Monday, December 9African Digital Business Magazine

Startups

startups

Startups

How Corporates Can Win in Times of Economic Uncertainty

It’s no secret that innovation can unlock potential for corporations. A Boston Consulting Group (BCG) report states that 83% of African executives now view innovation as a top-three priority, compared to 79% of companies around the world. This represents a 21% increase from the previous year when only 62% of African companies ranked innovation as a top priority. Despite the absence of African firms in the top 50 most innovative companies in 2023, their readiness for innovation is on par with their global counterparts. But innovation is often complex and expensive and with strain on budgets it’s hard to imagine how more money can be spent on this. This where corporates can take a leaf out of the startup founders book – lean, agile, rapid prototyping, validation experiments, customer interv...
Irish Embassy and Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct collaborate to seek tech startups for Irish Tech Challenge South Africa 2023
Startups

Irish Embassy and Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct collaborate to seek tech startups for Irish Tech Challenge South Africa 2023

Five innovators to secure €10,000 each in funding and a curated networking tour to Ireland. The Embassy of Ireland in South Africa, in partnership with Wits University’s Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct, the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) and Dogpatch Labs Ireland has opened applications to local technopreneurs to enter the Irish Tech Challenge South Africa 2023. This initiative aims to forge mutually beneficial partnerships between South African entrepreneurs and Irish technology expertise, harnessing Ireland’s position as a global high-tech hub. The Irish Tech Challenge 2023 seeks to find the most compelling South African-owned, growth-stage tech startups whose work aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals...
Farm CI Emerges Winner at AFEX Code Cash Crop 4.0 Ag-hackathon
Agriculture, Startups

Farm CI Emerges Winner at AFEX Code Cash Crop 4.0 Ag-hackathon

Winners received prizes valued at $22,000 in total to scale agriTech solutions in East and West Africa AFEX, Africa’s leading commodities market player, hosted its fourth annual ag-hackathon, Code Cash Crop 4.0, aimed at harnessing the intersection of technology, finance, and agriculture to create a platform for young tech enthusiasts to create viable solutions. This year’s edition drew participation from Kenya, for the first time, following AFEX’s operational expansion into the East African country last year. The grand finale, which was held in Lagos, Nigeria, over the weekend, produced three winners. After a 2-day intensive boot camp, six finalists hailing from Kenya and Nigeria pitched their solutions at the grand finale to judges comprising of Jude Dike, Co-Founder of GetEquity; Hake...
Events, South Africa News, Startups

SA Innovation Summit 2023: Igniting Africa’s Innovation Frontier Over 3000 innovators are expected to gather in Cape Town on 27 – 28th of September

Africa's tech landscape is ripe with opportunities for local startups, presenting the potential for tremendous growth and innovation. As AI, blockchain, renewable energy, and other cutting-edge advancements continue to shape the continent's future, African entrepreneurs find themselves at the forefront of groundbreaking solutions. To seize these opportunities and expand their impact, startups seek a platform that connects them with problem solvers, mentors, and stakeholders who can bolster their growth. In the heart of this thriving tech ecosystem, the renowned SA Innovation Summit celebrates its 16th edition, emerging as a vital catalyst for progress. From the 26th to the 29th of September 2023, thousands of visionaries, disruptors, and thought leaders will converge in Cape Town. The fou...
African governments are collaborating with tech innovators to strengthen local health supply chains, new report reveals
Startups

African governments are collaborating with tech innovators to strengthen local health supply chains, new report reveals

Research noted nearly 50 partnerships between health startups and African governments, with a focus on optimizing local health supply chains and improving health outcomes across the continent. Healthcare consulting firm Salient Advisory has launched its latest annual market intelligence report highlighting a robust pan-African ecosystem of innovators improving the safety and efficiency of health supply chains across the continent. Funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the report titled “Innovations in Digitizing Health Supply Chains in Africa” is the first pan-African landscape of health supply chain innovators on the continent. It tracks nearly 350 technology-enabled innovators digitizing supply chain processes across 27 African countries. As a wave of supply chain innovation...
MyCover.ai Secures $1.25M Pre-Seed Funding
Startups

MyCover.ai Secures $1.25M Pre-Seed Funding

Ventures Platform leads venture financing for Africa's top digital insurance infrastructure provider. MyCover.ai, the insurtech startup building Africa’s digital insurance infrastructure, has announced the close of a $1.25 million pre-seed funding round, today, led by Ventures Platform. The round included participation from Founders Factory Africa and TechStars, who are making a follow-on investment after the startup’s participation in its 2022 Toronto Accelerator program. MyCover.ai will use this capital injection to bolster its in-house operations and tech talent, invest heavily in its proprietary technology and strategically expand its operations into other African markets. Founded in 2021, MyCover.ai is focused on addressing the pain points that exist in the African insurance market,...
AWS announces the 25 startups selected for its first ‘fintech in Africa’ accelerator
Fintech, Kenya News, Startups

AWS announces the 25 startups selected for its first ‘fintech in Africa’ accelerator

Cohort participants from Kenya, Nigeria , South Africa, Egypt, Ghana, Uganda, and Cameroon 25 African fintech startups have been selected for the inaugural Amazon Web Services (AWS) FinTech Africa Accelerator cohort. This cohort was selected from over 500 applications and is part of the EMEA Startup Loft Accelerator (SLA) program run by AWS. The pre-seed and seed stage fintech startups will start the 10-week program in June. Each startup will get technical review workshop sessions and up to $25K USD in AWS technical credits, world leading sector advice and one-to-one mentorship from major industry players including the Africa Fintech Summit (AFTS), Lendsqr and Vestbee to help them build their businesses.   Africa’s fintech ecosystem is one of the fastest growing globally reaching $2B US...
Why setting up a company in Mauritius is ideal for start-ups?
Mauritius News, Startups

Why setting up a company in Mauritius is ideal for start-ups?

By Cledina Ernest Situated in the Indian Ocean, Mauritius has gained popularity as an offshore jurisdiction thanks to the benefits the country provides when it comes to business optimisation and expansion. This article discusses why it is right decision for start-ups to set up a business in Mauritius. What is an offshore company? A company whose main activities take place outside the territory of the country where it is registered is known as an offshore company. Tax incentives, regulatory environment and the ease of song business are among the main reasons why start-ups decide to be incorporated as an offshore entity in Mauritius.  What are the advantages of setting up an offshore company in Mauritius? There are numerous advantages that encourage entrepreneurs and investors to re...
Investing in Innovation Africa announces its second call for applications to support African startups in healthcare supply chains
Medicine, Startups

Investing in Innovation Africa announces its second call for applications to support African startups in healthcare supply chains

Applications are open for early and growth-stage health tech innovators  Investing in Innovation Africa (i3), a pan-African initiative for start-ups building the future of healthcare supply chains, is calling for leading innovators to join its second cohort. Funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and sponsored by AmerisourceBergen, Merck Sharpe & Dohme (MSD), Microsoft and Chemonics, i3 is supporting the commercialization of 60 promising early- and growth-stage companies. The programme connects African-led supply chain innovators to donors, industry, and government partners, to power start-ups’ growth and impact. Selected start-ups receive targeted introductions to customers to support commercialization and impact, a $50,000 grant, and tailored investment readiness support....
Africa’s and Kubik and Emata win Startup of the Year and Best Newcomer at their Global Startup Awards debut
Startups

Africa’s and Kubik and Emata win Startup of the Year and Best Newcomer at their Global Startup Awards debut

On March 29, 2023, two early-stage African companies took first place in the finals of the world's largest independent start-up competition. The rise of the African techpreneur on the global stage was evident in the announcement of the overall winners of the 2022 Global Startups Awards (GSA), considered the world’s gold standard for startups. The awards offer startups exposure in the international arena, as well as access to new markets, funding opportunities, and a global network of leaders. More than 120 techpreneur companies from 115 countries competed for these coveted awards. The top ten trailblazer entries were announced at the gala event. This is the first year to see winners of the GSA Africa make it onto the list of global finalists at this event. Last year, the GSA Africa cons...