Author: John Nyabuto

Pesalink has announced a new partnership with Postbank allowing customers of participating banks to make cash deposits through more than 600 Postbank agents and branch locations across Kenya. The partnership will allow customers of participating financial institutions to deposit money into their accounts through Postbank’s nationwide agent network. This is expected to expand access to banking services without requiring individual banks to establish separate agreements or technical integrations. Gituku Kirika, Chief Executive Officer of Integrated Payment Services Limited (IPSL), said, “Agent banking remains one of the most important ways that Kenyans access financial services. As the sector evolves, banks and…

On the occasion of the Africa Financial Summit (AFIS), held on November 3–4 in Luanda, Proparco and the European Union announce their support for Ecobank DRC in expanding its financing for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) through a $10 million Impact+ portfolio guarantee. This transaction aims to improve access to credit for MSMEs in the DRC, with a particular focus on businesses owned by women and young entrepreneurs, as well as the education, health and agriculture sectors. Following the panel discussion “Risk Sharing in Practice: What It Takes to Finance More African SMEs,” organized by Proparco at AFIS, Ecobank Transnational…

The United Kingdom is emerging as a key international base for African technology companies. It offers a combination of corporate incorporation, operational presence, regulatory licensing and access to capital. This is according to a new report by TLP Advisory. The report is titled Home and Away: Tracking African Tech’s Global Footprint. It examines 100 technology companies across Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Egypt, Ghana and Morocco to understand why African businesses establish connections with international markets, particularly the UK, United States and United Arab Emirates (UAE). If you have a startup you want featured on TechArena, let us know through this contact form here.…

Kenyan small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have widely adopted digital payments, but many still rely on disconnected tools to manage their operations, according to Visa’s Pay and Get Paid 2026 report. The survey found that only 19% of Kenyan SMEs use integrated platforms that combine payments with business management, despite 81% expressing interest in all-in-one solutions. Administrative tasks remain a challenge for businesses, with 30% of surveyed SMEs citing difficulties tracking outstanding invoices, 27% struggling to organize payroll records and 26% reporting challenges preparing financial reports. Awareness and perceived relevance are among the barriers to adoption. The report found that…

Spiro and Entrepreneurial Solutions Partners (ESP) have launched the Women in E-Mobility programme in Rwanda to help women become electric motorcycle riders, start businesses and generate sustainable income. The programme began in October 2026 with an initial cohort of 50 women, forming part of a pilot targeting 500 participants in Rwanda. The partners plan to expand the initiative to other African markets, with a goal of reaching 5,000 women by 2030. Participants will receive motorcycle riding and road safety training, financial literacy, digital skills and entrepreneurship support. They will also have access to affordable financing, including lease-to-own arrangements, to acquire…

Cassava Technologies has become authorised to resell access to Anthropic’s Claude models through Amazon Bedrock. Claude is Anthropic’s state-of-the-art large language model, offering features like advanced reasoning, vision analysis, code generation, and multilingual processing. The agreement allows Cassava to give organisations across Africa another route to access these capabilities, helping them adopt AI technology more easily as they prepare for future growth. “What matters to our customers is being able to use AI in their business, and that starts with access to the best models. Bringing Anthropic’s Claude to them through Amazon Bedrock delivers on this need, which is supported…

Tanzanian e-health startup Medikea has raised US$1.2 million in pre-seed funding as it expands its clinic network to four facilities and targets 10 clinics by the end of 2027. Medikea combines virtual consultations with physical clinics, pharmacies and diagnostic laboratories. The startup offers 24/7 online consultations alongside services in paediatrics, women’s health, dermatology, fertility and chronic disease management. If you have a startup you want featured on TechArena, let us know through this contact form here. The funding was raised through successive rounds, with backing from Baobab Network, Catalyst Fund, develoPPP Ventures, Madica, Impacc, Hustle Fund, O’Shaughnessy Ventures, Madiro, the Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation…

From ordering a meal to booking a ride across Nairobi, digital payments have made everyday transactions more convenient. As more activity moves online, the ability to complete a payment securely is becoming just as important as the speed at which it happens. With digital payments, a commuter can book a ride, confirm the details on their phone and complete the journey without worrying about carrying the exact amount of cash. Someone ordering food can select a payment option, confirm their order and move on with their day. Platforms such as Uber and Uber Eats show how payments fit into these…

Binance has joined international law enforcement agencies and global technology companies in a coordinated crackdown on scam networks operating from West Africa. The operation known as Joint Disruption Week led to 28 arrests across Ghana and Nigeria. Online scams are one of the fastest growing threats facing consumers today. Organised criminal groups recruit and train workers, often including people who have been trafficked, to run fake investment schemes, impersonate police officers and stage fake arrests over video calls to scare victims into sending money. During the operation investigators and private sector partners shared intelligence in real time across borders. In…

Vertiv has announced the appointment of IoT Misr as a Vertiv Diamond Partner in Egypt. The announcement comes at a pivotal time as Egypt’s data center sector continues to grow, driven by the growing adoption of cloud services, artificial intelligence (AI), digital transformation and advanced connectivity. According to 2026 research from Arizton, the local market is projected to expand from USD 305 million in 2025 to USD 865 million by 2031, representing a CAGR of 18.97%. Through this expanded partnership, Vertiv will work with IoT Misr to strengthen customer access to Vertiv’s portfolio of power, cooling and digital infrastructure solutions.…