Author: Kaluka wanjala

Madica has released a new insight-led guidebook aimed at one of the most challenging phases of building a startup, when raising a first round. Titled Zero to Funded: A Founder’s Guide to Pre-Seed Fundraising in Africa, the 75-page resource brings together perspectives from venture capitalists, investors and ecosystem leaders across North, West, East and Southern Africa. The guide is designed specifically for founders navigating their first raise and these usually don’t have access to strong networks, accelerators or prior fundraising experience. “Too often, global playbooks dominate the conversation while African realities remain undocumented,” the guide notes. Zero to Funded combines…

Vertiv has announced the launch of the Vertiv CoolPhase Wall, a wall-mounted cooling system designed specifically for small IT environments and edge deployments across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). The new solution addresses a growing challenge in distributed computing: how to effectively cool compact IT spaces that were never designed for high-density equipment. The CoolPhase Wall is mounted directly on the wall and this helps free up valuable floor space in small IT rooms. The system is designed to deliver up to 60% greater airflow compared to standard comfort cooling solutions and this helps manage the higher heat…

Day 1 of Safaricom Decode 4.0 set the tone for what is shaping up to be one of Kenya’s most important tech gatherings of the year with artificial intelligence firmly at the center of the conversation. From hands-on AI labs to high-level keynotes and live demos, the event brought together developers, policymakers and industry leaders to explore how AI will power Kenya’s next phase of digital transformation. Opening the event, Safaricom’s Group Chief Technology and Information Officer, James Maitai, framed Decode’s evolution: “What started as a platform to showcase engineering and build talent has grown into something more transformative, not…

Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming the defining force shaping the future of industries, economies and societies. Speaking at the Safaricom Decode 4.0 event, Safaricom’s Group Chief Finance and Innovation Officer, Dilip Pal, delivered a compelling message saying AI could power Kenya’s next major industrial leap, but only if organizations and institutions are ready for it. “The future has a name, Artificial Intelligence,” Pal said. “And the question is not whether AI will change Kenya, but whether we are ready for it.” Pal framed AI as the foundation of a new digital era, one that will move beyond labs and apps…

Samsung has unveiled its latest midrange smartphones, the Galaxy A57 5G and Galaxy A37 5G, in Kenya. The devices are now available in Kenya, with pricing starting from KES 49,000. The new Galaxy A series introduces what Samsung calls “Awesome Intelligence,” a suite of AI tools designed to simplify everyday tasks, enhance productivity and improve creativity for users. Both devices are running on One UI 8.5 and bring a range of AI-driven features previously reserved for higher-end smartphones. Samsung is also integrating AI agents such as Bixby and Gemini. Upgraded Cameras Both smartphones feature a 50MP triple-camera system. These are…

Safaricom’s flagship engineering summit, Decode 4.0, has officially kicked off in Nairobi today. This is a three-day event that brings together developers, innovators and global technology partners including Microsoft, Google, Dell Technologies, and Huawei to explore the next phase of Kenya’s digital growth. The theme this year is “Made for Kenya” and celebrates the ingenuity, creativity and resilience that has positioned Kenya as a leader in technology and digital innovation. The event is expected to engage over 100,000 participants both physically and virtually. Now in its fourth edition, Decode has evolved to a platform for building, experimenting and scaling real-world…

Kenyans have a new affordable home fibre option with the entry of Savanna Fibre. The ISP has unveiled a suite of high-speed internet packages at aggressive price points that will definitely shake the market. The new packages are set to take effect on May 1, 2026, and will position Savanna as a serious challenger in a market currently dominated by Safaricom, Zuku and Faiba.  Savanna Fibre Packages and Pricing Savanna Fibre has four main tiers that are bundled with a WiFi router and support for unlimited devices. These are All the listed plans have a feature dubbed “Night Turbo-Speed.” It…

Konza Technopolis has partnered with Microsoft to launch a new artificial intelligence (AI) skills programme targeting women. The programme was unveiled during the inaugural Thrive, Elevate & Celebrate (TEC) Women Summit 2026, which brought together more than 200 stakeholders from the technology, creative, academic, government and non-government sectors. If you have a startup you want featured on TechArena, let us know through this contact form here. The summit was organised in partnership with EdSource through its Innovate Her initiative, with support from Microsoft and the International Labour Organization. Speaking as chief guest, ICT, E-Government and Digital Economy Secretary Mary Kerema urged stakeholders to…

4G Capital has secured a $2 million strategic investment from GIF Growth to help it scale its lending operations and deepen financial inclusion across East Africa. If you have a startup you want featured on TechArena, let us know through this contact form here. Since 2013, 4G Capital has disbursed more than $800 million in loans to over 755,000 customers. The company has also issued 6.8 million loans to date and is on track to surpass $1 billion in total lending later this year. The company will use the new funding to enhance this model, invest in digital infrastructure and strengthen strategic partnerships…

Visa has announced the availability of Visa Intelligent Authorization in Kenya.  The solution was launched during the Visa Connect Kenya forum and is part of the Visa Acceptance Platform. It is designed to help acquirers streamline transaction processing through a single API connection. Acquirers that process payments on behalf of merchants play a central role in digital transactions by sending real-time authorization requests to issuing banks for approval or decline. Many of the existing authorization systems are built on legacy infrastructure resulting in lower approval rates, higher operational costs and increased complexity in meeting regulatory requirements. Visa Intelligent Authorization is…