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The Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) has launched the SA Tech Challenge 2025, inviting South African tech innovators to apply for a chance to win R1 million in funding (about $55,000), gain global exposure at the G20 Summit in Cape Town, and unlock major growth opportunities.
Applicants must be South African-owned and headquartered, post-revenue companies with fewer than 250 employees and an annual turnover under R250 million. Solutions must be at least at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7—beyond prototype and already in use—and address at least one of the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with measurable impact and potential for global growth.
The challenge targets companies in six sectors: Digital Platforms, FinTech, Secured Digital Infrastructure, Circular Economy, Innovations for Connectivity, and Innovations for Development (including Agri-tech, Health-tech, and Ed-tech). Applications close on Monday, June 30, 2025.
The West African Internet Governance Forum (WAIGF) 2025 officially commenced on May 19 in Abuja, Nigeria, hosting its 17th edition at the Digital Economy Complex, NCC building in Mbora. The event, themed "Building a Resilient, Inclusive, and Safe Digital Future for West Africa," brings together stakeholders from across the region to advance internet governance.
Scheduled for five days, WAIG will strengthen the capacity of West African stakeholders by addressing key issues and emerging trends specific to the region, highlighting its growing influence in the digital landscape. The forum includes the School of Internet Governance, the Youth Internet Governance Forum, and main sessions featuring the African Parliamentary Track on Internet Governance.
Participants include policymakers, academics, private sector representatives, ECOWAS officials, and government bodies from across West Africa, all collaborating to promote a secure, inclusive, and resilient digital future for the region.
MaxAB-Wasoko, Africa’s retail e-commerce and supply chain super app, announced, on May 19, the acquisition of Egypt-based B2B marketplace Fatura from EFG Finance, a subsidiary of EFG Holding. As part of the deal, EFG Finance becomes a significant shareholder in MaxAB-Wasoko and gains a seat on the company’s board.
MaxAB-Wasoko’s embedded financial services will extend credit access to its growing merchant base, enabling retailers to restock faster and grow sustainably. The acquisition also enhances operational efficiency, strengthens supplier networks, and positions the company for continued top-line growth over the next 12–18 months.
The move strengthens MaxAB-Wasoko’s ambition to unify the fragmented B2B commerce and fintech landscape across Africa.
Egyptian cybersecurity startup THE WHITEGUARD has secured a six-figure pre-seed investment, led by Den VC, to scale its AI-driven, regulation-ready cybersecurity solutions across Egypt, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA).
The funding reflects strong investor confidence in the startup’s vision of using intelligent, adaptable tools to address rising cyber threats and regulatory demands.
The funds will support product development, team growth, and market expansion, as THE WHITEGUARD positions itself to meet the region’s growing need for secure and compliant digital infrastructure.
Nawy, an Egyptian proptech platform, has raised $75 million to fuel its regional expansion, scale operations, and enhance its technology stack. The funding, announced May 12, includes $52 million in Series A equity, led by Partech, and $23 million in debt from top Egyptian banks to support its fast-growing mortgage business.
The Series A attracted leading global and regional investors, including e& Capital, Verod-Kepple, MCI, VentureSouq, Endeavor Catalyst, DPI’s Nclude Fund, Shorooq Partners, and Plug and Play.
The new funds will power Nawy’s market expansion, AI product development, and mortgage vertical growth, positioning it to lead regional real estate innovation.
The Global AgriInno Challenge 2025, organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Zhejiang University (ZJU), is accepting applications from young innovators and agritech entrepreneurs developing digital solutions for sustainable agrifood systems. Finalists will pitch their innovations at the FAO Science and Innovation Forum in Rome this October.
The challenge seeks innovations addressing climate resilience, supply chain efficiency, and nutritional security. Participants will benefit from a 48-hour co-creation bootcamp with global mentors, expert coaching from UN agencies, investors, and private sector leaders, and access to the Global AgriInno Challenge alumni network.
Winning teams will receive up to $30,000 in seed funding and full sponsorship, including travel, visa, accommodation, and meals, to attend the final event in China. The deadline to submit an expression of interest is 7 June 2025.
Innovate Africa, a product-focused venture fund, will host World Product Day Lagos 2025 on Wednesday, May 21, at The Strong Tower Hall, Lagos.
Part of the global Mind the Product initiative celebrated in 100+ cities, the event will bring together product builders, engineers, founders, and tech teams for expert talks, workshops, and a live pitch showcase.
Under the theme “Bold Builders Wanted,” the event follows a continent-wide innovation sprint that began in March with an open Ideathon. Innovate Africa selected 12 major challenges across health, climate, governance, and infrastructure, guiding teams through product sprints to prototype stage. The top five teams will pitch live for a $2,000 prize and post-event support, including potential incubation and mentorship.
Nigerian preventive healthcare startup Platos Health announced on May 7 that it has raised $1.4 million in pre-seed financing. The round included backing from Google for Startups, Invest International, and notable angel investors affiliated with Google, Tesla, and Unicredit.
This funding milestone underscores Platos Health’s growing credibility and ambition to reimagine health systems by focusing on early intervention and holistic risk reduction, rather than reactive treatment.
The company is scaling nationwide through 300+ pharmacy partners and preparing for global expansion into emerging markets.
Ms. Geek Africa, an initiative under the Girls in ICT Rwanda, supported by Smart Africa and other partners, is inviting girls aged 13 to 21 from Smart Africa member states to submit innovative, AI-powered solutions under the theme “AI for Africa: Innovate Locally, Impact Globally.” The competition aims to empower young African women to tackle pressing local and continental challenges through technology.
Applicants must submit a written concept of no more than 500 words outlining the problem they aim to solve, how their solution uses Artificial Intelligence, a simple conceptual design or drawing to illustrate how it works, and a clear explanation of how it could be implemented or scaled. Submissions can be an idea, a prototype, or a working product, and must be original or represent a meaningful innovation on an existing solution.
The deadline to submit entries is May 16, 2025. Finalists will receive high-level exposure, prizes, and access to mentorship opportunities.
The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), in partnership with Mastercard, hosted a capacity-building workshop on Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIA) for Data Protection Officers (DPOs) from both the public and private sectors. The event also marked the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the NDPC and Mastercard to deepen their collaboration on data privacy and security.
About 150 Data Protection Officers from key Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) across the country participated in the workshop, which aimed to enhance institutional compliance with Nigeria’s data protection laws and foster a culture of responsible data handling.
The MoU signals a strong and growing relationship between the NDPC and Mastercard and reflects Nigeria's readiness to engage in responsible data governance with international partners.
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South African Airways (SAA) confirmed it was hit by a cyberattack on Saturday, 3 May 2025, which briefly disrupted its website, mobile app, and some internal systems.
The airline announced in a release dated May 6 that it activated its disaster recovery and business continuity protocols, restoring essential services the same day and maintaining uninterrupted flight operations and customer support.
An investigation has been conducted with independent digital forensic experts to determine the source and scope of the incident, believed to involve external cybercriminals. The airline reported the breach to the State Security Agency, South African Police Service, and the Information Regulator, in compliance with national security and data protection laws.
Investigators are assessing whether any data was accessed or stolen. SAA has committed to notifying affected individuals if a breach is confirmed.
Ghana’s Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation will train 3,000 girls this year through its Girls-In-ICT Initiative, expanding in-person sessions to the Volta, Upper East, and Upper West regions, with 1,000 participants in each.
Participants will receive training in coding, computer literacy, cybersecurity, and digital creativity, along with mentorship, career workshops, and ICT competitions designed to build skills and confidence.
Launched in Ghana in 2012, the Girls-In-ICT Initiative—supported by the International Telecommunication Union—aims to inspire girls to pursue careers in STEM and support Ghana’s broader push for digital inclusion.
Money Fellows, a fintech platform digitizing traditional savings practices, has raised $13 million in new funding. The funds will boost platform upgrades and support regional expansion.
The round was co-led by Al Mada Ventures (AMV) and DPI Venture Capital via the Nclude Fund, with continued backing from Partech and CommerzVentures. The investment will help scale access to digital savings, lending, and investment services, particularly in underserved communities.
With plans to expand into North Africa, Money Fellows aims to tap into rising demand for digital finance, driven by events like the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
MYDAWA, a digital health platform in East Africa, has raised new funding to expand its services and improve access to essential medicines across the region. The investment will support regional growth, AI-powered service upgrades, and the scale-up of MYDAWA’s hybrid “Bricks-and-Clicks” model, which combines online health services with physical pharmacy support.
The funding round includes global healthcare investors such as IFU, Alta Semper, AAIC Investment, Creadev, and Ohara Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
The funds will also expand chronic care support, enhance digital tools, and reduce patient costs through smarter logistics and inventory systems. MYDAWA recently strengthened its presence in Uganda through the acquisition of Rocket Health.