Author: Kaluka wanjala

MoneyHash, the first and leading payment orchestration platform operating in the Middle East and Africa (MEA), has secured $5.2M in pre-A funding. Flourish Ventures – a global fintech investor behind industry leaders like Chime, Flutterwave, FairMoney, and Neon – led the round, adding to its portfolio of over 100 fintech startups. Additional investors include Saudi’s Vision Ventures, Arab Bank’s Xelerate, and Emurgo Kepple Ventures. The round features the participation of Jason Gardner, founder and former CEO of Marqeta, as his first MEA investment. The round also saw continued support from existing investors COTU, RZM Investment, and Github founder Tom Preston-Werner. Building on its momentum, MoneyHash previously secured a $4.5M…

2024 has been a game-changing year for cryptocurrency, with market capitalization soaring by a staggering 96.2%, driven by strong gains in the first and fourth quarters. A pivotal moment in January was with the launch of U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs, propelling market sentiment and attracting a fresh wave of capital. Favourable macro factors, including the U.S. Federal Reserve’s interest rate cut and positive regulatory shifts post the U.S Presidential, further fuelled the surge. This report serves as an essential resource for understanding the evolving crypto landscape and preparing for what’s ahead in 2025. An eventful year for Bitcoin Bitcoin dominated…

South African insurance-technology start-up, Naked, has announced the close of  R700-million ($38 million) series-B funding round.  The Insurtech was founded back in 2018 and has created a fully digital platform that uses automation to speed up the process of buying insurance and making claims after a loss. This is done without engaging with a call centre agent. The company claims in sells 100% of its card, home and single-item insurance policies online without any human intervention, using artificial intelligence and machine learning to make decisions. The funding round saw the participation of BlueOrchard as well as some other existing investors…

SeamlessHR has announced the close of a $9 million funding round led by the Gates Foundation and Helios Digital Ventures. The company says the investment will be used to drive its expansion across Africa, enhance workforce productivity and accelerate business performance through solutions including Embedded Finance offerings and AI-driven workforce management technology. This announcement comes months after SeamlessHR announced the launch of new embedded finance products that enable employers and employees access critical financing solutions, including payroll financing, to fuel their growth and business performance. Commenting on the announcement, SeamlessHR’s Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Emmanuel Okeleji, said, “I…

Xiaomi Kenya has today unveiled the Redmi Note 14 series in the country. This is the company’s latest mid-range smartphone series and features three devices: Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G, Redmi Note 14 Pro and Redmi Note 14. According to the company, the devices are all designed to redefine smartphone photography, durability, and performance while maintaining exceptional value. Flagship-Level Photography with AI-Powered Cameras The Redmi Note 14 Series boasts cutting-edge camera technology, designed to capture extraordinary detail and creativity. Additional AI features like AI Erase Pro, AI Image Expansion, and AI Background Removal allow for professional-level editing directly on the…

In the framework of the SheTrades Commonwealth+ Programme, which is funded by United Kingdom (UK) International Development, the International Trade Centre is collaborating with Absa Bank Kenya, the host institution of the SheTrades Kenya Hub, to launch the Access to Finance Accelerator programme, a six-week intensive training to enhance access to finance for women entrepreneurs in export businesses. This programme focuses on equipping participants with the skills needed to create bank-ready business plans and manage business risks effectively by supportingparticipants with a comprehensive understanding of commercial banking, small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) financing, and alternative funding options to enhancing their financial literacy and business financingpreparedness. The training combines practical…

Creating WhatsApp Group events can be an efficient way to organize gatherings and keep the members informed and engaged. Creating an event is a very simple process requiring just a few steps.  Once the event is created, it will be shared in the group chat and members can tap on the message to see more information about the event. To create a WhatsApp Group event, these are the steps to follow for both Android, iOS and WhatsApp for web. Open WhatsApp Create the Event Enter Event Details Enter all the necessary event details. Save and share When satisfied with the…

 KCB Bank and UnionPay International (UPI) have partnered to enhance e-commerce payment capabilities in Kenya, enabling UnionPay cardholders to transact seamlessly on digital platforms. This collaboration marks a significant advancement in digital payment capabilities, aimed at enriching the online shopping experience for consumers and merchants across Kenya. “We are delighted to join hands with UnionPay International to enhance our e-commerce payment solutions. This partnership reinforces our commitment to providing secure and efficient digital payment services that cater to the evolving needs of our customers. By integrating UnionPay’s robust payment solutions, we are enabling seamless and secure online transactions for UnionPay cardholders,”…

Samsung’s first unpacked event of 2025 is scheduled for January 22. The company is expected to unveil its  “Next Big Thing”. We are expecting a number of devices at the launch including the Galaxy S25 series. Samsung normally launches its flagship smartphone series, the Galaxy S series, in January. With the Galaxy S25 series, we expect to see three models, the Standard, Plus and Ultra. This has been the trend by most smartphone manufacturers recently including Samsung.  With the Galaxy S25 series, I do not expect many design changes. From the rumors circulating online, we expect subtle design changes including…

The Africa Tech Summit Nairobi has announced the 10 African tech ventures that have been selected to showcase their solutions for potential funding and partnerships on February 12th and 13th at the Sarit Expo Centre in Nairobi. The Africa Tech Summit received over 200 submission from more that 24 countries. The countries include Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Zambia, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Chad, and Rwanda. The 10 selected ventures represent different sectors such as fintech, insurtech, healthtech, agritech, and cleantech. They were chosen for their innovative ideas and potential…