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Bolt, the ride-hailing platform, has reached a major milestone in South Africa, announcing it has completed more than 400 million trips since its launch in 2016. The service, which serves about 1.4 million passengers each month and has over 40,000 active drivers across twenty-three cities, hit this mark as the industry rolled out new safety rules requiring licenses, vehicle identification and physical alert buttons.
Nigerian entrepreneur Kayode Aladesuyi’s company, MYai Robotics, has unveiled Curation AI, a system that verifies articles, images, videos, audio and social media posts in seconds while also tracking public opinion in real time. Developed by a mostly Nigerian team, the tool is designed to curb misinformation by enabling the public, media outlets and institutions to quickly verify digital content.
Twelve Kenyan startups – including LeadNow by Dignitas, Cloud School System, Elimu Shop, iFunza, M-Lugha Technologies, Nyansapo AI, Zydii and Digifunzi– have completed the third cohort of the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship. During the six-month program, they received support to refine their solutions and expand the rollout of digital tools that promote inclusive education.
Nigeria’s Task Systems Limited has won the Microsoft Partner of the Year Award, beating more than 4,000 candidates from over 100 countries. The award highlights decades of expertise in deploying digital solutions for major African enterprises and reinforces Task Systems’ position as a key driver of digital transformation on the continent.
Proparco is investing in Kenyan e-mobility startup BasiGo, which assembles electric buses locally and finances them through a pay-as-you-drive model. The funding will help the company expand its operations in Kenya and Rwanda, strengthen its charging network, and move closer to its goal of deploying 1,000 buses.
South Africa’s Competition Tribunal has approved Lesaka Technologies’ acquisition of digital-only bank Bank Zero for about $63.8 million. The deal still requires sign-off from prudential regulators. The acquisition will enable Lesaka to strengthen its financial services platform, expand its digital banking offering, and fund its growth more effectively through customer deposits.
The Nigerian startup Konnadex has received a $20,000 grant from the Lisk protocol to accelerate the development of its stablecoin payment portal for merchants. The platform offers on-chain invoicing, payment links and automated reconciliation to streamline cryptocurrency settlements. The funding strengthens the company’s market credibility but remains only an early step toward scaling.
M-KOPA Kenya, a subsidiary of M-KOPA Holdings, said it has extended $1.6 billion in credit to customers in the country, largely through smartphone financing. The company says it has reached 4.8 million customers over fifteen years, making it a major source of credit for low-income households.
Egyptian startup Bluworks, which specializes in digitizing workforce management for field employees, has raised $1 million in seed funding to accelerate its growth in Egypt and expand across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The funding will support platform enhancements, the integration of advanced analytics and artificial intelligence (AI), and a stronger focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
African startups under five years old can now apply to the Harvard New Venture Competition, which will award up to $55,000 in prizes at the Africa Business Conference in Boston on March 27-28, 2026. The top 30 applicants will also receive mentorship from MBA student consultants. Applications are open now.
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Itel announced on Tuesday, November 18, a partnership with Tech Sphere Academy to provide smartphones to young people who cannot afford them. The devices will help students access virtual classes and hands-on training. The partnership also supports digital education efforts and complements the TS Academy scholarship program, which already assists more than 3,000 young people across Africa.
The Ilorin Innovation Hub has launched its first acceleration program, open to startups across Africa, with 10 million naira (about $6,900) in available funding.
Startups developing solutions in artificial intelligence, energy, hardware or the circular economy have until Friday, Nov. 21, to apply. Selected companies will receive mentorship, workshops and support for future fundraising.
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, in partnership with Google, has launched a free training program for 7,500 small African businesses across 19 countries.
Participants will learn how to expand their operations using artificial intelligence, e-commerce and cloud technology, with courses available in four languages. The initiative aims to strengthen digital skills and promote inclusion across the continent.
The sessions will be delivered in 25 groups and will run until June 2026.
Casablanca will host EMECEXPO from Nov. 19-21, a major gathering for digital innovation in Africa. The event will bring together decision-makers, entrepreneurs, and experts for panels, workshops, and competitions on digital commerce, artificial intelligence, and SME capacity-building. It aims to promote collaboration, strengthen professional skills, and help African startups expand into new markets.