The ‘big four’ are not reducing steam, but new leaders are emerging in Africa’s tech ecosystem
The ‘big four’—Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa, and Kenya— are all known for pulling the weights in Africa’s tech ecosystem, however, new countries are emerging as frontiers and are rapidly carving out their space in the tech landscape. Africa has enjoyed unprecedented advancements in tech innovations and entrepreneurship over the years. Propelling it onto the global tech stage has been ‘the big four’—Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa, and Kenya—grabbing the spotlight with their impressive tech ecosystems. Among the seven unicorns that Africa has produced, the big four take heavy representation. Also, in the recently released Africa’s fastest growing company list, the big four take the lion’s share of eighty-one companies out of a hundred countries listed. Per Crunchbase, Africa has about 2,461 startups, the big four score a large representation of these with 2,217 startups across different verticals. According to startup list Africa, the big four have done a combined cumulative funding of over $24 billion—with Nigeria having a share of over $6.7 billion in investment, Kenya with over $4.1billion, Egypt with more than $3.1billion, and South Africa flush with $10.3 billion in startup investment. Also, the total deal count between them was 3,503 with 103 mergers and acquisitions. While regional influence, market size, and great infrastructure allow the big four to conveniently steal the spotlight. Other African countries are emerging, these countries show promise to be powerhouses in the distant future. This piece highlights a curated list of these African countries that are rapidly carving out their space in the tech landscape, driving economic growth, and fostering digital transformation in their spaces. Francophone frontiers: Senegal, Morocco, DRC, and Mauritius French-speaking countries in recent times have been gracefully defying expectations in the startup scene and propelling their influence far beyond their linguistic boundaries. The Global Startup Ecosystems Ranking places Morocco and Senegal at the top of a list of some of Africa’s largest movers, a development that could considerably increase the awareness of startups in those nations and give them access to investor growth money. According to the ranking, Morocco moved up 16 positions, to the 79th slot globally while Senegal climbed 13 positions to 92, debuting in the top 100 clubs of nations hosting startup ecosystems. Senegal’s ranking was buoyed by improved rankings of cities, according to the Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2022, an index created by StartupBlink. In 2021, Wave—Senegal’s posterchild and mobile money startup—raised the biggest-ever Series A round of an African startup, pushing its valuation to $1.7 billion, making it Africa’s first francophone unicorn. Per The Big Deal, Senegalese startups raised $91.6 million in 2022. Mauritius has also been punching above its weight in recent times, the country had three entries in the recently released Financial Times report on Africa’s fastest-growing companies. According to the Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2022 report, Mauritius was on the 71st spot. The island nation moved up two positions, thanks to the debut of two of the country’s two cities – Port Louis and Grand Baie – in the top 1,000 list of cities. Unpacking Africa’s fastest growing companies list The Democratic Republic of Congo is also gunning for a place to be a regional leader in the francophone space. Per The Big Deal, startups in the country raised a comulative sum of $39 million in 2022. Altech, a clean energy company recently clinched top spot in the Financial Times report on Africa’s fastest-growing companies. The company also recently announced a $18m debt funding round to expand access to energy in the Central African country. Ghana—following the giants’ path Although the startup growth experienced in the last year might not be astonishing due to the slump in investment. However, west African startups lead the regional picture in Africa, accounting for $1.8 billion in funding. While Nigerian startups represent almost 70% of that figure, Ghana comes second, garnering $390m in deals in the past year, per The Big Deal. Chippercash became a Unicorn in 2021 after a $150 million extension round led FTX to score a major win for the tech ecosystem in the country. The country has a growing number of startups that have raised significant funding and are thriving in the ecosystem. Apart from Chippercash, which has raised a total of $302 million in funding, mPharma, a healthcare startup, raised $35 million in 2022, increasing the total amount raised to $85 million. North African powerhouses: Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco Startups in Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco raised a combined $559.57 million in 2022, per The Big Deal. Tunisia pioneered the Startup Act wave for African countries in 2018. According to Africa Business, a pan-African business publication, “Tunisia’s Startup Act has become a blueprint for many African countries.” The Tunisian startup act has been instrumental to the countries startup growth. Unlike other laws that emanate from government representatives or members of parliament, the Tunisian startup act adopted a participatory approach that accommodated opinions of actors within the startup ecosystem—entrepreneurs, investors, civil societies, legislatures etc. The startup act with the mission to spur innovation demand and foster entrepreneurship in the country seem to have been working as Tunisian startups have been receiving continuous investments and participation from global players. Last year, Tunisian startups received $151.6 million in investment with a large chunk of the startup investment going into logistics and transportation startups. According to the Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2022 report, Morocco’s startup scene saw an increase in 2022 and jumped 16 spots from the previous year. Currently 79th in global ranking and second in Northern Africa—only behind regional leader Egypt. Morocco is fast becoming a darling to investors due to its “strategic” geographical location, making it a gateway to Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. Its proximity to Europe allows easy access to markets and resources, making it an attractive location for startups looking to expand globally. According to The Big Deal Moroccan startups raised $18.57 million in 2022. Since 2022, Algeria lost the number one spot on the Global Startup Ecosystem Index, having now positioned itself as 117th worldwide. Ranked number four
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iStore Pre-owned best deals 2023
iStore Pre-owned is a popular retail chain in South Africa that specializes in selling second-hand Apple products. The company was established to meet the growing demand for affordable Apple devices among consumers who might not be able to afford brand-new products. iStore Pre-owned offers a range of preowned Apple products, including iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple Watches, and accessories, all of which are certified as being in good working condition and come at great prices. iStore Pre-owned has several retail locations throughout South Africa, making it easy for customers to find a store near them. The company also has a user-friendly website that makes it easy for customers to browse and purchase products online. The website also includes detailed product information, including device specifications and condition details, allowing customers to make informed purchasing decisions. Here, we’ll highlight the top iPhone deals you’ll get in the iStore and the price ranges you’ll find them. iPhone XS Max deals on iStore Pre-owned The iPhone XS Max, despite being a 2018 device off Apple’s iPhone line, is still very much in demand. And it’s little wonder why the iStore Pre-owned prominently features the device for sale on their platform. The device features a large 6.5-inch Super Retina OLED display with a resolution of 1242 x 2688 pixels. The phone is powered by Apple’s A12 Bionic chip, which has six cores and can handle up to 5 trillion operations per second. It also comes with a 4GB RAM and is available in three storage options: 64GB, 256GB, and 512GB. The XS Max boasts a dual-camera system, with a 12-megapixel wide-angle lens and a 12-megapixel telephoto lens. It has optical image stabilization, 2x optical zoom, and a portrait mode that allows for adjustable depth control. The front-facing camera is a 7-megapixel TrueDepth camera with Face ID technology for secure unlocking and authentication. The XS Max supports Gigabit-class LTE, Bluetooth 5.0, and dual-SIM capability. It is also water and dust resistant with an IP68 rating, which means it can withstand being submerged in up to two meters of water for up to 30 minutes. The phone runs on iOS 12, which features new Emojis, Memojis, and Screen Time, a feature that helps users monitor and manage their device usage. It also supports wireless charging and fast charging, which can charge the phone up to 50% in just 30 minutes. Overall, the iPhone XS Max is a powerful and feature-packed phone with a large and impressive display, top-notch camera capabilities, and advanced technology. On the iStore Pre-owned website, you’ll find deals from R7,499 – R10,399. The prices usually depend on storage size and the neatness level of the refurbished mobile device. iPhone 11 series on iStore Pre-owned One of the most popular iPhone models on iStore Pre-owned is the iPhone 11 series. Released in 2019, it comprises three models: the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max. All three models boast impressive camera systems, with the iPhone 11 featuring a dual-camera system and the Pro models featuring a triple-camera system. The A13 Bionic chip powers all three models, providing fast performance and energy efficiency. The iPhone 11 and 11 Pro have 6.1-inch displays, while the Pro Max features a larger 6.5-inch display. All three models have improved water resistance and feature iOS 13, with updates available to the latest iOS 15. Overall, the iPhone 11 series is a solid choice for those looking for a powerful and reliable smartphone. On iStore Pre-owned, you’ll find deals for the refurbished versions of the iPhone 11 series from R8,499 – R 13,999. The price will be determined by phone neatness/use level, storage capacity, and which particular model of the 11 series it is. iPhone 12 series on iStore The iPhone 12 series is one of the lineup of smartphones from Apple, released in October 2020. And refurbished versions of the amazing smartphone are available for good deals on iStore Pre-owned for buyers in South Africa. They have versions that include the four popular iPhone 12 models: the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max. All models feature 5G connectivity, A14 Bionic chipsets, and OLED displays with Ceramic Shield front covers for improved durability. The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini have dual-camera systems, while the Pro models have triple-camera systems with LiDAR scanners for improved augmented reality experiences. Additionally, the iPhone 12 Pro models have stainless steel frames and larger screens compared to the non-Pro models. Overall, the iPhone 12 series offers impressive performance and features for Apple enthusiasts and new users alike. On iStore Pre-owned, you’ll get the used iPhone 12 series between R8,999 and R22,499. iPhone 13 series on iStore Pre-owned The iPhone 13 series is one of the latest releases from Apple4, consisting of four models: iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Mini, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max. These devices come with new features and improvements compared to their predecessors. One notable upgrade is the A15 Bionic chip, which offers faster processing speeds and better power efficiency. The cameras have also been upgraded with improved low-light performance, cinematic mode, and the ability to capture ProRAW photos. The design has also been refined, with smaller notches and a new diagonally oriented rear camera layout. Overall, the iPhone 13 series offers significant improvements and is a solid choice for those in the market for a new feel of the iPhone brand. The refurbished versions of this series cost between R11,999 and R29,999, depending on their storage, models, and conditions which are graded between good, better and best. Iphone 14 series deals on iStore Pre-owned The iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, the iPhone 14 Pro, and the iPhone 14 Pro Max are the four latest iPhones that Apple has in the market. And that’s the limit of the iPhone catalogue on iStore Pre-owned too. While the other three iPhones are essentially just improved versions of what we already have on the market, the iPhone 14 Plus is an altogether new
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MTN leads the USSD change as *556# goes defunct
Following the review of USSD commands by the NCC, MTN Nigeria seems to have changed the USSD to check your airtime account balance, alongside providing updates for other commands. The old legendary MTN USSD – *556#, is no longer responding as usual. We’ll now show you the new code to check your account balance. When you dial the *556# command, you get a prompt that says your dial was wrong and that you should choose from a list of 7 items what command you intended. The image below shows the details of the prompt: Therefore, to check your airtime account balance through the prompt, you’ll need to enter the number 4. And as ofat today 17, May 2023, directly check your MTN airtime balance with USSD, you may have to dial the new USSD *310#. Other direct USSD to updates on MTN Currently, the commands listed 1-7 on the pop-up are the new direct USSD for those services listed beside them. However, their initial access codes are still working. Dial *312# for Data Plans Dial *311# for Airtime Recharge Dial *303# to borrow airtime. Dial *310# to check account Dial *323# for data balance Dial *321# to share data Dial *305# for VAS. Final thoughts All other networks will soon adopt the new uniform codes as instructed by the NCC and we’ll monitor that as well..
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TechCabal Daily – Ghana gets the bag
Lire en français Read this email in French. 18 MAY, 2023 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH Happy pre-Friday If you have an inactive Gmail account you want to keep, now might be the time to log back in and make use of the account. Google has updated its policies, and by December 2023, it will delete all Gmail accounts that have been inactive for more than two years. This includes all apps connected to Gmail—Google Docs, Sheets, Forms—as well as inactive Google Photos and YouTube accounts. In today’s edition Ghana secures $3 billion from IMF Egypt sells 9.5% stake in Telecom Egypt Zimbabwe’s gold mafia is cleared Tizeti and Microsoft partner in Côte d’Ivoire The World Wide Web3 Report: The State of Tech in Africa Opportunities GHANA SECURES $3 BILLION FROM THE IMF The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has granted Ghana a $3 billion bailout to aid its economic recovery from the debt crisis. This approval has boosted investor confidence, resulting in Ghana’s currency, the cedi, becoming the world’s top performer against the dollar. How well is the Cedi performing? As of yesterday, the currency reportedly traded 1.7% stronger at GH₵10.8625 per dollar in Accra, Ghana’s capital. Additionally, Ghana’s Eurobond maturing in 2032 experienced a boost, rising 0.5 cents to 40.2 cents on the dollar. Investors had been wagering on the approval of the bailout. What will this funding do? The approved funding will serve to replenish Ghana’s foreign-exchange reserves, which have seen a significant decline of nearly 50% since their peak in August 2021. Sounds exciting. The government is gearing up to receive a massive injection of cash, and we’re talking big numbers here. There will be an initial disbursement of a whopping $600 million. Another hefty $600 million is on its way in November, followed by equal instalments of $350 million every six months, pending those critical reviews by the IMF. That’s a whole lot of zeros, but there’s more! Ghana is also set on securing an additional $900 million in budget support from the World Bank over the course of a three-year period. There is still more: Ghana is rolling up its sleeves for some serious negotiations. It is currently in talks to restructure $13 billion of its debt. Notably, a bilateral creditors group co-chaired by China and France played a vital role in restructuring Ghana’s debt under the Common Framework, which ensures fair burden sharing. Ghana is leaving no stone unturned. With cash injections, budget support, and debt restructuring on the horizon, it looks like the country is Ghana make it out of Sapa land. MONIEPOINT RANKED 2ND FASTEST-GROWING AFRICAN COMPANY Moniepoint is Africa’s second-fastest growing company, as shown in FTs latest report. We also processed 1 billion transactions worth $43 billion in Q1 alone. Read all about it here. This is partner content. EGYPT SELLS 9.5% STAKE IN TELECOM EGYPT Egypt’s finance ministry on Sunday announced the sale of its 9.5% stake in Telecom Egypt, raising 3.75 billion Egyptian pounds ($121.6 million). Per reports from Bloomberg, filings submitted to the Egyptian Stock Exchange indicate that 162.2 million shares were sold at 23.11 Egyptian pounds ($0.75) each. Prior to this recent transaction, the government’s ownership in the Egyptian Stock Exchange-listed company stood at 80%, while the remaining 20% was publicly traded on the Egyptian Exchange. The government is also offering 0.5% of Telecom Egypt to employees to buy by May 25, which will bring the total asset sale to 10%. Overall, it will reduce the government’s stake to 70%. This move is part of the government’s privatisation programme, aimed at advancing its economic agenda. Egypt is desperate to raise revenue from privatising state-owned firms in order to meet a series of foreign debt obligations that will be due in a few months. The government announced the sale of its stakes in Telecom Egypt almost two months after it first said it planned to reduce the government’s ownership in the company. Egypt purging assets: The sale of 9.5% of Telecom Egypt marks the second transaction following prime minister Mostafa Madbouly’s commitment on April 29 to proceed with the planned divestment of government stakes in 32 companies. The objective is to raise $2 billion by the end of June. As part of a $3 billion, 46-month financial support package signed in December 2022, Egypt has committed to reducing its intervention in the economy and facilitating a more prominent role for private companies. This move aligns with the agreement made with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to promote economic liberalisation and greater participation of private entities. ZIMBABWEAN GOLD MAFIA CLEARED OF ACCUSATIONS Remember those alleged Zimbabwean gold mafia members who were accused of looting the country’s precious gold reserves? Well, hold onto your seats because they have just been cleared of all wrongdoings. Apparently, the investigations into their finances revealed no evidence of gold smuggling on their part, so their accounts have been unfrozen and they have been let go. Everyone is asking how no evidence was found despite the damning documentary by Al Jazeera. But the bigger question is, is now really the best time to unfreeze the accounts of individuals accused of exploiting their access to the gold reserves? Why are people asking that? Last month, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) introduced a gold-backed digital currency backed by the nation’s gold reserve. The digital legal tender is one of the several measures the government is taking to deal with the country’s currency, the Zimbabwean dollar, nosediving against the American dollar. Holders of the gold-backed token can exchange their money for the tokens in order to store value and shield themselves from the volatility of the exchange rate. The tokens, backed by 139.57 kilograms of gold, were on sale from May 8 to May 12. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) cautioned Zimbabwe that backing a digital currency with its gold reserve is very risky. However, the country announced that it has sold Z$14 billion worth of gold-backed digital tokens—worth around $39 million after receiving applications from 135 interested buyers.
Read MoreThe story behind M-KOPA’s $250 debt and equity raise
Digital financing firm M-KOPA recently raised $250 million. The general manager, Babajide Duroshola, has explained why debt was raised in the funding process. TechCabal earlier reported that M-KOPA closed a $75m drive back in February 2022. The digital financing firm has given reasons why it raised $250 million in debt and equity financing. The breakdown of its latest capital injection includes $55 million in equity and over $200 million in debt. Yesterday, May 16th, M-KOPA general manager, Babajide Duroshola, was on a Twitter space organised by Big Tech This Week. On the Space, he explained that debt helps one to get the required working capital to put to use as soon as possible “For the size of our business today, It is very difficult for us to be lending based off equity drawdowns. So debt was the preferable option because it allowed us to do bigger things,” Duroshola explained. He said it is better compared to equity which is nice but expensive because equity involves giving a part of your business to someone with the promise to take huge returns. The M-KOPA boss explained that debt is faster and helped the firm to scale. Experts at TLG Capital, who spoke at the TLG Future Africa Venture Debt Conference that was held virtually today, noted that only 13% of Africa venture capital is backed by debt. The infographic shared during its afternoon session showed low venture debt in the ecosystem as Venture Equity accounted for $4.5billion compared to $650million in debt funding in 2022. TechCabal, last month reported that debt funding has become a more attractive financing option for startups. Founding Partner, Future Africa, Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, who was present at the conference acknowledges that the game of funding has changed.”The game has changed. But now capital has become so expensive that you have to ask yourself whether it is worth sacrificing to build the business you want to build,” he stated. With the success of its business model in Kenya, M-KOPA’s new funding is premised on boosting its smartphone financing offering, expanding into additional markets, and prioritising sustainability. Going further, Duroshola explained that in recouping some of the credit in smartphone financing, how they get individuals to pay is through the technology. He noted that if any customer defaults on payment, the smartphone has the capacity to lock itself. However, he noted that there is flexibility in payments and customers can walk away anytime. “The payment is flexible and they can pay on the day they can afford the device. You can use three days payment or seven days. Even if you miss a day’s payment, you can pay the next. Customers can walk away anytime. We do not force people to pay by all means,” he explained.
Read MoreGhana secures $3 billion IMF bailout for economic recovery
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has granted Ghana a $3 billion bailout to aid its economic recovery from the debt crisis. The anticipation of this approval has boosted investor confidence, resulting in Ghana’s currency, the Cedi, becoming the world’s top performer against the dollar. Ghana’s much-anticipated request for a $3 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has been approved, per Bloomberg. This signals a positive outlook for the nation’s economy amidst its debt-induced crisis. Investors had been eagerly awaiting this news over the past six months, leading to a surge in confidence and making Ghana’s cedi the world’s top-performing currency against the US dollar. As of today, the currency reportedly traded 1.7% stronger at 10.8625 per dollar in Accra, Ghana’s capital. Additionally, Ghana’s Eurobond maturing in 2032 experienced a boost, rising 0.5 cents to 40.2 cents on the dollar. The approved funding will serve to replenish Ghana’s foreign-exchange reserves, which have seen a significant decline of nearly 50% since their peak in August 2021 due to the central bank’s efforts to defend the cedi. In order to secure this IMF program approval, Ghana had to make tough economic decisions, such as increasing taxes. Notably, a bilateral creditors group—co-chaired by China and France—played a vital role in restructuring Ghana’s debt under the G20’s Common Framework which reportedly influenced the approval greatly. Although the IMF has not officially announced its decision, Bloomberg reports that sources close to the matter have confirmed the approval following a meeting of the IMF’s executive board on Wednesday. According to Mohammed Amin Adam, the Minister of State for Finance, the government anticipates receiving an initial disbursement of $600 million this week, with another $600 million expected in November. The remaining amount will likely be disbursed in equal instalments of $350 million every six months, subject to IMF reviews. Furthermore, the government is currently engaged in talks for an additional $900 million in budget support from the World Bank over a three-year period. Simultaneously, negotiations are being planned with eurobond holders to restructure the $13 billion debt owed to private investors, indicating a comprehensive effort to stabilise Ghana’s financial situation.
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🚀Entering Tech #30: How ConTech Africa helps creators in tech
The tech community for creators in tech. 17 || May || 2023 View in Browser Brought to you by Issue #30 Communities: ConTech Africa Share this newsletter Greetings ET people In last week’s edition, we introduced the discussion on tech communities and what they can offer you, the aspiring or newbie techie. We also talked about the importance of support in setting off on this exciting and challenging new path. This week, we’re delving deeper into this topic with a closer look at one community in particular: ConTech Africa. If you’re like us, a creator with little to no coding skills, wondering how to make it in the big bad world of tech, this edition on ConTech may help you find your way. by Pamela Tetteh and Timi Odueso. Tech trivia Let’s try out a couple of riddles this week. And no, it’s not because we don’t have trivia. Why did the developer go broke? What’s a computer’s favourite snack? What is ConTech Africa? ConTech, a portmanteau of “Content” and “Tech”. The first community we’ll spotlight is a personal favourite of mine: ConTech Africa, and yes, it’s because I’m a member—start your own newsletter if my favouritism bothers you. For Daniel Orubo, one of the founders of ConTech Africa and Head of Content at PiggyVest, the idea for ConTech Africa started with the numerous LinkedIn DMs he got. People wanted to know how or if they could make careers in content creation, or how they could make more money from their craft. You have to understand: Daniel is one of the go-to people for content development on the continent. He worked at Zikoko long before the publication became the hottest thing since the Lagos sun; he was EIC at Parisian Gen-Z publication Konbini where he managed the creation of hundreds of articles and videos; and now, he leads the content strategy team at PiggyVest—a team he created—which produces comics, videos and articles that convert readers into users. If you have a question about content, Daniel has the answer. And it’s these answers that led to the creation of ConTech Africa, a community where African creators can connect, grow and discover where their talents fit in the tech landscape. With questions drawing his attention to the dearth of resources for creators in Africa’s tech ecosystem, Daniel—and Ope Adedeji who is Editorial Director at Big Cabal Media—founded ConTech Africa in November 2022. How ConTech works Non-techies—Designers, Content Writers, and Product Managers/Owners 1,000 Nil. Absolutely free Slack In last week’s edition of #EnteringTech, we explained the different offerings of tech communities and ConTech Africa’s is no different. A. Community: ConTech Africa is a Slack-based community that provides creators with different channels to connect with one another. There are stand-alone channels for people learning product development/management, as well as for designers and marketers. And while it has a small but effective team—including David Onugha whose Slack messages I’ve aired twice—manning the community, most of the conversations in these channels are championed by community members who share their questions, learnings and experiences. B: Scholarships: ConTech offers more than just the opportunity to connect with other creators. The community also offers its members opportunities to upskill themselves through scholarships. In May, it offered three community members scholarships to the Treford Marketing Bootcamp, and everyone else got a 20% discount. In April, two members got a scholarship for a UI Design Bootcamp, and a March partnership with CV Loft saw several members get full CV revamps! C: Opportunities: ConTech has a dedicated Slack channel which is updated daily with job openings across the continent and globally. As a member, I’ve also seen job postings by other members who are hiring for positions in their companies. D: ConTech Corner: In last week’s edition, I mentioned how ConTech hosted Daniel Abayomi, a product designer at Meta on a Twitter Space. Every month, ConTech hosts ConTech Corner, an hour-long monthly group mentoring session where experienced creators in tech chat about their careers and experiences. The upcoming edition of ConTech Corner, scheduled for this Friday, will have Victor Fatanmi, the co-founder of design consultancy firm Fourth Canvas. E: Contribute: Members of ConTech Africa get to do more than just learn—they also contribute to the growth of the creator-in-tech sector. For example, ConTech is presently working on a No-Code Salary Tool and Report which will help earners and employers in the tech ecosystem understand what the fair range for compensation is. Who’s in ConTech? ConTech recently admitted its 1,000th member, and it’s growing pretty fast. Here’s what some are saying about ConTech: The great thing is that ConTech is free to join and it’s accepting new members all year through. And I know this piece has been a little bit sales-y, but it’s critical to underscore how important communities are in building careers, especially in tech. So if you like what you see, and you’re a creator looking to get into tech, then ConTech is for you. Join ConTech Africa The Entering Tech Shorts Can you become a product designer using just Canva? Here’s what Cynthia Ugwudike, a product designer at Norebase, has to say! Watch the 1-minute YouTube Short here! Ask a techie Q. AI am an accountant and I love being one. What tech skill will go hand in hand with it? Also, I’d like a skill that does not have to do with building websites. Great question. We did some reading and it looks like data science may be the way to go for you. There are transferable skills from accounting that you can use in data science. The Qwasar blog says: “For the tech industry, you already have experience working with data from the accounting side, including analysing it and interpreting it through accounting software. Many accountants already have a foundational set of technical skills including Excel programming with Macros, pivot tables, etc. The skills used to create advanced spreadsheets with inner workings of functions and algorithms are technical in nature and would transition well into technical
Read MoreIzesan!: The language learning app for African languages
When Anthony Otaigbe set out to learn his traditional language of Esan, little did he know that he was going to start a language learning community for African languages. This is the story of Izesan!, an e-learning platform for African languages. In Africa—where cultural diversity thrives—languages form the heartbeat of each community. Yet, despite their rich historical significance, many indigenous African languages run the risk of extinction due, in part, to the lack of proper documentation. For Anthony Otaigbe, who was born and raised in the US, this barrier is familiar. “Learning my own language was very difficult because there were really no resources out there,” he told TechCabal. “I had to make Herculean efforts, just to learn what I felt I should have known since childhood.” Otaigbe had to go the extra mile to learn his indigenous language—Esan—a language spoken by the Esan tribe in southern Nigeria. “I reached out to my parents, uncles and aunts, asking them questions. I even went as far as calling my grandfather all the way in the village, just to try and talk to him and ask questions and learn more,” Otaigbe added. But not everyone is as determined to learn their language as Otaigbe was. “So I decided that, you know, not everybody has the fortitude and the resilience to go that far just to learn their language, especially when there’s no economic benefit,” he said. “So, I felt it might be easier for my contemporaries if an app was there to learn these languages.” This was the birth of Izesan!, the e-learning platform that teaches users how to speak different African languages. Izesan! started off with the Esan language and has grown to teach 15 different African languages including Yoruba, Swahili, Hausa, Igbo, Zulu, Fulfulde, Xhosa, Jamaican Creole, Kanuri, Tiv, and Nigerian Pidgin, amongst others. The app offers interactive lessons using flashcards and other exercises to teach users how to speak different African languages. One of the app’s standout features is its private 1-on-1 lessons, which allows students to schedule personalised learning sessions with professional tutors. Learning sessions are between 1 to 5-hour sessions and cost up to N9,000 per session. The app also contains a library with short stories in local languages to aid students’ learning. It also offers a community feature which allows users to chat and interact with other members of the Izesan! community. According to Otaigbe, CEO of Izesan!, the app has seen continuous growth since its launch in 2019, with over 20,000 downloads and over 8,000 registered users, with 10 organic users gained daily. Otaigbe believes that this number is a testament to the necessity of the language learning platform. However, there seems to be a twist in the user demographic. “My assumption was that the demand would be from the diaspora where I come from because we’re the ones that are more removed from our culture,” Otaigbe said. “But when I looked at the analytics from the app, I discovered that most users are in Nigeria.” A funding problem Izesan’s marketplace feature uses kọbọ, its eponymous in-game currency which allows users access more attempts on the learning modules and make in-app purchases, such as story translations. However, this feature does not seem to enhance students’ learning as they have to pay for English translations of the traditional languages they are learning. Otaigbe agrees that this might be a stumbling block, but believes that “it all depends on the learner’s willingness to commit to paying towards their learning journey.” Other features on the language learning platform that seems to be a mismatch include Dweki, a marketplace for African merchandise and an ad promotion feature. These features do not facilitate the learning process of students, which is the primary purpose of the language learning app. According to Otaigbe, these features were put in place solely for monetisation, as raising funds proved difficult. ”I’m 100% self-funded since 2019. I put about a quarter million US dollars into this, and I think at this point we’re at an inflexion point,” Otaigbe said. Otaigbe said he is not actively looking for funds but is willing to collaborate with investors who truly understand Izesan’s mission of preserving the authenticity of African languages. “The thing about the funding is that a lot of these foreign organisations aren’t really interested in preserving or revitalising Nigerian languages and that the ones that are don’t want you to profit off of it,” he said. “They’re not really trying to bolster our languages, so we have to figure out how to do it on our own.” According to him, Izesan! is currently exploring a partnership with the Nigerian government through its language policy to provide indigenous language lessons to primary and secondary school students. The app will be doing this through its new feature—Izesan! for Schools—which launches on 18 May. Izesan! currently makes money off the private 1-on-1 lessons where users are required to pay between N3500 and N9000 per session. Otaigbe says that the edtech startup is not prioritising the subscriber model right now because he feels the product is not “bulletproof” yet. According to him, the team is constantly working on feedback from the users to make the app better. Trailblazing with no templates Apart from funding, Izesan! also faces the Herculean task of forging a new path in teaching African languages without any templates. “Besides funding which has been our biggest challenge, I would say the fact that we’re really the only ones doing this, so there’s no model or roadmap to really follow,” Otaigbe said. “For example, we recently got a hold of the Nigerian Education Research and Development Council’s (NERDC) physical handbook for teaching Nigerian languages some weeks ago, and we discovered that some sections were not in the online version which we formerly had. So now we had to go back and reassess what we had already worked on.“ One language at a time Eventually, Izesan! aims to teach all Nigerian languages on its app, and the edtech startup
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WhatsApp unveils chat lock feature in 2023
With so much personal information being shared on WhatsApp, it’s important to keep your chats secure. Over time, people have resorted to using third-party apps and the archive option to hide private Whatsapp chats. While the former can be stressful, the latter also allows anyone who has access to your WhatsApp to easily get into your archives and open up your closet. However, with the latest Whatsapp updates, there’s now a chat lock feature that allows you to hide secret conversations and secure them with a password. Add an extra layer of privacy to your most personal @WhatsApp conversations with Chat LockSo even if someone else has your phone in their hand, locked chats are: Kept in a separate folderAccessible only with a password or biometricHidden in notifications… pic.twitter.com/Iuz8JW3tE1 — Meta Newsroom (@MetaNewsroom) May 15, 2023 With this new feature, locked chats will be completely private, not even popping up in your notifications tab. Here are the steps to activate the locked chats feature on your WhatsApp: Update your WhatsApp to the latest version to access the “locked chats” feature. Tap on the chat you want to lock. It could be a person or a group. In the options on the side, select chat lock. Use PIN or biometric to complete the lock process. To show these chats, simply gently slide down your inbox and enter your biometric or phone PIN. Final thoughts on new WhatsApp chat lock There are several reasons why you may want to hide your WhatsApp chats. Firstly, you may have personal or sensitive information that you want to keep private from others who may have access to your phone. Secondly, you may want to keep your conversations with certain individuals confidential. Lastly, hiding your chats can also prevent unnecessary interruptions and distractions from notifications, allowing you to focus on your work or personal time without any interruptions. Regardless, as you can see, the new Whatsapp chat lock is a simple and effective way to keep your personal information secure. By following the steps outlined above, you can ensure that only you have access to your private chats on WhatsApp regardless of who handles your phone.
Read MoreTizeti and Microsoft partner to bring broadband to Côte d’Ivoire
Tizeti, a Nigerian internet service provider, has partnered with Microsoft to bring its broadband solution to Cote d’Ivoire. The partnership, Tizeti’s second international partnership after partnering with Eutelsat to boost broadband penetration would make Cote d’Ivoire the third country that Tizeti is present in after Ghana and Nigeria. The company also has plans to expand to Togo. Tizeti says that the partnership would bring internet access to almost five million people by addressing the significant broadband gap in Côte d’Ivoire. The country’s internet penetration rate stood at 45.4%, with 12.94 million internet users in Côte d’Ivoire at the start of 2023. In Côte d’Ivoire, the average price of 1GB of data is $3.06, making it the 173rd most expensive country in the world and higher than the most expensive plans in Nigeria ($2.96) and Ghana ($1.23). For context, the highest price in Côte d’Ivoire is $15.31. According to Kendall Ananyi, the founder and CEO of Tizeti, the company uses solar-powered towers to help lower the price of data in Ghana and Nigeria by bringing 30% to 50% cost savings on data cap plans. ( Solar-powered towers can save costs on power generation) “We are thrilled to partner with Microsoft to bring reliable and affordable high-speed internet access to underserved communities in Côte d’Ivoire. Our mission at Tizeti is to bring affordable and reliable internet to more Africans outside the digital envelope, and this partnership is a significant step forward in achieving that goal,” Ananyi shared. Tizeti will leverage its low-cost wireless technologies to roll out high-speed internet infrastructure with Microsoft’s Airband Initiative. The initiative is focused on advancing digital equity—access to affordable internet, affordable devices, and digital skills—as a platform for empowerment and digital transformation across the world. Tizeti has been profitable in three of the last four years and, as of August 2022, had generated over ₦11 billion in revenue. “In the last 10 years of our operation, we have been able to generate ₦11 billion as revenue and this we achieved without any debt as of today. We have grown significantly within the last few years, being profitable in three out of the last four years and paid our first dividend this year. We currently have over 3884 hotspot locations and built one tower every month since we started, with 2.8 million users in Nigeria. Today, Tizeti delivers over 190 TBPS of data a day, which is about 20% of what Airtel, the second largest telco with coverage in 36 states, delivers,” Ananyi shared.
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