Brief (513)
Huawei South Africa is inviting tech-savvy women entrepreneurs to apply for its Huawei Women in Tech Digital Skill Training Program. This initiative, offered in partnership with the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, focuses on enhancing skills in 5G, Cloud, and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The program aims to empower women by providing advanced training in these critical technology areas. Interested applicants should be available to travel to the Huawei Office Park and Henley Business School Africa in Johannesburg between August 22 to August 28 for the training.
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has unveiled draft regulations for satellite services, encompassing SpaceX's Starlink. The proposed rules aim to establish a new licensing framework and address the challenges of low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites.
The draft regulations cover authorization for satellite user terminals, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and spectrum management. ICASA is seeking public comments on the proposal by November 12, 2024, with feedback to be published online by November 30, 2024.
The Africa Fintech Summit (AFTS) has opened nominations for the 2024 Excellence in Fintech Awards. Since its inception in 2018, this event has consistently brought together key players in Africa's fintech ecosystem. This year's edition will take place in Nairobi, Kenya, from Wednesday, September 4, to Friday, September 6. The public is encouraged to nominate startups and prominent figures within the ecosystem across various categories.
Seven South African tech startups have been selected for the third Irish Tech Challenge South Africa, to build partnerships between South African entrepreneurs and Irish tech expertise.
Selected companies include SmartView Technology, Momint, and The Awareness Company, all contributing to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
They were selected out of over 350 applicants in an initiative organized by the Embassy of Ireland in South Africa and partners.
They will receive up to EUR10,000 each, a trip to Ireland for business networking, and support from Dogpatch Labs.
The 27th Africa Tech Festival, scheduled for November 12-14, 2024, in Cape Town, is set to shine a spotlight on the significant contributions of women in Africa’s tech and telecom sectors. This year’s festival will feature prominent female leaders such as Funke Opeke, CEO of MainOne, and Mary Mahuma, CIO of Philip Morris, who will share their insights on the future of the industry.
The event, which includes AfricaCom and The AI Summit Cape Town, is expected to attract over 15,000 attendees. Organizers are emphasizing the festival’s role in promoting inclusivity and mentorship within the tech community. A highlight of the festival will be the InspiringFifty Africa awards, which recognize the top women in tech across the continent.
Pan-African independent school network Nova Pioneer has partnered with Strathmore University to develop an AI curriculum for K-12 students in Africa, focusing on grades 7-12. The pilot program, part of Nova Pioneer’s Innovation and Leadership Programme, will launch in 2025 for Grade 8 students.
The initiative, announced on August 2, aims to equip African youth with essential AI skills. Over the next five years, the partnership will also create AI Impact Camps and an African Innovation Fund to support students in bringing their ideas to life.
Kenyan digital insurance platform mTek has partnered with BuuPass, a Kenyan Transportation platform, to provide integrated travel insurance. This partnership allows customers to easily select and purchase insurance while booking tickets on BuuPass, enhancing convenience and safety.
The move aims to enhance travel experience by providing additional safety and financial protection, allowing travelers to feel more secure and confident during their trips.
Pan-African fintech firm Flutterwave has been granted an Enhanced Category Payment Service Provider license by the Bank of Ghana, it announced on August 1. This license enables Flutterwave to offer a wide range of payment services directly in Ghana, eliminating the need for third-party services and simplifying payment processes for businesses and consumers.
The firm aims to unify the fragmented payment infrastructure in Africa and support local fintech companies, contributing to a more integrated financial ecosystem.
Egyptian AI startup Synapse Analytics has secured $2 million in new investment to expand its AI-powered solutions across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Africa, focusing on the financial sector. The investment was led by venture capital firm Silicon Badia and Hub 71, Abu Dhabi.
Synapse Analytics partners with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Crealogix, offering digital banking and application processing software. As part of Hub71, the company addresses financial inclusion by offering AI software for credit scoring, cross-selling, dynamic pricing, and eKYC/eKYB processes.
The Czech Republic has awarded 25 scholarships to Zambian professionals for studies in Information Technology, Artificial Intelligence, and Cyber Security, Zambia’s Minister of Technology and Science Felix Mutati announced on July 28.
Czech Ambassador Pavel Prochazka announced the scholarships, covering both Bachelor's and Master's degrees, during a meeting with Minister Mutati. He stressed the Czech Republic's commitment to partnering with Zambia's Ministry to enhance technical skills to bridge the digital divide.
More...
Africa Data Centres, a unit of Cassava Technologies, announced, on July 25, the expansion of its CPT1 facility in Cape Town.
Supported by a loan of up to $300 million from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), the project will add three new halls and increase the IT load by 6MW, doubling the current capacity.
The CPT1 expansion is part of Africa Data Centres’ strategy to increase data centre capacity across the continent, addressing the growing demand for data services in Africa.
Visa is inviting women entrepreneurs in South Africa to apply for the She’s Next program. The program is offering over ZAR1 million (USD 54,540) in funding, along with mentorship and training, to help businesses grow and contribute to the South African economy.
Eligible businesses must be at least 51% woman-owned and 51% black-owned, operate in South Africa, have annual revenue under ZAR50 million (USD 2,728,000), and have been operating for at least one year before July 22, 2024.
Application closes by August 9.
Through the WE-Elevate Rwanda program, Rwanda is partnering with Digital Commerce International (DCI) to help women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) boost productivity via online commerce.
The initiative aims to help these businesses transition to e-commerce, expanding their market reach and growth potential. Women-led enterprises in Rwanda are encouraged to sign up to benefit from this program.
Applications close by August 4.
Kenya's Diamond Trust Bank (DTB), listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange, has teamed up with Network International, a top digital commerce provider in the Middle East and Africa (MEA). The partnership, announced on July 23, aims to enhance DTB's digital payment solutions.
DTB, with over 155 branches in East Africa, aims to leverage Network's advanced payment solutions and security protocols amidst growing digital payment adoption. The partnership includes debit, credit, and prepaid card processing, e-commerce, fraud prevention, and more.