tech innovations

4 tech innovations that can help physically challenged Africans

Living with a disability can mean different things to different people. Faustina Urassa, Programme Officer at Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro Association of Spinal Cord Injury (KASI), sees it as an opportunity to assist others who have lost their ability to walk. Urassa teaches people with spinal cord injuries how to use wheelchairs. “If you have the appropriate…

Ronald Tagoe, founder and CEO of ChatBots Africa

Ronald Tagoe is helping businesses automate customer engagement with ChatBots Africa

Chatbots—artificial intelligence (AI) systems that enable customer engagement via SMS, speech, or chat applications like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp—are becoming a popular way for businesses to interact with their customers. While chatbots are not widely used by businesses in Africa at the moment, a number of African startups are working to expand this AI use…

Facebook Messenger

In the United States, Facebook Messenger is testing a new ‘Split Payments’ feature

Facebook Messenger announced today that it is beginning to test a new “Split Payments” feature that allows users to split the cost of bills and expenses via the app. According to the company, the new feature is a “free and quick” way to manage finances through Messenger. The new feature will be available to US…

Microsoft Edge
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Microsoft Edge is Leveraging Prompts to Discourage Users From Downloading Chrome

Microsoft has adopted a new aggressive strategy to discourage users from downloading Google’s Chrome Web browser. When users try to download Chrome using Microsoft Edge, the Redmond-based company now displays prompts that discourage them from downloading and installing Google’s Web browser. The prompts are available for both Windows 10 and Windows 11, though only a…

ZIndi
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Zindi, a South African crowd-sourcing startup, is building a community of data scientists and using artificial intelligence to solve real-world problems

Zindi is all about using artificial intelligence to solve real-world problems for businesses and individuals. And the crowd-solving startup from South Africa has done just that in the three years they’ve been in business. Last year, a team of data scientists led by Zindi used machine learning to improve air quality monitoring in Kampala, while…

Android Auto
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Google is Rolling Out Smart Replies Feature, Digital Car Key, Always-On Music Button, More on Android Auto

In a future update, Android Auto will receive a slew of new features. Following the update, users will be able to send quick replies to messages via their vehicle’s touchscreen. Previously, Android Auto users could only respond to messages with their voice. Furthermore, Google announced that Android Auto can now be set to launch automatically,…

YouTube Premium
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Listening Controls are now available for Premium YouTube Users on Andriod, iOS

According to reports, YouTube Premium subscribers on Android and iOS will soon be able to use the ‘Listening Controls’ feature. The new feature gives users more control over their music listening experience on the platform. It allows you to play, pause, fast forward, and rewind videos. When you enable this new feature, it will replace…

Cyberquad Tesla

Tesla Unveils Cyberquad for Kids With 24 Km Range, Crybertruck-Inspired Design

Tesla has quietly launched the Cyberquad for Kids, just in time for the holiday season in the United States. The Cyberquad for Kids is an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) based on the Tesla Cybertruck. It is powered by a lithium-ion battery that can travel up to 15 miles (24 kilometers) on a single charge. Tesla‘s Cyberquad…

Data Science Nigeria DSN

DSN says it has equipped 500,000 learners in 5 years, plans to establish 2 million AI talents in Africa

Last Friday was a memorable event for the team as Data Science Nigeria (DSN) celebrated five years of innovation and impact while pursuing its overall goal of raising one million Artificial Intelligence (AI) talents and leading the development of AI solutions that improve the quality of life and wellbeing of over two billion people in…

Arnergy

Arnergy Introduces Diaspora Initiative; a home-based solar energy investment product for Nigerians abroad

Arnergy, a leading distributed utility company that provides solar energy solutions, has announced the launch of the Diaspora Initiative – a ground-breaking program that allows the global Nigerian diaspora to invest in solar energy solutions on behalf of local individuals and businesses. The Diaspora Initiative, the first of its kind from an African solar company,…

Metaflower , Metaflower Super Mega Yatch

Metaverse: Metaflower Super Mega Yatch Sold for $650,000, Is the Most-Expensive NFT in Sandbox Virtual World

A mega yacht has been sold for a whopping $650,000 in the Sandbox virtual gaming world. This virtual luxury ship, which is part of the metaverse, is called the “Metaflower Super Mega Yacht,” and it has two helipads, hot tubs, and a DJ booth, among other lavish amenities. The Metaflower yacht has become the most…

Samsung Internet

Samsung has finally added one of the most often requested features to its Internet browser

Even though it lacks a few key capabilities, Samsung’s Internet browser improves with each iteration. We revealed earlier this month that Samsung is testing a few features with the beta version of the browser, but there was no indication of when they would be made available to everyone. It appears that today is the day…

Mytherapist

Mytherapist, a Nigerian startup, uses technology to provide mental healthcare services

In an age when the internet has become a go-to forum for many people to express themselves, the issue of mental health difficulties remains a sensitive one. However, a promising Nigerian health care startup, Mytherapist.ng, is capitalizing on the situation by harnessing technology to provide Nigerians with accessible, cheap, and stigma-free mental health care services….

Apple

Apple is rolling out a new self-service repair program in early 2022 

Apple has announced that a new self-service repair program for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 models would be available in early 2022, with an emphasis on common repairs such as damaged screens, battery problems, and camera issues. Users will be able to purchase repair components and tools directly from the company. Customers will soon…

Mojapay

SA Startup Mojapay Unveils Digital Banking Platform

MojaPay, a South African fintech firm, has released a new app with the goal of changing the way people pay, receive, and save money. MojaPay, formerly known as digiToken and launched last year to assist customers in purchasing items such as power and airtime online, has rebranded and improved to provide seamless transactions and payments…

Airtel Africa
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Airtel Africa’s developer portal aims to broaden digital payments via APIs

With its upgraded Airtel Africa Developer Portal, Airtel Money, the mobile money platform, is driving greater efficiency for businesses to engage in seamless mobile money activity. The portal integrates remote payments with Airtel Money wallets using several Open APIs and solutions to provide greater ease of access to Airtel Money services across multiple business sectors…

MNT-Halan

MNT-Halan in Egypt successfully deploys proprietary core banking system software

MNT-Halan, Egypt’s leading fintech ecosystem, has announced the successful launch of Neuron, the proprietary core banking software that it developed and launched earlier this year. MNT-Halan began as a ride-hailing app for two- and three-wheeler vehicles in 2018, and has since evolved into a super app, becoming Egypt’s largest and fastest-growing lender to the unbanked….

Kaoun Flouci

Kaoun, a Tunisian fintech startup, has updated its Flouci payments app with new features

Kaoun, a Tunisian fintech startup, has added new features to its payments app Flouci as a result of its participation in the Central Bank of Tunisia’s regulatory sandbox. Kaoun was founded in January 2018 by co-founders Nebras Jemel, Anis Kallel, and Rostom Bouazizi, who put their studies in the United States – at Harvard University,…

Walmart Twitter

Twitter will combine shopping and livestreaming and will collaborate with Walmart to test a new feature

Twitter and Walmart are collaborating to launch an online shopping initiative via livestreams. The latest feature will allow users to make purchases from businesses directly on the microblogging platform while simultaneously watching a live broadcast. On November 28, the company will conduct its first live shopping stream test. Jason Derulo, a well-known R&B artist, will…

Tek Experts
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Tek Experts boosts tech support in Africa with 1800+ engineers

Tek Experts, a leading technology support service company, has reached a milestone of over 1,800 employees in Nigeria, making it the largest market of its operations globally. This milestone was announced during a media visit to the company as part of efforts to communicate the essence of the industry’s relatively new niche of tech support….

insurtech accelerator

FSD Africa’s insurtech accelerator program is now available in Ghana and Nigeria

Most Africans want to use various insurance products but are often put off by the associated high premiums. As a result, it is not surprising that insurance penetration across the continent remains low, with reported premiums per capita 11 times lower than the global average, according to a McKinsey study. However, the market may soon…

Techstars Riyadh accelerator

3 Egyptian startups have joined the Techstars Riyadh accelerator.

Three Egyptian startups are among the 12 selected from the MENA region to participate in the Techstars Riyadh accelerator, which provides US$120,000 in funding and other scaling support. Techstars Riyadh, which is run in collaboration with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Communications and IT (MCIT) and Raed Ventures, invests US$120,000 in each selected company and provides…

SIMcontrol

SIMcontrol Announces the Release of a Next-Generation Mobile APN Product for Africa

SIMcontrol, a leading mobile data connectivity platform for African enterprises, has announced the release of its fully-managed mobile APN product, which connects company data SIM cards through a private and secure virtual network. The new APN-as-a-Service allows data to be pooled across multiple mobile networks. This enables businesses to more effectively manage deployed mobile data…

Olarm
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How South Africa’s Olarm enables people to control your alarm system from your phone

Olarm, a home and business security startup, provides users with easy control over their alarm systems via its app. The Olarm app allows users to remotely view and control their alarm system from their smartphone, just like a traditional key panel, but it also includes additional features such as alarm status such as arming, disarming,…

LEAP
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LEAP will bring together the brightest minds in technology to address global challenges.

17th November 2021: In February 2022, Saudi Arabia will host the largest technology event ever launched, LEAP, bringing together the global technology community under one roof to tackle the world’s most pressing socio-cultural challenges. LEAP, which will take place in Riyadh from the 1st to the 3rd of February 2022, is set to become a…

Digital payments
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In Kenya, digital payments are expanding beyond the pandemic-driven push

According to Cellulant, the growth seen in Kenya is reflective of the payments landscape in the rest of Africa, with a noticeable shift in consumer behavior. As more consumers prefer digital platforms as their primary payment method, digital payments have evolved from a nice-to-have for businesses to a requirement. According to Faith Nkatha, Cellulant’s Kenyan…

Data Ethics

How to Put an Actionable Data Ethics Framework in Place

Did you know that your company’s data privacy practices can be a differentiator in the marketplace? Typically, competitive differentiators revolve around the level of service you provide, the quality of your products, or even the price point for your solutions. However, regardless of industry, if you participate in the personal data ecosystem, how you handle…

Evolve Credit
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Evolve Credit, a Nigerian fintech, has launched cloud-based lending software.

Evolve Credit, a Nigerian lending marketplace, has launched Configure, a new cloud lending software that it claims will power thousands of new loan providers over the next five years. The Evolve Credit marketplace connects lenders and borrowers in one location, making comparison easier. Just over a year ago, the startup raised pre-seed funding and has…

Traka

Traka Opens First Experience Centers in Australia and South Africa

Traka, the global leader in intelligent key and equipment management solutions, today opened its first Experience Centres in Brisbane, Australia, and Johannesburg, South Africa, within the Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa (APACMEA) division. The Centres will provide an environment for Traka employees, technology partners, and end-users to immerse, educate, empower, and innovate through industry…

What is the next frontier for African edtech startups in terms of technology, funding, and learning models?
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What is the next frontier for African edtech startups in terms of technology, funding, and learning models?

“Something good is a frontier; something better is also a frontier and something excellent is just another frontier! You can always go beyond these frontiers! And so what is excellent? Just a frontier!” — Mehmet Murat ildan “There exist limitless opportunities in every industry. Where there is an open mind, there will always be a…