Author: Kaluka wanjala

 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…

Purple Elephant Ventures (PEV) has raised $4.5 million in seed financing, marking one of the largest tourism-tech rounds in African history. This landmark investment will accelerate PEV’s mission to transform the continent’s tourism industry into a global leader in regenerative tourism. By building cutting-edge travel technology in Africa, PEV aims to create a resilient, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable tourism sector.The round drew an impressive roster of investors, including Clear Creek Investment B.V, Klister Corp., Fede Pirzo-Biroli (founder of Playfair Capital), Anthony Rock and Ian McCaig (former CEO of Lastminute.com). This funding milestone underscores growing confidence in African travel tech startups and their role in reshaping the…

Sistema.bio, a global leader in the delivery of biogas technology, financing, and services for family farmers worldwide, announces Novastar Ventures as its newest investor. Novastar has joined Sistema.bio’s recent internal financing round of USD 7.75 million with a USD 3.5 million investment. This will accelerate Sistema.bio’s expansion into new African markets, new agricultural and energy products and its overall growth. “Novastar Ventures’ investment strengthens Sistema.bio’s mission to empower low-resourced farmers with sustainable solutions that drive economic growth, climate resilience, and regenerative agriculture. Together, we are scaling impactful technologies that benefit both people and the planet,” said Joyce Cacho, Board Chairman of Sistema.bio.…

Techstars and Merce Anders Equity Group announced today the launch of Techstars Startup Community Catalyst Africa Botswana.  Over the next two years, Techstars Startup Community Catalyst Africa Botswana will run a series of pre-accelerator and startup education programs including Techstars Founder Catalyst, Techstars Community Development Lab, and Techstars Startup Weekends. These programs are designed to support early-stage entrepreneurs refine their ideas, scale their businesses and drive long-term impact in their startup communities. Empowering Entrepreneurs Across Southern Africa “Botswana is uniquely positioned to become a vibrant startup community,” says Emilie Vallauri, Program Manager at Techstars. “Through this partnership with Merce Anders Equity Group, we aim…

Vodacom and Orange have joined hands to form, a first of its kind, rural towerco partnership in Africa. Through this partnership, the companies will collaborate to build, own, and operate solar-powered mobile base stations in underserved areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The initiative will extend network coverage and enable access to telecommunications and mobile financial services to up to 19 million people in less densely populated rural communities, reinforcing their commitment to bridging the digital divide and driving inclusive growth.  Deploying and operating networks, particularly in deep rural areas, continues to be a significant challenge in the…

Xiaomi is planning to unveil the Redmi Note 14 Series in Kenya. The company promises to redefine expectations with groundbreaking features and cutting-edge technology. This phone is meant to appeal to photography enthusiasts with stunning photography innovations and unmatched durability with a sleek and modern design.  “Whether you’re a content creator, a tech enthusiast, or someone who simply wants a phone that can keep up with your lifestyle, the Redmi Note 14 Series is crafted with you in mind,” said Xiaomi. Redmi Note 14 Specifications While we can’t spill all the secrets just yet, here’s a sneak peek: I will…

In 2024, the cryptocurrency landscape continued to grow, offering vast opportunities and transformative financial freedom. Yet, as innovation surged, so did the sophistication of financial scams throughout both the crypto and traditional financial landscape. At Binance, trust isn’t just earned—it’s safeguarded. Our commitment to user security remains at the forefront of everything we do, ensuring that the crypto journey is as safe as it is empowering. This report highlights Binance’s achievements in tackling scams, recovering funds, and raising awareness to protect our community. It demonstrates how Binance sets the gold standard in the crypto industry for risk management, user education,…

 Servercore has announced a successful migration of GoDeliveries cloud infrastructure from an offshore cloud provider to a robust local cloud solution, marking a significant milestone for GoDeliveries cloud strategy.  GoDeliveries, an innovative food delivery service targeting Nairobi area communities, previously faced several challenges with its previous cloud infrastructure. These included high operational costs, extended response times, limited server efficiency, and increased network latency that hindered the startup’s service quality and growth potential. To overcome these challenges, GoDeliveries partnered with Servercore to implement reliable cloud products while ensuring a smooth migration. The partnership leveraged advanced cloud migration tools and methodologies, enabling…