- PayChangu operates as a fintech payment aggregator that connects mobile money, cards, and bank transfers through a single integration.
- The platform targets SMEs with low-cost, developer-friendly tools, including APIs, plugins, and payment links for e-commerce integration.
- The company aims to accelerate digital commerce in Africa by reducing payment fragmentation and improving transaction efficiency.
PayChangu, a Malawi-based fintech startup, has developed a unified payment infrastructure to address fragmentation in Africa’s digital payments market and support the expansion of e-commerce across the continent.
The company, founded in 2021 by Morgan Tembo and headquartered in Lilongwe, operates as a payment aggregator. It connects multiple payment channels into a single interface and enables businesses to manage transactions without integrating separate systems.
“PayChangu is a leading financial technology company in Malawi that revolutionizes payments for local businesses to make online transactions simple, transparent and secure, thereby improving the customer experience,” the startup said.
PayChangu enables businesses to accept payments through mobile money, bank cards, and instant bank transfers via a single integration. The company addresses a structural challenge in African digital commerce, where fragmented payment systems often complicate user experience and reduce online conversion rates.
The platform extends beyond payment processing. It provides a broader ecosystem that includes payment link generation, invoicing tools, and analytics dashboards that allow merchants to track sales performance in real time. It also offers application programming interfaces (APIs) and plugins compatible with platforms such as Shopify and WooCommerce, which facilitates adoption among developers and small and medium-sized enterprises.
The startup has positioned small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) at the center of its strategy. It offers competitive transaction fees and low-code integration tools, which it says allow businesses to adopt digital payments without advanced technical expertise.
As Africa’s digital economy expands, driven by the rapid growth of mobile money and online commerce, PayChangu aligns itself with a broader trend of building localized payment infrastructure. The company aims to connect more African businesses to the global digital economy by streamlining transactions and reducing entry barriers for online trade.
This article was initially published in French by Adoni Conrad Quenum
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
- Posta Uganda launches PostCom, a national e-commerce marketplace integrating logistics and digital transactions.
- The platform leverages the postal network to expand access, especially for SMEs and rural users.
- Uganda positions e-commerce as a growth driver within a market projected to exceed $110 billion in Africa by 2029.
Uganda’s State Minister for ICT and National Guidance, Godfrey Baluku Kabbyanga, officially launched the PostCom e-commerce platform on April 21 in Kampala. Public postal operator Posta Uganda developed the platform to expand its role beyond traditional logistics services into a fully integrated online commerce ecosystem.
PostCom operates as a national marketplace that allows individuals and small and medium-sized enterprises to buy and sell products online. The platform relies on Posta Uganda’s physical network to manage logistics and ensure nationwide delivery.
At the same time, the platform provides a secure digital interface that facilitates transactions and connects local sellers to a broader customer base, including international markets.
E-commerce continues to expand rapidly across Africa, and initiatives like PostCom target a fast-growing market. Analysts estimate that Africa’s e-commerce sector will reach about $55 billion in 2024 and could exceed $110 billion by 2029, driven by mobile money adoption, urbanization, and broader internet access.
Ugandan authorities are betting on digital transformation to stimulate economic growth. They expect digital services and online commerce to contribute several billion dollars to the economy by 2030.
PostCom differentiates itself from international private platforms through its public-sector foundation and integrated logistics model. Unlike traditional marketplaces, the platform combines e-commerce capabilities with existing postal infrastructure.
This model reduces delivery costs and expands access to e-commerce in rural areas. It also supports local SMEs by providing a structured national distribution channel in a market where logistics remain a major constraint.
Ugandan authorities aim to position PostCom as a central pillar of the national digital economy. The initiative forms part of a broader strategy to enhance economic inclusion, modernize trade, and strengthen Uganda’s role in East Africa’s digital commerce landscape.
The platform also gives sellers access to international markets. It enables them to reach customers in nearly 192 countries through the global postal network.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
- Orange Egypt and Circle K sign a deal to digitize more than 200 stores.
- The partnership deploys connectivity solutions and SD-WAN technology to optimize operations and network performance.
- The agreement reflects Egypt’s fast-growing retail market and broader push toward digital transformation.
Orange Egypt and Circle K announced on April 22 that they signed a partnership agreement to modernize the retailer’s distribution network, which spans more than 200 points of sale across the country. The agreement positions Orange as Circle K’s digital transformation partner in Egypt’s increasingly digitized retail environment.
Orange Egypt will provide a suite of connectivity and digital infrastructure solutions under the agreement. The company will deliver high-speed internet access and secure interconnection between all retail locations.
The companies aim to ensure operational continuity while improving performance and streamlining the management of commercial activities across the network.
The project also includes the deployment of Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) technology. This advanced networking solution enables centralized and flexible orchestration of data flows across multiple sites.
The system will strengthen security, improve service stability, and increase operational efficiency for Circle K.
Circle K operates in Egypt through a network of convenience stores and service stations. The brand ranks among the leading players in proximity retail and belongs to an international group active in more than 20 countries.
The company relies on strong distribution capabilities and serves a large daily customer base through its extensive network. It focuses on everyday consumer goods and fast services while pursuing continuous expansion in urban and peri-urban markets.
The partnership carries strategic importance for both companies in one of the Middle East’s largest retail markets. Egypt’s retail sector continues to grow, supported by its large population and evolving consumption patterns.
The agreement reflects a broader shift toward digitizing distribution networks, where connectivity and information systems act as key drivers of performance and expansion.
For Mohamed Shebl, Chief Business Officer of Orange Egypt, the collaboration demonstrates the operator’s ability to meet international standards. “Through this partnership, we continue to leverage cutting-edge innovations to enhance competitiveness and optimize operational efficiency, in line with our vision of leading the digital transformation of the business sector toward more advanced and sustainable models, while supporting the objectives of Egypt’s digital strategy and ‘Egypt Vision 2030,’” he said.
Samira Njoya
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On Wednesday, June 17, CYSEC MENA will bring together technology decision-makers, security officers and experts in Manama, Bahrain, for a three-day conference on regional cyber threats. The agenda includes panels on critical infrastructure protection, IT/OT strategies, compliance and digital resilience. The event is expected to promote international collaboration and networking among governments, businesses and cybersecurity solution providers across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
Gebeya (Ethiopia) and VukaOS (South Africa) are joining forces to combine their artificial intelligence technologies and create a seamless pipeline from planning to execution for entrepreneurial projects. Entrepreneurs validate their ideas on VukaOS and then bring them to life in Dala Studio, a no-code platform that allows users to build apps, websites, games, and multimedia content using natural language.
European venture capital firm Speedinvest is launching its first fund focused on growth-stage companies in the Middle East and Africa, backed by the Qatar Investment Authority, Mubadala and the European Investment Bank. With $1.4 billion in assets under management, the initiative strengthens ties between Europe and the Middle East and Africa, giving founders direct access to a global network of experts and strategic investors.
- Riaz Moola launched HyperDev in 2025 to generate full applications from simple text descriptions.
- The platform enables users to design, test and deploy apps without complex coding processes.
- The solution offers flexible architecture choices and unlimited iterations to refine applications.
Riaz Moola is a South African computer scientist, investor and entrepreneur. He founded and chairs HyperDev, an online platform that uses artificial intelligence to transform ideas into functional applications without lengthy and complex processes.
Founded in 2025, HyperDev allows users to design, test and deploy full applications from a simple natural-language description. The user defines requirements and operating rules, and the platform automatically generates an application that runs directly in a web browser.
HyperDev differentiates its offering through flexibility. The platform does not impose a single project model and instead allows users to select backend architecture and data storage options.
As a result, users retain full control over project structure and long-term evolution. Consequently, the platform positions itself as a customizable alternative to rigid no-code solutions.
HyperDev also removes constraints on creation volume. The platform allows users to create, test and iterate as many times as needed.
Users can explore multiple approaches, compare different versions of the same project and progressively refine applications until they reach optimal performance. Therefore, the solution encourages experimentation and rapid prototyping.
Riaz Moola also founded and leads HyperionDev, an online certification and education technology platform established in 2012. In addition, he co-founded Dark Math Games in 2023 and invested in Longdue, a British company focused on gaming technologies.
Riaz Moola earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science and mathematics from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in 2011. He then earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science and artificial intelligence from the University of Edinburgh in 2014, followed by a master’s degree in technology policy from the University of Cambridge in 2016.
Before his entrepreneurial career, he held several roles in the technology sector. In 2014, he worked as a developer and technology analyst at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. In 2015, he became an associate product manager at Google in Switzerland. In 2016, he served as chief technical advisor at Injini.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange J. A de Berry Quenum
- Senegal launched a national digital library for students as part of a $206 million education digitization plan for 2025–2029.
- The platform offers validated educational content across all levels and supports both in-class and remote learning.
- Unequal internet access, especially in rural areas, remains a major constraint to adoption.
Senegal decided in January 2025 to invest $206 million to finance its digital education strategy for 2025–2029. As a result, authorities have started to implement concrete initiatives.
The government announced on Monday, April 20 the launch of a national digital library dedicated to students. The platform aims to facilitate access to educational resources and ensure continuity of learning amid recurring disruptions to the school calendar.
The digital library is accessible online via smartphones, tablets and computers. The platform provides content across multiple education levels, from preschool to secondary education.
Teachers validated the resources, which include lessons, interactive exercises and revision tools. Two solutions structure the offering: Senkala focuses on assessments and exercises, while Promet delivers educational content and supports autonomous learning.
The initiative aims to guarantee pedagogical continuity by enabling students to continue learning outside the classroom. In parallel, the program supports a broader strategy to modernize education by integrating digital technologies into teaching methods.
The platform also aims to reduce educational inequalities, particularly between urban and rural areas. Therefore, authorities position the initiative as both an access tool and a structural reform lever.
However, access to home internet remains highly unequal across Senegal, according to a survey published in July 2025 by the National Agency of Statistics and Demography (ANSD). Only 43.8% of households in Dakar have internet access, while the rate falls to 16.3% in other urban areas and drops below 3% in rural areas.
DataReportal estimates higher levels of mobile internet access. By the end of 2025, Senegal had 11.5 million internet users, representing a penetration rate of 60.6%. Nevertheless, these disparities could limit the full impact of the digital library.
This article was initially published in French by Adoni Conrad Quenum
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
- Cliniva combines teleconsultations and physical clinics to improve access and continuity of care.
- The Nairobi-based startup targets women and underserved patients with affordable, patient-centered services.
- The company plans to expand beyond Kenya as hybrid healthtech models gain traction across Africa.
Cliniva is an e-health solution developed by a Nairobi-based startup founded in 2022 by Yulia Sidorova. The company aims to transform the patient experience, particularly for women who remain underserved by traditional healthcare systems.
“We challenge the idea that high-quality, patient-centered care is inaccessible and expensive. To prove this, we are building a continent-wide platform where every woman can access affordable, compassionate care of exceptional and consistent quality,” the startup said.
Cliniva built its model on seamless integration between in-person consultations and telemedicine services. Patients can access care remotely or visit local clinics, while the system reduces waiting times and improves personalized follow-up.
The company delivers continuous care that covers routine services, chronic disease management, gynecology, pregnancy and family planning. Consequently, Cliniva positions itself as a comprehensive healthcare provider rather than a single-service platform.
Cliniva differentiates its offering through a strong focus on user experience. The startup targets common barriers in African healthcare systems, including long travel distances, high costs, low service quality and brief consultations.
The platform combines digital tools, personalized monitoring and physical presence to offer a more accessible and efficient alternative. As a result, the company seeks to improve both access and quality of care.
Cliniva leverages data and preventive care programs to improve long-term health outcomes. In addition, the company develops corporate health solutions that enable employers to monitor employee health, reduce absenteeism and lower healthcare-related costs.
The startup already operates several service points in Nairobi. It now plans to expand its model to other African markets.
Cliniva reflects a broader trend across the continent. Hybrid healthtech solutions are emerging as scalable responses to structural healthcare challenges by combining digital innovation, local access and patient-centered design.
This article was initially published in French by Adoni Conrad Quenum
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
- Burundi approves a 2025–2030 national AI strategy to support governance and growth.
- Authorities structure the roadmap around six pillars including governance, infrastructure, and human capital.
- Government plans pilot projects in health and agriculture to demonstrate economic impact.
Burundi has stepped up efforts to position itself in emerging technologies by adopting a national artificial intelligence strategy for 2025–2030, authorities said following validation of the plan on Wednesday, April 22 in Bujumbura.
The Ministry of Finance, Budget and Digital Economy, with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), designed the roadmap to make artificial intelligence an operational tool for governance, economic growth, and public service modernization. Authorities aim to structure the local ecosystem and capture economic gains linked to data exploitation as AI adoption accelerates globally.
A Strategy Structured Around Six Priorities
Authorities anchored the strategy on six core pillars, starting with governance. The government plans to create steering bodies, draft an ethical charter, and adapt the regulatory framework to oversee AI development. In parallel, authorities will promote ethics, inclusion, and sustainability by introducing algorithm oversight mechanisms, integrating local languages, and supporting responsible AI practices.
On the technical front, the government will strengthen digital infrastructure and data management capacity. Authorities plan to modernize data centers, establish sector-specific hubs, and develop sovereign cloud solutions while expanding telecom networks.
The government has also prioritized human capital development. Authorities aim to align university training with AI-related jobs, train more than 1,000 public officials, and foster talent through programs targeting youth and women.
In addition, the strategy emphasizes innovation and entrepreneurship. Authorities will introduce dedicated financing mechanisms, set up incubators in several cities, and provide incentives to support the emergence of AI-focused startups.
Finally, the government will prioritize practical applications. Authorities plan to deploy around 15 pilot projects in key sectors such as healthcare and agriculture. These projects will include diagnostic support tools, telemedicine solutions, climate alert systems, and advisory services for farmers, with the goal of quickly demonstrating productivity gains and improved public services.
A Position Still Under Development
However, Burundi still faces structural constraints in digital infrastructure and data utilization. As in several African economies, challenges include limited data availability, weak system interoperability, and evolving regulatory frameworks.
Nevertheless, authorities designed the strategy to address these gaps by aligning investments, skills, and use cases within a coherent vision. The plan also fits within the country’s Vision 2040–2060 framework, which identifies digital technology as a key driver of economic transformation.
Once implemented, the strategy could position Burundi alongside African countries that have already structured their AI approaches, including Rwanda, Senegal, Morocco, and Benin. However, authorities must now translate this ambition into concrete deployments capable of delivering measurable economic gains amid growing competition around data and advanced technologies.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
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Qubators, a Christian network of technology experts and innovators, is launching AI Foundry — a free, intensive program designed to help students and young professionals move beyond using artificial intelligence tools to building applications. Guided by mentors, participants design, develop, and launch real-world products through a structured “learn, build, earn” path, ending with a project showcase to connect them with growth and funding opportunities.
Google has selected 15 African startups for the 10th cohort of its accelerator program focused on artificial intelligence and advanced technologies. The companies will benefit from mentoring, hands-on workshops and technical support without taking equity from April through June 2026.
From June 9 to 12, the SIT Africa Forum will bring together more than 70 cybersecurity vendors and 350 IT decision-makers from across Francophone Africa in Marrakech. The four-day event will feature conferences, workshops and business meetings focused on cyber risks, data protection, cloud computing, digital identity and the use of artificial intelligence to strengthen organizational security.
- Terra Industries started building a major drone factory in Accra.
- The plant targets annual production of 50,000 drones by 2028.
- The project follows a $34 million funding round to scale industrial capacity.
Terra Industries announced on Sunday, April 19, that it launched construction of “Pax-2,” its second autonomous systems manufacturing plant. The company is building the facility in Accra, Ghana. The site will cover more than 3,150 square meters (34,000 square feet). Once operational in June 2026, it will become the largest drone production facility in Africa, surpassing the flagship “Pax-1” site in Abuja, Nigeria.
The company is making this investment after raising $34 million to expand industrial capacity and strengthen engineering teams in Nigeria and allied countries. The Ghanaian site will focus on high-volume production of strategic aerial systems. These include the Archer surveillance and strike drone, the Iroko tactical unit, and the Kama high-speed interceptor, which can reach speeds of 300 km/h to counter hostile drones.
Beyond the industrial investment, this initiative reflects broader shifts in security dynamics across the continent. Armed groups in several regions, particularly in the Sahel, are increasingly using drones, sometimes adapted from civilian technologies. This trend is transforming operational methods and increasing demand for integrated solutions combining surveillance, electronic warfare, and interception capabilities.
At the same time, the global market is expanding. According to Fortune Business Insights, the global military drone market could reach $30.9 billion by 2034, up from $18.2 billion in 2025 and $20.8 billion in 2026. The growth is driven by expanding use cases in security environments.
The company selected Ghana based on the availability of technical skills and the country’s ambition to position itself as a regional industrial hub. The project should create around 120 direct jobs, mainly in engineering, and operate continuously to meet demand. By 2028, the plant aims to achieve an annual production capacity of 50,000 units.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum