Author: Kaluka wanjala

Kenyan startups were among the standout participants as 15 AI-focused ventures from across Africa graduated from the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa. The 2026 cohort drew startups from Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire and Angola. 60% of the participating companies are already profitable, with an average monthly revenue of $60,000 and a combined $1.1 million raised. The programme culminated in a Demo Day held in Nairobi. Four Kenyan startups in the cohort highlighted how AI is being deployed to solve critical but often overlooked infrastructure challenges: Beyond Kenya, the cohort included startups such as Bani, Emaisha…

Airtel Money has partnered with KCB Bank Kenya to allow customers to deposit and withdraw cash at more than 22,000 KCB agents nationwide. The collaboration brings together Airtel Money’s growing user base with KCB’s extensive agency banking network. This enables customers to access services more conveniently across the country without needing to visit a bank branch or Airtel shop. Speaking during the signing, Anne Kinuthia-Otieno said the move underscores Airtel Money’s commitment to expanding access and convenience. “By opening access to KCB’s extensive agent network, we are bringing Airtel Money services closer to more Kenyans and making it easier for…

Seacom has launched a new high-capacity terrestrial network route between Nairobi and Kampala. The new route links key infrastructure hubs in Nairobi, Kisumu and Kampala. It will create a more resilient and scalable pathway for data traffic moving inland from subsea cable landing stations in Mombasa. It upgrades an existing corridor into a high-capacity backbone designed to meet rising demand for data across the region. Seacom says the network will improve access to international bandwidth and deliver faster, more reliable connectivity for sectors including telecoms, banking, cloud services and e-commerce. It also enhances regional connectivity to markets such as Rwanda,…

A new study released by Visa reveals that artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming deeply embedded in how consumers discover and shop for products in Kenya. The findings come from Visa’s latest Stay Secure report, conducted by Wakefield Research. According to the study, 89% of Kenyan consumers have already used AI-powered tools to support their shopping journeys. These tools are being used to compare prices (53%), generate gift ideas (55%) and check product reviews or ratings (60%). 91% of respondents said AI and other emerging technologies have made online shopping faster and easier. AI is also influencing discovery as the study…

Flutterwave has announced a strategic investment from Ripple, a global provider of blockchain-based enterprise financial solutions. The investment forms part of Flutterwave’s Series E fundraising round. This values the company at $3.2 billion. By embedding Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin into its ecosystem, Flutterwave aims to streamline settlement processes and eliminate traditional inefficiencies in international payments. If you have a startup you want featured on TechArena, let us know through this contact form here. The company says the integration will allow African businesses to bypass legacy financial bottlenecks, including multi-day settlement delays and high foreign exchange costs, replacing them with faster, more predictable and lower-cost…

PawaPay has announced it has surpassed three billion successful mobile money transactions. The company revealed that it processed its third billion transactions in under nine months, three months faster than it took to reach the previous billion. Over the same period, daily transaction volumes nearly doubled from around 2.4 million to five million. The milestone comes amid strong growth in Africa’s mobile money ecosystem. According to the GSMA State of the Industry Report 2026, mobile money transaction value grew by 26% last year, while global merchant payments rose by 50% to reach $155 billion. PawaPay says its transaction growth has…

Yellow Card has been named to the inaugural Fortune Crypto Innovators list. The recognition places IT among a select group of global players shaping the future of digital assets and blockchain infrastructure. The Crypto Innovators list highlights organizations driving meaningful progress in the digital asset ecosystem through advancements in technology, infrastructure, security and adoption. The list specifically focuses on companies building foundational systems that enable the broader growth of blockchain-based finance. “Being named to the Fortune Crypto Innovators list affirms what we have always known: the future of global commerce runs through emerging markets,” said Chris Maurice, CEO and Co-founder…

Egyptian fintech startup Blnk has secured a total of $37.1 million in fresh funding, combining $12.5 million in Series A equity and $24.6 million in local debt facilities, as it looks to scale its point-of-sale financing solutions and deepen financial inclusion in the country. The equity round was led by Algebra Ventures, with participation from SANAD Fund for MSME, Endeavor Catalyst and Emirates International Investment Company (EIIC), which also backed the company at the seed stage. On the debt side, Blnk attracted support from major Egyptian financial institutions including Suez Canal Bank, Bank Albaraka and National Bank of Egypt, alongside…

The Mwanga wa Elimu movement held its inaugural public workshop at the eLearning Africa 2026 conference in Accra. The conference brought together policymakers, developers, educators, researchers and funders from across the continent. The workshop, themed “Light the Way: Join Africa’s EdTech Revolution,” marked two key developments: the official launch of the Africa EdTech Policy Toolkit and the opening of membership for practitioners across Africa. The initiative is closely tied to the Africa EdTech 2030 Vision and Plan, developed by AUDA-NEPAD and endorsed during the 39th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly. The plan outlines an ambitious roadmap to create a…

NTT DATA has announced the expansion of its Salesforce capabilities in East Africa. The announcement was made during an industry event in Nairobi. This signals to a deeper push by NTT DATA to localise its global Salesforce expertise while at the same time strengthening in-region delivery capabilities for businesses across Kenya and across East African market. This expansion focuses on enabling organisations to manage customer data better, integrate fragmented systems and adopt AI-powered tools. The aim is to deliver more personalised and efficient customer experiences. A key theme that emerged during the event was the growing challenge of disconnected customer…