Author: Kaluka wanjala

Verto has officially launched a new hub in Nairobi as part of its East African growth strategy. The hub, located at The Address on Muthangari Drive, will serve as Verto’s central point for operations in the region. The company says the move reflects its commitment to simplifying international trade for businesses in emerging markets, particularly those navigating costly and slow payment systems. If you have a startup you want featured on TechArena, let us know through this contact form here. Verto’s global network spans more than 170 countries and 49 currencies.. Its platform enables businesses to send and receive money securely across borders…

NCBA Bank and CFAO Mobility Kenya’s leasing arm, Loxea, have announced a partnership to finance BYD electric vehicles, starting with the launch of the BYD Shark 6, Kenya’s first plug-in hybrid pickup. The Shark 6 is built on BYD’s DMO (Dual-Motor Off-road) platform. It combines the rugged durability of a pickup with next-generation hybrid efficiency. It features a 1.5L petrol engine paired with electric motors, delivering up to 650km of range and consumes as little as 2.0 litres per 100km when fully charged. The battery comes with an 8-year/200,000km warranty. Loxea’s Managing Director, Jennifer Kinyoe, called the launch “a statement…

Between June and August 2025, African law enforcement, with support from INTERPOL and AFRIPOL, executed one of the largest cybercrime crackdowns to date. Dubbed Operation Serengeti 2.0, the effort disrupted ransomware, BEC scams, and crypto fraud schemes targeting tens of thousands across the continent. “With more contributions and shared expertise, the results keep growing in scale and impact. This global network is stronger than ever, delivering real outcomes and safeguarding victims.” –- Valdecy Urquiza, INTERPOL Secretary General. The Key Numbers This operation highlights how cybercrime has evolved in Africa, with criminals exploiting global networks while targeting local victims. For startups,…

Mastercard has partnered with Smile ID to roll out digital identity solutions across Africa. Mastercard has also made a minority investment in Smile ID. Through this partnership, two companies hope to reduce fraud, make the customer onboarding process faster and expand access to financial services across the continent. If you have a startup you want featured on TechArena, let us know through this contact form here. This partnership brings together Mastercard’s global identity and payments expertise with Smile ID’s fraud detection and data verification tools. According to Mastercard, Africa’s digital economy is projected to hit $1.5 trillion by 2030. Fragmented identity systems remain…

Ilara Health, a Nairobi-based healthtech, has announced plans to “review and restructure” operations. The startup cites “current market conditions and financing dynamics that include reversal of funding commitments and delays in disbursements.” This signals there will be job cuts, operational retrenchment and a shift of focus to “cash-generative business lines.” If you have a startup you want featured on TechArena, let us know through this contact form here. While Ilara frames the move as a pragmatic pivot toward sustainable operations, the financial undertones are clear, it is responding to funding challenges in a more volatile venture capital climate, especially for healthtech players in…

Samsung has announced the launch of the Galaxy S25 FE in Kenya. Following the debut of the Galaxy S25, S25+ and S25 Ultra earlier this year, the FE model lands as the “fan edition” device. It keeps the core features that matter while shaving off some luxuries to keep the price lower. For many Kenyans who want a S25 but can’t justify dropping over Ksh 100,000 on a phone, the FE strikes a balance between premium AI tools, long battery life, and a price tag that won’t empty your pocket. “Galaxy S25 FE plays a key role in expanding access…

TLcom Capital has confirmed that Partner Ido Sum is leaving the firm after 14 years.  Sum contributed to the firm’s expansion across Africa’s startup ecosystem during his time at TLcom. He also played a role in strengthening the firm’s regional presence through its offices in Nairobi and Lagos. If you have a startup you want featured on TechArena, let us know through this contact form here. TLcom Capital was founded in 1999. The firm manages the TIDE Fund I and TIDE Fund II, with the latter closing as one of the continent’s largest early-stage funds. These funds have supported startups in a number…

Access Bank and the National Bank of Kenya (NBK) have announced the introduction of a joint service integration. This integration will allow customers from either bank to access in-branch services seamlessly across more than 100 branches countrywide. The initiative marks a significant milestone in the ongoing integration process following Access Bank Plc’s acquisition of NBK from KCB Group earlier this year. Customers of both institutions can now walk into any branch, whether Access Bank Kenya or NBK, and carry out core transactions such as viewing account details, making deposits and withdrawals and transferring funds. Both banks assured customers that their…

Safaricom Home Fibre is one of the internet service providers in Kenya. It provides fast and reliable connectivity to homes. If you are thinking of getting connected, this guide provides an overview of everything you need to know. It includes steps to take to check coverage in your area, available packages, speeds, installation process, prices and a few frequently asked questions you may want answers to. What is Safaricom Home Fibre? Safaricom Home Fibre is a high-speed internet service that uses fibre optic cables to deliver fast and stable connectivity directly to homes. This is different to traditional mobile data…

Kenya’s ARC Ride has secured a $10 million financing commitment from Mirova. Mirova is an affiliate of Natixis Investment Managers dedicated to sustainable investing. This debt facility will fund the deployment of 600 battery-swapping cabinets and 25,000 batteries in Kenya. If you have a startup you want featured on TechArena, let us know through this contact form here. The deal comes just four months after ARC Ride raised $5 million from British International Investment (BII). This shows how confident investors are with the company’s Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) model. Different types of investors with the same goal While the BII investment brought catalytic development finance…