Author: Kaluka wanjala

Last year Spotify Daylist was launched in a few select markets and we finally have it in kenya. Spotify Daylist has seen a search spike of 17,000% and has captured the attention of music lovers across the world offering a hyper-personalized, dynamic and playful playlist experience. What is Spotify Daylist? Daylist is a unique playlist that evolves throughout the day to align with specific moments and moods you are experiencing. From sunrise to sunset, it curates specific playlists tailored to your preferences. This helps offer a seamless transition between different genres and vibes. Whether you want nostalgic tunes from the…

The African tech startup ecosystem has seen tremendous growth and innovation, positioning itself as a key player in driving economic development and encouraging entrepreneurship in Africa. Recently, Mozilla Africa launched a Comprehensive Analysis of the Start-up Ecosystem in Africa titled “Positioning African Tech Startups as Engines of Growth & Development.” You can find the report here. We are going to look at the key finding and trends that have been identified in this report. This will help shed light on the challenges and opportunities that define this ecosystem. Rapid Growth One of the standout findings in the report is the…

The Microsoft Africa Development Centre has launched a mentorship program for women pursuing technology studies at universities. The first cohort of the initiative, called Women Inspiring and Nurturing Students (WINS), brings together approximately 70 young women pursuing tech-related courses at various universities across Kenya with women working at Microsoft for a year-long mentorship. Speaking at the launch, which coincided with International Women’s Day last Friday, Catherine Muraga, Microsoft ADC Managing Director, stated that the large gender gap in technology education highlighted the need to encourage more girls and women to further their studies and pursue careers in technology. “Women face…

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…