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Lynk, a Kenya-based marketplace for blue-collar jobs, has closed a Series A investment round led by Lateral Capital with participation from Kenyan Cornerstone Group. Lateral Capital makes debt and equity investments of  $250k-$5m in early and growth-stage technology startups in sub-Saharan Africa in financial services, energy, healthcare, and education. Some of its portfolio companies are Medsaf and Asoko Insight. Lynk was launched in  2016, it matches artisans with gigs and helps them find buyers for their products.

The Chadian president Idriss Deby has instructed telcos to restore access to social media after 14 months of shutdown. Social media access was blocked in March 2018 after President Deby proposed reforms that will keep him in power until 2033. He’s been president since 1990. Internet without Borders estimates that the shutdown has cost Chad’s economy over $20 million.

Applications are now open for Luxembourg’s Fit 4 Start competition. The programme is managed by Luxembourg’s national innovation agency, Luxinnovation, and is open to startups in the space industry, ICT and health tech sectors. Apply here before August 16.

Cameroon-based fintech company, Ovamba Solution has now processed transactions worth €105 million. Launched in 2013, the company lends growth capital to SMEs via a combination of capital, logistics and inventory management. Ovamba has processed over 1000 transactions from SMEs in Cameroon alone in the last few months and some of its prominent clients are in the FMCGs, light manufacturing and infrastructure sectors.

Google is conducting a survey for global software startups. The survey will help its accelerator program, Google Developers Launchpad, better understand the current state of startups in different markets around the world and help drive how it supports ecosystems and startup success. Click here to participate in the survey.

A new ride-hailing service, Dubci, is set to launch in Egypt according to local media reports. The company has been linked with Egypt’s military but both parties have denied the claims. Dubci is expected to launch next month and it will provide free internet connectivity for riders and drivers. It will also install security cameras in its vehicles to ensure safety. Egypt has become a hotbed for ride-hailing services including Swvl which raised US$30 million in November last year, led by BECO Capital and DiGAME. Swvl recently launched in Kenya and is looking to expand into Nigeria.

Nairobi-based startup, Ethnic Brand has raised $500,000 from Malaysia’s Magic Accelerator. The startup provides low-cost manufacturing services to global fashion brands by leveraging a global network of artisans. Ethnic Brand will launch a beta later this year with factories in Africa and Asia. Through its partnership with Nanasi, a Kenyan social commerce startup, it will work with fashion brands to help them set up retail businesses & distribute their products.

Here are some startups events happening around Africa this week.

From TechCabal

+  54gene Raises $4.5 million to Create the World’s First African DNA Biobank

+  Uber Will Now Consider Regulatory Issues Before Expanding to Any More African Countries