Author: Kaluka wanjala

Valour Inc, a subsidiary of Canadian firm DeFi Technologies, has announced plans to cross-list its suite of over 65 digital asset exchange-traded products (ETPs) on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE). Valour has selected GulfCap Investment Bank (GCIB) to be its transaction advisor. The investment bank will handle regulatory coordination, investor engagement, due diligence and listing execution. If successful, this listing will mark the first time Kenyan investors can have access global digital assets like Bitcoin, Ethereum and other tokenized products through regulated ETPs listed in Kenyan Shillings. “We are proud to partner with GulfCap Investment Bank for this important initiative,”…

Five Kenyan universities scooped top awards at the recently concluded Huawei ICT Competition Global Final 2024-2025. The finale was held in Shenzhen, China, on May 24, 2025. Teams comprising students from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Machakos University, University of Nairobi (UoN), Moi University, and Egerton University clinched three major global prizes in the competition’s Computing, Network, Cloud, and Innovation tracks. Kenya’s Global Achievements The impressive performance by Kenya’s university students reflects the growing digital capabilities of the country’s youth, nurtured through public-private partnerships and national investments in digital education. “Thank you Huawei for the opportunity, and…

The Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship has unveiled its third cohort of 12 African innovators. Out of these, seven female-led startups stand out among the changemakers. The fellowship is delivered in partnership with iHUB Kenya and is designed to accelerate scalable, inclusive learning solutions that are reshaping education across the continent. The program provides support through equity-free funding, mentorship, and strategic support. It helps these EdTech startups to break barriers in education access and performance. Since its inception, the initiative has reached over 470,000 learners, while also transforming school infrastructure by onboarding 1,537 schools onto digital platforms. “The solutions of these…

Huawei Technologies successfully hosted the Huawei Cloud & Connect Summit Kenya 2025 on May 16 in Nairobi, convening over 600 government leaders, industry experts, technology partners, and customers to explore best practices and shared visions for Kenya’s digital transformation. Held under the theme “Accelerate Intelligence, Ignite Smart Kenya,” the summit served as a critical platform for shaping Kenya’s roadmap to becoming a digital and innovation powerhouse in Africa. During the summit’s Connect Session, representatives from public and private sectors gathered to exchange insights on how cloud infrastructure, artificial intelligence (AI), and digital ecosystems can unlock national growth. The session spotlighted…

Sophos has announced that it plans to open a new data center in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by the end of the year. This will see the company deepen its regional investment to with the UAE’s ambition to become a global digital hub. This facility will be hosted on Amazon Web Services (AWS) infrastructure in the UAE. It is set to provide cloud-native security solutions to local organizations and also offer better performance, regulatory compliance, and enhanced data sovereignty. This is particularly important for the government, finance, and healthcare sectors that have strict data privacy and residency requirements.  “This…

Standard Chartered has unveiled its “Women in Cyber” Mentorship Programme. This is a hybrid mentorship and training platform aimed at developing a new generation of female cybersecurity leaders in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.  If you have a startup you want featured on TechArena, let us know through this contact form here.  The programme offers a blend of technical training, mentorship, CPD-recognised learning, and networking opportunities. It is designed to tackle both the skills and gender gap in East Africa’s cybersecurity space. Globally, women hold just 22% of cybersecurity roles, and with a global shortfall of over 2.5 million professionals, the lack…

ARC Ride has secured a $5 million investment from British International Investment (BII). The investment wil be used to deploy of 5,000 electric two-wheelers (E2Ws) and significantly scale up battery-swapping infrastructure across East Africa. Note: If you have a startup you want featured on TechArena, let us know through this contact form here.  At a time when the transport sector accounts for around 13% of Kenya’s greenhouse gas emissions, and petrol-powered motorbikes remain a dominant means of urban and peri-urban transport, this announcement marks a strategic turning point. “This investment will directly support Kenya’s transition to a low-carbon economy, aligning with…

NCBA has reported a profit after tax of KSh 5.5 billion in its Q1 of 2025. This is a 3% growth year-on-year from Q1 2024 when it reported  KSh 5.3 billion profit after tax. These are very impressive numbers but they are sort of what is expected from Kenyan banks.  One of the most telling indicators of NCBA’s progress is the 32% year-on-year growth in digital loan disbursements. These toipped KSh 307 billion in Q1 2025. John Gachora, NCBA Group Managing Director, highlighted the strategic balancing act the lender has had to manage. “Despite the headwinds of 2025, we are…

Choice Microfinance Bank has officially rebranded to Choice Bank and unveiled a fully digital, purpose-driven banking model. The announcement came during a vibrant celebration in Nairobi to mark the institution’s 10-year anniversary since its licensing by the Central Bank of Kenya in 2015. “We are very proud to officially launch our first, inclusive and purpose-driven digital banking model for a better experience to our customers,” said CEO Bonface Isinta Ombui. Reflecting on the bank’s decade-long journey, Ombui credited customers, partners, and regulators for their support. “Ten years of operations is no mean feat… Today’s digital shift is not just a…

Despite a more cautious global venture capital environment, the African startup ecosystem is proving it still has momentum and value. Over the last 12 months, a number of new VC firms and funds have raised fresh capital specifically to back African founders. From fintech to climate tech and digital health, these funds are doubling down on the continent’s potential. If you’re building a startup in Africa, here’s a look at the investors who have raised new funds and are actively looking for startups to back in 2025. P1 Ventures In February 2025, P1 Ventures, pan-African early-stage VC firm, announced the…