Inside Innovation City’s mission to congregate Cape Town’s innovation ecosystem in one place
Taking a sharp turn westwards from Kloof Street onto Darter Road in City Bowl, Cape Town, one’s eyes are immediately met by an expansive three-storey building. From the outside, it looks like an American-style secondary school, complete with red brick and an unusual amount of windows. Stepping inside, one is met by 3,700 square metres of a diverse congregation of South Africa’s tech ecosystem stakeholders. Innovation City, founded in November 2021, currently houses 10 early-stage startups, 17 high-growth-stage startups, 18 scaleups (including a Swedish unicorn) and nine venture capital firms. Numerous corporations, including Old Mutual, Guardrisk PepCo’s fintech division and MTN’s Ayoba team, are stationed there, bringing the total number of entities in Innovation City to around 65. Innovation City was founded by Stephan Ekbergh and Kieno Kammies, a prominent South African radio personality. Kammies describes the facility as more of a “business enablement hub” than a coworking space. Image source: TechCabal Cape Town is undoubtedly South Africa and the southern Africa region’s tech hub, with founders, investors, tech talent, corporates, and enthusiasts residing there. However, the city’s extensive tech ecosystem means that stakeholders are scattered across the coastal city, limiting chances of collaborative synergies. Innovation City’s value proposition is to bring all those together in one focal point. “When planning the facility, the analogy was that of Innovation City acting as an operating system which provides interoperability between ecosystem stakeholders who would reside here,” Kammies told TechCabal. Image source: TechCabal MTN’s Ayoba superapp team was one of the first tenants of Innovation City when the facility opened. The Ayoba super app is currently available in over 22 African markets and has over 35 million users. “The ability to know what’s trending in tech, and who is building exciting products, is not easy to access from anywhere else,” says Sheila Yabo, head of ecosystem development at Ayoba. According to Yabo, in their time in the hub, the Ayoba team has been able to collaborate with various startups to run hackathons as well as events to push out Ayoba’s value proposition. For startups, Innovation City provides a breath of fresh air to the co-working space model which they say does not provide much value in terms of cultivating synergies between various ecosystem elements. One of these startups is Proply, a proptech startup founded by Wesley Roos. Properly, which has so far raised an undisclosed pre-seed round, uses predictive analysis to give real estate investors insights into how a residential property could perform from a short and long-term rental perspective, allowing them to make informed decisions on the returns their portfolio can garner. After hopping around the different co-working spaces in Cape Town, Proply moved to Innovation City in November 2023, citing the facility’s collaboration-enabling environment as a major motivating factor. “In my time here, I have met very good mentors and advisors as well as VCs who helped us map out our fundraising journey,” Roos told TechCabal. Image source: TechCabal Even the more established startups at the facility, some of which include Yellowcard, the crypto exchange which has raised $57 million so far, and Smile ID, the digital identity verification startup which raised $20 million last year, speak highly of the value proposition of the Innovation City ecosystem. Dustin Strydom, director of customer success at Smile ID, says that the company decided on a residence at Innovation City to connect with various South African tech stakeholders. So far, they have seen a return on investment. “The events here were vital in helping us connect with investors and the management team also made introductions to various stakeholders who are vital to our mandate,” said Strydom. Over the last two years, with the impacts of the funding downturn having been felt in the African ecosystem from Cairo to Cape Town, access to investors has been crucial to startups, whether for cheques or advice on how to traverse the troubled waters. At Innovation City, some of the nine VC firms that have residence include prominent pan-African firms like E4E Ventures and Launch Africa Ventures. Zachariah George, managing partner at Launch Africa, told TechCabal that in their time at Innovation City, the firm has been able to capitalise on the hub’s extensive and diverse network of residents to execute its mandate. “Through events and stakeholders present here, [Innovation City] is a focal point for ecosystem stakeholder conversations which helps our process significantly in terms of sourcing deal flow and meeting fellow investors,” George told TechCabal. Image source: TechCabal Cape Town’s diverse tech ecosystem means that although cross-collaboration is key in driving innovation, it is rare to find all stakeholders within a few metres of each other. Through trying to solve this problem, Innovation City has catalysed synergies between the different stakeholders residing in the facility. Although the lack of ecosystem stakeholder collaboration is a countrywide and even continent-wide problem, Innovation City has no plans to build more franchises. “I believe there are people both in South Africa and the continent who also have great models which have the proper local context and we aim to partner with them instead of trying to reinvent the wheel,” Kammies said. Whether it was by design or by coincidence, the fact that the Innovation City building has unusually many windows is perhaps a fitting metaphor, symbolising the many tech points of view and perspectives which call the facility home.
Read MoreExclusive: First Bank employee on the run after diverting ₦40 billion; bank begins recovery
First Bank, a Nigerian bank with a market capitalisation of ₦829 billion has begun legal action to recover “huge sums of money” allegedly diverted by an employee at a head office team in Iganmu, Lagos. The employee, now on the run, allegedly diverted those funds to 98 bank accounts classified as first beneficiaries, including his wife’s. The bank reported the incident to the Nigerian Police Force on March 25, 2024, and obtained three court orders between April 4–8, 2024 to block hundreds of bank accounts believed to have received the stolen funds. Three people with direct knowledge of the incident told TechCabal that while the initial amount discovered to be diverted was around ₦12 billion, it now stands at around ₦40 billion ($29 million). As a manager on the electronic products team at First Bank, the employee, identified by court documents as Tijani Muiz Adeyinka was authorised to process reversals for customers, said one First Bank employee with knowledge of the matter. It meant he controlled an account with which he processed those reversals and could credit merchant accounts. A clash between Nigerian banks and neobanks highlights financial industry’s complicated fraud problems Muiz allegedly used that authority to instead credit customer reversal requests to a merchant he controlled. As the last line of authorisation on the team, he allegedly did not need any further approvals, it allowed him to carry on diverting customer funds for almost two years without detection. His scheme was eventually discovered when a customer made a complaint that was eventually escalated to the bank’s internal control unit. The control unit discovered several suspicious transactions and reported to the police. “We hereby bring to your notice the discovery of fraudulent transactions into various transactions within and outside the bank and request your good offices to set up the machinery of investigation in place with a view to unravel the circumstances surrounding the said fraud and get the culprits apprehending to face the wrath of the law,” read a letter dated May 10, 2024, from First bank to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police. First Bank did not respond to multiple calls and emails from TechCabal requesting comments. A spokesperson for The Nigerian Police Force did not immediately respond to a request for comments. The spokesperson Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) did not respond to a request for comments. “I discovered that one Muiz Tijani Adeyinka, a former staff of First Bank was involved in the nefarious posting of fraudulent transactions,” read a statement from the investigating Police officer in charge of the case signed March 26, 2024. “It was discovered that he made some fraudulent transactions to his wife’s account number (name withheld) domiciled with Zenith Bank, which in turn transferred to other beneficiaries totaling thirty-four accounts which also gave birth to second beneficiaries domiciled with other banks totaling 1,190 accounts,” the statement added. Across multiple court documents and complaints, First Bank did not state how much money was stolen. It was also silent on how the money was obtained while asking the Police to “unravel the circumstances surrounding the fraud.” Despite a decline in reported cases in Q1 2024, fraud remains a big issue in Nigeria’s financial services industry. While fintech startups receive disproportionate scrutiny, the country’s biggest banks are often on the receiving end of fraud attacks too. In 2023, Access Bank lost ₦6.15 billion to fraud and Fidelity Bank lost ₦2.5 billion in three incidents, per a report from BusinessDay. First Bank obtained an order on April 8 to block the bank accounts of the first and second beneficiaries of the illegally obtained funds from a Federal High Court in Lagos. The bank also obtained additional orders dated April 8 and May 5 from a Jalingo and a Lagos high court to block additional accounts believed to be involved in the incident. One first beneficiary account reportedly used some of the stolen funds to buy the stablecoin USDT from several crypto traders, according to an anonymous email sent to TechCabal detailing their bank accounts. Those traders claimed their only involvement was selling USDT and denied knowing the funds they received were proceeds of fraud. They have now been drawn into a legal battle with the bank with restrictions on their accounts at the time of this report. *Additional reporting by Muktar Oladunmade
Read MoreAs competition for subscribers heats up, international streaming platforms are scaling back on SA
Last week, the UK video streaming service Britbox announced that it would shut down in South Africa after three years. The streaming platform joins a host of other international streaming platforms including Acorn TV, Paramount+, Amazon Prime and Disney+ which have either exited, frozen or cut down their investments in the country. When announcing its exit, Britbox said it was looking to focus on “more established markets and the areas of the business that will have the highest opportunities for growth”. Although South Africa is Africa’s most mature streaming market, increasing competition for subscribers has driven up customer acquisition costs for streaming providers. Combining this with the already high capital expenditure of streaming driven by content acquisition costs, platforms like Britbox are choosing to cut their losses and exit the market. “Content costs a lot and streamers don’t make as much money per subscriber as traditional pay-TV providers like DStv,” said Thinus Ferreira, a streaming analyst. For example, Netflix’s Premium subscription costs R200 ($11) in South Africa, where the service has 1.2 million subscribers. Meanwhile, DStv’s Premium subscription brings in R929 ($50) per user for the company which has over 8 million subscribers. To justify further investment in the South African market, they would have to acquire subscribers until they reach a critical mass; they can then charge more money or sell other products like ads to those subscribers without fear of a mass subscriber exodus. South Africa’s growing streaming market presents this opportunity to acquire subscribers, but it’s a double-edged sword. A growing market also means the entry of more competitors, and with streaming platforms cutting budgets globally, investing in a highly competitive market does not make sense for the platforms’ bottom line. An example of a competitor is MultiChoice-owned Showmax which recently relaunched its streaming platform in partnership with Sky and NBCUniversal and has amassed a significant share of the market. Besides Netflix which had first mover advantage in the South African market, platforms like Britbox, although it claimed to have “thousands of subscribers”, cannot wage a justifiable subscribers war against the likes of Showmax for several reasons. Firstly, Showmax simply better understands the South African market’s content consumption habits. Secondly, regarding local content that has become popular with the South African streaming audience over the last few years, Showmax has a unique advantage. The platform can simply repurpose content made for MultiChoice’s DStv channels into streaming content, which saves the platform a significant amount of money and is an advantage the likes of Britbox don’t have. For example, Shaka Ilembe, one of South Africa’s most-watched shows, was originally made for DStv’s M-Net channel and is also available on Showmax. Currently, South Africa has more than half a dozen streaming platforms all vying for subscribers. In the US, to hedge against this increasing competition, streaming platforms have started to offer subscribers “bundled” packages to keep them within the streaming pipeline. For example, Netflix, Peacock and Apple TV Plus this week launched a bundle where subscribers can access all three platforms for $15 a month. The South African market has not reached that level of maturity so streamers have to engage in a very expensive dogfight to attract and keep subscribers, a fight the likes of Britbox want no part of.
Read MoreMastercard Foundation to host inaugural edtech conference in Abuja, Nigeria
The Mastercard Foundation, through its Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning, is hosting its inaugural edtech conference from July 8–10, 2024. This year, it is being hosted in partnership with the federal government of Nigeria and will be held at the Hilton Transcorp, in Abuja, Nigeria. In line with the African Union’s Year of Education, the 2024 Mastercard Foundation edtech conference is themed, “Education technology for resilient and inclusive learning in Africa”. Conversations will centre on the current state of the edtech ecosystem, emerging trends, the role of edtech in solving Africa’s educational challenges and policies that are needed to foster an enabling environment for technology-enabled innovation in education. Technology is a powerful enabler of possibility and progress,” said Reeta Roy, president and CEO at the Mastercard Foundation. “Across Africa, young innovators and entrepreneurs are bringing new energy and ideas to the education sector. Some are innovations that could shift ecosystems and the future for many. This inaugural conference brings together young people, edtech innovators, policymakers, investors, philanthropists, data scientists and others to accelerate progress toward digitally-enabled educational platforms and systems that deliver inclusive learning for all.” Edtech ecosystem stakeholders from across the continent working at the nexus of education and ICT are expected to share expertise on practical solutions that can increase access to quality, relevant and inclusive education in Africa. “Africa could change the course of education delivery by investing in home-grown innovative solutions that bridge access and learning gaps. This conference is an opportunity to reflect on what is working and align on the actions needed to take African edtech to the next level of impact,” added Joseph Nsengimana, director for the Mastercard Foundation Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning. The inaugural Mastercard Foundation Edtech Conference will underscore the role of technology in catalysing transformation within Africa’s education ecosystem. The Mastercard Foundation was established in 2006 by Mastercard and works with visionary organisations to advance education and financial inclusion to enable young people in Africa and Indigenous youth in Canada to access dignified and fulfilling work. In June last year, the foundation backed social innovation centre CcHUB to select 12 Nigerian startups for its inaugural Mastercard edtech fellowship programme. The edtech conference will be a biennial convening.
Read MoreSterling Financial Holdings will seek shareholders’ nod to raise ₦200bn
At a general meeting scheduled for June 24, Sterling Financial Holdings Company will seek shareholder approval to raise ₦200 billion through a rights issue. The company will sell 40 billion ordinary shares to existing investors at discounted prices if that approval is granted. Sterling Financial Holdings has two banking subsidiaries, Sterling Bank and the Alternative Bank. Adjusted recapitalisation rules mean both banks need to increase their minimum paid-up capital. Per Sterling Bank’s full-year 2023 report, its total qualified capital (share premium and share capital) was ₦57.2 billion, implying a need for ₦142.8bn in additional capital since it is a national bank. Alternative Bank needs ₦10 billion to meet its capital requirements. The holding company believes most of the capital can be raised from the Nigerian Exchange. “We are open to foreign sources of capital as an alternative but with our shareholders fully committed, hence our preferred approach is rights issue, followed by private placement,” said a Sterling Holding executive who asked not to be named. Tapping the NGX for capital will also ease communication with investors. If the company raises N200 billion, it will be more than it needs to meet capitalisation targets. It could deploy the remaining capital to enhance its SME, retail, and digital banking. “We anticipate that they would keep their innovation curve steep and improve investment in establishing an even stronger identity among the young banking population,” Ikeoluwa Alabi, investment research analyst at Afrinvest Consulting Ltd told TechCabal.
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👨🏿🚀TechCabal Daily – Big Tech Energy
In partnership with Share this newsletter: Lire en Français اقرأ هذا باللغة العربية TGIF The payments sector in Nigeria has grown in leaps and bounds with the evolution from a manual process with a few players to a digital system handling trillions of naira in the last two decades. However, various challenges still plague the system. Join our conversation on Friday, May 31 at 11 am (WAT) with experts in the payments industry to discuss the development of payments in Nigeria and the future outlooks. Register here. In today’s edition GITEX is coming to Nigeria Kenya wants to clamp on Big Tech competition Zambia finalises AI strategy MTN launches open API Funding Tracker The World Wide Web3 Opportunities Events GITEX is coming to Nigeria As far as spectacles go, GITEX is up there with the best of them. It explains why a number of governments and their delegates attend these events and become convinced their cities or countries must host the showcase. Here’s what I wrote when I visited Uganda in late 2023 for an investor conference that brought some of Africa’s most prominent VCs together: “David Gonahasa shared that the idea for an investor summit was born when a Ugandan delegation attended the Marrakech edition of the GITEX conference in May 2023. “Do we have something like GITEX in Uganda? Make it happen,” Gonahasa remembers the minister saying at the time.” Uganda wasn’t alone in its wishful thinking. Two people who attended the conference last year also said the Lagos State government also wanted to bring GITEX to Africa’s most populous country. That same year, the organisers of GITEX entered an agreement to host the event in Morocco for 10 years. Dream dashed it seemed. Yet, since Wednesday, there was chatter about a big announcement. The conference app told me twice about an important announcement from the director general of Nigeria’s National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). By 3:30 pm, the cat was out of the bag, GITEX had entered into an agreement to bring the show to Nigeria. Read all about it here. I spent the rest of the day managing my energy better than Wednesday. I wasn’t planning on clocking 10k steps again. There’s a side note to how it’s possible to feel a little overwhelmed—there’s a lot to see. Yet, a few things stood out: Visa’s impressive booth had an interactive Virtual Mall that was pretty neat. Moniepoint is Africa’s fastest-growing fintech The Financial Times has ranked Moniepoint as Africa’s fastest-growing fintech based on its absolute and compound growth rate. Read more about it here. Regulations Kenya wants to clamp on Big Tech competition Last year, African countries were working together to investigate and potentially regulate big tech companies like Google and Meta over concerns that these companies were engaging in practices that may harm African consumers, businesses, and economies. Now, the Kenyan government is already making amendments to its laws in a bid to crack down on “Big Tech” with stricter competition laws. The Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) is proposing changes to the Competition Act to target anti-competitive practices by large tech companies. The proposed amendment to the Competition Act includes a new definition of “digital activities.” According to the amendment, “digital activities” refers to providing services or digital content over the internet for the benefit of both business and individual consumers, regardless of whether these services or content are paid for or free, and whether they involve multiple parties or not. This aims to safeguard Kenyan businesses from unfair tactics including mergers and acquisitions aimed at eliminating competition, restricting access to other companies’ services on their platforms and forcing you to buy a specific product if you want to use another product they offer. These proposed amendments will protect consumers’ rights in the digital and tech space. Similar to regulations in the US and Europe, it will empower CAK to police, investigate, and initiate antitrust probes against potential anti-competitive behaviour by tech giants like Google, Amazon, and Apple. The proposed law targets eight sectors: online intermediation services, online marketplaces and app stores, online search engines, online social networking services, video-sharing platforms, independent interpersonal communication services, operating systems, cloud computing services, and online advertising services. The proposed amendment would also prohibit the “abuse of superior bargaining” which means a company has so much power that it can force or dictate unfair business deals on other companies without needing to be the biggest company in the market. To enforce the amendment, the CAK will carry out compliance checks on foreign tech firms to determine if their activities have resulted in unfair competition for rivals. The amendment will also allow the agency to take into account problems and concerns that have been identified in other countries or markets when making its own regulatory decisions. The agency has set a deadline of June 11, 2024, for stakeholders to submit their feedback on the draft legislation. Collect payments anytime anywhere with Fincra Are you dealing with the complexities of collecting payments from your customers? Fincra’s payment gateway makes it easy to accept payments via cards, bank transfers, virtual accounts and mobile money. What’s more? You get to save money on fees when you use Fincra. Get started now. AI Zambia finalises AI strategy The Zambian government has finalised the drafting of its Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy which will serve as a guide for leveraging the benefits of AI. Zambia’s Science and Technology Minister, Felix Mutati, revealed the AI strategy will launch within the next two months. Like many believe using AI comes with benefits, the minister also believes AI will help the production of copper by making exploration methods more effective. According to GlobalData, Zambia was the world’s eighth-largest producer of copper in 2022 and the country presently accounts for 4% of global production of copper. Using AI will involve using AI to analyse geological data and identify promising areas for mining, helping Zambia reach its goal of 3 million tonnes annually. “AI will bring a lot
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2024/2025 UNILAG CBT Post-UTME registration process
Candidates who chose the University of Lagos (UNILAG) as their preferred tertiary institution during the JAMB 2024 exercise can start gearing up for the 2024/2025 Post-UTME screening exercise. Although the university has yet to officially announce the registration dates, prospective candidates may rest assured that the process will begin in the coming months judging from the timeframe the screening exercise has been held in previous years. It’s important you understand the general admission requirements and the anticipated 2024/2025 UNILAG Post-UTME registration process. General admission requirements to expect for the 2024/2025 UNILAG Post UTME registration process Admission into UNILAG’s full-time undergraduate programs is primarily through the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry (DE). To be eligible, candidates must meet the following criteria: 1. Academic qualifications Candidates must possess at least five (5) credits in O’Level examinations (or equivalent), including English Language and Mathematics, in subjects relevant to their chosen department. 2. UTME 2024 score Candidates must achieve a minimum score of 200 Marks in the UTME. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) must forward candidates’ details to UNILAG. 3. Age requirement Candidates must be at least sixteen (16) years old by October 31 of the admission year. 4. Post-UTME examination Candidates must sit for and attain the required minimum score in the University’s Post-UTME 2024/2025 CBT examination. Registration process Once the registration dates are announced, candidates should follow these steps to register for the Post-UTME screening: 1. Visit the UNILAG website Go to the official university website at (https://www.unilag.edu.ng). 2. Access the admissions portal Click on ‘Admissions’ and then ‘Start Fresh Application’. 3. Login and payment Use your UTME number as your username and your surname in lowercase as your password to log in. Generate and print the payment advice. The registration fee as at last year was ₦2,000. It may change this year or remain the same. Nevertheless, it is usually payable at any commercial bank or online. 4. Complete the application Return to the application portal, continue the application process, complete the admission screening form, and verify all information before submission. Eligibility criteria for the 2024 UNILAG Post UTME test To participate in the Post-UTME screening exercise, candidates must have selected UNILAG as their first choice in the UTME and scored at least 200 marks. Additionally, they must have uploaded their O’Level results on the JAMB Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) before the specified deadline. Important notes about the 2024/2025 UNILAG Post UTME registration process Here are some vital things to note about the UNILAG 2024/2025 Post-UTME: Former students: Those whose admissions were previously withdrawn due to poor ACADEMIC performance or absence can re-apply, provided the new admission is for a different course. Expelled students are ineligible for re-admission. Drug policy: The university maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards drug use. Final thoughts on preparing for the 2024 UNILAG Post UTME test The Post-UTME aptitude test is a critical component of the admission process. Candidates are advised to prepare thoroughly, as their performance will significantly influence their admission prospects. For further details and updates, candidates should regularly check the UNILAG website, reputable platforms like TechCabal or contact the admissions office via email at admissions@unilag.edu.ng. In summary, while awaiting the official announcement, prospective candidates should ensure they meet all eligibility requirements, prepare adequately for the Post-UTME test, and stay updated on registration details.
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Check SASSA SRD payments for June 2024
According to the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) 2024 payment schedule, for the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) beneficiaries can expect their SASSA SRD payments for June 2024 to be disbursed according to a structured timeline to ensure a smooth and orderly process. Payments schedule for the SASSA SRD grants for June 2024 See the payment dates as follows: 1. Older Person’s grants For this class of individuals, the grant will be disbursed starting from June 4, 2024. This includes any supplementary grants linked to these accounts. Beneficiaries are advised not to rush to withdraw their funds immediately as the money will remain in their accounts until they are ready to use it. 2. Disability grants This grant class will follow the Older will follow, with payments commencing on June 5, 2024. Similar to the older person’s grants, any linked grants will also be paid out on this date. The system ensures that funds are secure in the beneficiaries’ accounts until needed. 3. Children’s grants This class of grants will be the last category, with payments starting from June 6, 2024. All grants linked to children’s accounts will be accessible from this date onwards. Beneficiaries are encouraged to withdraw their funds at their convenience. Contact SASSA for any issues regarding JUNE payments 2024 For any queries or further information about the SASSA SRD payments for June, beneficiaries can contact the toll-free number 0800 60 10 11 or visit the official SASSA website at http://www.sassa.gov.za. Additionally, updates and important announcements can be followed on SASSA’s official X (Twitter) handle @OfficialSASSA. Final thoughts on SASSA SRD payments for June 2024 The structured payment schedule for the SASSA SRD pay in June 2024 is designed to facilitate a smooth and fair distribution process, ensuring that all beneficiaries receive their funds securely and conveniently.
Read MoreKenyan AI startup Chpter joins Safaricom’s Spark Accelerator
Chpter, a Kenyan AI-powered social commerce startup, has joined Safaricom’s Spark Accelerator, alongside eight others. Chpter is the first key startup to join the Spark Accelerator, launched to complement the Spark Venture Fund, another Safaricom investment vehicle solely focused on backing promising Kenyan startups. The cohort includes early-stage startups focusing on financial inclusion (Chumz, Nobuk), SME tools (Faidi HR, Churpy, Twiva), healthcare access (HealthX Africa), content creation (BlackRhino VR), and agricultural finance (VunaPay). Co-founded by Tesh Mbaabu in 2021, Chpter’s conversational platform automates sales on WhatsApp and Instagram for businesses. Chpter’s visibility was amplified after Marketforce—founded by Mbaabu and Mesongo Sibuti—announced its B2B platform RejaReja’s closure in April 2024. On his blog, Mbaabu colloquially said that his focus would be on Chpter. Mbaabu told TechCabal that while Marketforce is a shareholder in Chpter, Chpter’s operations are independent of MarketForce. Safaricom did not reveal the accelerator’s fund deal size; however, the telco confirmed to TechCabal that the startups would go through three months of capacity building. Part of this programme will be to determine the funding size of the accelerator programme. A spokesperson from the accelerator told TechCabal in an email, “For now, there is no cap. We want to ensure that the companies are well-equipped to succeed and are well-capitalised at the end of the programme.” The accelerator did not reveal details about individual investment in the selected cohort, but a tech executive with knowledge of the deal told TechCabal that startups will receive between $150K and $500K. The Spark Accelerator will invest in the startups, primarily in debt and equity. “We will also take any other instrument deemed appropriate,” Safaricom told TechCabal. The Spark Aaccelerator, launched in partnership with M-PESA Africa and Sumitomo Corporation, does not replace Safaricom’s $1 million Spark Venture Fund, which the telco founded in 2014. Although the Fund was restructured in July 2023, it is still active and follows up on companies it invested in. Its earliest beneficiaries include Sendy, a logistics startup now under administration; agritech startup iProcure, also under administration; customer experience platform Ajua; and mobile surveys startup mSurvey.
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University of Ibadan (UI) CBT Post UTME 2024
Gaining admission into the University of Ibadan (UI) in 2024 requires passing both the UTME and the subsequent University of Ibadan Post UTME. This guide equips you with the knowledge to go about the application process and prepare effectively. Eligibility and requirements for the University of Ibadan CBT Post UTME 2024 To be considered for University of Ibadan Post UTME 2024, you must have scored a minimum of 200 in the 2024 UTME and chosen UI as your first choice institution. Once confirmed, gather the necessary documents, which typically include your UTME result slip, O’Level results (WAEC, NECO, or GCE), and birth certificate. The application process The University of Ibadan (UI) Post UTME 2024 application will likely occur online through the university’s admissions portal (https://www.admissions.ui.edu.ng/). Stay tuned to the UI website or verified news platforms like TechCabal for the official announcement of the registration dates. During this window, you’ll create an account, log in using your JAMB number and details, and pay the designated registration fee. The process will involve filling out a biodata form and uploading scanned copies of your required documents. Ensure you meet all deadlines and submit accurate information to avoid disqualification. Structure of the University of Ibadan Post UTME The University of Ibadan Post UTME 2024 will likely be a Computer-Based Test (CBT) conducted at designated centers within the university. The exact date and time for your test will be communicated on your photocard, which you can download after successful registration. The format and content of the test can vary slightly year-to-year, but generally, it will consist of multiple-choice questions. The questions will assess your knowledge in: English language: Expect questions on grammar, vocabulary, comprehension, and usage. There’ll usually be 25 questions for this section. Subject-specific areas: Here’s where your other 3 UTME subject combinations come in. The test will cover these subjects relevant to your chosen course of study, with 25 questions dedicated to each subject. So in total, you’ll be doing 4 subjects with 25 questions each with everything summing up to 100 marks. General knowledge: You may also prepare for a section that tests your knowledge of current affairs, basic science concepts, and historical events. Please note that the University of Ibadan Post UTME 2024 plays a significant role in determining your admission. So, even with a high UTME score of 300, scoring only 49/100 in the Post UTME will not be enough to secure admission. You must score at least 50 to stand a chance. The eventual cutoff marks for different departments may vary from year to year, so scoring 50 may not guarantee you your chosen course if its cutoff mark for this year is higher, nevertheless you stand the chance of being offered another course. You can see the admission cut off marks for 2023/2024 for departments in the University of Ibadan, to have an idea of how competitive the course you’re vying for may be this year. Final thoughts on University of Ibadan (UI) CBT Post UTME 2024 In preparation for theUniversity of Ibadan Post UTME 2024, you are advised to practice online CBTs to familiarise yourself with the computer-based testing environment. If you sat for the 2024 JAMB UTME exams, CBT should not be strange to you.
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