Greentech startups are rapidly emerging in Africa with firm conviction that new technologies will play a key role in supporting sustainable development on the continent.
Catalyst Fund, a private equity fund investing in early-stage, climate-focused startups in Africa, has reached the first closing of its $40 million fund. Last Wednesday, the fund announced a first closing, at $8.6 million, with support from investors like FSD Africa Investments (FSDAi), the Cisco Foundation, USAID (Prosper Africa), and technology investor Andrew Bredenkamp.
The Kenya-based fund, headed by French impact investor Maelis Carraro, plans to invest in around 40 start-ups, including 20 this year. Eligible companies will receive funding of up to $200,000 for pre-seed startups, $500,000 for seed-stage companies, and $1.5 million in Series A financing for more mature companies.
“By blending equity investments with hands-on venture building, we believe we can unlock tremendous potential for innovative companies on the continent. Supporting ventures at the pre-seed stage requires more than capital. Our venture builders are the engineers, data scientists, and growth marketing experts who can supercharge founders’ journeys toward building scalable and highly impactful ventures," says Maelis Carraro.
Climate change is a global reality but Africa is the continent most vulnerable to its adverse effects despite contributing just 3% of global carbon emissions. It is therefore important to invest in startups that are active in the fight against climate change on the continent. According to a report published, in February 2023, by technology business accelerator AfricArena, such startups raised a total of $1.17 billion in 2022, of which $863 million was invested in capital.
By strategically focusing on solutions in agri-tech and fisheries management, food systems, insurtech and climate fintech, cold chain, waste management, and water management, Catalyst Fund aims to accelerate sustainable green growth. It will focus on solutions that can enable communities to better prepare for and manage shocks, adapt livelihoods to climate impacts, and build long-term resilience.
Samira Njoya
The center embodies the promise of a bright technological future for The Gambia. With its unwavering commitment to innovation, education, and collaboration, it is positioned as a major player in the African technology landscape.
In Gambia, The Disruptive Lab stands out as an important driver for innovation and technological development for young people. It offers a dynamic coworking space, providing not only a collaborative workplace, but also state-of-the-art equipment, networking opportunities, and an ambitious vision for the future of Gambian entrepreneurs and startups.
Founded in 2019, this innovative center is an initiative of Innovate Gambia, a movement to drive digital transformation and accelerate economic development in The Gambia. It is funded by PointClick Technologies, a cloud services company headed by Malik Khan.
Equipped with the latest software and hardware technologies, the center's workspace includes 3D printers, virtual reality headsets, game consoles, PDAs, digital whiteboards, unified communications, and collaboration technologies.
It aims to foster collaboration, forge a strong community, encourage innovation, and promote learning. Doing so, it plans on becoming a catalyst for change and transformation through innovation and digital technology.
To achieve its mission, The Disruptive Lab offers a diverse range of services and programs for its members and the general public. In addition to its coworking spaces, it provides entrepreneurs with conference and meeting rooms. It also organizes regular events and meetings to promote learning, networking, and collaboration.
One of its programs is DRILL, a six-month acceleration program that provides 60 selected companies with skills, business tools, and capital to support their growth in The Gambia and Tanzania. This initiative is carried out in partnership with Tanzania's Westerwelle Startup Haus Arusha, and is sponsored by AfriLabs and Digital Africa's capacity-building programs.
The Disruptive Lab does not limit itself to its internal activities. It has created a major networking event entitled "Who is Who in Tech in the Gambian Diaspora", aimed at connecting tech industry professionals from the diaspora with the local tech ecosystem. It's a bridge between global experience and local potential.
As a member of the AfriLabs network, The Disruptive Lab is supported by leading organizations such as Google for Startups, MailChimp, Amazon Web Services and QuickBooks.
Melchior Koba
Last week, Nigerian crypto company Nestcoin announced the completion of a $1.9 million funding round. The proceeds from this round will help set up Onboard Wallet, a non-custodial crypto wallet that will enable users to transfer funds directly to a bank account without going through a centralized exchange.
On Sunday, September 10, Algerian hydrocarbons company Sonatrach announced the launch of "SPEAKUP", a national platform to report and deal with internal corruption.
According to the company's press release, "SPEAKUP" enables employees, partners, customers, and other stakeholders to securely report serious illegal or illicit acts that violate enforceable laws and regulations, as well as violations of Sonatrach's anti-corruption policy and code of conduct.
Founded in 2021, it quickly found itself in the spotlight with its participation in the summer cohort of a major accelerator program. Since then, the startup has been growing at an accelerated pace.
FoodCourt is a digital solution developed by a Nigerian startup. It enables users to order food online from several restaurants and have it delivered to their home or office. The Lagos-based startup behind the solution was founded in 2021 by Henry Nneji and Paul Adokiye Iruene.
“Consumer behavior is changing in Africa, and despite the rise of food delivery aggregator apps like Jumia Foods and Glovo, there is still a massive amount of inefficiency in the food delivery space. We realized that all customers really wanted was good food and a seamless ordering experience,” explained Henry Nneji on the reasons that promoted the creation of FoodCourt.
The solution has a mobile app –For Android and iOS devices– through which a user can create an account to start placing orders. The app lists several restaurants offering a variety of food. It also allows users to group orders. With its cashless policy, no cash payment is accepted. Payments can be made only via dematerialized payment methods such as digital wallets, bank cards, or bank transfers.
"The delivery fee is determined by the distance between you & the restaurant. Our delivery fees currently go from 390 – 850 naira & may increase as much as 1.5x during a surge. Surges are caused by irregular factors like heavy traffic, heavy rainfall, fuel scarcity, high order volumes at the restaurant, etc.," says FoodCourt concerning its delivery fees.
According to Play Store data, the Android version of its mobile app has already been downloaded more than 50,000 times. In 2022, FoodCourt was selected to participate in the summer cohort of Californian accelerator Y Combinator. The startup wants to conquer Nigeria, expand to other countries in Africa, and even go beyond the continent.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
With a diverse educational background and a wealth of experience in the technology industry, Jennie Nwokoye is on a mission to transform primary healthcare services in Africa.
Nigerian-born tech entrepreneur Jennie Nwokoye (photo) is the founder and CEO of Clafiya, a startup that is revolutionizing access to primary healthcare by offering convenient, high-quality, and affordable services directly from users' cell phones.
Founded in 2021, Clafiya uses cutting-edge Google Maps Platform technology to enable patients to quickly locate the nearest healthcare providers. This innovative initiative offers patients the option of using USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) codes or the Clafiya web app to register and schedule face-to-face consultations with nurses and community health workers. As a result, patients receive an accurate diagnosis and treatment recommendations tailored to their needs.
Jennie Nwokoye, the CEO overseeing the operations of this innovative startup, has an impressive and diverse educational background. In 2012, she earned a bachelor's in biomedical sciences, with a minor in anthropology, at the University of Florida. Her thirst for knowledge then led her to earn a master's in medical science and technology at Stevenson University in 2015. Finally, in 2021, she earned a PhD in Systems Engineering at George Washington University.
Her professional career, spanning more than 10 years, started at Procter & Gamble in 2013, in the USA, where she worked as an analytical chemist. She then broadened her horizons by working with prestigious international and government institutions, including as an Intelligence Operations Specialist for the US Department of Homeland Security from 2016 to 2017, and as a Program Manager at Amazon Web Services in 2020-2021.
Jennie Nwokoye's dedication and innovative approach have not gone unnoticed. In 2020, she was honored as the recipient of the Legacy Lab Foundation Fellowship by Team One. The following year, Forbes named her in the “Health and Science” category of its Next 1000 list, which showcases “ambitious sole proprietors [...] who are redefining what it means to build and run a business.” In 2022, her startup, Clafiya, took part in the prestigious Google for Startups Accelerator Africa program.
Beyond her entrepreneurial successes, Jennie Nwokoye is deeply committed to supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs. As a mentor in the Washington-based incubator Halcyon, she has made a significant impact by helping more than a dozen young entrepreneurs raise over $200,000 since 2019.
Melchior Koba
Despite SMEs making up the majority of businesses in developing countries, their engagement in international trade is limited compared to their economic importance. However, the emergence of the digital economy could create new opportunities for SMEs to actively participate in global economic networks.
Korea Technopark Association (KTPA) and the International Trade Centre (ITC) have signed a Letter of Intent to drive the digital transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries. The partnership was announced in a press release issued by the ITC on Tuesday, September 5. This strategic partnership, with an initial focus on Kenya, seeks to foster innovation, facilitate technology transfer, and enhance small business capabilities.
In response to the challenges posed by the fourth industrial revolution, this collaboration will leverage the 'Korea Technopark Operational Model' (K-TP Model), serving as an innovative ecosystem. The model will promote cooperation among government entities, industries, research institutions, and academia.
The Letter of Intent outlines various initiatives, including the establishment of Technoparks in developing countries, the strengthening of innovation and technology ecosystems, and the creation of connections between Korean organizations and businesses in these regions.
The primary objective of this partnership, supported by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups of the Republic of Korea, is to support the digital transformation of Kenyan manufacturing SMEs, thereby enhancing Kenya's industrial innovation.
Youngjib Kim, Chairman of the Korea Technopark Association, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, highlighting KTPA's commitment to fostering innovative ecosystems for manufacturing SMEs in developing nations and contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals.
The collaboration between KTPA and ITC represents a significant step toward promoting technological advancement and economic growth in developing countries through targeted digital transformation initiatives for SMEs.
Hikmatu Bilali
Internet for all is a major development challenge for East African countries. Despite the ambitions stated in national development plans, several countries are struggling to provide better connectivity for their populations. Setting up a joint project could provide a solution to that challenge.
The East African Community (EAC) will be launching an Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project (EA-RDIP 2023-2028) in the coming months. Daniel Murenzi, CAE's Senior ICT Officer, announced the 10th edition of the East African Internet Governance Forum (EA-IGF), held on Tuesday, September 5, in Kigali, Rwanda. The project aims to meet the connectivity needs of countries in the Horn of Africa.
"The Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project is in response to the discussions and recommendations of the 9th East Africa Internet Governance Forum and aims to drive digital market integration by expanding broadband connectivity and improving the digital service environment," said Daniel Murenzi.
The five-year World Bank-backed project aligns with regional priorities, focusing on the need to bridge the digital divide, reduce connectivity costs, and empower marginalized groups such as youth, people with disabilities, and women. The aim is to boost access to broadband and digital services, fostering the development and integration of digital markets in East Africa.
To achieve this goal, the EAC relies on the Internet and partnerships between member states. Strategies will be put in place to ensure that Internet access is affordable for all. In January, East Africa boasted 23.1% Internet penetration, benefiting 110.7 million people, equivalent to 8.4% of its population.
Once implemented, the project will support cross-border connectivity, data harmonization, e-commerce regulations and policies, and the removal of trade barriers, to establish a single digital market.
Samira Njoya
Since 2011, Congo has been served by a single international fiber subsea cable, the WACS. Frequent outages on this infrastructure disrupt Internet services.
On Thursday, September 7, the Congolese Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and the Digital Economy, Léon-Juste Ibombo, launched the construction of a second national backbone network, resulting from Congo's recent connection to the new 2Africa subsea cable.
The 2Africa subsea cable, initiated by Meta (Facebook's parent company), will enable data transmission between Pointe-Noire and Brazzaville at a very high speed of up to 10 gigabytes per second.
According to the Minister of Telecoms, the new network will improve and further strengthen the capacity of what already exists. "The construction of the new Matombi backbone network, which will serve Pointe-Noire, Brazzaville, and the other cities, is the concrete expression of a strong ambition to improve the speed and reliability of electronic communications, facilitate trade and access to international markets, foster technological innovation and encourage the emergence of startups, and strengthen Congo's participation in the global digital economy," he said.
2Africa is the second international subsea cable the Republic of Congo is connected to. In 2011, the country connected to the WACS (West Africa Cable System) cable, on which it mainly depends for broadband Internet services. However, frequent outages on this infrastructure cause disruption to Internet services.
When completed in 2024, the 2Africa cable will be 45,000 km long, making it the longest in the world. It will serve a geographical area (Africa, Middle East, Europe) home to some three billion people, or 36% of the world's population.
In Congo, 2Africa should not only reduce the cost of Internet services but also extend access to these services to millions more people. According to the latest data from the regulator, the country currently has 3.05 million Internet users, equivalent to a penetration rate of 54%.
Samira Njoya
The number of e-commerce platforms is increasing in Egypt, and competition for market share is fierce. Although based in Cairo, this start-up has decided to conquer other cities in the land of the pyramids.
Kenzz is an e-commerce platform developed by an Egyptian startup. It enables users to shop online at competitive prices without going through intermediaries or resellers. The Cairo-based start-up was founded in February 2022 by Ahmed Atef, Mahmoud Al Silk, and Moataz Sami. In October of the same year, it raised around $3.5 million to accelerate its growth in the domestic market.
"We’re going after a completely different segment that Amazon and the big platforms are not looking at as they are centralized in big cities and towards the people who are comfortable buying online. [...] What we’re doing is bringing that experience much closer to the masses and building a reliable, trustworthy e-commerce platform that caters specifically to the mass market, solving for the barriers to buying, whether it’s trust, affordability, and relevance while capitalizing on social engagement and social interaction aspects of e-commerce," explains Ahmed Atef.
Through the Kenzz mobile app –available for Android and iOS devices, users can create accounts with their phone numbers and access the various stores on the platform. Whether for groceries, clothing, home and sports goods, household appliances, or even books, Kenzz has stores specialized in all of those items and more.
It allows users to make group purchases, with friends or family, for up to 65% discounts. Currently, the startup has chosen to develop activities in secondary cities in Egypt. For the time being, Play Store data show rapid growth as the Android version of its app has been downloaded more than 100,000 times.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
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Through its unwavering commitment to innovation, mLab Southern Africa is positioning itself as a catalyst for digital transformation in Southern Africa.
mLab (Mobile Applications Laboratory NPC) Southern Africa, founded in 2011, is a technology-focused company that trains innovators and entrepreneurs to make the most of digital opportunities.
It is the result of a collaboration between the World Bank, via its InfoDev project, the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in South Africa (CSIR), and The Innovation Hub (TIH), among other stakeholders, to help open up and develop the mobile applications sector in South Africa.
It is part of a regional initiative encompassing Southern African countries. In addition to the members of the consortium that set it up, it relies on a solid network of partners and collaborators from the public, private, academic, and civil society sectors. These include the World Bank, the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, AfriLabs, Google, and Amazon Web Services.
Along with various partners, it strives to build a dynamic and robust innovation ecosystem. It focuses on empowering youth, women, and disadvantaged communities through digital skills training, business support, and technology development services.
With offices in Limpopo, Gauteng, and the Northern Cape, it offers a wide range of services and programs to support both aspiring technology entrepreneurs and established players in developing their skills, ideas, and products.
It organizes events, training, workshops, and bootcamps for a variety of audiences including school pupils, university students, graduates, professionals, and entrepreneurs wishing to learn about mobile technologies, design, development, and business management.
mLab Southern Africa successfully runs the CodeTribe program, a full-time coding academy designed to train young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to become software developers.
The company offers incubation and acceleration programs for early-stage startups. Through its programs, it offers services such as gap analysis, go-to-market strategies, mentoring, start-up grants, as well as assistance with digital tools and minimum viable product (MVP) development.
Its Innovation Lab is a fertile ground where its team supports the development of digital solutions, particularly those with social impact, and has contributed to the development of solutions for sectors as diverse as education, health, and agriculture.
Melchior Koba
He has over two decades of experience in media, entertainment, and technology. With his new role at Google Africa, he will play a greater role in promoting a digitally inclusive and prosperous future for the entire continent.
Alex Okosi (photo) is a Nigerian-born business executive. Last September 5, he was appointed Managing Director of Google in Africa. At that post, he will lead the company's operations on the continent, including programs to help businesses and economies grow, as well as expand Internet access and provide tools to help the next billion users get more out of the Web.
"I am excited at the prospect of leading Google’s team in Africa and the opportunity to be an even closer part of this diverse and dynamic region, which is so close to my heart," said Alex Okosi. "I’m a firm believer in the potential for technology and, in particular, the internet to improve people’s lives and to help individuals and businesses in Africa to thrive," he added.
The new executive attended university in the United States. In 1998, he graduated from Saint Michael's College with a Bachelor's in Business Administration and Economics. Before joining Google, he spent 22 years (1998-2020) with mass media company ViacomCBS (now Paramount Global). He held several executive positions, including General Manager of the BET International brand. He then worked for YouTube, between 2020 and 2023, as Managing Director of EMEA Emerging Markets.
Throughout his career, Alex Okosi has won several awards. In 2013, he was named Young Global Leader by the World Economic Foundation (WEF). In 2014, he won Up & Coming Future Leader of the Year at the Ai Investment & Business Leader Awards. In 2018, he was a finalist in the All Africa Business Leader Awards. The following year, he was made an honorary member of the National Institute Of Marketing Of Nigeria (NIMN).
Melchior Koba
Nigeria aims to become one of the leaders in the African digital economy. To achieve its goal, it is signing partnerships with countries that share the same objectives.
Nigeria's Minister of Communication, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, signed two memorandums of understanding in New Delhi, India, last Wednesday. The first agreement, signed with the Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, aims to share the best digital solutions that would benefit citizens in both countries.
The second partnership, signed with the Central Square Foundation team, a non-profit organization working to ensure quality school education in India, aims to develop solutions that leverage technology to facilitate education in Nigeria.
“The collaboration between our countries gives us a platform to build on the upward trajectory of digital transformation as a driver of economic growth,” Dr. Bosun Tijani indicated in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
The MoU were signed on the sidelines of the 18th G20 Summit, to be held from Saturday, September 9 to Sunday, September 10 in New Delhi. They come at a time when the Nigerian government is stepping up efforts to attract additional investors to the country, increase funding to support Nigerian innovators and expand resources for local entrepreneurs. With such initiatives, the government wants to create one million jobs in the digital economy and improve digital literacy among the youth.
By choosing India to support those digital projects, Nigeria is making a strategic move. Indeed, in less than 10 years, India's digital penetration rate has more than doubled. In 2015, the world's fifth-largest economy launched "Digital India", an ambitious program to transform India into "a digital society and knowledge economy."
Samira Njoya
The solution behind the startup was established as SmartWage. Later, its founders decided to broaden its offering. So they updated its name.
Jem is a digital solution developed by a South African startup. It enables employers to share documents and information with their out-of-office employees. The Cape Town-based startup was founded, in 2019, under the name SmartWage by Alex Platt, Caroline van der Merwe, Nick Platt, and Simon Ellis. It has raised around $2.5 million to, among other things, support its growth and develop its technology.
"Payslips and leaves are still done manually with paper printouts, while employee communication is done using notice boards or apps, which have huge usage drop-offs. Onboarding and disciplinary procedures are still paper-based, costing businesses precious time, money, and resources," says Simon Ellis.
The digital solution is accessible via WhatsApp instant messaging app, so users won't have to download any apps from the Play Store or App Store. Jem allows users to receive company-wide communications, access payslips, request time off, or even access financial wellness products, all via WhatsApp.
"If we can save employers time and money through digitization, we can bridge the gap between South African enterprises and their frontline employees, helping enterprises connect clearly and dynamically with their employees, whilst offering financial wellness tools at the same time," explains Simon Ellis.
To share payslips via the solution, each employee pays 4.90 rand (approx. $0.26) per month, and to receive all communications, the rate rises to 8.9 rand. The startup also offers access to salary advances that need to be repaid the following month.
Adoni Conrad Quenum