Brief (711)
The Kenyan organization Assistive Technologies for Disability Trust, in partnership with the Judith Neilson Foundation, is launching a $500,000 fund to support up to five African assistive technology startups. The program targets digital solutions that improve mobility, communication, inclusive education, independence and accessibility. It will provide startups with seed funding, technical support and partnerships to help them scale their operations.
The Algerian digital platform Yassir is acquiring Uno hypermarkets from the Cevital Group, expanding its super-app model into retail. The stores, to be renamed Yassir Market, are set to become digitally integrated retail locations connected to the payment, delivery, and e-commerce services the company already offers in several countries.
WhatsApp is launching accounts specifically designed for children under 13, configured and controlled by their parents. The new accounts provide access only to basic calling and messaging features. Advertising will not appear on these accounts, and several advanced tools such as channels and status updates will not be available. The system is designed to give parents tighter oversight of their children’s activity on the platform. Parents can choose which contacts are approved, receive alerts when certain actions are taken by the child, and manage privacy settings.
The iHatch program is seeking innovation hubs across Nigeria’s 36 states and the FCT to lead its fifth cohort. A total of 37 hubs will be selected to provide year-long incubation, mentoring and training for startups under a standardized national framework. Interested hubs can apply until Monday, March 16, 2026.
Lagos Innovates has opened applications for its six-week Female Founders & Funders program, which supports women-led tech startups in Lagos. The curriculum includes masterclasses, mentorship and fundraising preparation, as well as introductions to investors. The program, which also trains women investors and has already backed more than 30 founders, is accepting applications until Saturday, April 4.
Meta is rolling out new anti-scam tools across Facebook, WhatsApp and Messenger. Facebook will introduce alerts about suspicious friend requests, while WhatsApp will warn users about fraudulent attempts to link accounts. Messenger will also use AI to detect scam messages and prompt users to block or report suspicious accounts.
April 28-30, 2026, the Landmark Centre on Victoria Island in Lagos will host IoT West Africa, co-located with Data Center & Cloud Expo Africa. The event will bring together industry leaders, financial institutions, public officials and e-commerce companies to present the latest developments in IoT, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, data centers and digital energy. Organizers say the aim is to support digital transformation and strengthen the competitiveness of African businesses.
Adlore Business Enterprise has launched a pilot of its Jollof Boss platform, enabling small businesses to manage product catalogues, orders and payments directly within WhatsApp. By integrating Paystack, the platform allows customers to select food items through an interactive menu and receive a payment link, while merchants are automatically notified once the payment is completed. The service is currently being tested in Benin City and Lagos and aims to remove friction between messaging and payments.
Yazi, a South African AI-driven research platform built on WhatsApp, has raised its first institutional funding round led by 3 Capital Ventures at a pre-money valuation of about $1.6 million. The capital will be used to launch automated voice interviews on WhatsApp, expand its African respondent panel, and support expansion into the UK and Europe, where demand is growing.
The TEMS Africa ICT Exhibition and Conference will take place on April 23 and 24, 2026, at the Sarit Expo Centre in Nairobi. The event will bring together technology professionals, businesses, and tech enthusiasts for technology demonstrations, keynote speeches, and networking opportunities. The conference aims to showcase how ICT solutions can drive economic growth and digital transformation across the continent.
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Zambian startup Padue is partnering with FasterCapital’s EquityPilot program to support the launch of its on-demand services app. The platform connects users with verified local service providers through geolocation, secure payments and customer support. The partnership will support the public rollout, the onboarding of providers across several cities, and a marketing campaign aimed at attracting 50,000 users in the first year.
South African fintech Orca has closed an oversubscribed $2.35 million seed round to strengthen its fraud detection platform, designed for mobile payments in Africa.
Founded by two former Stitch engineers, the company analyzes billions of transactions in real time to detect complex fraud patterns without blocking legitimate transactions. Orca plans to use the funds to accelerate its expansion into other emerging markets.
Tech Unite Africa 2026 will take place on Thursday, March 26, on Victoria Island in Lagos. The event will bring together startups, investors and decision-makers to showcase artificial intelligence, fintech, cybersecurity, cloud computing and blockchain. The program includes conference sessions, hands-on workshops and a pitch competition, where emerging startups will compete for visibility. The winner will earn a place in the global grand finale of the Startup World Cup.
Nairobi will host the third Gaming Tech Summit Africa from June 2-4, bringing together regulators, operators and innovators from across the continent. Participants will discuss key issues including licensing, taxation, compliance and regulation, with the aim of building a more cohesive and sustainable gaming sector that is attractive to investors in Africa.