Author: Kaluka wanjala

Kenya’s electric mobility pioneer BasiGo has announced it has deployed its 100th electric bus. This marks a significant milestone as the company seeks to electrify public transport across the African continent. There is still a long way to go but this is a good start. The company can assemble 20 buses per month after raising KES 5.4 billion in funding.  If you have a startup you want featured on TechArena, let us know through this contact form here. BasiGo was launched in 2022 with just two e-buses in Nairobi. It now operates 100 electric buses across Kenya and Rwanda. This makes it one…

Global early-stage venture capital firm Antler has officially opened applications for its next Nairobi cohort. It is calling on exceptional founders ready to build transformative startups from the ground up. Those interested can apply here. If you have a startup you want featured on TechArena, let us know through this contact form here. The program is targeting: With a presence in over 25 cities globally, Antler is known for backing founders from “day zero”, before they’ve incorporated or raised any external funding. Selected participants will receive $100,000 in pre-seed investment, access to a global investor network, and hands-on support from Antler’s Nairobi-based team…

Uber Boda has unveiled a new suite of safety features and professional training protocols designed to transform the landscape of motorcycle taxi services in Kenya. This is the first of its kind for the ride-hailing service in Kenya.  The new safety-focused initiatives include: If you have a startup you want featured on TechArena, let us know through this contact form here. “Safety has always been at the core of everything we do—whether someone is riding in a car or on a motorcycle,” said Cassie Jaganyi, Head of Communications for Uber Sub-Saharan Africa. “We’ve introduced technology and training standards that set a new benchmark…

Sun King, the world’s largest off-grid solar energy company, has secured a KES 20.1 billion (USD 156 million) securitisation deal. This is the largest ever in Sub-Saharan Africa outside South Africa. This local currency financing will expand access to solar power for an estimated 1.4 million low-income households and businesses across Kenya. If you have a startup you want featured on TechArena, let us know through this contact form here. The transaction was arranged and structured by Citi with Stanbic Bank Kenya Ltd as placement agent. It is is backed by a consortium of five commercial banks including ABSA, Citi, Co-operative…

South African venture capital firm HAVAÍC has announced the second close of its $50 million African Innovation Fund 3, securing $25 million in fresh commitments. This raise was led by a landmark investment from Sanlam Multi-Manager with the participation of Fireball Capital and the SA SME Fund. If you have a startup you want featured on TechArena, let us know through this contact form here. “This commitment is a testament to our track record in delivering strong returns while supporting high-impact African startups,” said Ian Lessem, Managing Partner at HAVAÍC. Launched in August 2024, the third fund is targeting up to…

Phishing has overtaken other attack methods to become Africa’s most prevalent cyber threat. It now accounts for 31% of all cyber incidents across the continent. This isl above the global average of 28%. This was revealed by ESET in its latest Threat Report covering the period between November 2024 and May 2025. ESET says the surge is as a result of Africa’s rapid digital transformation. “It’s a perfect storm of opportunity and vulnerability,” said Allan Juma, Cybersecurity Engineer at ESET East Africa. “People and businesses are moving online faster than security practices can catch up and cybercriminals are exploiting the…

Kenya’s digital lending landscape is seeing a rise in loan defaults among borrowers. This can be attributed to the current economic environment among other factors. This is rampant among younger and first-time credit users. According to the latest 2024 FinAccess Household Survey, 16.6% of borrowers defaulted on loans last year. This is up from 10.7% in 2021. TransUnion Kenya is encouraging Kenyans to actively monitor their credit health using its free Nipashe app. This app helps individuals track their credit scores and correct any potential issues before they escalate. “Credit, when used wisely, can be a powerful enabler, opening doors…

Visa has opened its first data centre in Africa. The data centre is located in Johannesburg and is part of a 1 billion rand ($57 million) investment in South Africa over the next three years. According to Michael Berner, Visa’s Head of Southern and East Africa, the Johannesburg data centre is one of the few the global payment giant has built outside its core infrastructure hubs in the U.S., UK, and Singapore. “Visa continues to be very committed to the growth of the economy on the continent,” said Berner. “Building the data centre here is evidence of this commitment.” The…

Thunes has announced it will permanently discontinue its PayPal Mobile Money transfer service with M-Pesa on August 16, 2025. This platform has been popular among Kenyans, as it enables easy money transfers between PayPal and M-Pesa. This platform allows both withdrawals from PayPal and deposits as well and all this is facilitated within minutes. This message appears on the paypal-mobilemoney.com website, which currently facilitates the integration. Below is a screenshot of the notice seen on the PayPal Mobile Money’s website.  What is Changing? FeatureOld SetupNew Setup (Post August 2025)Access PointPayPal Mobile Money websiteM-PESA mobile app onlyService PartnerThunes (TransferTo)Safaricom & PayPal…

Truecaller has announced the appointment of Saraswati Agarwal as the Regional Sales Head for Ad Solutions for the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region.  Saraswati will lead Truecaller’s Ad Solutions efforts in the MEA region. At this role, she will help brands craft smarter, high-impact digital campaigns that engage users at critical moments within the Truecaller app. “Truecaller has become a household name across several key African markets,” said Hemant Arora, VP, Global Ad Sales at Truecaller. “With over 34 strategic partners in the region, we’ve built a strong foundation. Saraswati’s leadership will be key to expanding our reach and…