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Qualcomm is now accepting applications for the latest round of its “Make in Africa” mentorship programme, aimed at tech startups across the continent. The equity-free initiative offers business coaching, engineering support for hardware and software development, and guidance on intellectual property protection. Applications close on Sunday, Feb. 15.
DRC Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Daniel Mukoko Samba on Thursday unveiled Loba, a digital platform designed to inform consumers of their rights and handle complaints across regulated sectors. The chatbot is due to officially launch in late February 2026, covering areas such as banking, insurance, telecommunications and healthcare.
Aya Data, a Ghanaian startup focused on data annotation and AI services, has raised $900,000 in seed funding to expand its AyaGrow and AyaSpeech products and hire new staff. Founded in 2021, the company trains workers for technical data jobs while developing tools for agricultural monitoring and speech recognition systems designed for African languages.
Enakl, a Moroccan startup founded in 2022, has raised $2.3 million in seed funding to speed up the deployment of its shared mobility services. Its technology helps corporate clients and public agencies build and manage flexible transport networks in real time. The company said the funds will support sales expansion, the launch of a new software product and pilot new shared-fleet models.
WhatsApp is testing a linked secondary account feature on Android that would let parents create child-friendly profiles with limited functionality. Messages could be restricted to approved contacts, while some parts of the app would remain inaccessible, though end-to-end encryption would still apply. The feature is still in development and has no announced release date, but it aims to bring parental controls directly into the platform.
Moroccan proptech Yakeey just closed a record $15 million Series A round to scale its operations across Africa. Founded in 2023 by Karim Beqqali, the platform secured backing from the IFC and Beltone Venture Capital, among others. Yakeey is set to redefine the real estate market by leveraging data and AI to streamline transactions and provide cutting-edge financing options.
Egyptian fintech leader Valu has secured a 3-billion-Egyptian-pound ($63.6 million) short-term financing agreement with the National Bank of Egypt. A pioneer in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) payment space, Valu also offers investment and payroll management solutions. This funding is set to fuel the company’s expansion following its recent launch in Jordan.
Nigerian fintech leader Paga has teamed up with PayPal to launch a new direct-link service. Starting Tuesday, January 27, users in Nigeria can receive global payments straight to their digital wallets. These funds are instantly available in Naira for bill payments, shopping, or bank transfers.
Nigerian stablecoin-focused fintech OneDosh has raised $3 million in pre-seed funding to build out its cross-border payment infrastructure. Operating in both the U.S. and Nigeria, the platform enables rapid transfers, stablecoin storage, and payments via Apple Pay and Google Pay-compatible cards. The capital will fuel expansion into new payment corridors and the growth of its engineering teams.
Last week, Central Bank of Congo (BCC) Governor André Wameso met with GSMA representatives to discuss potential partnerships to expand connectivity nationwide. Talks focused on digitalisation, financial inclusion and infrastructure, key priorities in the BCC’s drive to modernise the financial sector.
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Following a court order declaring its data collection illegal, the crypto project Worldcoin has purged all biometric data gathered in Kenya. Regulators confirmed that iris scans and other personal identifiers have been destroyed, ending a protracted legal dispute that underscores the clash between tech innovation and data privacy.
Chipper Cash is officially operating in the black. The African payments specialist reported that it covered all operating expenses in Q4 2025, successfully halting its cash burn after two years of restructuring. By doubling down on key markets like Nigeria and Uganda and leveraging the success of its dollar-denominated cards, Chipper Cash is now signaling that its business model is built to last.
eYouth, the Egyptian edtech company, has entered the Iraqi market through a partnership with Al-Majal Group. Together, they are launching Iraq’s first Arabic digital learning platform, designed to boost employability through career-focused training and international-standard certifications for young professionals and graduates.
The Aurora Tech Award has announced the 30 finalists for its 2026 edition, highlighting an all-female cohort of startup founders. Selected from 3,400 applicants across 127 countries, these entrepreneurs represent the surge of female-led innovation in technology. Spanning sectors from AI and fintech to healthtech and edtech, the finalists will receive strategic and financial support ahead of the global awards ceremony later this year.