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Last week, AI company Flapmax announced the twelve startups selected for its Fast Accelerator program focused on artificial intelligence. Supported by Microsoft, the program aims to strengthen and advance the African tech ecosystem. "Participation in the FAST Accelerator program will help these entrepreneurs capture growth opportunities and expand their market reach," explained Mame-Fatou Gueye, SME Program Manager, Microsoft Africa Transformation Office.
Ghanaian start-up Complete Farmer, which connects farmers with global food buyers, recently announced it raised $10.4 million in funding, including $7 million in equity.
According to its executives, the funds will help Complete Farmer notably scale operations, improve technologies, and conduct research on agricultural protocols.
TelCables Nigeria, a subsidiary of Angola Cables, announced on Wednesday, September 20 the launch of the Clouds2Africa node. The aim is to improve connectivity in the West African sub-region and facilitate access to cloud solutions.
"Clouds2Africa is powered by Angola Cables’ submarine network, including WACS, SACS, Monet, Equiano, and Djoliba Network for West Africa, offering robust and reliable connectivity across the African continent," the company indicates.
On Thursday, September 21, Liquid Intelligent Technologies' Zambian subsidiary announced the official launch of Azure Stack, a Microsoft cloud solution accessible from Liquid's data centers. Aimed at businesses, it will, among other things, ensure they “can access local cloud solutions cost-effectively.”
Sattelite internet provider Starlink has applied for a license to operate in Zimbabwe, Information Minister Jenfan Muswere confirmed on Monday, September 18. According to the official, the application is currently being reviewed by the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority.
Zambian fintech Lupiya announced on Tuesday, September 19 the successful completion of an $8.25 million Series A funding round. Evelyn Chilomo Kaingu (photo, right), co-founder of the fintech, explains that with the support of Alitheia IDF, INOKS Capital, Mastercard, and Kfw DEG, Lupiya is “poised to provide holistic financial services not only to its Zambian customers but also to expand its reach across East and Southern Africa.”
On Friday, September 15, Edasso Rodrigue Bayala (photo), Burkina Faso’s Justice Minister, launched “e-casier judiciaire”, a web platform for the retrieval of criminal record certificates. The pilot jurisdictions on the web platform are the courts of Ouaga I and II. Later, the service will be extended nationwide.
Last week, Nigerian crypto company Nestcoin announced the completion of a $1.9 million funding round. The proceeds from this round will help set up Onboard Wallet, a non-custodial crypto wallet that will enable users to transfer funds directly to a bank account without going through a centralized exchange.
On Sunday, September 10, Algerian hydrocarbons company Sonatrach announced the launch of "SPEAKUP", a national platform to report and deal with internal corruption.
According to the company's press release, "SPEAKUP" enables employees, partners, customers, and other stakeholders to securely report serious illegal or illicit acts that violate enforceable laws and regulations, as well as violations of Sonatrach's anti-corruption policy and code of conduct.
Last September 5, Le Cercle Africain de Cybersécurité (CAC), a regional association aimed at enhancing cybersecurity in Africa, was launched in response to the new cyber threats facing the continent.
The CAC brings together cybersecurity/cyberdefense professionals, government representatives, cybersecurity business leaders, lawyers, and academics. It aims to encourage digital security initiatives, develop a cybersecurity culture and raise awareness on the threats that could impede countries’ economic growth.
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From November 15 to 17, 2023, Dakar, the capital of Senegal, will host the first edition of "This is Africa Digital," an event dedicated to the digitalization of Africa.
According to the organizers, the event will bring together key industry players to explore the opportunities offered by digitization in Africa.
Cameroon's Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Minette Libom Li Likeng, recently announced the Cameroon Digital Week.
The event, to be held in Yaoundé from October 16 to 20, aims to highlight the country’s digital ambitions for its private and public sectors.
Guinea intends to digitize its public administration, Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Digital Economy, Ousmane Gaoual Diallo (photo, left), recently announced on social media.
According to the official, the government will invest $10 million to create a database and implement a Digital Territorial Development Plan, with the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
In Tunisia, legal actions will be taken against those who publish fake news on the Internet, the Ministries of Justice, the Interior, and Information Technology announced in a joint press release issued last August 23. The aim is to combat social media crimes and to dissuade the authors of fake news. "Anyone who contributes to or participates in the publication of a website or page subject to judicial control, in any way whatsoever, inside or outside Tunisian territory, is exposed," reads the press release.