All about Tech.
In 2021, more and larger deals were closed in Africa, with tech startups across the continent raising nearly $5 billion. This amount was more than double the previous year’s investment and nine times what was raised five years ago, demonstrating how much the startup scene has changed in recent years. According to a report by…
The rate of digital transformation in Nigeria (and across Africa) is increasing; there were 104.4 million internet users in Nigeria in January 2021, a 19 million (+22 percent) increase between 2020 and 2021. In January 2021, Nigeria’s internet penetration will be 50.0 percent (source). So, what does all of this mean? Because of the increase…
Mercedes-Benz unveiled the Vision EQXX, a solar-powered concept car that can travel more than 1,000 kilometers (648 miles) on a single charge. After several weeks of teasing, Mercedes finally unveiled the vehicle (virtually) at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Because of its sporty intentions and sleek, futuristic design, the Vision EQXX is likely…
Tesla reported record quarterly deliveries on Sunday that far exceeded Wall Street expectations, despite global chip shortages as it ramped up China production. It was the world’s most valuable automaker’s sixth consecutive quarter of record deliveries. Tesla, led by billionaire CEO Elon Musk, delivered 308,600 vehicles in the fourth quarter, far exceeding analysts’ expectations of…
By 2026, the Korean government intends to develop a technology that will allow Korea’s first artificial sun, KSTAR, to maintain 100 million degrees for 300 seconds. The minimum time required for the commercialization of nuclear fusion technology is 300 seconds. On December 30, the Ministry of Science and ICT announced that the 16th National Fusion…
Corporations can achieve unprecedented levels of success by capitalizing on new business and tech trends. As the world recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic, the year 2022 will undoubtedly be a watershed moment. Long before the devastating pandemics of 2020 and 2021, business innovation and technology were already transforming and reshaping the world. Here are some…
The Microsoft Store experience is improving, and it isn’t always due to the enhancements released by Microsoft with the release of Windows 11. The company is working on several fronts, and it recently decided to separate its Office apps from the Microsoft Store. In other words, if you don’t require the entire Office suite, you…
Koko Networks, a Kenya-based bio-fuel technology company, has expanded its business to include other fast-moving consumer goods via a new technology platform that will leverage its established distribution networks in low-income neighborhoods. Koko Club, the company’s new business line, sells the products directly to consumers through the dukas (small shops) that currently serve as agents…
If you’ve heard of non-fungible tokens (NFT) on the Internet, you’ve probably heard of the latest buzzword — Web3. Both terms are coined by supporters of blockchain technology and crypto enthusiasts who believe it is the future of the Internet. Although some, such as Elon Musk, have stated that the term is merely a “marketing…
Last month, Tesla Inc.’s valuation surpassed $1 trillion, making it the fifth company in the world to do so after Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Alphabet. A $4 billion deal to sell 100,000 vehicles to Hertz, the rental car company, skyrocketed the company’s shares in the single-largest purchase ever for electric vehicles, representing a $4.2 billion…
Micromobility as a concept, a solution, and a way of life began to take hold in 2021. Increased shared micromobility and COVID-enabled public transportation helped to make small electric vehicles mainstream enough for people to consider purchasing their own. As a result, 2021 was the year of the e-bike, with sales increasing by 240 percent…
China’s ruling Communist Party is pressuring Alibaba to enter the difficult and costly business of designing its own processor chips in order to help China become a self-sufficient “technology superpower” — a business unlike anything the world’s largest e-commerce company has done before. T-Head, its 3-year-old chip unit, unveiled its third processor, the Yitian 710,…
“I’ve always loved and wanted to wear African prints more here,” says Bami Adenike, who lives near alluring luxury boutiques in Paris but has a lasting fondness for African wear. Adenike, a 28-year-old Nigerian artist, moved to France in 2016 and has mostly purchased clothes from French fashion retail stores since then due to the…
Year after year, smartphone manufacturers release new models to keep the momentum going. While 2020 was a slow year for manufacturers due to the pandemic, 2021 saw the release of some exciting smartphones, such as Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 3 (Review) and the Galaxy Z Flip 3 (Review), as well as many promising ones that…
The year 2021 was a fantastic year for the technology industry as a whole. As much as this was true across the board, certain industries stood out. Of course, there was fintech, which raised mega-rounds of funding. Then there’s health technology, with Helium Health completing a major acquisition in far-flung Asia and 54Gene securing major…
Aircart, a Kenyan startup, has launched an online platform that allows users to sell any digital product using smart links. Aircart, like international platforms like Gumroad, is a storefront for digital content producers, allowing users to upload a product, select their preferred payment method, and immediately receive a shareable link from which they can directly…
Stranerd, a Nigerian startup, has launched a peer-to-peer learning platform where students can ask and answer homework-related questions, with the service designed to give the brightest students opportunities to help others who may be less skilled in specific subjects. Stranerd began as an Instagram page in 2018, but only recently became a standalone digital product….
Google Maps has begun to roll out a feature that highlights the busiest parts of your city or town. The new feature, dubbed ‘Area Busyness,’ is intended to help you avoid crowds by instantly detecting whether your neighborhood or a section of your city has more than the usual number of footfalls. The feature is…
Smartphone cameras are no longer just the most convenient option; they are quickly overtaking traditional digital cameras in terms of computational power and innovation. Users can capture more details and render images accurately in complex lighting conditions thanks to increased sensor size and resolution. Many aspects of image processing have been improved by artificial intelligence…
Drugstoc is a health-tech startup that offers hospitals and pharmacies a procurement platform for all medications, consumables, and small medical equipment. Chibuzor Opara and Adham Yehia founded the startup in 2017 with the goal of closing the supply chain gap in Nigeria’s medical sector. In November, the company raised $4.4 million in a Series A…
Life is returning to normal as Covid-19 vaccinations become more widespread around the world. However, this is not the world we knew before the pandemic. Because of the long-term nature of this global crisis, customer needs and daily lifestyles have changed. This, in turn, will alter my expectations for the world in 2022 and beyond….
KeyTec, a South African startup, describes itself as a “one-stop-shop for video telematics and vehicle data,” offering smart solutions to businesses of all sizes. KeyTec was founded just over a year ago after founder Michael Roberts saw a real need for maintaining and supporting assets and vehicles in the field, as well as the frustration…
It is difficult to comprehend the impact of technology on businesses and society as a whole. This year’s annual Thoughtworks Looking Glass report attempts to put a wide range of technologies into context so that business leaders can see where technology is leading them. The report examines the impact of 100 current and emerging technologies…
Instagram is introducing a new “Profile Embed” feature that will allow users to embed a mini-version of their profile into a website. Users will be able to further integrate their Instagram profiles into websites such as blogs and portfolios with the new feature. According to the social media giant, the feature is currently only available…
ATG Digital, a leader in identification verification software, has announced a new tool for employers and public establishments to use at access control points to verify visitors’ vaccine status. Vaccine mandates are on everyone’s mind this season, but ATG Digital’s R&D department had already completed their vaccine verification feature before the first fourth-wave headline. Visitors…
South Africans are big fans of televisions and home entertainment systems. In fact, according to Nielsen, the average citizen watches 165 minutes of television per day on top of working from home, home schooling, and other adulting responsibilities, and that doesn’t include time spent on mobile devices. With nearly three hours of viewing time per…
Treepz, a mobility startup, has announced a partnership with CMS Taxi and Motor Nigeria Limited (CMS T&M), a Lagos-based traditional bus company, just a few weeks after raising $2.8 million in seed funding and acquiring Ugabus, a Ugandan bus company. Through this collaboration, CMS T&M passengers will have access to convenient payment options and predictable…
Medicise, a South African startup, has opened a cutting-edge medical facility in Somerset West, Western Cape, that can measure and monitor a wide range of heart and lung functions and then present a complete clinical picture using complex diagnostic algorithms. Medicise, which claims to be Africa’s only such facility, uses highly specialized equipment to measure…
Wabi, an electronic commerce ecosystem, has launched Wabi2b in Nigeria to digitize traditional trade channels and empower women. Wabi2b, the company’s B2B arm, is a marketplace that allows all FMCG wholesalers and distributors to sell their products directly to retailers and traditional stores. According to a McKinsey report titled “Africa’s Growing Giant: Nigeria’s New Retail…
Entersekt, a South African fintech that has developed technology that protects millions of financial services customers worldwide, has received funding from US-based private equity firm Accel-KKR to accelerate its roadmap and fuel expansion into new markets. Entersekt, a global payment security company headquartered in Cape Town, is a global authentication market innovator, with recent market…