Brief (580)
The Creative Industries Initiative for Africa (C.I.I.F.A.), in collaboration with Google, announces the launch of the second Engage Nigeria cohort.
Engage Nigeria offers training in music business, production, event planning, cinematography, animation, graphic design, and content creation. Participants benefit from mentorship and networking opportunities to enhance career readiness.
Application is open to individuals aged 17- 35.
Angel Fair Africa, the event linking African entrepreneurs with investors, returns for its eleventh edition on November 7-8, 2024. The gathering will unite accelerators, incubators, businesses, and investors from across the continent, aiming to foster deals and partnerships in the vibrant startup ecosystem.
Launched in September 2013, Angel Fair Africa has been pivotal in catalyzing investment across Africa, having been hosted in cities like Johannesburg, Lagos, Accra, and Cape Town.
Colombian fintech Minka has expanded into the East African market to facilitate global purchases for Africans by enabling global merchants to accept local payments, such as mobile money or cash.
Minka's model employs in-house financial protocols to accelerate money transfers between banks by creating a common language for different payment systems, simplifying the reconciliation process.
VezoPay has introduced Africa’s first smart ring, revolutionizing contactless payments across the continent.
This ring offers quick, secure payments in just a second, connecting seamlessly to any terminal using advanced NFC tokenization to encrypt data, approved by Visa and Mastercard.
On Monday, July 1, Senegalese Minister of Public Service and Public Service Reform (MFPRSP), Olivier Boucal, and the rector of Cheikh Hamidou Kane Digital University (UN-CHK), Moussa Lo, signed a partnership agreement. Under this partnership, UN-CHK will provide its digital expertise to the MFPRSP for transforming the public sector and digitizing public services. The partnership also includes training and capacity building for public service employees in the digital domain, among other initiatives.
On Wednesday, June 26, the West African Monetary Institute (WAMI) launched the Unique Banking Identifier and Digital Interoperability Project in Guinea, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. Financially supported by the African Development Bank, the project aims to develop the financial system of the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ), promote economic growth, reduce poverty, and enhance financial inclusion for successful economic and financial integration in West Africa.
On Thursday, June 27, Kalil Konate, the Ivorian Minister of Digital Transition and Digitalization, and Téte António, the Angolan Minister of Foreign Affairs, signed a cooperation agreement during Angolan President João Lourenço's visit to Côte d'Ivoire. The agreement aims to pool efforts to enhance the use of technological tools and improve public service delivery in both countries.
On Wednesday, May 29, the UK-based venture capital firm Leo Lion opened applications for its Future of Capitalism 2024-2025 contest. This global competition offers up to $1 million in investment to startups developing technologies aimed at improving business operations. Applications close on September 30, 2024. Eight finalists will be invited to London for Pitch Day, which will take place in February 2025.
On Tuesday, June 25, Beninese Minister of Digital and Digitalization, Aurélie Adam Soulé Zoumarou, inaugurated the Technical Committee for Startup Labeling. Composed of seven members appointed for a renewable two-year term, the committee will be responsible for receiving and reviewing applications from micro, small, and medium enterprises. It will periodically publish the list of labeled startups, notify applicants of the decisions resulting from the application review, and issue decisions on the revocation of granted labels.
In June 2024, Ecobank opened applications for the seventh edition of its Fintech Challenge. This competition invites both mature and startup fintech companies to collaborate with the bank for a chance to win a grand prize of $50,000. Finalists will have the opportunity to integrate their solutions into Ecobank’s network, which spans 35 African countries. Applications close on July 7, 2024.
More...
On Thursday, June 20, Benin officially adhered to the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime, signed in Budapest, Hungary, in 2001. The goal is to strengthen its legal framework to enhance its cyberspace and combat cybercrime more effectively.
The Zambian government has begun developing an artificial intelligence (AI) framework, Minister of Science and Technology, Felix Mutati announced on June 27. To this end, the government is collaborating with the Tony Blair Institute to develop an AI strategy.
With this announcement, Zambia joins a select group of African nations that are embracing AI technology.
Bamboo, the Nigerian investment app that allows users to invest in US stocks, has expanded its operations to South Africa.
Bamboo’s entry into South Africa aims to capitalize on the country’s growing interest in international investments and digital financial services. The company’s expansion is expected to boost the African fintech sector and contribute to economic development.
On Sunday, June 23, the Algerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CACI) launched a digital platform for investors. Accessible via https://invest.gov.dz, the platform aims to facilitate communication and establish connections between Algerian and foreign businesspeople. It also seeks to simplify foreign investors' access to the Algerian market, particularly by streamlining the visa application and acquisition process, bypassing traditional steps.