Author: Kaluka wanjala

dLocal has announced the launch of BNPL Fuse. This, the company say,s is the world’s first Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) aggregator designed specifically for emerging markets. If you have a startup you want featured on TechArena, let us know through this contact form here. BNPL Fuse aims to simplify how merchants offer flexible payments by bringing together multiple BNPL providers under one platform. With a single API and contract, merchants can now reach over 500 million underbanked buyers across eight countries in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Many consumers in fast-growing economies lack access to credit cards or sufficient…

M-PESA Ethiopia has announced the completion of its integration with EthSwitch, Ethiopia’s national payment network. This latest development comes a few months after M-PESA Ethiopia hit 10 million customers.  This integration makes it possible for M-PESA customers to send money directly from their wallets to any bank account linked to EthSwitch. Customers can also make payments to merchants using bank-issued EthQR codes. Bank customers without M-PESA accounts can send money to M-PESA wallets or pay M-PESA merchants by scanning M-PESA EthQR codes through their mobile banking apps. The new feature is powered by EthSwitch’s secure national infrastructure. It ensures real-time…

Jiji has launched a free online business course dubbed “Zero to Profit: The Essentials of Business Building.” The new initiative aims to equip young Kenyans with the skills needed to turn business ideas into profitable ventures in the fast-changing digital economy. If you have a startup you want featured on TechArena, let us know through this contact form here. The course is available through the newly established Jiji Academy,  launched at Mount Kenya University (MKU), Thika. Speaking during the launch, Maureen Naliaka, PR & Marketing Manager at Jiji Kenya, said the company’s goal goes beyond just being an e-commerce platform. “At Jiji, our…

Standard Chartered Uganda has entered into an agreement with Absa Bank Uganda for the sale of its Wealth and Retail Banking (WRB) business. The deal is subject to regulatory approval and is in line with Standard Chartered’s global strategy to focus on areas where it offers a distinct client advantage. The move will see Standard Chartered’s WRB clients and employees transition to Absa, while its Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) operations remain unaffected. Kariuki Ngari, Managing Director and CEO for Standard Chartered Kenya and Africa, said the sale marks an important milestone for the bank’s strategy. “In November last year,…

Kenyan engineer Elly Savatia has been named the winner of the 2025 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation. He created Terp 360, an AI-powered sign language translation app that converts speech into sign language using lifelike 3D avatars. If you have a startup you want featured on TechArena, let us know through this contact form here. The announcement was made during the Africa Prize live final in Dakar, Senegal. “I’m totally grateful for this and it is a testament to the innovative assistive technology work that is coming from Africa,” said Savatia. “I’m really looking forward to the excellence that will come out of…

Microsoft has released its 2025 Digital Defense Report. The report revealed how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming cybercrime and placing Africa at the center of emerging digital threats. The report was drawn from over 100 trillion daily security signals and paints a concerning picture of evolving attacker sophistication and the continent’s growing exposure to high-value cyber incidents. According to Kerissa Varma, Microsoft’s Chief Security Advisor for Africa, attackers are increasingly testing new cyber tactics on the continent. “Africa isn’t just a target, it has become a proving ground for the latest cyber threats,” said Varma. “We’re witnessing attackers harness AI…

Cassava Technologies has announced a new strategic investment from global computing powerhouse NVIDIA.  Hardy Pemhiwa, President and Group CEO of Cassava Technologies, said the investment represents a pivotal milestone for the company. “Cassava is Africa’s leading technology company, driving the continent’s digital transformation with digital infrastructure and digital services. Securing this investment is an important milestone that we expect to unlock additional value and catalyze the further expansion of our digital infrastructure and services to bridge the digital divide on the continent,” he said. Cassava’s strong investor base now includes Econet Group, British International Investment, Finnfund, Fund for Export Development…

Westcon-Comstor has announced that Comstor will take part in the Cisco Connect 2025 Southern Africa as a Diamond Sponsor. As Cisco’s flagship regional technology event, Cisco Connect 2025 brings together IT leaders, decision-makers and innovators from across industries to explore how the latest networking, cloud, and security technologies are driving digital transformation in Southern Africa. “Cisco Connect is an opportunity to demonstrate the strength of our ecosystem and our commitment to enabling partners to thrive in a technology-driven market,” said Dorio Bowes, Comstor Director at Westcon-Comstor Southern Africa. “As Cisco’s go-to distributor in the region, we’re focused on empowering our…

Spiro has announced a landmark $100 million investment round. This is the largest ever investment round in Africa’s two-wheel electric mobility sector. The round includes a $75 million contribution from The Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA), the development impact investment arm of Afreximbank. If you have a startup you want featured on TechArena, let us know through this contact form here. According to Kaushik Burman, CEO of Spiro, the investment marks a pivotal moment for Africa’s clean mobility landscape. “Africa is at an inflection point in personal mobility. Riders are rapidly shifting from internal combustion motorcycles to Spiro’s more affordable and…

Kenyan mobility technology company BuuPass has been ranked among the Top 3 finalists at the Startup World Cup 2025 Grand Finale in San Francisco. This makes BuuPass the first African startup to achieve this. The event brought together more than 90 regional winners from around the globe, competing for a $1 million investment prize. BuuPass secured the No. 3 global position. If you have a startup you want featured on TechArena, let us know through this contact form here. This year’s grand finale was a milestone moment for Africa’s innovation ecosystem. Startups from Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, and the Democratic Republic…