Digital Transformation Advisor
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South Africa Has a New AI-Powered Digital Transformation Advisor

ByTechTrends

An innovative local software development partnership between 4Sight Holdings and Bidvest Advisory Services has created 4MIA powered by ALICE TM, a first-of-its-kind AI-powered automated digital transformation advisor. Developed on the ALICE TM platform, the intelligent predictive solution Monitors, Investigates and Advises (MIA) business and technology executives on critical aspects related to their digital transformation roadmaps….

Africa Future Summit

Attend the 4th Annual Africa Future Summit

ByTechTrends

The Africa Future Summit is the world’s most iconic summit curating an active network of investors, tech entrepreneurs, celebrities, politicians and business moguls. Each year the program gathers thousands of pioneers from across Africa and around the world to address and tackle challenges that affect Africa’s future. The summit serves as a platform for influencers…

Grazac Academy

Grazac Academy provides free tech skills training and connecting youths to entry-level jobs

ByTechTrends

Every day, more people enter the labour market than the number of jobs being created, research has it that job seekers are applying for more than 20 jobs per day. The era of covid has hastened the growth of digital companies and at the same time modifying the employment space for youths. The job space…

Cyberthreats
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31.5 Million Cyberthreats Targeted SA Users in the First Half of 2021

ByTechTrends

The increase in cyberthreats recorded by global internet security firm Kaspersky in the first half of this year across South Africa amounted to 31.5 million. “Threats can be categorised as criminal (80% of attacks), targeted (19.9%), and advanced (0.01%). The advanced grouping is significantly more sophisticated and feature increased investment from attack groups. Unfortunately, both…

El Salvador Bitcoin
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El Salvador Is Using Its Bitcoin Profits to Build 20 New Schools

ByTechTrends

El Salvador made Bitcoin legal tender not too long ago but the country’s Bitcoin Trust has already gained millions in profit, and the country’s President Nayib Bukele has now stated that the profits will be directed towards building 20 schools. The update was confirmed via the press secretary of the presidential office via Twitter. Bukele,…

Discord
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NFTs and crypto wallets could be in Discord’s future

ByTechTrends

Discord is already the de facto home for NFT communities, but the company could be planning to deepen those connections in a big way. On Monday, Discord founder and CEO Jason Citron tweeted a screenshot depicting Discord integrated with popular crypto wallet service MetaMask and WalletConnect, an open protocol that many mobile crypto wallets are…

cybersecurity
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New cybersecurity format threatens hybrid workplace

ByTechTrends

Latest Security report, titled: Out of Sight and Out of Mind, a comprehensive global study highlighting how the rise of hybrid work is changing user behaviour and creating new cybersecurity challenges for IT departments, has revealed a new form of cybersecurity targeting hybrid workplace. The research, HP Wolf Security report, showed that a growing number of users…

Facebook
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Facebook will no longer allow advertisers to target political beliefs, religion, sexual orientation

ByTechTrends

Facebook announced today that it will no longer allow advertisers to target users based on potentially “sensitive” topics like health, sexual orientation, or religious and political beliefs. “Lung cancer awareness,” “LGBT culture” and “Jewish holidays” are just some of the interest categories that will no longer be targeted starting early next year. “The decision to…

facebook meta
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Meta, Formerly Facebook, Gives Estimate of Bullying, Harassment on Its Platforms for First Time

ByTechTrends

Meta, formerly known as Facebook, for the first time on Tuesday disclosed the prevalence of bullying and harassment on its platform, saying such content was seen between 14 and 15 times per every 10,000 views on the site in the third quarter. The company, which recently changed its name to Meta, also said in its quarterly content moderation report that…

African founders

How African founders can secure funding for their startups

ByTechTrends

You’re a startup founder. You have overcome every self-doubt standing in the way of you launching out; you have invested painstaking hours in defining your idea and building out your solution. You are convinced your solution is what the market needs. Definitely, without your solution in the market, the total user experience will be a…

Electoral Act

Nigerian Senate passes amended Electoral Act with e-transmission of results into law

ByTechTrends

The Senate has passed the harmonized Electoral Act Amendment Bill which includes approval for the electronic transmission of election results. The Senate had set up a 7-man conference committee to meet with members of the House of Representatives Conference Committee to harmonise the differences in the Senate and House versions of the Electoral Act Amendment…

AfriTECH2021 AfriTECH

GBB, Zoho, Digital Encode, Cloudflex among AfriTECH2021 Award Winners

ByTechTrends

Africa Tech Alliance Forum (AfriTECH) organisers have recognized outstanding organizations for driving creative, innovative solutions and products to enhance Africa’s digital economy. The eight (8) award winners across different categories were honoured at Africa Tech Alliance Forum 2021 (AfriTECH2021), held in Lagos. The hybrid Forum provided opportunity for inter-sectorial cross-fertilization of ideas on economic impacts…

DP World
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DP World has launched its e-commerce platform DUBUY.com in Kenya

ByTechTrends

DP World, a trade enabler, has announced the launch of DUBUY.com, a global wholesale e-commerce platform, in the Kenyan market. This latest expansion of DUBUY.com follows the successful launch of the platform in Rwanda earlier this year, where it has quickly established itself as a significant trading hub for the region’s East Africa region. DUBUY.com…

KIFC,Kigali International Financial Centre

KIFC has launched the Virunga Africa Fund I, a $250 million pan-African investment fund

ByTechTrends

Kigali International Financial Centre (KIFC) has announced the launch of a $250 million Virunga Africa Fund I, which would invest in important industries driving economic and social transformation in Africa. In order to drive economic and social transformation throughout Africa, this fund makes investments in critical industries. Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and the Rwanda Social…

Yellow Card

How Nigeria-launched Yellow Card is now exchanging crypto across 12 African countries

ByTechTrends

Formed in 2018 and launched in Nigeria in 2019, cryptocurrency exchange Yellow Card is now active in 12 African countries and planning further expansion after banking US$15 million in Series A capital in September. Yellow Card makes it easy for anyone, anywhere in Africa, to buy cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum and USDT Stablecoin using cash, mobile…

Wicrypt
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Nigerian Wi-Fi sharing startup Wicrypt raises $1.5m funding

ByTechTrends

Nigerian blockchain-based Wi-Fi sharing startup Wicrypt has closed a strategic US$1.5 million funding round to help it expand into new countries. Wicrypt is a decentralised mobile internet sharing and monetisation network that allows anyone to get paid for sharing their Wi-Fi. Users download the Wicrypt app and provide Wi-Fi through their mobile device or by purchasing…

Adbot

South Africa ad-tech startup Adbot raises $500k funding round

ByTechTrends

South African startup Adbot, which provides online advertising solutions for owners of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Africa, has announced a ZAR7 million (US$500,000) capital raise from Enygma Ventures to help it expand its user base. Launched in 2019, Adbot empowers small business owners with simple and supportive tools for success, giving them access to new…

Wise Guys

Wise Guys opens applications for SaaS-focused accelerator in Africa

ByTechTrends

European startup accelerator and investor Startup Wise Guys has launched a programme that offers investment and coaching for digital, B2B SaaS startups operating in East and West Africa. Launched in Estonia in 2012, Startup Wise Guys runs acceleration programmes for early-stage B2B SaaS, fintech, cybersecurity and sustainability startups, has made more than 220 investments, and already has…

Efreshli

Efreshli an Egyptian furniture e-commerce platform raises $550k seed round

ByTechTrends

Egypt-based home furniture e-commerce startup Efreshli has raised a seed round worth US$550,000 to help it build on strong early growth. Founded in early 2019 by Heba El-Gabaly, Efreshli is a technology-enabled furniture design  and shopping solution that has created a new way for consumers in Egypt to shop for their homes, from their homes. “Efreshli solves…

Google.org
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Google awards $25M grants to organizations creating economic opportunities for women and girls

ByTechTrends

In March 2020, Google.org announced a $25 million Google.org Impact Challenge for Women and Girls to support organizations focused on gender equity in recognition that COVID-19 had put the economic future of women and girls at even greater risk. Today, Google.org announced the 34 funding recipients of the award. The $25M global philanthropy challenge was launched in March 2021 and called for…

Liquid Intelligent Technologies

IFC increases investment in Liquid Intelligent Technologies to expand data growth across Africa

ByTechTrends

IFC has partnered with Liquid Intelligent Technologies to expand data center capacity and the rollout of fiber-optic cable on the continent. The partnership with Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Africa’s leading independent fiber and digital services provider, aims to increase digital connectivity and inclusion in Africa and to support the region’s growing digital ecosystem. IFC’s equity and debt investments in Liquid Intelligent…

Egyptian tech startups
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A report lists Egyptian tech startups as Africa’s “most accelerated”

ByTechTrends

Egyptian startups are the most accelerated in Africa, with 38.6 per cent of them having taken part in some kind of acceleration or incubation programme.  That is according to the newly-released Egyptian Startup Ecosystem Report 2021 from Disrupt Africa, which dives into the local ecosystem by analysing active startups, local support networks, and funding and exit activity over…

NCC
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NCC targets revenue of N632 billion for 2022 fiscal year

ByTechTrends

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has disclosed that its revenue target for the 2022 fiscal year stands at N632.39 billion Prof. Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, made this known during the budget defence before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Communications in Abuja. Danbatta explained that the revenue targets would also be made…

Chipper Cash

Chipper Cash has raised $150 million at a valuation of over $2 billion

ByTechTrends

African cross-border payments provider Chipper Cash has secured $150 million in an expanded Series C round, which included participation from FTX, Ribbit Capital, SVB Capital, Deciens Capital, and Bezos Expeditions. Chipper Cash is now a unicorn, having been valued at over $2 billion. CEO Ham Serunjogi and President Maijid Moujaled founded the company in 2018. Additionally,…

Fetola and FBN

Fetola and FBN has opened applications for SA-based Social Entrepreneurship Impact Lab

ByTechTrends

South Africa’s FNB and business growth specialists Fetola have opened applications for the 2021 Social Entrepreneurship Impact Lab (SEIL) programme, which will accelerate the growth of 50 South African social entrepreneurs wanting to scale their business models and improve their investment readiness. Running for the second year in a row and organised by FNB and Fetola, the SEIL programme supports…

Twitter Trends

Twitter has Temporarily Suspend Trends feature in Ethiopia for Fear of Violence

ByTechTrends

Twitter temporarily disabled the Trends feature in Ethiopia to make sure that the platform cannot be used to instigate violence in the conflict-torn country, the social media said on Saturday. On Thursday, the Ethiopian parliament declared a six-month state of emergency throughout the country to protect the population from the rebels of the Popular Front…

Adia Sowho

Adia Sowho, others express optimism about the Future of Nigerian Startups

ByTechTrends

Adia Sowho, MTN Nigeria’s chief marketing officer, has expressed optimism about the future of the Nigerian startups while discussing the Nigerian Startup Bill at the Nigerian Economic Pre-Summit event. The virtual event which featured addresses from Dr. Isa Ali Pantami, the minister of Communications and Digital Economy; Abubakar Lado, chairman, House Committee on ICT; Davidson Oturu,…

investment announcements

Nigeria records 100% rise in investment announcements at $10.1b

ByTechTrends

The federal government has disclosed that Nigeria’s economy recorded $10.1billiom investment announcement in the first half of this year. Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, Minister of Trade and Industry, made this known at Lagos International Trade Fair, held at the Tafawa Balewa Square, organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI). Adebayo explained that the $10.1billion announcement…

IOT Devices, Internet of Things IOT Black friday

Think Before You Buy these Most Vulnerable IoT Devices This Black Friday

ByTechTrends

With the shopping season approaching, it’s likely that internet-connected gadgets and toys will be a popular item on many users’ wish lists, as more than 88% of people use IoT (Internet of Things) devices in their households. However, cybersecurity experts warn: Internet of Things devices can quickly go from fun to creepy, depending on how hackable they…