Fintech, Ofin, tackles behavioural changes needed to address financial inclusion

It is a common belief that financial access should lead to financial prosperity. According to the World Bank, financial inclusion is defined as all people and businesses having access to useful and affordable financial products and services that meet their needs. Sakhile Mabena, CEO, Ofin, a venture-backed fintech startup specialising in Behavioural Data Analytics, Financial Process […]

Digital Lab Africa calls on Video Game creators

Video Game category is now open to all prototypes/concepts of video games for any type of device The second phase of the Digital Lab Africa (DLA) call for applications is now open after a successful first phase for animation and immersive experience categories. The focus of this phase is on Video Games. The destabilising impact of the pandemic […]

No IPOs in Africa in the first half of 2021, but global IPO Activity on Pace to Hit Historic Highs in 2021

There were no cross-border Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) on African exchanges in the first half of 2021 (H1 2021) according to new Baker McKenzie analysis, H1 IPO Snapshot: Unfolding Trends for 2021. However, the continued global demand for special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) IPOs reached African shores in the first half of 2021 – with a cross-border […]

Nigeria’s latest gas-related power shortages could have been avoided. Here is why.

Opinion Piece by Yusuff Wale, Managing Director, Wärtsilä Marine & Power Services Nigeria Ltd On 28 May 2021, Nigeria’s national power generation dropped to 3,059 MW and for the subsequent seven days remained below 4,000 MW, six percent below-average production. Low pressure on the Escravos-Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS) left several gas turbine power plants with insufficient gas […]

Growth in changing times, not really the utopia for thousands of youth

The new world order is in existence. A lot of young people are held back from greatness by limitations and ceilings that they have set for themselves. Thus, they are constrained from reaching their full potential. They believe that there is no space for being value-driven leaders and entrepreneurs in the modern world. Accordingly, they […]

Africa Energy Week 2021, Taking Place in Cape Town; Will Focus on Investment, Oil and Gas, Renewables and Energy Transition

The African Energy Chamber is set to host the first-ever African Energy Week (AEW) in Cape Town on 9th – 12th November 2021. Replacing Africa Oil Week, the four-day interactive conference seeks to unite industry stakeholders, international speakers and movers and shakers from the African oil and gas sector. The conference comprises high-class networking events, […]

Building resilience into the Supply Chain

The supply chain sector, and the adjacent global freight and transport spaces, are complex as well as crucial. A reliable supply chain prefigures a nation’s overall economic competitiveness and is a key enabler at the macro-economic level, as most other industries rely on the inflow of various goods. Since last year, the Covid-19 pandemic has […]

GSMA Study Reveals That The Gender Gap In Mobile Internet Use Is Shrinking, Despite The Onset Of The Covid-19 Pandemic

An estimated 112 million more women started using mobile internet last year across low- and middle-income countries, despite the onset of COVID-19, according to the fourth annual GSMA Mobile Gender Gap Report published today. Nevertheless, 234 million fewer women than men access mobile internet. Moreover, the underlying gender gap in mobile ownership persists and is […]

AVEVA’s Fourth Global Digital Conference to Focus on Operational Agility, Resiliency and Innovation and Introduce PI System

June 2021 Virtual Event Offers First-Hand Opportunity for Industrial Enterprise Leaders to Discover How Digital Transformation Will Accelerate Business Growth in an Ever-Changing Operating Environment.  AVEVA, a global leader in industrial software, driving digital transformation and sustainability, will host its fourth AVEVA World Digital (AWD) conference on the 17th of June 2021. Aimed at leaders […]

An interview with N’Gunu Tiny on COVID and its impact on education in Africa

Interviewing N’Gunu Tiny, Founder and Executive Chairman of the Emerald Group about education in Africa. Finding out about education in Africa, its pre-pandemic trajectory and how it has been interrupted by COVID-19. N’Gunu Tiny talks about how this will further impact social mobility and, crucially, what should be done now? Discussing education in Africa, the […]

Cybersecurity is more than a tech issue – it’s a business problem too

A concerning number of South African companies are not prepared for the inevitability of a cyberattack despite the significant financial and reputational risks, according to Ryan Mer, Managing Director, eftsure Africa, a Know Your Payee™ (KYP) platform provider. “Too few senior managers view cybersecurity as a business problem and not just a technology problem. The reality is cybersecurity […]

Digital advertising for African start-ups

Source: Unsplash Almost 40% of Africa’s population has access to the internet, which is slightly lower than the global average of almost 60%. While this demonstrates that Africa is slightly behind the rest of the world in terms of technological advancement, their percentage of online users still equates to millions of people. Plus, with continual […]

WPF releases training video series for Africa’s poultry farmers

Better profits, better nutrition through improved poultry farming methods The US-based World Poultry Foundation (WPF) has developed a series of online training videos to help emerging African poultry farmers learn poultry farming best practice and optimise their farming operations. WPF has collaborated with local organisations such as South Africa’s Kwazulu Natal Poultry Institute for several […]

Cisco Study Reveals Top Cybersecurity Considerations for SMEs in 2021

Three Factors Highlighted as Crucial to Achieving Desired Security Outcomes: Enabling Business, Managing Risk and Operating Efficiently Cisco has published its 2021 SMB Security Outcomes Study, a derivative of Cisco’s flagship cybersecurity report, 2021 Security Outcomes Study, highlighting what SMB leaders are doing to thrive in today’s ever-evolving threat landscape, as well as offering actionable […]

South Africa has reaped significant gains through genetically modified white maize

By Joseph Maina  South Africa has reaped significant gains through genetically modified (GM) white maize in the past two decades, with significant gains recorded in the welfare of smallholder farmers who depend on the crop. The successful cultivation of the crop has led to improved food security and pits South Africa as a continental success […]

$3 Million Pre-Series A Round Leads to New Digital Primary Care Platform for Africa

Following a pre-Series A round of USD 3 million, Webrock, the investment company that brought the number one digital health app in Brazil to South America, and Healthforce, a digital health company majority-owned by South Africa’s leading retail pharmacy chain Dis-Chem, will be taking the cutting-edge technology behind the second most downloaded doctor app in Europe, Doktor.se, to Africa. Doing […]

5 Principles of Collaboration- Leadership: The Exponential Effect

Dr Andy Brough presents a Masterclass on “5 Principles of Collaboration” as part of the launch of his book, “Leadership: The Exponential Effect.” #equipping4excellence #leadershipinsights #theexponentialeffect Key take-aways from the masterclass include: Collaboration Self-development Leadership elements What does effective leadership look like?  What is the relationship between self-leadership, leading others, leading teams and leading for […]

Telkom launches Africa’s first virtual card for transacting on WhatsApp

Ukheshe, Mastercard, Nedbank and Telkom collaborate to grow access to the digital economy with virtual product that enables secure e-commerce payments on phone Telkom has launched Africa’s first Mastercard virtual card for use on WhatsApp, enabling Telkom Pay customers to make e-commerce payments. This move is expected to empower millions of South Africans – even […]

Implementation of cybersecurity and data protection law urgent across Africa

South Africa recently enacted cybersecurity law Darryl Bernstein, Partner and Head of Dispute Resolution, and Janet MacKenzie, Partner and Head of Technology, Media and Telecommunications,  Baker McKenzie Johannesburg The pandemic has driven home the high value of personal data to the global economy, while also highlighting its vulnerability to abuse and attack. In response, governments […]

Winch Energy Launches Crowdfunding For Off-Grid Renewables

New clean energy opportunities in developing countries for UK and international investors Off-grid utilities provider, Winch Energy, is seeking to secure up to £1.5 million through a crowdfunding campaign for projects to accelerate the installation of renewable energy technology in Sierra Leone and Uganda. The Crowdcube campaign is part of an overall fundraising plan over […]

Venture Capital trends shaping the African investment landscape

As the second half of 2021 approaches and Covid-19 vaccinations roll out across the globe, albeit at varying rates, Ian Lessem, Managing Partner at HAVAÍC, investors in early-stage, high-growth technology businesses, considers the trends making an impact on the African Venture Capital (VC) landscape. Homegrown solutions take on the world  At HAVAÍC, our investment thesis is […]

Digital Solutions Sought to Accelerate Inclusive Economic Growth for Businesses in the Township Economy

The COVID-19 crisis and accompanying national lockdown had a dramatic effect on all businesses, but those operating in the township economy were hardest hit, with 67% being unable to operate at all under stricter lockdown levels and 75% reporting a reduction in their sales[i]. Now, with the rollout of the vaccine putting South Africa on […]