Category: STARTUPS

SpaceX’s Greatest Digital Horizon Expands with Starlink in Kenya

Staff Writer

SpaceX’s Starlink is set to make waves in Kenya’s internet landscape with the anticipated introduction of its ‘Starlink Mini’ antenna later this year. This development could significantly transform internet access in the East African nation, particularly during times of political unrest and alleged internet throttling. Elon Musk, SpaceX’s founder and CEO, recently responded to a Kenyan user’s inquiry on social media, confirming the upcoming availability of the Starlink Mini in the country. While specific pricing for Kenya remains undisclosed, the Mini currently retails for $599 in the United States, potentially…

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Latest: Chinese Robotaxi approval to carry passengers in California

Staff Writer

Robotaxi. Chinese autonomous vehicle company WeRide has received the green light to test its driverless vehicles with passengers in California.  The step comes as WeRide begins the process to go public on the U.S. stock market at a nearly $5 billion valuation. The timing also coincides with reports that the Commerce Department is considering a ban on Chinese connected vehicles — which include autonomous vehicles — due to national security concerns.  As of August 2, WeRide holds two permits from the California Public Utilities Commission: A drivered pilot permit and a driverless pilot permit. Both allow WeRide…

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Flutterwave Expands Digital Payment Services in Ghana with New License

Staff Writer

Flutterwave, a prominent payments technology company, has received an Enhanced Category Payment Service Provider license from the Bank of Ghana. This development marks a significant expansion of the company’s operations in Africa and enables it to offer a wide array of payment services in the country. Ghana has emerged as an attractive market for Flutterwave’s innovative products. The nation boasts a stable democracy, a young population well-versed in technology, and a high mobile internet penetration rate of 71%. These factors create an environment conducive to rapid digital adoption. The Ghanaian…

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New: Bolt ventures into food delivery business

Staff Writer
Glovo

Bolt ventures into the food delivery business Bolt, a Taxi-hailing service is venturing into the food delivery business in Kenya targeting alternative revenue streams as the market has seen reduced mobility in the wake of Covid-19 restrictions. Bolt advertised the position of Country Manager for its food delivery arm in Kenya signaling the beginning of operations towards the end of the year. “We’re already present in 30+ markets across Europe and Africa. Now, it’s time for us to bring the know-how around building a mobility platform to the food delivery…

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CBK Proposes law for mobile loan apps

Staff Writer
MTN Rwanda

CBK Proposes law for mobile loan apps Digital app lending companies operating in Kenya are set up for a shake-up after the country’s central bank proposed new laws to regulate monthly interest rates levied on loans by digital lenders in a bid to stamp out what it deems predatory practices. If approved, digital lenders will require approval from the central bank to increase lending rates or launch new products. The move comes in the wake of mounting concern about the scale of predatory lending given the proliferation of startups offering…

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‘Buy on Google’ is now running commission-free

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‘Buy on Google’ is now running commission-free Google is making it free for retailers to sell products in search results by waiving Commission fees for sales made via the ‘Buy on Google’ option. ‘Buy on Google’ is a payment option that lets customers buy products without leaving Google search results. The option to buy products directly on Google is made available to customers when they click on shopping listings in search results. Like other online payment providers, Google has always charged a commission fee for sales made through its platform.…

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Venture Vaya Africa, launches a new electric taxi service

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Venture Vaya Africa, launches an electric taxi service Vaya Africa, a ride-hail mobility venture founded by Zimbabwean mogul Strive Masiyiwa, has launched an electric taxi service and charging network in Zimbabwe with plans to expand across the continent. Vaya Africa, a company registered in Mauritius, responsible for the transport of people and goods in Africa and the generation of adjacent revenues in this sector, launched a new product on the Zimbabwean market. It is the electric vehicle called “Vaya Electric”. The South African headquarters of Vaya Africa has acquired a…

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Amazon new strides into developing its own self-driving vehicles

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Amazon is making strides into developing its own self-driving vehicles, agreeing to buy Californian start-up Zoox in a deal said to be worth more than $1bn (£810m). The takeover was first reported by tech website The Information and was later confirmed by Amazon.  Talks were said to have started between the two companies last month. Zoox’s chief executive Aicha Evans and chief technology officer Jesse Levinson will continue to lead the team as a standalone business after the deal has completed, Amazon said. The takeover is believed to be part of Amazon’s plans to begin…

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IBM New Facial Recognition Technology to be ceased.

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IBM will no longer develop and research facial recognition or analysis software and, on top of that, it will no longer offer the technology for general-purposes. This is part of the company’s mission to advance racial equality in the US after #BlackLivesMatter protests – campaigning against violence and systemic racism towards the black community – were organised all over the world. “IBM firmly opposes and will not condone uses of any technology, including facial recognition technology offered by other vendors, for mass surveillance, racial profiling, violations of basic human rights and…

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Google Launched first New Developers Space in Lagos

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Google Developers space

Google launched its first Google Developers Space in Lagos, Nigeria last month. Previously referred to as the Google Launchpad Space, the Google Developers Space is a hub for African developers, entrepreneurs and startups. Google CEO Sundar Pichai, made a commitment to African entrepreneurs In July 2017,  to start the Launchpad Accelerator Africa program and launch a space to house these efforts in Nigeria. Google launched the Google Developers Space in Lagos to provide that home, and a space where entrepreneurs, developers, VCs and investors can connect and collaborate with each other.…

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