| In 2020, MTN plans to increase its value offerings to customers by complimenting mobile money services with Insur-tech products and personalized bundles, according to MyBroadband. The telecom company ends 2019 by being one of the first on the continent to successfully test 5G usability. It will take a while before the powers of the new generation of communication technology kick in. In the mean time, MTN is banking on emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, robotics, augmented and virtual reality to improve its operational efficiency while driving down costs. |
|
| The Chinese Government has handed over 800 digital television sets to Kenya, as part of a big plan to digitize Africa. For better or worse, China has been very clear about its interest in Africa’s economic development. They have often backed their talk with funds and the Digital Television Project is another statement of intent. The project aims to digitize 10,000 African villages by providing households with satellite television service composed of a satellite dish, a high definition set-top box and accessories. As part of the package, benefiting communities also get two solar-powered satellite projector TV systems, TechMoran reports. |
|
| Staying with Kenya… Startups like Copia, Lori, Twiga and BitPesa had an exciting year, completing eye-catching funding rounds. But beyond winning the support of venture capital firms, this was a year that saw Kenya’s tech ecosystem show more of its potential to lead in the African digital market. Here’s Disrupt Africa’s top 5 developments in 2019. |
|
|
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. Click here to apply.
Follow @vp_fund and @armengage on Twitter to keep up with activities. |
|
| If you need a phone or laptop fixed, there’s only one place to go in Lagos. Computer village is arguably Nigeria’s biggest gadgets market, with an assortment of legit and fake dealers in virtually anything electronic and digital. Yet, the retailers who give the market its fame are yet to fully adopt digital methods of customer acquisition and relationship management. While few see the gains, using social media to elevate the perception and reception of their businesses is not on the table for many. Muyiwa dives into the weeds to discover the terrain and explain how the repair industry could achieve much needed structure in the social media age. |
|
| Africa doesn’t have many female venture capital executives, limiting the financial stack available to female-founded businesses. Pioneers like Nichole Yembra, founder and managing director of Chrysalis Capital, are rising to re-write the state of tech funding on the continent. Yembra, as we learn from this profile by Kay Ugwuede, is an immensely experienced player in the tech investments and startup strategy space. She takes a long-game approach and doesn’t romanticize the challenges of entrepreneurship. She provides brilliant insights into due diligence, assessing market fit and getting more women in technology. A good read to begin your weekend, for sure. |
|
| Which startups defined this decade?
Over the last ten years, Africans have defied infrastructural and socio-economic challenges to create companies that proffer needed solutions and create lasting impact. It’s a fairly large pool to choose from but TechCabal’s troublemakers settled on these ten as the decade’s defining tech companies. Do you agree with our assessment? Which innovative tech company was left out and why do you think they should have made our list? Watch the video and let us know your beef in the comments!! |
|
| Spoiler: Our list doesn’t feature any energy company. Energy remains a sore need in Africa, and there’s starting to be some interest in funding it (cue this remarkable raise by one renewable energy startup this month) Considering how expensive clean energy is, what are Africa’s options in the coming decade? Some researchers have investigated the issue, comparing the costs of using wind, diesel and solar energy systems to generate electricity for rural Africa. Wind systems are cheapest in Chad, Somalia, Western Sahara, and South Africa while the highest costs are incurred in Central Africa due to the low wind speeds in this region, according to iAfrikan’s report on the study. |
|
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.
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.
Have any ideas about the event or suggestions about speakers? 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. |
|
|
Enjoy 2019’s final weekend,
We’ll be back on Monday
– Alexander
Share TC Daily with your friends!
|
|
|
|
|
|
