency in sectors ranging from healthcare to agriculture. 3. Securing Africa’s Energy Future Energy security is a critical enabler of technology and innovation. This topic is likely to dive into discussions about sustainable energy solutions, their importance for economic growth, and how technology can play a role in achieving energy stability in Africa. 4. Powering the Future of Connectivity & Innovation Connectivity is the lifeblood of the digital age. Here, attendees will explore how innovations in telecommunications, 5G, and connectivity infrastructure are shaping the future of technology and innovation across the continent. 5. In Conversation with MaC Venture Capital Venture Capital is a key driver of startup growth. This session with MaC Venture Capital offers a unique opportunity to gain insights into the world of venture capital, how it’s impacting the African tech ecosystem, and what investors are looking for in startups. Final thoughts on Moonshot topics These topics represent a diverse range of discussions that reflect the dynamic and evolving landscape of technology and innovation in Africa. Whether you’re interested in the foundational elements of the digital economy, cutting-edge technologies like AI, sustainable energy solutions, connectivity, or venture capital, the Moonshot tech event promises to provide valuable insights and opportunities for networking and growth.
Read More- October 10 2023
New York-based firm buys Nigerian AI startup CoverAI in five-figure deal
Writesea, a New York company, acquired 3-month-old Nigerian AI startup CoverAI for a five-figure dollar deal. Writesea, a New York-based firm specialising in white-label services for recruitment marketplaces, has acquired the three-month-old Nigerian AI startup, CoverAI. Chris Adolphus, CoverAI’s founder, told TechCabal that he received 12 bids for his startup on the startup marketplace Acquire.com but chose to sell to Writesea. While he said the acquisition was a five-figure cash deal, he declined to share the specific transaction value. One source estimated the deal value to be less than $50,000. CoverAI’s technology is based on OpenAI’s large language model and can create or revamp any CV within minutes; it uses a freemium model where customers can optimise their CV and get a cover letter for free. To access more features like interview preparation and job application tracking, customers then choose from one of three subscription tiers: a $5 basic plan, a $7 premium plan, and a $15 lifetime plan. Adolphus claims the app gained 13,000 organic customers and that “selling the startup was the plan from day 1, but it could have easily been a six-figure deal, considering the tech we built.” Writesea declined to comment on the deal, but Adolphus told TechCabal that he believes Writesea has the competence and experience it takes to take CoverAI to the next level. [ad] CoverAI remained a bootstrapped company for the three months of its existence, with the founder spending $386 to get it off the ground. That’s a pittance compared to the $1,265 Lotanna Ezeike, the founder of Bible Buddy, an AI-powered chatbot, spends on OpenAI credits monthly. Running apps on GPT4 can get expensive really quickly, depending on the number of words OpenAI processes and the length of the responses it provides. The mathematics of it looks like this: every word that the user prompts the application with is tokenised, and each token costs about $0.003 (often 75 cents per word.) To control costs, every time users typed a prompt into CoverAI, the app used an intermediary layer to summarise the prompt. But when the app added a feature that allowed users to chat with an AI bot, the cost of tokens went up. Long conversations used up more words and required more tokens. Although this is the first startup he has sold, Adolphus is concurrently managing his crypto project and a subscription-based design studio and says that he is already building another AI product for his next acquirer. “This new one would be more capital-intensive than CoverAI, as I would be doing paid marketing, using more third-party apps, and using OpenAI’s imaging. But this time I plan to exit with $200,000 within 6 months,” he said.
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- October 10 2023
Latest on SASSA grant payment dates October 2023
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has released the grant payment schedule for October 2023, demonstrating its commitment to supporting vulnerable individuals and families. Here’s what you need to know about the SASSA grant payment dates, some essential advice, and how you can stay informed. 1. Older Persons’ SASSA grant payment Commencing on Tuesday, 03 October 2023, Older Persons’ Grants will be disbursed, encompassing all grants linked to these accounts. This financial assistance is a lifeline for many seniors, ensuring they can maintain a decent standard of living in their golden years. 2. Disability SASSA grant payment On Wednesday, 04 October 2023, the Disability Grants will be distributed, including any grants linked to these accounts. These grants are instrumental in supporting those with disabilities to overcome challenges and live fulfilling lives. 3. Children’s SASSA grant payment Families relying on Children’s Grants can anticipate their payment on Thursday, 05 October 2023. This grant plays a pivotal role in safeguarding the well-being of children by providing access to education, healthcare, and proper nutrition. Notice on SASSA payment According to SASSA, there’s no need for haste in withdrawing cash on the first payment day. Once the money is in your account, it will remain there until it’s needed. This advice ensures the safety and convenience of accessing your funds, without the stress of time constraints. Additionally, as part of the #SASSACARES initiative to Keep South Africa Healthy, SASSA encourages beneficiaries to stay informed and connect. You can contact their toll-free helpline at **0800 60 10 11** for any inquiries or assistance regarding your grants. Valuable information can also be found on their official website at www.sassa.gov.za. Tips for grant beneficiaries before and upon payment Please note the following before and after you receive your SASSA grant payment: 1. Beware of scams While some people are trying to rig the SASSA system by benefiting more than allowed, others are trying to dupe legitimate beneficiaries. Therefore, you need to stay vigilant and cautious of individuals offering to assist you with your grant money in exchange for personal information or fees. SASSA does not charge fees for grants. 2. Keep your details updated Ensure that your contact and banking details are accurate and up-to-date with SASSA to avoid any payment issues.
Read More- October 10 2023
OPay, DHL, Meta may face steep fines as NDPC begins investigation into alleged data privacy violations
OPay, DHL, Meta may be fined up if Nigeria’s data protection commission establishes wrongdoing in data violation investigation OPay, Meta and DHL may be asked to pay 2% of their gross revenues in 2022 as fines if found guilty of data privacy violations according to Section 48 (5) of the Nigeria Data Protection Act of 2023. The National Commissioner of Nigeria’s Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr. Vincent Olatunji, told TechCabal that investigation notices had been sent to the three companies. While OPay is being investigated over claims that it opened accounts for people without their consent–the company has denied those claims–the details around Meta and DHL’s possible infractions are unclear. A highly placed source told TechCabal that customers complained that Meta was targeting them in behavioral advertising without their consent. “Protecting people’s information and giving them control over their data is a company priority,” said a spokesperson for Meta via email. “We offer a range of tools to help people manage their advertising and privacy preferences.” Meta also added that it is assisting the NPDC with its inquiry. Per NDPC’s methods, data protection and privacy complaints from the public are investigated, with the companies involved allowed to provide background on the allegations and disprove any wrongdoing. “We have written to them and we are expecting them to give us the information we are looking for,” said Olatunji. “We cannot take any action without their cooperation as we need to conduct a thorough investigation into their activities.” After the NDPC completes an investigation and finds that a data controller or processor has violated provisions of the law, the data protection law recommends a range of actions. The affected companies may be required to pay compensation to data subjects, disclosing the profits it made from the violation. In the event of a fine, companies found guilty of violations may be fined a maximum amount of N10 million or 2% of its annual gross revenue in the preceding year, depending on whichever figure is greater. Given how steep the fines are, the three companies under investigation hope to be cleared in the findings. DHL did not respond to comments, and a spokesperson for OPay referred TechCabal to its earlier response refuting the claims that it opened customer accounts without their consent.
Read More- October 10 2023
How this startup wants to help working professionals find love
For most people, getting a flirty DM on LinkedIn is borderline cringe, unprofessional and very weird. After all, the platform does describe itself as “a business and employment-focused” community. But what about working professionals who are also looking to find their soulmates? Where can they go? A South African startup called Boardroom is building a social media platform for working lovebirds who are looking for long-term partners. Founded by software developer Wisani Shilumani and serial startup entrepreneur Serisha Barrat in June, Boardroom is already making waves, having gone viral over the weekend. TechCabal caught up with co-founder Barrat to get more details on how exactly the app works, what challenges it is trying to address, how much traction it has attained so far and why they prefer not to be called “the Tinder for working professionals”. TechCabal: Please tell us about Boardroom and the problem the app is trying to address. Serisha Barrat: We realised that nowadays when you think of online dating, it comprises mostly of hookup culture. But what about people who are looking for much more than that? It is something that needs additional verification. How do they actually find someone who is long-term and also aligns with your professional goals and ambitions? So that was the market we decided to target with Boardroom. We don’t just want to have aimless dates and aimless swipes, as well as ghosting culture, but rather enable our users to find a long-term partner who they can share a life with for more than just one night. The problem that we’re solving here is we all have busy careers and shrinking social circles. So Boardroom is designed for men and women who would like to engage not just with any type of individual, but one that’s aligned with their professional goals as well. So there’s no easy way for professionals to find compatible long-term love interests if they are fully focused on building a career. And that’s where Boardroom comes into play, creating a community where it’s safe to find a partner. TC: Tell us how the app works SB: It is a mobile app available on both Android and iOS devices. Once users download the app, their identity is verified against their LinkedIn profile, which is one of the differentiating factors about it. That gives us additional verification and authentication for every individual. It also is an invite-only app so if you do download it, you don’t have access immediately. You would need to apply for access, after which we do additional vetting on our site to make sure that users are the calibre of individuals that we’re looking for, i.e. professionals. In terms of the user journey, after a user signs up after the LinkedIn verification, we then get an email on the back-end dashboard which verifies their identity. Do their profile pictures on Linkedin and on Boardroom match? Are they individuals within the professional space? Have they put accurate information on their LinkedIn that matches their Boardroom information? Then once we have accepted and done the additional verifications, we allow you on the app to flesh out your profile based on your hobbies, and additional images. You have to fill in all the info on the app for it to be accredited and accepted. So if it asks for five pictures, you provide five pictures, etc. So once you get onto the app, and you’ve now completed your profile, you will then be matched with individuals along your stated profession and interests. For each match request, you have to accompany it with a message to that potential match. So it’s not aimless swiping like with other platforms. And then it also gives you a time limit of 24 hours to actually engage with that match. Should you not engage with them in 24 hours, then it’s seen as you’re not interested so the person disappears from your profile. But once you have engaged with the respective individual, you’re able to chat with them. Additionally, we use AI to detect any vulgar language in the initial message sent when requesting a match to create a safe community free from harassment. Over the weekend, Boardroom went viral with some people referring to it as a “Tinder for working professionals.” Would you say that’s an accurate description of the platform? SB: We do not want to be associated with any other platform besides our own, to be very honest. We believe Boardroom is one of its kind. If we look at what our competition and positioning are, Boardroom is on a completely different side and spectrum of what the platform you mentioned is. We are not a hookup app, we’re not a despondency zone and we focus more on long-term relationships. So to answer your question, we are definitely not the Tinder for working professionals. What challenges have you faced in building the product? SB: I think right now, the only challenge that we are having is the influx of individuals that are signing up which is taking a toll on the vetting process that we’re now doing. So we’re trying to integrate easier vetting processes, like for example, taking a picture of your ID, and another piece of paper that has the date, and a picture with yourself next to it as its form of verification. What we’re trying to do is make sure that it’s not bots that are on here or individuals that are lying about their professional credentials. We’re trying to make sure that each user is verified in the fullest way possible. So that’s been a slight challenge just based on the influx of individuals to the platform. Where do you see the Boardroom platform in the next 2-3 years? SB: Online dating is a billion-dollar industry and I believe that we are uniquely positioned in that we’re trying to take the stigma away from online dating. We are offering a safe platform for working professionals to identify partners who also align with their professional
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- October 10 2023
Carrying out all MPESA PayPal transactions 2023
The M-PESA PayPal Service is a collaborative effort between Thunes, Safaricom, and PayPal, offering an efficient money transfer solution to joint PayPal and M-PESA users. This service facilitates the seamless movement of funds between M-PESA and PayPal accounts. Here, we will discuss the major transactions you may need to carry out between MPesa and PayPal and how to go about them. Currency management When using this service, customers can top up and withdraw funds in US Dollars (USD) through their PayPal accounts, while they manage their M-PESA account exclusively in Kenyan Shillings (KSh). If customers have multiple currencies in their PayPal account, they must convert these funds into USD to withdraw them to their M-PESA account. To perform the currency conversion, customers can access the “Manage Currencies” section in their PayPal account. Eligibility to use the Mpesa PayPal services This service is exclusively available to users in Kenya who possess registered M-PESA accounts, Google (PayPal) accounts, and Android devices. Account setup for M-PESA PayPal To utilisze the M-PESA PayPal Service, users must have both registered PayPal and M-PESA accounts. Registering for M-PESA can be done at any M-PESA agent outlet across Kenya, while PayPal registration can be completed on the official PayPal website (paypal.com). After successful registration, users need to link their PayPal account to their M-PESA account. Linking your M-PESA account to PayPal For new PayPal account holders, the following steps guide the linking process: 1. Visit the PayPal website at https://www.paypal-mobilemoney.com/m-pesa. 2. Click on the ‘Login’ menu at the top right corner and follow the on-screen instructions. 3. Log in to your PayPal account. 4. Enter your M-PESA account phone number. 5. Accept the terms and conditions. 6. Enter the 6-digit confirmation code sent by Safaricom to your M-PESA-linked mobile number. Once linked, customers can use the same connection for both withdrawals from PayPal to M-PESA and deposits from M-PESA to PayPal. How to Withdraw from Paypal to MPESA To transfer funds from your PayPal account to your linked M-PESA account: 1. Log in to your PayPal account at https://www.paypal-mobilemoney.com/m-pesa. 2. Select ‘Withdraw’ (your available USD balance will be displayed). 3. Enter the amount to withdraw in USD and click ‘withdraw’ (up to your available USD balance). 4. You will be redirected to a page displaying the amount to be received in Kenyan Shillings, the exchange rate, and estimated processing time. 5. Click ‘Confirm’ to complete the transaction. Topping up your PayPal account from Mpesa To top up your PayPal account using funds from your M-PESA account: 1. Visit the M-PESA PayPal web page (link). 2. Select ‘Top Up funds.’ 3. Enter the desired amount in USD and click ‘calculate’ to see the equivalent in Kenyan Shillings. 4. Proceed to your M-PESA menu, select ‘Lipa na M-PESA,’ and choose the ‘Pay Bill’ option. 5. Enter Business no. 800088 and your phone number as Account No. 6. Enter the amount in Kenyan Shillings and your M-PESA PIN, then send the payment. Transaction be processing time and limits Withdrawn funds will be processed to your M-PESA account within 2 hours to 3 calendar days, depending on the transaction’s value. The estimated time will be presented before confirming the transaction. Current M-PESA transaction limits apply, with a maximum of KSh. 150,000 per transaction and KSh. 300,000 per day. Customer Support For queries or additional information, customers can reach out through the following channels: – Call 100 or 200. – Call +254 722 002100 (for prepaid customers) or +254 722 002200 (for post-pay customers). – Twitter: @Safaricom_Care and @SafaricomPLC. – Facebook: @SafaricomPLC. – Visit any Safaricom shop.
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- October 10 2023
Receive foreign payments in Nigeria 2023
In today’s globalised world, it’s increasingly common for Nigerians to work with international clients or companies, leading to the need to receive foreign payments. However, the Nigerian peculiar restrictions and strict modalities on the process of receiving foreign funds can be complex and discouraging. In this article, we’ll explore some key and easy ways Nigerians can efficiently receive foreign payments. 1. Bank wire transfers This traditional method involves sending details of your bank account to your overseas client or employer. They can then initiate a wire transfer to your Nigerian account. However, your bank account needs to support international wire transfers and be prepared for fees and potentially longer processing times. Such accounts are called domiciliary accounts. You can walk into any bank of your choice to open one. 2. Payoneer Payoneer is a popular choice for freelancers and online businesses in Nigeria. It offers a multi-currency receiving account that allows you to receive payments in various currencies, which can then be withdrawn to your Nigerian bank account as naira. Sign up for a Payoneer account, receive payments, and transfer them to your local bank. 3. SendWave You can tell your sender to use the SendWave app which is available on Google Play Store and choose Cash Pickup as your means of collection. You will need to provide them with your legal name as it appears on your BVN and your phone number too. These will be used to process the payment from their end. Once the payment has been processed, the sender will receive access codes (an OTP and a Voucher Code). They are to share the authentication codes with you and you can take these codes along with a valid ID card to any Access Bank, GTB, Zenith, or Fidelity bank branch, and cash out your payment. If you have a domiciliary account, you can use it to receive foreign payments in Nigeria using SendWave. Just tell your sender to follow these steps: Download the SendWave app from your app store. Sign up and verify your identity. Link your bank account. After they have done the above, you simply provide them with your Nigerian Domiciliary account number. Once they send it, you’ll get it in your account without hassle. 4. Cryptocurrency Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies offer an alternative way to receive international payments. You can provide your cryptocurrency wallet address to your clients, and once the payment is made, you can exchange the cryptocurrency for Naira on local exchanges. 5. Remittance services to receive foreign payments Services like Western Union and MoneyGram allow you to receive foreign payments in cash at their local branches. Your client can send money directly to one of these service providers, and you can pick it up after providing necessary identification. Final thoughts on how to receive foreign payments in Nigeria Receiving foreign payments in Nigeria is achievable through various methods, each with its pros and cons. Choose the method that best suits your needs, taking into account factors such as currency, fees, and processing times. With the right approach, you can smoothly handle international transactions and expand your global business opportunities.
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- October 10 2023
TechCabal Daily – Farmers, Assemble!
In partnership with Share this newsletter: Lire en Français اقرأ هذا باللغة العربية Happy Moonshot Week TechCabal was the biggest winner of the night at the Startup Awards! We won the Best New Media Platform (Technology) Award, and our business intelligence arm TC Insights, won the Best Startup Intelligence Platform. The biggest—and most important win of the night, yes, most important—is the Best Startup Ecosystem Newsletter Award for TC Daily! There’s more to celebrate at TechCabal: our website surpassed 2 million readers in Q3, and TC Daily hit 144,000 subscribers. Our Sunday newsletter, Next Wave, has over 46,000 subscribers, while Entering Tech now has 56,000 readers. Read our Q3 impact letter to discover our reportorial impact so far. If you’d like to congratulate us, find us at the Moonshot Conference starting tomorrow, October 11, and 12, 2023, where Africa’s most audacious thinkers and doers will celebrate innovation on the continent. In today’s edition ThriveAgric to empower 125,000 smallholder farmers South Africa to amend SIM registration law Amazon launches development centre in Kenya Koree wins Ecobank Fintech Challenge The World Wide Web3 Opportunities One day till the Moonshot Conference Wondering what’s in store for Nigeria’s digital future? You can find out at the Moonshot Conference! Starting tomorrow, October 11, join some of Africa’s most audacious thinkers and builders as they network, collaborate, share insights and celebrate innovation on the continent. Join Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s minister of communications, innovation and digital economy, Juliet Ehimuan, Oswald Osaretin Guobadia, and Tomiwa Aladekomo as they explore the future of Nigeria’s digital space. Get your tickets now at moonshot.techcabal.com/. Agritech ThriveAgric to empower 125,000 smallholder farmers Image source: IMGFlip Over the next year, Nigerian farmers will break into the banking scene. Nigerian agritech startup, ThriveAgric, has partnered with a global nonprofit organisation, Heifer International, to empower 125,000 smallholder farmers. How? Through the ThriveAgric Agriculture, Youth, and Technology (AYuTe) project, born from ThriveAgric’s win in the 2022 AYuTe Africa Challenge. The challenge was organised by Heifer International, and it will grant smallholder farmers financial inclusion access through the initiative. In the coming year, ThriveAgric and its technical partners will facilitate the opening of bank accounts for the farmers across eight northern states in Nigeria, including Adamawa, Gombe, Yobe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, and Bauchi, giving them access to debit cards and other financial services. Furthermore, ThriveAgric will employ over 200 young individuals and provide 1,000 PoS devices to selected Nigerian youths to boost and provide income to their families. A gender-focused approach: The AYuTe project is being launched in response to the fact that only 51% of Nigerian adults in 2020 had access to financial services, with women being disproportionately excluded. ThriveAgric will be approaching the project with a gender lens to ensure that at least 40% of the targeted beneficiaries are women. 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. Telecoms South Africa to amend SIM card registration law Image source: YungNollywood South Africa’s SIM card registration law is undergoing a facelift. The county is examining its regulation of the Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication-related Information Act known as the Rica Act. Rica Act? The Rica Act was enacted in South Africa in 2005 to help prevent criminals from using cell phones for illegal activities. The law mandates every telecom agency to register its users. While the Rica Act aims to stem criminal activities in South Africa, a loophole exists: it does not limit the amount of SIM cards an individual can activate. Several individuals have used this to perpetrate SIM card fraud, with criminals posing as legitimate cell phone account holders using fake identity documents. The South African Banking Risk Information Centre (Sabric) estimates that a SIM-swap fraud costs a victim an average of R17,800 ($920) per incident. South Africa’s communications regulator is in talks with the department of justice to ensure that the amendment is passed into law in no time. Zoom out: South Africa’s crackdown on sim card registration is not a first on the continent. Irregularly registered SIM cards have been used to perpetuate money laundering, cybercrime, and mobile money fraud in Africa. In 2022, Kenya’s communication authority turned off irregularly registered SIM cards in the country—the second time since 2018. Cloud computing Amazon launches web services development centre in Kenya Kenyan president William Ruto with Amazon reps at the launch Amazon Web Services (AWS) has opened a new African development centre in Nairobi, Kenya. This is the second AWS hub in Africa, with the first one situated in Cape Town, South Africa. What’s the centre for? The AWS African Development Centre is a base for AWS Research and Development teams. The new centre will offer employment opportunities in fields like software development, cloud support, and software engineering. Why use Kenya as a second hub? Uwem Ukpong, vice president of global services at AWS, stated that the centre will help Kenya tap into a pool of talented people. He also mentioned that AWS can support Kenya’s economic growth by working with local Kenyan talents, creating a win-win situation for all parties involved. The big picture: Kenya is becoming a hub for these development centres. In April Last year, Google launched its first African product development centre in Nairobi, to build products and services for the African market. In March 2022, Microsoft officially opened its premier engineering hub, the African Development Centre in Nairobi. Kenya already has Amazon CloudFront, the third in Africa, in addition to two in South African cities Johannesburg and Cape Town. Amazon CloudFront is a global content delivery network (CDN) that delivers web applications and Application Programming Interface (API) with low latency, high performance, security, and reliability. 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
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- October 9 2023
TechCabal is biggest winner at the 2023 Startup South Awards
TechCabal was biggest winner of the night, taking home trophies in three categories. TechCabal and its business intelligence unit TC Insights have won awards in three categories at the Startup Awards, held on October 5 and 6 in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. The awards are for Best New Media Platform (Technology), Best Startup Intelligence Platform (TC Insights), and Best Startup Ecosystem Newsletter (TC Daily). This award is coming just as the publication is preparing to host one of the biggest tech conferences on the continent, Moonshot. The conference, which will be held in Lagos on October 11 and 12, will bring together Africa’s tech ecosystem in person to network, collaborate, share insights and celebrate innovation on the continent. The Startup Awards, organised by #StartupSouth, a startup ecosystem development and advocacy organisation, honours individuals and organisations that have made a verifiable impact in deepening the innovation ecosystem in Nigeria, with specific reference to the South-South/South-Eastern regions. A breakdown of the winners’ list shows that TechCabal, winning in three categories), was the biggest winner of the night. The 2023 edition of the Startup Awards witnessed significant growth, with over 300 nominations received and an impressive 4,000 votes recorded. The evaluation criteria included public vote (20%), national spread/national impact/relevance (20%), venture backing for startups (20%), regional impact (20%), and jury decision (20%). In his speech before handing over the awards to the winners, Yakubu Musa, acting national coordinator, Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI). National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), commended the organisers of the awards and pledged NITDA’s support and willingness to work with the team in subsequent editions. In his closing remarks, Uche Aniche, convener of #StartupSouth, thanked all the nominees and the winners for their relentless commitment to the #StartupSouth ethos. He emphasised that everyone who made it to the nomination table deserved to win the award and urged them to see the awards as an invitation to do more. Notable guests at the event were Nkechi Obi, CEO of Sports Nigeria Ltd/GTE and chairman of the Nigeria Women Football League, NWFL; Kehinde Ogundare (country manager Nigeria at Zoho; Olufemi Abioye, founder/CEO of Dekaizen; Tessy Ewuzie, facility manager at Aradel Holdings; and Ikechukwu Anachemba, senior special assistant to the governor of Anambra State on innovation & incubation. Full list of winners Startup of the Year – National – HouseAfrica Startup of the Year – Regional – Foris Labs Inspirational Founder of the Year – National – Nnamdi Uba & Ndifreke Ikokpu Inspirational Founder of the Year – Regional – Aaron Esumeh Public Institution of the Year – National – NITDA Public Institution of the Year – Regional – Skill-up Imo (MInistry Digital Economy & e-Government) Best Startup Coverage (Radio) – Regional – Nigeria Info PH Best Startup Coverage (TV) – National – Channels TV Best Startup Coverage (TV) – Regional – AfiaTV Enugu Best Startup Coverage (Non-Technology) New Media – National – Nairametrics Best Startup Coverage (Non-Technology) New Media – Regional – Naira Diary Startup Journalist of the Year Regional – Peter Oluka (Tech Economy) Most Inspirational Technology Hub – Regional – OlotuSquare, Port Harcourt Best Startup/Technology Show (TV) – The Beam (Channels TV) Best Startup Coverage (Print) – BusinessDay Best Startup Ecosystem Newsletter – TechCabal Daily Best Startup Ecosystem Podcast or Vlog – Growing Africa Podcast (Daniel Ose) Most Inspiring Startup Community – Onitsha Business Connect Most Active #StartupSouth City Community – Port Harcourt Next Rated Startup – Bellum (Port Harcourt) Best New Media Platform (Technolog) – TechCabal Best Startup/Technology Show (Radio) – The Entrepreneur (WaveFM Port Harcourt) Best Startup Ecosystem Intelligence Platform – TechCabal Insights Have you got your tickets to TechCabal’s Moonshot Conference? Click here to do so now!
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