Egyptian scientific services platform Nawah Scientific has closed a $23 million Series A round in mixed financing—comprising equity, debt, and grants—to accelerate its regional expansion. The group plans to use the funds to launch a research center in Rwanda and expand laboratory capacity in Egypt and Saudi Arabia while modernizing its equipment. The goal is to position the region as a major hub for research and testing, serving both Africa and the Middle East.
Twelve startups were recognized at the third annual South African Startup Awards, which selected 44 finalists from 221 entries across 12 categories. The winners span various sectors—including AI, fintech, healthcare, mobility, and climate—illustrating the dynamism of South Africa's tech ecosystem and the emergence of high-impact solutions for both consumers and businesses.
Stealth Money has launched a self-custody Bitcoin service in Nigeria, which the platform describes as a first for the continent. Users can purchase a hardware wallet using nairas for delivery anywhere in the country. The service also provides personalized support to help users secure their holdings away from exchanges deemed vulnerable, thereby strengthening their financial sovereignty over their digital assets.
- Sierra Leone launched the “Learn2Earn” program with UNICEF to train young people for digital freelancing.
- A pilot cohort of 30 participants combines in-person training, virtual mentoring, and real freelance job applications.
- Internet penetration remains low at 20.7%, highlighting structural constraints to scaling digital work.
The Sierra Leonean government launched the “Learn2Earn” program on Wednesday, December 17, an initiative designed to strengthen youth employability through digital freelancing. The government is implementing the program in partnership with UNICEF. The initiative aims to prepare young people to generate online income at a time when traditional job opportunities remain scarce.
The pilot cohort brings together 30 participants enrolled in a one-month program that combines in-person orientation sessions, virtual mentoring, and applications for real freelance assignments. “The program was designed to support participants from learning to income generation through mentoring, hands-on practice, and accountability, with support from experienced freelancers operating on platforms such as Upwork and Bounty,” said Jesse Kamara, innovation lead at the Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation (MoCTI).
According to the ministry, Learn2Earn offers an alternative pathway for labor market integration within the global gig economy. The program aims to address the widening gap between the number of young people entering the labor market and the limited availability of conventional jobs. The initiative also aligns with the MoCTI’s objective to help create 65,000 jobs in the technology and innovation sectors. The World Bank estimates that 230 million jobs in sub-Saharan Africa will require digital skills by 2030.
The program comes amid mounting socioeconomic pressure. The African Development Bank estimates that youth unemployment in Sierra Leone reached 10% in 2022, while underemployment remained significantly higher. In addition, an Afrobarometer survey published in September showed that 57% of Sierra Leoneans have considered leaving the country, with 55% citing the search for better job opportunities.
Beyond skills development, the expansion of freelancing raises structural challenges. Young people face constraints related to access to digital equipment such as computers, suitable smartphones, and software. Reliable, high-quality, and affordable internet connectivity also remains critical. According to DataReportal, Sierra Leone counted 1.8 million internet users at the beginning of 2025, representing an internet penetration rate of just 20.7%.
This article was initially published in French by Isaac K. Kassouwi
Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum
- South African entrepreneur Kim Chulu Amina founded MindCiti to help users structure and present clear professional identities.
- The MindCiti Builder platform targets students, professionals, and organizations seeking to support skills development.
- The solution emphasizes soft skills and uses interactive and gamified tools to enhance learning and employability.
Kim Chulu Amina is a South African entrepreneur and designer. He is the founder of MindCiti, a startup that aims to help individuals build a clear, coherent, and controlled professional image. Through this digital solution, he addresses a central challenge in the professional world: the ability to present oneself clearly and in a structured manner when facing opportunities.
Founded in 2022, MindCiti developed an online platform that supports users in structuring their professional future. The platform brings together tools designed to improve self-awareness, highlight career paths, and prepare users for professional opportunities. The platform, branded MindCiti Builder, targets students, working professionals, and organizations that seek to support the skills development of their talent.
MindCiti Builder offers a dedicated environment for creating professional content such as résumés and portfolios. The platform guides users step by step in presenting their experiences, achievements, and skills in a structured and readable format. This approach aims to facilitate job applications and engagement with employers or institutions.
The platform places strong emphasis on human skills, commonly referred to as soft skills. These include communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence. The platform relies on playful and engaging activities that stimulate reflection, critical thinking, and initiative. Mini-games and interactive experiences reinforce learning and encourage the adoption of lasting professional behaviors.
Alongside MindCiti, Kim Chulu Amina also founded Kimard Studio, a startup launched in 2012 that specializes in interactive digital solutions incorporating gamification. He also serves as chief technology officer at Ambani Africa, an educational platform designed for African primary school students that helps them learn and strengthen mastery of their mother tongue.
He has also initiated several other entrepreneurial projects, including the news platform Voonja, the online magazine Afrinterest, and the handcrafted bag brand EN Afrik. He earned a diploma in multimedia, graphic design, and visual communication in 2013 from Tshwane University of Technology in South Africa.
Between 2014 and 2023, Kim Chulu Amina worked as a freelance UX/UI designer. In parallel, from 2018 to 2024, he served as head of user experience at Gradesmatch, an education technology company specializing in career guidance, university preparation, and academic success support for African students.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum
- Zimbabwean entrepreneur Chido Dzinotyiwei co-founded Vambo AI to deliver artificial intelligence in users’ native languages.
- The platform prioritizes indigenous and local languages that remain underrepresented in digital technologies.
- Vambo AI combines writing, translation, and search tools to expand access to AI beyond dominant global languages.
Founded in 2023, Vambo AI places indigenous and local languages at the core of its technological vision. These languages remain largely underrepresented in the digital ecosystem. The company aims to provide tools of the same standard as those available for major internet languages, enabling users to think, create, and communicate in their own idiom.
The platform claims to deliver international-level artificial intelligence that combines performance and technical sophistication with intuitive language use. This approach seeks to reduce linguistic barriers that continue to limit access to information, opportunities, and digital tools for large segments of the population.
By integrating writing, translation, and search functions, Vambo AI positions itself as a digital companion for users who want to operate online in their native language. The platform promotes a more inclusive internet by valuing languages that global technology platforms often overlook.
Beyond Vambo AI, Chido Dzinotyiwei is a member of the OPUS entrepreneurs’ collective. She also founded Vambo Academy, an education technology platform launched in 2020 that focuses on preserving African languages through virtual learning. In 2022, she co-founded Akayi, a facilitator within Zimbabwe’s business ecosystem.
She graduated from the University of Cape Town with a bachelor’s degree in economics and finance, followed by a master’s degree in development finance from the Graduate School of Business. She began her professional career in 2020 at Standard Bank Group’s Corporate and Investment Banking division, where she worked for four years as an analyst in the finance and treasury unit.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum
Cavista Technologies will hold its fourth hackathon on February 21-22, 2026, in Ikeja, Lagos. Open to students from universities and colleges in and around Lagos, the event will feature a 24-hour team challenge focused on developing practical technology solutions. Participants will compete for prizes worth several million naira and receive mentorship from members of Nigeria’s tech ecosystem.
Nigerian platform Bildup AI, which specializes in AI-powered personalized training, has closed a $400,000 funding round backed by angel investors. The capital will be used to grow the team, expand online offerings, and launch physical AI learning centers in Abuja and Lagos starting in 2026. The initiative aims to make digital skills more accessible to young Africans.
Delivery platform Chowdeck has partnered with startup GoLemon to stock its grocery warehouses and offer near-instant delivery through its app. While Chowdeck maintains control of its warehouse management and rapid logistics, GoLemon focuses on procurement, quality control, and scheduled grocery orders.
Tech group Yango has made a strategic investment in Nigeria’s Gigmile, a vehicle and financial services platform for gig workers in Africa. The partnership aims to support Gigmile’s regional expansion, improve last-mile delivery efficiency and promote financial inclusion for delivery drivers by combining technology, flexible financing and management tools.
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The Aurora Tech Award has unveiled its list of 100 female tech founders to watch in 2026, selected from 3,400 applicants across 127 countries. The selection highlights the rising influence of women-led innovation in sectors such as healthcare, finance, and agritech, characterized by a strong adoption of artificial intelligence and a focus on Sustainable Development Goals.
- Orange Maroc inaugurated Morocco’s first open-access cable landing station in Nador to host the Medusa subsea cable.
- The Medusa cable spans more than 8,700 kilometers and links 19 landing points between Europe and North Africa.
- Orange Maroc plans more than 100 billion dirhams ($10.9 billion) in infrastructure investments over 25 years.
Orange Maroc announced on Tuesday, December 16, the inauguration in Nador of Morocco’s first open-access cable landing station. The strategic infrastructure will host the Medusa subsea cable. The cable extends over more than 8,700 kilometers and connects 19 landing points between Europe and North Africa. The system will strengthen Morocco’s international connectivity and support its ambition to become a regional digital hub.
“This is an infrastructure that Orange Maroc teams designed and delivered through local expertise, with active participation from Orange Group experts. It will allow Morocco to strengthen its digital sovereignty and support the digital development of the Moroccan economy,” said Mohamed Benali, Chief Technology & Information Officer of Orange Maroc.
The Medusa project targets data transmission capacity of up to 20 terabits per second per fiber pair through next-generation optical fiber technology. The cable connects Nador directly to Marseille and to other strategic points in the Mediterranean. This configuration will strengthen the resilience of digital exchanges between North Africa and Europe while diversifying connectivity routes. The landing station built by Orange Maroc covers 3,500 square meters and includes IT capacity designed to host advanced digital services.
A project aligned with a national and regional strategy
These developments align with Orange Maroc’s long-term strategy. The company plans more than 100 billion dirhams in investments over 25 years to develop national digital infrastructure. The strategy supports 5G deployment, artificial intelligence solutions, and digital sovereignty initiatives through the Orange Tech data center and cloud partnerships.
At a broader level, these initiatives also align with Morocco’s digital transformation ambitions. The country aims to build a high-performance, sustainable, and competitive digital ecosystem. This ecosystem will support national economic growth while integrating social and environmental commitments, including a target of 100% renewable energy use by 2040.
Economic and technological impacts
From an economic perspective, the arrival of the Medusa cable could reshape Morocco’s digital landscape. Improved international connectivity will attract new technology investments. The infrastructure will support the expansion of digital services and reduce bandwidth costs for businesses and users. The cable will also provide strategic redundancy amid rising data flows and growing demand driven by 5G, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya
Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum
- Gabon will officially launch onboard Internet service on passenger trains on December 23.
- The project will rely on OneWeb low-Earth-orbit satellite Internet operated by Eutelsat.
- Authorities aim to raise annual passenger traffic on the Transgabonais line to 330,000 by 2027.
The Gabonese government announced that it will officially launch onboard Internet service on passenger trains on December 23. The launch event will include a presentation of the solution and a live connectivity test onboard a train. Authorities and project partners will attend the demonstration.
The government announced the project on Monday, December 15. The Ministry of the Digital Economy, Digitalization and Innovation leads the initiative alongside the Ministry of Transport, Merchant Marine and Logistics. The project also involves the Transgabonais Railway Operating Company (SETRAG) and a private telecommunications operator. The operator will deploy OneWeb low-Earth-orbit satellite Internet from France’s Eutelsat group.
“In a first phase, onboard Internet access will allow exclusively the use of the WhatsApp application. The next stages of the project will enable a gradual expansion of services, depending on technical performance and observed quality of service,” the Ministry of the Digital Economy, Digitalization and Innovation said.
According to the ministry, the project aims to improve passenger comfort and user experience through the gradual integration of digital services into rail transport. The initiative aligns with Gabon’s broader digital transformation ambitions. Libreville seeks to position digital technology as a central pillar of socioeconomic development and to reduce dependence on extractive resources. The government adopted a legal framework in September to regulate and accelerate the digital transformation of public administration.
This improvement in customer experience comes as Gabonese authorities seek to increase traffic on the Transgabonais railway. The government aims to raise annual passenger numbers to 330,000 by 2027, compared with 260,000 passengers in 2022, representing growth of more than 26.9%. The initiative ranks among the transition government’s priority actions for the 2024–2026 period.
This article was initially published in French by Isaac K. Kassouwi
Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum
Five African startups have been named winners of the second NBA Africa Triple-Double Accelerator, an initiative supporting innovation in the sports and creative industries. Morocco’s Reborn, Egypt’s Fitclan and Athlon Technology, and Nigeria’s Atsur and Songdis will share financial awards, 12 months of mentorship at Carnegie Mellon University Africa, and technology credits to accelerate their growth.