Here’s everything interesting in African technology today. Not subscribed? Click here to get this goodness in your mailbox every day at 7am (GMT + 1).
Good morning.
1. Printivo has launched its designer marketplace, Printivo Store, where anyone can create designs on products and sell them through Printivo, who will bear all the costs involved in getting them to the customer. Designers earn 15% royalties. Link
2. With over 80% of the African continent having an average grid access rate of 20%, Seedstars World and Enel have announced a partnership to create the Africa Energy Prize to recognize startups that are leapfrogging the traditional centralized-unit of energy provision through modern renewables. Link
3. Pasi Sachiti, a Zimbabwean entrepreneur based in the UK, has raised $390,000 for his self-driving car startup, Kar-Go, from a Kickstarter campaign which has surpassed its target and may well continue in that trajectory with 14 days to go. Link
4. GSMA’s new report forecasts the number of unique mobile phone subscribers in sub-Saharan Africa to grow from 43% of the population today to 50% by 2020 – with a focus on underrepresented groups such as the ‘under 16’ group that accounts for ~40% of the population in some of these countries. Link
We are drafting an open manifesto for the Yaba technology cluster, and we’d like you to join us! Start contributing here.
What else is going on?
+ Ory Okolloh commented on the sexual harassment allegation lodged against Ushahidi. Link
+ DjangoGirls is is a free programming workshop in Warri, for girls who are looking to get started in software development. Link
+ South African banks and other financial firms in the industry are coming together to set up a national blockchain. Link
+ Meanwhile, Mauritius is in talks with ConsenSys, a blockchain software company, to create a hub for blockchain technology. Link
+ Technology is the biggest purveyor of fake news in the buildup to the general elections in Kenya. Link
+ This thread by Victor Asemota highlights some of the lessons we could take from Etisalat Nigeria.
A message from LSETF
If you are involved in the Lagos tech ecosystem, the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund needs your input to guide its plans to support tech entrepreneurs. You can help out by visiting this page to take a survey.
Upcoming events
Webinar: Single Alliance, July 13th. Link
Lagos: Datalytics Meetup, July 13th. Link
Lagos: Conversations with Maria Rotilu, July 14th. Link
Lagos: Business Clinic, July 18th. Link
Want to see your event in here? Add your event
We’re done for today.
Thank you for your time. Now go on and have a great day.
