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Grainpulse has raised $11m from the International Finance Corporation and the private sector window of the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP). The Ugandan startup plans to invest its funds in strengthening its farmer supply chain. It hopes to become a one-stop-shop for farmers where they can access multiple services. Grainpulse will launch an online platform to enable farmers access information on best practices, TechMoran reprots. They will also train agro-input dealers and retailers on financial management skills to help them expand and secure access to finance.
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| From East Africa…
Taz Technologies, the Kenyan startup behind MPost, has closed a US$1.9 million Series A round. MPost enables users sign up for virtual postal addresses using their mobile phone numbers. It promises a convenient, reliable and affordable way of sending and receiving packages, as well as providing last mile connectivity, through post offices worldwide.
The raise comes just as Safaricom and the Postal Corporation of Kenya launched an MPost partnership. The deal gives Safaricom’s 33 million customers the ability to register for an MPost address via USSD. Taz technologies raised an undisclosed round of pre-Series A funding from Cape Town-based VC firm HAVAÍC in June 2019, according to Disrupt Africa.
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| Africa’s developing a super app appetite…
And bike-hailing companies want to determine the menu. Fresh from launching its on-demand motorcycle service in south west Nigeria, SafeBoda has added food delivery and payments to its platform. The Ugandan company announced the addition on Monday, signalling its ambition in the business space of accessing lifestyles services for Africans using mobile technologies. SafeBoda’s food service is only available in Uganda for now. |
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| Did you miss the TC Townhall: Edtech and the Future of Work? This is your one chance to catch up on what went down. Here’s (almost) everything that you missed. |
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| Nigeria’s biggest asset managers, ARM, and Ventures Platform, one of Africa’s most active early-stage investors, have launched Labs by ARM 2.0, a fintech focused accelerator.
Selected startups will get access to distribution capabilities, $20,000+ in funding, deep industry insight, mentorship and lots more.
Application ends 30th of December 2019. Apply here: www.armlabs.com.ng.
Follow @vp_fund and @armengage on Twitter to keep up with activities. |
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| West Africans speak many different languages, with some overlap between them. Pidgin English, in its various flavours, serves as a sort of common ground. But it hasn’t always got formal attention from formal (a.k.a. western) language translation systems.
Until now. In this piece, I explain how two Nigerian research engineers built a translation model virtually from scratch using artificial intelligence tools. The low point: they should have been in Canada last week to present their research. The good news: this should propel more Africans to seek tech solutions to language challenges, a key factor in progressive continental trade and ease of business. |
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| Want to meet Investors?
EchoVC, an early stage & Growth technology venture capital fund, will host its 2nd Office Hours for the year today, Tuesday December 17, 2019. The entire EchoVC team will be in Lagos, so feel free to take time off your lunch hours to ask questions you always wanted to but did not have the opportunity. The Office hours are open to entrepreneurs, angel investors, corporate organizations, consulting firms, and others.
EchoVC Partners is a seed and early stage venture capital firm and only invests in African and Africa-focused tech and tech-enabled startups.If you are outside Lagos, they just might be coming to your city sometime soon.
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Townhall Alert!
The next TechCabal townhall holds on February 28, 2020
What’s the focus for February 2020?
Emerging technologies including 5G, Artificial Intelligence, Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality, Cryptocurrencies, Robotics and 3D Printing. TC Townhall: Emerging Tech will examine how these technologies are changing (and will change) how Africans live and do business. From financial institutions to entrepreneurs, investors and even regulators, TC Townhall: Emerging Tech will bring together everybody that matters in for this conversation.
Want to attend?
Indicate interest by filling this form. Are you a member of the press, fill this form to qualify for a pass. Do you have a startup or project with any of these technologies at the core? Tell us about your project or startup here.
Got any startup or tech leader you would like to hear speak at TC Townhall: Emerging Tech? Have any ideas or suggestions about the event? Send us an email via team@techcabal.com and we just might make your wish come true. For sponsorship inquiries, please email Chidi via chidi@bigcabal.com. |
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And just before we go…
Everything we do at TechCabal is for you, dear reader, and as 2019 inches to a close, we’d like to hear from you.
What do you like about our work? How can we improve? Please let us know by filling this form.
Tell your friends to tell their friends. |
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We’ll be back with more,
Tomorrow
– Alexander
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