Author: WAJ Reporter

The 2024 FNB App of the Year Awards, which celebrated the best in technology innovation in South Africa, recognized Matric Live as the winner. Matric Live is an educational app that transforms the learning experience for Grade 10 to 12 students. Featuring interactive video lessons, mock exam simulations, AI-driven academic support, and gamified study tools, the app offers an innovative approach to education, providing significant assistance to young learners. To win the grand prize, Matric Live underwent a rigorous evaluation process in the final stage, judged on creativity, feasibility, technical execution, and impact potential. In addition to claiming the top…

Huawei has launched its local cloud service in Nigeria, aiming to enhance data sovereignty, reduce latency, and provide greater support for local businesses. This marks a significant step in the company’s African growth strategy while aligning with Nigeria’s data protection policies. Following this initiative, Nigerian businesses will have faster and more reliable access to cloud resources. This improvement is expected to boost productivity and competitiveness in both local and international markets. This is not Huawei’s first major move in the country. The company previously announced plans to support 100 Nigerian startups. Additionally, Huawei has committed to investing in talent development…

The Senegalese digital health startup Eyone has secured a $1 million investment. This funding will allow the company to expand its services across West Africa, highlighting the growing interest in the continent’s health-tech sector. Previously, the company has offered services such as telemedicine, systems that integrate patient-doctor connectivity, and electronic health records. With the new funding, Eyone aims to address the challenges faced by underserved communities in West Africa due to infrastructure limitations. The company plans to provide affordable solutions to bridge healthcare gaps in the region. Earlier this year, Nigeria’s MDaaS Global secured $3 million, and Kenya-based Ilara Health…

Alphabet’s autonomous vehicle unit, Waymo, has formed a revolutionary partnership with Nigerian fintech company Moove to manage autonomous fleets. Moove is growing rapidly and is supported by significant funding. The company is already making its presence felt in various geographies such as Mexico and India. Founded in 2020, Moove’s rapid growth demonstrates that other African-based startups have the potential to make a global technological impact, showcasing the potential African entrepreneurs possess. One of Moove’s most critical moves has been reshaping revenue-based vehicle financing. This innovation allows drivers to pay for their vehicles through their earnings, encouraging thousands to join the…

Microsoft and NVIDIA to Collaborate in Supporting AI Startups Across Africa Microsoft has launched a new initiative through its Africa Transformation Office to foster collaboration between startups and the business world, aiming to drive the rapid and effective development of artificial intelligence (AI) across the continent. This initiative marks the beginning of Microsoft’s partnership with NVIDIA, focused on accelerating the growth and innovation of AI startups in Africa. The announcement of this partnership was further solidified during the Microsoft African Companies AI Fest held in South Africa. Gerald Maithya, General Manager of the Microsoft Africa Transformation Office, expressed enthusiasm about…

Sub-Saharan Africa holds the smallest crypto economy in the world, accounting for just 2.3% of global transaction volume. Compared to other regions, it is progressing with a more retail-focused approach. Nevertheless, Africans are increasingly adopting cryptocurrency with each passing day. Bitcoin, the most well-known cryptocurrency in the market, continues to spread across Africa, particularly in countries like South Africa, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Ghana, and Kenya. Notably, South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya are ranked among the top 10 countries in the world for cryptocurrency usage. Economic instability in Africa drives people toward cryptocurrency usage. Since this form of currency is not affected by a country’s…

Africa is advancing in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), showcasing the continent’s growing technological potential. There are nearly 2,400 AI firms across Africa, with 40% of them being startups. This development in AI usage is having a positive impact on various sectors such as healthcare, marketing, banking, entertainment, education, and agriculture. Economic growth is taking place, and service efficiency has significantly improved. The Centre for Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law ranked the top 10 countries with the most significant AI firms in 2024. South Africa tops the list, with over 600 AI firms. The government has prioritized AI…

Senegal-based LAfricaMobile has secured a $2.2 million investment in its Series A funding round, led by Bpifrance, to lead the AI chat revolution. The company plans to use this funding to scale AI-powered communication solutions across Francophone Africa and globally. Its primary focus is to make cloud communication affordable and accessible in underserved markets. Active since 2014, LAfricaMobile is a pioneer in cloud systems. The company offers SMS, voice, and API-based services, enabling businesses to connect with customers in real time. Operating similarly to Twilio, LAfricaMobile leverages its local roots to deliver solutions that are more beneficial for the continent.…

Africa is undergoing a digital transformation, and the active and effective use of artificial intelligence (AI) could provide significant solutions to the continent’s unemployment challenges. This, in turn, could substantially and sustainably enhance the continent’s prosperity. A report by the Mastercard Foundation and Caribou Digital supports this view, emphasizing the need for strategic partnerships among governments, Big Tech companies, investors, and academia to strengthen the AI ecosystem. In 2020, 60% of Africa’s population was under the age of 25. This tech-savvy demographic is showing increased interest in technology, and the number of youth engaging with it is expected to double…

The Chinese-based e-commerce platform Temu is increasingly making an impact in Nigeria’s digital market. Rapidly expanding, Temu has already entered over 80 markets, with Nigeria being one of them. With a population exceeding 200 million, Nigeria offers a highly fertile market with a vast consumer base. As the years progress, the younger generation in Nigeria is growing, and they are increasingly turning to digital shopping. Smartphone usage is on the rise, and access to digital marketplaces is becoming more widespread. In addition, rising inflation and currency depreciation in Nigeria have amplified the value placed on affordable products—precisely what Temu offers.…

The e-commerce platform GiriToday, which launched in Nigeria, aims to connect African sellers with global customers. The platform’s founder and CEO, Wale Ayantoye, stated that artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies are used on the platform, allowing sellers to trade seamlessly, quickly, efficiently, and securely. Ayantoye also mentioned that the platform provides sellers with the opportunity to showcase their creativity and build a global presence. “We understand what people are looking for in Africa… Our goal is to give people the opportunity to list their products free of charge and connect with global buyers,” he said. “GiriToday is about empowering…

Tangible Africa, established through a collaboration between Nelson Mandela University and the Leva Foundation, was selected as one of 20 projects from a pool of 160 initiatives across the continent to participate in a prestigious event in South Korea. This opportunity enables the venture to prepare for global partnerships, train in innovative strategies, and connect with new opportunities. In 2024, Tangible Africa achieved significant milestones. Tangible coding was widely adopted in countries such as Ghana, Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Uganda. Furthermore, the organization gained international recognition in countries like the United States, Ireland, and Indonesia, where projects like Tangible Coding,…

HUB2 Raises $8.5 Million in Series A Funding to Expand in Francophone Africa HUB2, a West African company, has secured $8.5 million in a Series A funding round led by TLcom Capital to expand its payment infrastructure across Francophone Africa. The region’s fragmented financial systems and low banking penetration have posed significant challenges for businesses and consumers. To address these issues, HUB2 offers a unified API that integrates bank transfers, card payments, mobile money, and cryptocurrency, aiming to create a seamless payment ecosystem. Founded in 2019, HUB2 initially targeted independent e-commerce but later pivoted to the fintech sector. This shift…

Liquid Intelligent Technologies, a digital infrastructure provider across Africa, has announced an investment of 1 billion rand in expanding internet access to underserved regions of South Africa. This investment has significantly expanded the fibre infrastructure in the country’s Eastern Cape and Western Cape provinces. In the Eastern Cape, where internet access has been limited, the company secured a R900 million loan to enhance connectivity. This investment is part of a collaboration between Liquid, the State Information Technology Agency (SITA), and the Eastern Cape Provincial Government. The partnership continues to provide high-speed internet to government buildings, with 2,700 buildings benefiting from…

Accessing healthcare services in another country can be possible by car, but in Rwanda, the road conditions, occasional rainfall, and the unsafe nature of the roads at night make it difficult to reach these services. Drones are providing a solution to these challenges. Thanks to these drones, critical health resources such as blood, medicines, and vaccines can be transported to hospitals in remote areas. This way, when the people of Rwanda visit nearby hospitals for care, they are not faced with a shortage of medical supplies that could hinder their treatment. The use of drones not only results in significant time savings…

The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) will implement card tokenisation by 2025, marking a significant step toward securing Egypt’s digital payment ecosystem. This measure will act as a barrier against digital fraud, providing consumers with greater confidence in the protection of their data. In 2021, digital transactions in Egypt amounted to EGP 7 trillion, but this figure has surged to EGP 22 trillion by 2024. This growth is expected to accelerate in the coming years, driving an increased demand for robust consumer security solutions. CBE’s initiative addresses this demand while aligning with global fintech advancements. Similarly, Mastercard has committed to…