Author: Kaluka wanjala

After years of waiting, Amazon’s marketplace in South Africa has officially gone live. There has not been any fanfare for this launch but the platform is offering buyers free delivery on their first purchase. According to Mybroadband, Amazon is offering direct delivery in addition to supporting 3,000 pickup points as of now. It has also partnered with Pargo and The Courier Guy for its pickup location option. Amazon officially announced plans to launch in South Africa back in October 2022. This was to be its first official entry into Africa and it made sense to start with Africa’s biggest economy.…

IBM has announced that the availability of its software portfolio is expanding to 18 countries in AWS Marketplace, a digital catalog with thousands of software listings from independent software vendors (ISVs) that make it easy to find, test, buy, and deploy software that runs on Amazon Web Services (AWS). The countries include Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad,Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Morocco, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia and Uganda. According to IBM, the addition of these countries will make procurement easier for clients, streamline purchasing and create new efficiencies while allowing them to use their AWS…

Google has released the list of the participants in its first Generative AI (GenAI) Cohort. 21 non-profits have been selected with 2 of them based in Kenya. The organizations will have access to the $20 million in funding that Google is providing across the projects. The 2 Kenyan organizations are: The Google generative AI accelerator is a six-month programme that seeks to support non-profits that are developing high-impact applications of GenAI. They will also receive technical training, workshops, mentors, and pro bono support from dedicated AI coaches. “Generative AI can empower social impact teams to be more productive, creative and…

Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) Prize Competition, a philanthropic initiative sponsored by the Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Philanthropy, has announced that it is extending its deadline for 2024 entries from May 19 to June 9 to accommodate more entrepreneurs eager to participate in the competition. Candidates selected for the top 50 will gain access to a host of resources, including training, mentorship and networking opportunities, as well as a supportive network of fellow African business leaders. US$1.5 million in grant funding will be distributed among the top 10 finalists; the first prize winner will receive an award of US$300,000. This year, ABH…

Xiaomi Kenya has today kicked off its May Sales Promotion campaign offering exclusive deals on a number of devices. The promotion will run from today (6th) to 31st of May. The deals will be available exclusivly through Xiaomi Stores & Promoter Shops countrywide. Redmi A3 The first product on offer is the recently unveiled Redmi A3. I reviewed this phone a few days back and loved it. During the promotional period, customers can grab the Redmi A3 with 3+64 GB storage for only KES 10,999/- or opt for the higher variant with 4+128 GB storage at just KES 12,499/-. At…

BuuPass has finalised the acquisition of Quickbus, a significant player in the bus ticketing service sector in Nigeria and South Africa. BuuPass is a B2B2C mobility marketplace that enables users to search, compare, and book their tickets through the Buupass website, the Buupass app (available on Apple and Android) and a USSD system that can be used on any mobile phone. Founded in 2016, BuuPass has sold over 6 million travel tickets and generated over $100 million in total value of goods sold. Its current platform has already served over 16 million passengers Commenting on the acquisition, Eunice Wambui, Investment Principal at…

Google has opened applications for the 8th cohort of the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa program.With this cohort, Google is specifically targeting startups that are harnessing the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to address challenges and unlock opportunities across Africa. Google for Startups Accelerator Africa is a three-month virtual program offering equity-free support to African startups. The startups will be paired with Google and industry experts to solve their startup’s top challenges, and are provided with insights and best practices to improve their product and business. The program includes mentorship, technical resources, and access to a…

LG Electronics (LG) is pleased to announce that LG Smart TVs, including the OLED and QNED models, will, starting this week, support Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos1 from Apple Music, becoming the first smart TVs to have the feature, which delivers an immersive music experience to users who enjoy streaming music. To celebrate this milestone, LG is offering three months of Apple Music free to LG Smart TV users worldwide.2 The three-month free trial is available within the Apple Music app of compatible LG Smart TVs (2018 models and later) running webOS 4.0 and higher, as well as lifestyle screen models StanbyME, StanbyME…

Mitsumi Distribution has partnered with Dell Technologies to host innovative workshops that will focuses on Artificial Intelligence and its applications particularly within the healthcare industry.  Mr. Arshad Farhad, the Chief Technology Officer overseeing Dell Technologies’ Healthcare & Lifesciences sector in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, while addressing key stakeholders within the health sector during the inaugural workshop this week, disclosed a range of AI technologies, with a focus on Generative Artificial Intelligence. He highlighted the essential skill sets needed, privacy concerns, and underscored the transformative impact these technologies could have on Kenya’s healthcare system and across Africa. “The purpose of…

LG Showcase MEA 2024 recently welcomed guests and partners in Abu Dhabi to in-person experience the latest and greatest the brand has to offer. The two-day event held at Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers Hotel in Abu Dhabi, UAE had over 500 guests who witnessed all of LG Electronics’ new innovations that will be rolled out in the region. The LG Showcase, returning after a successful event last year, created a common platform for experiencing LG Electronics’ unique customer focused innovations and reaffirms the company’s vision to bring innovative products to the market that enhances the customer’s overall experience. The…