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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.
Google now allows the use of its AI-driven search features, such as answer summaries and conversational mode, in Yoruba and Hausa. Nigerian internet users can ask questions in their language, either in writing or by voice, and receive more natural responses. In total, thirteen African languages are now supported in these features.
Payment provider Flocash is partnering with Quest Financial Services to launch a new prepaid Visa card in Zimbabwe.
The card can be reloaded at Quest branches and through digital wallets. It enables secure online and in-store payments locally and internationally. Users get high transaction limits, real-time tracking via a mobile app, and virtual cards for online purchases.
Fintech startups Noah and Nafolo are launching virtual bank accounts in euros and U.S. dollars backed by stablecoins for remote workers, students and families in sub-Saharan Africa.
Payments are processed within minutes rather than days, with fees significantly lower than the roughly 9% typically charged on remittances. The platforms also allow withdrawals via mobile money or virtual cards.
Nigerian crypto startup Zap Africa has cut 44% of its workforce, reducing staff from 18 to 10 employees as part of a restructuring aimed at improving efficiency through automation. The layoffs mainly affected roles in design, operations, marketing and support, with many of those functions shifted to AI tools. Despite the downsizing, the company says it remains stable and continues to develop its products.
Truecaller has partnered with 365 Digital, appointing it as the exclusive reseller of its advertising inventory in South Africa and Kenya. Brands and agencies can now book targeted mobile campaigns on the Truecaller app through this local partner. The agreement expands Truecaller’s footprint in Africa and simplifies access to high-impact ad formats.
M-KOPA said it has disbursed more than 231 billion naira ($170.5 million) in credit to over one million customers in Nigeria since 2019. Most of the loans finance smartphone purchases, followed by cash advances. The company requires no collateral and charges no hidden fees, relying instead on daily micropayments to expand access to digital services and credit for low-income households.
Digital lender Fido Ghana has secured $5.5 million in debt financing to scale its AI-powered lending platform. Using a proprietary credit scoring system based on mobile usage data, the company provides instant loans to small businesses and individuals underserved by traditional banks. The funds will support product expansion and growth across Africa.
Bildup AI is launching its latest AI training cohort and opening new learning hubs in Enugu, Abuja, and Lagos. These centers complement our online programs by offering hands-on, guided learning for both students and professionals. Our mission is simple: democratize AI across industries and future-proof Nigeria’s workforce for the age of automation.
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OpenAI is developing a suite of smart devices, including a speaker, glasses and a lamp, aimed at embedding its AI more deeply into everyday life. The speaker, equipped with a camera to enable context-aware responses, is expected to sell for between $200 and $300 and launch in 2027. The smart glasses are not expected before 2028.
Egyptian e-commerce platform Breadfast has raised $50 million in pre-Series C funding from regional and international investors, including Mubadala Investment and SBI Investment. The funds will be used to strengthen its logistics infrastructure and support expansion into new African markets. Originally launched as a bread delivery service, the company has since diversified into groceries, pharmacy products and payment services.
Nigerian fintech Risevest, which enables users to invest in dollar-denominated assets, has secured a fund and portfolio management license from Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The license was issued to its subsidiary, RV Fund Management, following months of regulatory review. The approval resolves uncertainty stemming from a 2025 public warning by the regulator over the company’s unlicensed status.
Spiro, a company specializing in rent-to-own electric motorcycles, has secured $7 million in debt financing from Nithio, a US-based climate investor. The funding will accelerate the rollout of electric bikes and the expansion of battery infrastructure, including swapping stations, across several African markets.