Author: Kaluka wanjala

Twenty startups have been named semi-finalists in the MEST Africa Challenge (MAC) 2025, announced today by MEST Africa in partnership with Absa. Now in its 7th edition, the Challenge brings to life the theme “You Build, We Scale” — inspiring founders to transform bold ideas into scalable financial solutions across Absa’s eight priority markets: Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Uganda, and Zambia. If you have a startup you want featured on TechArena, let us know through this contact form here. The selected ventures are addressing some of the continent’s most pressing financial innovation needs — spanning next-generation payments, smart credit solutions, cross-border trade,…

Malengo has announced it has secured $12.9 million in funding from The Shapiro Foundation. The funding will support the NGO’s expansion across Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. This will help low-income students and refugees access vocational and university education in Germany. The new funding is structured as an impact investment and will allow Malengo to scale its programs and support over 700 students over the next three years. Malengo’s mission is to tackle extreme poverty by connecting East African students with higher education and skilled job opportunities abroad. “International educational migration has the potential to dramatically and durably reduce extreme poverty…

As African cities continue to grapple with waste management challenges, one Kenyan startup is taking a data-driven and tech-powered approach to the problem. Founded by Eddy Gitonga, T-Bin is reimagining waste collection and recycling through the use of smart, solar-powered waste bins equipped with AI, IoT, CCTV data analytics and free Wi-Fi. The Kenyan waste management sector is not the fanciest and does not get that much publicity but I believe it is an important one that needs to be highlighted.  If you have a startup you want featured on TechArena, let us know through this contact form here. T-Bin is short for…

PAYDAY, a Tunisian fintech and insurtech startup, has announced the successful close of its first pre-seed funding round led by UGFS North Africa (United Gulf Financial Services). TALYS Group and BioProtection SA also took part in this round. The investment values PAYDAY at $3 million. If you have a startup you want featured on TechArena, let us know through this contact form here. PAYDAY was founded in 2024 and combines salary-backed financing and micro-Takaful protection. It offers employees and businesses a more accessible way to manage financial needs while promoting inclusion in the insurance sector. “This new round of funding brings together a…

M-KOPA is positiomning itself to be a key player in making the transition to electric mobility affordable and accessible. The company is known for its pay-as-you-go financing model and is now using its platform to support the adoption of electric motorcycles and other mobility solutions across the country. Kenya has seen a rise in electric motorcycle manufacturers over the last couple of years signaling a shift in this sector.  TechArena spoke with Brian Njao, General Manager – Mobility at M-KOPA. We wanted to understand how the company is approaching electric mobility in Kenya, how financing is unlocking access for riders…

Vertiv has announced a major leadership transition at the top of its technology division as longtime Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Stephen Liang prepares to retire after three decades with the company. Liang will officially step down from his role on January 1, 2026. Liang joined the company during its Emerson days and has played a key role throughout Vertiv’s transformation into a global leader in critical digital infrastructure. Earlier this year, he focused his efforts exclusively on CTO duties, guiding Vertiv’s innovation strategy across its product lines and global markets. “Stephen’s contributions to Vertiv have been far-reaching throughout his tenure,”…

In Kenya’s startup ecosystem, founders often walk a lonely path. Many lack mentorship, community and visibility beyond their immediate networks. At the same time, investors face a fragmented deal-flow system, with each venture capital firm requiring separate applications. For Kevin Mulama, this disconnect highlighted a gap, Kenya needs its own digital meeting ground for entrepreneurs and investors. That’s the idea behind Funder, a platform Mulama built to centralize deal flow and build a community. He describes it as a hybrid between Crunchbase and LinkedIn, but with a distinctly Kenyan focus. Startups can register, upload their pitch, share milestones and showcase…

Madica has announced new investments in two AI-powered companies, Anavid and Hypeo AI. Each startup will receive up to $200,000 in funding. The startups will also join Madica’s 18-month program. This program offers hands-on mentorship, executive coaching, tailored training and immersion trips to key tech ecosystems globally. If you have a startup you want featured on TechArena, let us know through this contact form here. Madica’s goal is to back underrepresented founders and startups from underserved regions while countering the over-concentration of venture capital in a few African markets. It focuses on addressing structural challenges such as limited access to capital and mentorship…

Back in August 2024, TechArena reported that LOOP was rebranding and preparing to roll out LOOP FLEX. This was and still is its Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) product. This solution is designed to make shopping more flexible for customers. At the time, the company had not made an official announcement. LOOP has finally unveiled LOOP FLEX. The launch has confirmed many of the details hinted at last year while expanding its scope to reach more customers. LOOP FLEX is a credit facility that allows customers to make purchases with a minimum deposit of 10%. LOOP pays the full amount…

CSquared is quietly shaping the backbone of Africa’s internet. In this exclusive conversation with TechArena, Napoleon Mengot, Group Strategy Manager and DRC Country Manager, shares the company’s journey, its open-access philosophy and what a Digitally Connected Africa could look like by 2030. From its beginnings as a Google initiative to its current status as a multi-market infrastructure player, CSquared has played a defining role in bringing reliable connectivity to millions across the continent. Mengot explains how collaboration, long-term thinking and open-access networks are driving the continent’s digital transformation. For readers who may not be familiar, could you introduce CSquared and the…