Truecaller launches free voice calls
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| Caller ID and spam blocking app, Truecaller has launched a free voice calling feature called Truecaller Voice. The company has started rolling out the service and expects it to reach all Android users in the coming days. Over the last two years, Truecaller has been building a super app of some sort after initially starting off as an app for identifying spammers. It has added a text feature, call recording feature as well as a payment service. In India where majority of its users live, it also released a credit service. Asides India, Truecaller has a huge user base across Africa including Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt and Kenya. Its new voice call service in addition to its text feature pits it against WhatsApp which is the most popular messaging app across Africa. |
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SureStart, an online insurance distribution company has acquired CompareGuru, an insurance comparison platform, from South Africa’s Silvertree Internet Holdings for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition will allow SureStart to leverage CompareGuru’s existing license agreements to provide a full suite of financial products and services directly to consumers. In June last year, Silvertree Holdings exited the now defunct, Nigeria-based Dealdey in a management buyout.
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The AYADA Lab Program, a 12-month incubation and acceleration program supported by the French and German governments, is now receiving applications from entrepreneurs across West Africa. Entrepreneurs between ages 20 – 35 in Nigeria, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Ghana and Senegal can apply here before July 5 for access to networking and mentoring opportunities.
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| The Ghanaian government is currently testing a digital census program in preparation for a decennial census in March 2020. If all goes as planned it will be the first time the country is using electronic means to conduct its census. The program is expected to cost about $84 million and will help the government address the lack of a national ID system and formal addressing system. It will also help formalize larger parts of the economy. |
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Egypt’s Fresh Source, Chefaa, Pas-sport and Tunisia’s Dabchy have been selected to participate in the Womentum Accelerator, a women-focused program for the Middle East and North Africa. The program was put together by Womena in partnership with Standard Chartered Bank. Each startup will visit hubs in Berlin & Dubai and top performing ones will receive $160,000 in funding.
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Stripe is hosting a Lagos Meetup for developers, entrepreneurs, founders and makers at the Paystack office on June 26. Register here for an opportunity to meet with some members of the Indie Hackers, Pioneer, and Stripe Atlas communities.
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| Join Taiwo Beyioku, Head of Talent Acquisition at Cousant Connect, at 4pm (WAT) today for a webinar titled ‘Acing the Technical Interview’. Register here to attend. |
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| Dubai-based property listing portal, Mubawab has acquired Jumia House, Jumia’s property listing platforms in Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria for an undisclosed amount. Mubawab is owned by the Emerging Markets Property Group (EMPG) and is the leading property listing portal in Morocco. EMPG recently raised a $100 million Series D funding to support its expansion across the Maghreb region. Jumia is selling its real estate assets in the region to focus on its core marketplace of physical goods and digital services according to a statement by CEO, Sacha Poignonnec. |
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MetLife Foundation and Visa Inc. have announced the winners of the Inclusive Fintech 50, a competition supported by Accion and the World Bank to help fintechs driving financial inclusion access capital. Some of the Africa-focused fintechs included in the cohort of 50 winners are MaTontine, OZE, Apollo Agriculture and Riby Finance, one of the beneficiaries of the EFInA Fintech Challenge Fund. See the full list here.
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| Vodacom Congo has lost its court petition to stop the withdrawal of its 2G license by the telecommunications ministry. The ministry accused the telco of illegally obtaining an extension of its 2G license in 2015. Vodacom denied and took the matter to a top court in the Democratic Republic of Congo that upheld the withdrawal of the license. With the new judgement, the telco now has 3 months to get the license which costs $65 million or risk losing it and many of its 11.8 million customers in the country who still use 2G data services. |
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| Following the announcement of the 2019 winner, Neo Hutiri, applications are now open for the 2019/2020 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation. Apply here before July 22. |
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That’s All,
We’ll be back tomorrow
– Olanrewaju
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