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 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 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…
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 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…
Yahoo has shut down its services in China, making it the latest American tech firm to leave the nation. A Yahoo representative said in a statement that the decision was made “in recognition of the increasingly tough business and regulatory climate.” “Yahoo is devoted to our users’ rights as well as free and open internet….
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…
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…
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…
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, 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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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 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…
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…
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,…
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 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, 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,…
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…
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…
We live in a world that runs on data. From the shows we stream, to the emails we send, to the groceries we buy—everything leaves a trail of information. But when most people hear the word “data,” they still think of complex numbers, big tech companies, or some confusing spreadsheets. The truth is, you already…
The Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL) will later this month host the first annual HiiL African Justice Innovation Symposium, bringing together key stakeholders from the worlds of law, activism, technology and business to discuss the existing innovations in justice delivery and the opportunities and challenges that present themselves in the world today. The symposium,…
Cameroonian startup Agrix Tech has developed a mobile app that helps farmers to prevent and treat crop diseases utilising machine learning technologies. Founded in August 2018, Agrix Tech is using mobile and machine learning technologies to overcome vital agricultural challenges on the continent. “Most of the small-scale farmers in developing countries are self-taught farmers who lack proper…