Author: Kaluka wanjala

Gavi in partnership with Seedstars, announces INFUSE 2024 a global call for applications for innovations, to bolster health systems against climate threats and enhance immunization delivery. Apply at https://seedsta.rs/INFUSE2024.   INFUSE, short for Innovation for Uptake, Scale, and Equity in Immunisation, is a Gavi-led initiative designed to scale up groundbreaking global health solutions by connecting high-impact, proven innovations where countries need them most. This year’s INFUSE initiative underscores the urgency of addressing health challenges exacerbated by climate change, including increased vulnerability to diseases like malaria and the potential for more frequent and severe outbreaks due to extreme weather. The program aims…

OPPO recently unveiled the Reno 11 series as the successor to the Reno 10 series from last year. The Reno 11 Series builds on the camera of the Reno 10 series. When I reviewed the Reno 10- last year, the camera was one of its appealing features that made it stand out from competition.  With the Reno 11 series, I will be briefly highlighting the camera system of the Pro version just to give you an idea of what to expect and help you decide if this phone is worth your money.  The Reno 11 pro’s camera boasts the Portrait…

Summary Standard Bank has announced the investment of R300 million (over $16 million) into South Africa’s car subscription company, Planet42. The investment is broken down into two with R50 million in equity and a R250 million credit facility. The bank acted in its capacity as a partner in the transaction, which provided Planet42 with its first rand lender. Standard Bank created a unique debt structure for the business whilst also investing equity capital and providing Planet42 with local funding to better match their needs. As a result of this funding injection, Planet42 will purchase more cars in addition to the 20 000 vehicles…

The African startup funding scene is quite dynamic. In a conversation with Efayomi Carr, Principal at Flourish Ventures, I wanted to understand the state of funding in Africa and what we can expect this year. Flourish backing mission-driven entrepreneurs who are working towards a fair financial system. As we explore key insights drawn from our interview, discover the perspectives that paint a picture of the challenges faced by entrepreneurs and the strategic initiatives undertaken by Flourish Ventures to navigate the dynamic ecosystem. TechArena: How would you describe the current state of the startup and funding landscape in Africa, especially in the…

Last month, Flourish Ventures launched the first-of-its-kind “African Founder Well-being Survey”. This was launched in partnership with local partners and research partner Startup Snapshot. Flourish plans to survey VC-backed startups in Kenya, Nigeria and Egypt. It seeks to uncover some of the unique challenges tech founders in the continent face. Through this, they can raise awareness and supports for their needs. VC-backed founders in Egypt, Kenya and Nigeria can participate by completing this brief survey. All survey respondents will remain anonymous. Sharing experiences can shed light on the critical challenges founders face and pave the way for positive change. “They’re going…

Last week, Safaricom announced the launch of the “Grow with Safaricom Business” engagement platform. This is a platform for small and medium sized businesses in Kenya. It is perfect for those looking for knowledge-sharing and collaboration to scale their businesses.  Series of Workshops The engagement forums will be held through a series of workshops and seminars throughout the year. MSMEs will then exchange ideas on how they can leverage digital technologies to expand their market reach, streamline operations, and create a strong brand presence online. The experts will provide guidance on navigating regulatory requirements to ensure compliance and sustainable growth.…

Summary: Kenya’s EcoCloud has signed an MOU with UAE’s G42 to accelerate the development of a 1 Gigawatt data center at Olkaria powered by geothermal energy. Kenya has about 10 gigawatts of untapped geothermal energy, a cleaner form of energy compared to what currently powers most data centers in the country and across the world. This sets a new standard for sustainable data centers. By using geothermal, the project dramatically cuts reliance on fossil fuels hence reducing carbon emissions. The EcoCloud-G42 Mega Data Center will be located at Olkaria, Kenya’s geothermal-rich regions, and is expected to have a capacity of…

Equity Bank has announced a number of open positions for the Equity Technology Group. 5 of these are Managing Director positions for a number of divisions with different qualifications. The open positions indicate that Equity may be expanding into the ever evolving tech sector. Finserve has been Equity’s main technology division and is best known for the Equitel MVNO. Equitel recently launched its 5G services in Kenya in partnership with Airtel. The current open positions are:  To apply, please follow this link https://equitybank.taleo.net/careersection/ext_new/jobsearch.ftl Check out Equity’s  X’s (formerly Twitter) page for other jobs and how to apply.  Also Read: What…

The Samsung Galaxy S24 is the company’s latest flagship series and is available in Kenya starting from Ksh 124,500. The price will vary depending on where you get it from. I have had the Galaxy S24 for a few days and thought I should write a short post highlighting what you get with this phone. This is the successor to the Galaxy S23 from last year. You can read my thoughts on that phone here. While at it, you should also read my post on the Galaxy S23 FE. Back to the Galaxy S24, I have the 128GB variant that…

Check Point has introduced Harmony SaaS, one of the most advanced solutions for safeguarding against SaaS-based threats. Designed to revolutionize Software as a Service (SaaS) security, Harmony SaaS offers protection by seamlessly integrating into customers’ existing infrastructure and providing real-time threat prevention. “With the exponential rise in SaaS adoption, organizations face unprecedented challenges in maintaining robust security and regulatory compliance. Check Point Harmony SaaS represents a pivotal advancement in our mission to provide cutting-edge cyber security solutions,” said Eyal Manor, VP of Product Management at Check Point Software Technologies. “By seamlessly integrating AI-powered threat prevention and continuous attack surface reduction, Harmony SaaS empowers organizations to stay…