Author: Kaluka wanjala

OPPO Kenya is set to launch the Reno11 Series on January 25, 2024. The Reno11 series comes with ColorOS 14 and the launch marks a significant milestone as OPPO ColorOS celebrates its 10th anniversary. The Reno11 is the successor to the Reno10 series that I reviewed last year. ColorOS 14, built on the Android 14 platform, introduces a host of new features aimed at delivering a seamless and efficient experience for users. Among the highlights are the optimized Aquamorphic Design, AI-powered smart features, ultra-smooth performance, and robust tools for safety and privacy. The OPPO Reno11 Series promises to push the…

The Africa Tech Summit Nairobi is set to showcase Kenya’s tech ecosystem, featuring four Kenyan ventures that are set to captivate a diverse audience of industry experts, investors, and fellow innovators at the upcoming Africa Tech Festival on February 14th and 15th. Even with the recent decline in startup funding across the continent, Africa’s tech scene continues to thrive. According to data from Africa: The Big Deal, African startup funding experienced a 39% decline, falling to $2.9bn in 2023 from $4.6bn recorded in the previous year. The Four Kenyan Ventures The four Kenyan ventures, spanning sectors such as fintech, agritech, beauty…

The first Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event of 2024 in happening today. At the event, we expect to see a number of devices included new smartwatches and Galaxy phones. This event will take place in the US but you can watch it live from anywhere in the world. The event kicks off at 9PM Kenyan time. You can livestream the event through Samsung’s website or on YouTube. To be notified when the event starts, you can head over to the YouTube link provided below and click on “notify me” to get an alert when it starts. What to Expect at Galaxy…

Zandaux, a B2B e-commerce platform that connects sellers and buyers across Africa, officially launched its operations in Kenya yesterday. The company has been operational in Kenya for about a year but the official launch was yesterday. Zandaux has its headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa, and operates in four key African markets: Kenya, Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa. “Zandaux aims to connect African suppliers to the entire African market to nurture and grow businesses in the continent.” Franck Obambi Ngatse – Founder and CEO, Zandaux. Zandaux is a digital marketplace that allows manufacturers, wholesalers, and distributors to sell their products online…

The financial landscape in Africa is undergoing rapid transformation, with cryptocurrency emerging as a captivating sector. In light of this digital-asset revolution, there is an increasing demand for comprehensive and accessible education. This is where Binance Academy steps in as a leading force. Binance Academy: Empowering Africa’s Crypto Enthusiasts Binance Academy stands out as a pioneer, offering an up-to-date, comprehensive, and universally accessible online platform tailored for crypto education in Africa. Recent data from September 2022 to August 2023 demonstrates significant growth, highlighting the continued interest in cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology across the continent. In a significant development, Binance Academy,…

Showmax has announced the revamped packages and refreshed brand identity that will be available on its platform next month. Showmax 2.0 will officially launch on January 26 when Multichoice will start migrating the current subscribers’ accounts. New subscribers on the other hand will have access to the updated apps. By 12 February 2024 the new Showmax will be live in all markets. Showmax 2.0 is launching 10 months after MultiChoice, Comcast’s NBCUniversal and Sky joined forces. This partnership gives Showmax access to NBCUniversal’s Peacock streaming platform and its content. “Peacock’s best-in-class technology platform will deliver a world-class streaming experience to…

I&M Bank has opened 8 new branches in Kenya as part of its retail expansion strategy to further strengthen its presence in the region. As a leading financial partner for growth, the opening of the new branches has signaled I&M Bank’s commitment to addressing the needs of the people and bridging the gap to financial inclusivity across the country. The newly opened branches across various Kenyan counties bring the bank’s total branch network to 49 in Kenya and 93 regionally. The 8 new branch locations include 3 in the Coast Region (Diani, Watamu, Kilifi), 1 in Naivasha, 1 in Tatu…

Kenya-based fintech, Sycamore Capital, has announced that it has successfully exited the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) sandbox as an intermediary services platform provider. With this exit, the fintech has announced the commercial launch of its Cashlet app after 24 months of successful testing and regulatory oversight. The Cashlet app is a unique mobile savings and investing app from Sycamore Capital. This one of a kind app makes it easier for Kenyans to save and invest in several money market funds (MMFs) seamlessly and securely from one platform. Before this, those interested in MMFs had to look at the individual products…

Safaricom, M-PESA Africa and Sumitomo Corporation have announced calls for  tech startups looking to join the Spark Accelerator program, which aims at accelerating early stage startups to grow and scale their businesses. The three-month accelerator program will provide a blend of training, mentorship, funding and go-to-market support to spark the growth and scale of ventures that come into the accelerator and set them up for long-term success. “The Spark Accelerator program is in line with our ambition to be a purpose led technology company. With the accelerator, we are offering more than just capital injection which is what we did previously…

Equity Bank has introduced an unsecured overdraft facility for its customers. The facility, dubbed Boostika, is similar to Safaricom’s Fuliza and allows customers to overdraw up to Ksh 100,000 from their accounts. This can be used for purchases, sending money and buying airtime when a customer does not have enough money at that specific moment. Equity Bank, being one of the leading financial institutions in Kenya, has helped shape Kenya’s financial sector over the years. The introduction of Boostika is just the latest addition. Equity Boostika As mentioned above, Equity Boostika lets customers overdraw up to ksh 100,000. The lowest…