Author: Kaluka wanjala

As of Q4 2023, Starlink was the third largest Internet Service provider in Nigeria by subscriber number according to the  Nigerian Communications Commission.  From the data, Starlink had 23,987 in Q4 of 2023. This is still a low number for a country like Nigeria but represented a 113% growth from 11,207 customers it had in Q3 2023.  The most used ISP in the country is Spectranet with 113,869 customers followed by FiberOne with 27,000. I was surprised to see these numbers as I expected them to be a bit high for Nigeria since the country has a total population of…

Visa has announced the startups shortlisted to take part in the second cohort of its Africa Fintech Accelerator program. Visa says 20 startups have been shortlisted but has only shared 18 of them. Out of the 18 shortlisted startups, 6 were from Nigeria, these are: The rest of the startups come from the other regions across Africa including Kenya, Nigeria, Ethiopia, South Africa etc. Have a look at the other startups below. Visa Africa Fintech Accelerator program Timeline The Accelerator program, launched in June 2023, is reflective of Visa’s ongoing efforts to help uplift the digital economy in Africa, including…

Spiro has announced the signing of a $50 million debt facility with he African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank). The agreement was signed during the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, Rwanda. The funds will be used to expand Spiro’s battery swap stations and also introduce new electric bike models. This is the second multi-million funding deal the company has closed in less than a year. Back in August, it closed a $63 million debt funding round with Societe Generale. Spiro is one of the leading EV companies in Africa with over 14,000 bikes. It operates in multiple African countries including Kenya, Uganda,…

Bolt has announced new Bolt Business Coupons, allowing businesses to share or fully cover the cost of a one-off ride with their employees and customers. Coupons, a part of Bolt Business platform, aim to support customers with business travel needs like travel to company events, employee travel benefits packages, and improving client satisfaction.  When a Bolt Business customer issues a Coupon, the person taking the trip will receive a code by email, which they can simply copy and paste into their Bolt app. Customers can choose from three types of coupons. With Unlimited Coupons, the person receiving the coupon can take any number…

Just 23 matches remain in the Premier League this season (two full Matchdays for rounds 37 and 38, as well as three catch-up fixtures from round 34) and the title, European qualification and relegation all remain undecided as we head into the final stretch. It’s the Premier League in your pocket, on the go, wherever you are. Subscribe to Showmax today and never miss your favourite players and teams in action. Arsenal holds a one-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the table, but the latter club has a game in hand and knows that three wins (against…

Just days after it dropped three new Originals in Kenya, African streamer Showmax has completed the integration of M-Pesa onto its recently relaunched platform, allowing customers the ease and convenience of engaging with the popular payment method simply and quickly.   Having completed an extensive migration of its customers and content onto the globally scaled Peacock platform in February, the Showmax team have continued to work to ensure that its customers find it effortless to afford and access the stories they love. For Joe Heshu, Showmax Chief Operating Officer, the M-Pesa integration has been a key priority for the brand whose…

eBee, the Kenyan e-mobility company, has expanded to Mombasa with the opening of a new sales and service center in the coastal city. This is the first ever E-Bicycle Sales & Service Center in Mombasa and is located on Links Road in Nyali. According to the company, the center is poised to redefine e-mobility in the coastal region, offering convenient access to sustainable transportation solutions. “As we inaugurate our doors today, we’re not just opening a shop; we’re igniting a movement towards a greener, more eco-friendly Mombasa,” the company said. “Alongside our commitment to sustainable urban mobility, our Mombasa facility…

Recent survey results released by Global Technology company Epson indicate that 74% of IT decision-makers acknowledge a surge in demand for new scanning technology due to digitalization, with the global scanner market expected to reach USD $2.68 billion. Epson’s latest scanner range, designed for smaller offices, remote workers, and eco-conscious organizations, caters to the evolving digital needs in the MENA region. These scanners, including the DS-C330, DS-C490, ES-C320W and ES-C380W, are constructed with up to 30% recycled plastic and are energy-efficient, saving space and power in various sectors such as healthcare, logistics, and finance. Epson, a leader in global technology, is…

The OPPO Reno 11 F was unveiled in Kenya a few weeks back and is currently available in stores starting from Ksh 47,999. This is one of the handful of devices in the Reno 11 series, a successor to the Reno 10 that we reviewed last year. I have been using the Reno 11 F for a few weeks and in this review, I will be sharing my thoughts on it to help you decide if it is worth your money.  OPPO Reno11 F 5G Specifications See: OPPO Reno11 F 5G Specifications and price in Kenya Design and Build With…

The Financial Times has ranked Moniepoint as Africa’s fastest-growing fintech. This is the second year Moniepoint has been ranked as the fastest-growing fintech and also Africa’s top four fastest-growing companies overall.  The survey was compiled by Statista where companies are ranked based on 2019-2022 data by their absolute growth rate of revenues and their compound annual growth rate (CAGR).  Moniepoint’s growth rates of 7,979% (absolute) and 332% (CAGR) ranked it ahead of hundreds of leading companies from diverse industries such as technology, telecoms, financial services, and healthcare. Moniepoint is one of Africa’s largest business payments platforms, processing over $182 billion…