Startups Archives - Page 13 of 20

15Nov

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Medicine, Nigeria News, Startups

DrugStoc Secures $4.4M in Series A Funding to Expand Access to Quality Pharmaceuticals in Africa

Healthtech startup, DrugStoc has raised USD 4.4 million in Series A funding to expand access to quality medicines while providing sustainable supply chain financing for healthcare providers in Sub-Saharan Africa. The funding round is led by Africa HealthCare Master Fund (AAIC), and other investors include Chicago-based venture firm Vested World and the German Development Bank (DEG). Nobuhiko Ichimiya, Director at AAIC stated that, “We are very excited to be part of the Drugstoc journey. The pharmaceutical market in Africa has enormous growth potential and we are glad to back a company well-positioned to be a key player in the sector’s growth in sub-Saharan Africa.” Chibuzor Opara, DrugStoc’s co-founder and CEO; asserted that “We are committed to making an impact in the healthcare indu...

15Nov

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

South Africa News, Startups

Growing Africa’s Next Generation of Unicorns

In 2020 and 2021, the African continent spawned more unicorns than ever before with at least eight companies now being valued at more than one billion dollars by investors. To keep the momentum going in 2022, Pranary (formerly Startup Circles), will be kicking off its Business Growth Week from Monday, the 15th of November 2021. This is a free masterclass series aimed at Pan-African entrepreneurs looking to accelerate the growth of existing businesses that are already generating revenue. Taking place one hour a day over five days, the industry-agnostic masterclass series will see experts from an array of spheres educating attendees on business growth strategies, cutting-edge approaches to marketing and sales, as well as modern tech platforms to support their strategies and systems for grow...

12Nov

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Fintech, Startups

Failing To Win

A new book from Burnet Media, Cape Town will inspire and guide the next generation of African entrepreneurs. Failing To Win by Mike Quinn is the authentic story of a uniquely African startup at the forefront of the continent’s fintech revolution. Inspired to become the “M-Pesa of southern Africa” after Kenya’s pioneering mobile money innovation, Zoona secured tens of millions of dollars in international investment and grew to serve two-million customers in Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique while processing $2.5-billion in transactions. This is an ideal read for anyone doing business or investing in Africa, and in particular for purpose-driven entrepreneurs and impact or venture capital investors. ABOUT THE BOOK In 2009, Canadian entrepreneur Mike Quinn packed his backpack and moved to Lu...

8Nov

By Charles BwanikaNo Comments

Agriculture, Startups, Uganda News

Creating a borderless agribusiness space in Uganda and across East Africa

Startup testimony Charles Bwanika, a new generation social entrepreneur Charles Bwanika is a new generation social entrepreneur, passionate about undertaking positive challenges to bring about positive impact people’s lives he’s a seasoned child rights activist, experienced and qualified Community development expert with aBA in Development Studies (BDS) and a Diploma in Community Psychology from Ndejje University and Kyambogo University in Uganda respectively. He also has numerous post graduate professional trainings in different fields including Research Methodologies, Child Protection, Civil Leadership, Project Planning and Management, Business and Entrepreneurship among others. Charles is the Founder & CEO of an agritech social enterprise - Farm Kiosk which is on a mission of ...

5Nov

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Startups

African Startups to Play a Critical Role in Taking the Planet ‘from Tragedy to Triumph’ …But where will the funding come from?

This week, the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) got underway in Glasgow, turning the world’s attention to the global climate crisis and the solutions needed to address this. But many solutions already exist… in Africa. “Whilst we are delighted that nearly 500 global financial firms have agreed to align $130 trillion - 40% of the worlds’ financial assets - to climate change and to limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, now, more than ever, funding needs to be mobilised to scale innovations so they can have maximum impact. For this reason, the GIIG Africa Fund is seeking $100m in capital commitments to invest in tech and innovation in Africa over the next three years,” says GIIG Founding Partner, Mahyar Makhzani, a company set up to find, fund and grow Sustaina...

1Nov

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Morocco News, Startups

Draper Startup House expands to Africa with a new location in Morocco

Casablanca, Morocco, 1st November 2021. — Draper Startup House has opened its first location in Morocco, partnering with KOWORK Anfa Place in Casablanca. With the launch, Draper Startup House expands its presence into Africa in a year when tech startups in the continent raised a record-breaking $1.1 billion through the first eight months of the year. With Google’s recent announcement to invest $1 billion in African tech startups over the next five years, and with North African startups like Chari.ai proving it can raise multimillion-dollar seed rounds from global investors, Draper Startup House recognizes an opportunity to support founders and entrepreneurs in continental Africa as they continue to innovate and build technological solutions at an accelerating pace. Draper Startup House Mo...

22Oct

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

South Africa News, Startups

SA Startup Act Meets With The President

This week, the Presidential Office held a special meeting with individuals from various organisations that are invested in the growth and support of local entrepreneurs and businesses to discuss what is needed to eliminate the red tape obstructing the growth of small and medium enterprises. Among them were representatives from the South African Startup Act Steering Committee. The Committee is comprised of representatives from AfricArena, Digital Collective Africa, Endeavor South Africa, i4Policy, Loudhailer, the Southern African Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (SAVCA), Silicon Cape, SiMODiSA, and Wesgro. President Cyril Ramaphosa said, “With regards to the South African Startup Act, I would like us to consider that... If we are serious about promoting entrepreneurship, we...

22Oct

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Fintech, Kenya News, Nigeria News, South Africa News, Startups

Nigerian Fintech, Brass, Secures $1.7mn Financing Round “to bet on African SMEs”

“Africa’s new bank for startups and SMEs” to expand to South Africa & Kenya following funding Brass, a Nigerian digital bank delivering easy access to affordable premium banking services for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), has today secured $1.7mn in funding to address the heavily underserved banking needs of local entrepreneurs, traders and fast-growing businesses. The financing round sees participation from Olugbenga ‘GB’ Agboola (Co-Founder of Flutterwave), Ezra Olubi (Co-Founder of Paystack, acquired by Stripe), Hustle Fund, Acuity Ventures, Uncovered Fund and Ventures Platform. The new funding will play a key role in accelerating Brass’ expansion into South Africa and Kenya - just a year after launch, and will kickstart a range of new product categories, including an ex...

17Oct

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Business, South Africa News, Startups

Creating inclusive workplaces to boost mental health

Zama Zaca, Head of New Business at Tetris South Africa, shares some design tips on how to make workspaces more inclusive and improve employee mental wellness of employees. Mental health has been in the spotlight recently, with people under strain from the ongoing COVID-19 crisis and top athletes opening up about their mental health struggles during prominent international sporting events. These athletes, including gymnast Simone Biles, tennis player Naomi Osaka and others, who are at the pinnacle of their careers, have helped accelerate a trend in mental wellness, shining a light on its importance to a person’s overall wellness and ability to perform. Companies, too, are starting to prioritise workers’ health and wellbeing, as reflected by flexible and accommodating work policies durin...

17Oct

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Startups

The rise of African tech unicorns

African unicorns have made big news in recent months, with four startups having recently reached a $1 billion valuation or more this year alone, taking the total up to seven. Two of the new entrants are in fintech, one in edtech, and one in general technology. These and other technology-enabled sectors are where emerging market investors are betting a flurry of new African unicorns will follow suit in the near future. Unicorns are privately held, fast-growing startups with a valuation equal to or above $1 billion. Unicorns are “rare creatures,” hence the term, which, according to Ian Lessem, managing director of HAVAÍC, says is expected to rise in Africa in the coming years. The number of billion-dollar companies is growing faster than ever before; unicorns in Africa have been a rare bre...