Brief (729)
From March 16 to 27, the city of Gitega is hosting the second coding camp of the African Girls Can Code Initiative at the Rusi training center. Implemented by UN Women Burundi with support from the Kingdom of Belgium, the program aims to strengthen the digital skills of young Burundian women and prepare them for careers in technology.
Persistent, an African venture capital firm, is launching a $70 million fund dedicated to early-stage climate tech startups in Africa. The fund targets companies from pre-seed to Series A and includes $5 million set aside for operational support. It aims to accelerate startups in the energy, agriculture and resource management sectors across the continent.
On Wednesday, June 10, Bluechip Technologies will host its third Bluechip Data and Artificial Intelligence Summit. The event will bring together executives, innovators and experts to examine how data and AI are reshaping business and society. The program includes 12 focused workshops, real-world case studies, live demonstrations and networking opportunities.
Kinshasa is hosting the eighth regional workshop on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) from March 16 to 20. The event is co-organized by the Regulatory Authority for Posts and Telecommunications of the Congo and brings together authorities, operators and partners to discuss awareness, collection, recycling and the development of a circular economy for a more sustainable digital future.
The Kenyan organization Assistive Technologies for Disability Trust, in partnership with the Judith Neilson Foundation, is launching a $500,000 fund to support up to five African assistive technology startups. The program targets digital solutions that improve mobility, communication, inclusive education, independence and accessibility. It will provide startups with seed funding, technical support and partnerships to help them scale their operations.
The Algerian digital platform Yassir is acquiring Uno hypermarkets from the Cevital Group, expanding its super-app model into retail. The stores, to be renamed Yassir Market, are set to become digitally integrated retail locations connected to the payment, delivery, and e-commerce services the company already offers in several countries.
WhatsApp is launching accounts specifically designed for children under 13, configured and controlled by their parents. The new accounts provide access only to basic calling and messaging features. Advertising will not appear on these accounts, and several advanced tools such as channels and status updates will not be available. The system is designed to give parents tighter oversight of their children’s activity on the platform. Parents can choose which contacts are approved, receive alerts when certain actions are taken by the child, and manage privacy settings.
The iHatch program is seeking innovation hubs across Nigeria’s 36 states and the FCT to lead its fifth cohort. A total of 37 hubs will be selected to provide year-long incubation, mentoring and training for startups under a standardized national framework. Interested hubs can apply until Monday, March 16, 2026.
Lagos Innovates has opened applications for its six-week Female Founders & Funders program, which supports women-led tech startups in Lagos. The curriculum includes masterclasses, mentorship and fundraising preparation, as well as introductions to investors. The program, which also trains women investors and has already backed more than 30 founders, is accepting applications until Saturday, April 4.
Meta is rolling out new anti-scam tools across Facebook, WhatsApp and Messenger. Facebook will introduce alerts about suspicious friend requests, while WhatsApp will warn users about fraudulent attempts to link accounts. Messenger will also use AI to detect scam messages and prompt users to block or report suspicious accounts.
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April 28-30, 2026, the Landmark Centre on Victoria Island in Lagos will host IoT West Africa, co-located with Data Center & Cloud Expo Africa. The event will bring together industry leaders, financial institutions, public officials and e-commerce companies to present the latest developments in IoT, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, data centers and digital energy. Organizers say the aim is to support digital transformation and strengthen the competitiveness of African businesses.
Adlore Business Enterprise has launched a pilot of its Jollof Boss platform, enabling small businesses to manage product catalogues, orders and payments directly within WhatsApp. By integrating Paystack, the platform allows customers to select food items through an interactive menu and receive a payment link, while merchants are automatically notified once the payment is completed. The service is currently being tested in Benin City and Lagos and aims to remove friction between messaging and payments.
Yazi, a South African AI-driven research platform built on WhatsApp, has raised its first institutional funding round led by 3 Capital Ventures at a pre-money valuation of about $1.6 million. The capital will be used to launch automated voice interviews on WhatsApp, expand its African respondent panel, and support expansion into the UK and Europe, where demand is growing.
The TEMS Africa ICT Exhibition and Conference will take place on April 23 and 24, 2026, at the Sarit Expo Centre in Nairobi. The event will bring together technology professionals, businesses, and tech enthusiasts for technology demonstrations, keynote speeches, and networking opportunities. The conference aims to showcase how ICT solutions can drive economic growth and digital transformation across the continent.