Solar home systems provider, Azuri Technologies has raised $26 million
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| A MESSAGE FROM OUR SPONSOR |
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Passion Incubator’s Future of Work in Nigeria report is a comprehensive and insightful study on the effect and implications of global trends on the disruption of work places in Nigeria. It is an examination of challenges and opportunities that these disruptions represent for Nigerian workers and the private sector. The Future of Work in Nigeria report is completely free of charge and can be downloaded via this link: http://futureofwork.africa/nigeria/
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Azuri Technologies, a provider of pay-as-you-go solar home systems has raised US$26 million from Japan’s Marubeni Corporation and other investors to grow its business in East and West Africa. Azuri will use the money to roll out lighting, TV and other solar products in new markets in the regions. The new round brings the company’s funding to date to US$53.5 million. The UK-founded company launched in 2012 and is currently present in Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
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| Econet’s Cassava Smartech is reportedly working on a super app; a multi-purpose messaging and payment app similar to WeChat. It appears the app is currently at the pilot phase and there’s no information yet on when it will go live. Cassava Smartech, which is based in Zimbabwe, is a diversified technology company with solutions including fintech, insurtech, social payments, on-demand services, e-Commerce, agritech, health tech and edutech |
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| Pan-African payment company, Cellulant has partnered with Ayden, a global payment firm, to provide global merchants access to major local payment solutions. This means that mobile money options including M-PESA, Airtel Money, Equitel could be deployed to platforms such as Facebook, Airbnb, Spotify and Uber thereby removing the barriers for consumers to access such services. The partnership will provide Adyen access to the 40 mobile money operators and over 120 banks in Africa that work with Cellulant. |
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Applications are now open for Nigerian startups in the 2019 GenesysIgnite pitch competition. Find out more here and apply here before June 30.
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| We’ve put together an informative content stack for healthcare entrepreneurs covering a wide range of subjects from how to develop new product and services to scaling in Nigeria’s tough business clime. Want more? Download our report, “The State of Health Tech in Nigeria”, for a sector deep dive into challenges, opportunities and recommendations compiled especially for innovators, investors and regulators. Get it here. |
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Thirty-one-year-old South African, Neo Hutiri has won the 2019 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation for developing Pelebox, a smart locker system for dispensing drugs. Pelebox allows patients and their carers to avoid long queues at the pharmacy while it enables healthcare institutions to save time and deploy their resources elsewhere. Hutiri received a prize worth £25,000.
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The GSMA Innovation Fund for Digitisation of Agricultural Value Chains is providing up to eight grants £220,000 each for solutions that improve smallholders’ financial inclusion, livelihood and climate resilience. Get in here before July 31.
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| The German government has launched a €1 billion Africa fund to support African startups and SMEs as well as German and European companies. The launch is the fulfilment of a pledge made by German Chancellor, Angela Merkel in October last year at a G20 Compact with Africa summit. More details about the fund and how startups can benefit from it are being expected. |
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GoodHope Insights and Seas Capital have released a report titled “The Whitepaper of the Digital Economy of Africa.” The report analyzes the African nations with the leading digital economies, the key sectors and companies through the lenses of the China-Africa relationship. It also provides recommendations for the Chinese government, Chinese investors and entrepreneurs looking to participate in Africa’s digital economy as well as African entrepreneurs looking to do business with them. Learn more here.
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| Appy Saude, an Angolan digital health startup is currently seeking to raise $1 million for expansion into new markets including Rwanda and South Africa. Launched in 2017, Appy Saude connects users with doctors and pharmacies, allowing them to get easy access to healthcare and information. The startup has more than 200 health institutions listed on its platform. |
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| Tech startups across Africa can now apply for the 2019 MIT Solve Initiative for a chance to access over $1.5 million in prize funding. Apply here before July 1 if you have solutions in any of the following areas; circular economy, community-driven innovation, early childhood development, and healthy cities. |
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That’s All,
We’ll see you tomorrow.
– Olanrewaju
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