Jack Ma’s Africa Netpreneur Prize Initiative Open For Applications
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| Online gaming platform GBarena has secured an undisclosed amount of seed funding from HIMangel, an angel investment fund in Africa and the Middle East. GBarena connects gamers with each other and organisers of local or global tournaments. Founded in 2016, the funding is said to be running into six figures. The global eSports industry is a booming one and is estimated, by Newzoo project, to exceed US$1.6 billion by 2021. |
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| French telco, Orange has launched a 4G network in Freetown using Ericsson Radio System products and solutions. The network will be deployed in 60 sites and will provide fast mobile broadband in a cost and energy-effective manner to users. Orange plans to expand this roll out across Sierra Leone to serve everything from 2G to 5G. |
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| VC firm, 500 Startups’ 500 Funds has made a final close at US$33 million exceeding its US$30 million initial target. The Middle East and North Africa fund has invested in 105 companies across 16 countries in the region. Egyptian food delivery startup, Mumm and events app company Eventtus are among the fund’s portfolio companies. |
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| A chapter of Silicon Valley’s Founder Institute has launched in Lagos, Nigeria. Founded in 2009, Founder Institute offers aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs business structure, mentorship and a global network needed to start out. Applications are now open till April 28 and you can register to attend a number of events celebrating its launch here. |
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Iyin Aboyeji, Co-Founder of Andela and former Managing Director at Flutterwave, has announced the launch of his new publication, future.africa
In a welcome address published on the website, Iyin says the publication, co-founded with Olabinjo Adeniran and Adenike Sheriff, will help forge a “community in deep conversation on Africa’s future.” The publication will center on how businesses can leverage new technologies, continuously evolve and where these intersect with public interest and participation. |
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The WISH Africa Expo is a two-day showcase of pan African Culture, commerce and development. It will feature panel discussions on technology with speakers like Charity Wanjiku, COO/Co-Founder, Strauss Energy, Sahir Berry (AfriOne) and Ismail Ahmed (World Remit). The event will take place 8th & 9th June, 2019 at Olympia Conference Center, Kensington, London. Get early bird tickets here. Learn more here.
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| People in Chad are unaware of and cannot participate in the currently popular ANT jokes trending on Twitter because they have been cut off from social media sites for a full year. Quartz writes about one of the longest internet shutdowns in recent times. |
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| A Partech Africa report says tech startups in Africa recorded a 108% year-on-year growth in funding in 2018. According to the report, 146 startups raised US$1.163 billion in equity funding last year in 164 rounds. Ventureburn has more details. |
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| Applications are still open for the Digital Explorers one year career advancement programme in Lithuania. It consists of a paid one year work placement and emerging technologies training in Lithuania – a vibrant and ever-growing European ICT hub – and reintegration support in Nigeria upon return. Women are greatly encouraged to send in their application. It closes on April 1. |
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The Malian government is throwing its full weight behind the startup community with an intending Startup Act. Malian Minister of Digital Economy, Arouna Modibo Toure announced this at the Francophone Africa Investor Summit. Last year, the Tunisian government passed into law the Tunisian Startup Act with a provision of up to 8 years tax exemption among others.
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| Applications are open for the Africa Netpreneur Prize Initiative (ANPI) and will close on June 30. An initiative of the Jack Ma Foundation, the project has set aside US$10 million for businesses that are solving social issues in their communities. “I especially encourage powerful women entrepreneurs to apply,” said Graca Machel, Chair of the Graca Machel Trust Board. Here’s a link to apply. |
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All Done.
TGIF! Have fun!
– Kay
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