Author: Brand Spot

Uganda has rolled out its first collaborative, shared-infrastructure broadband network. This is designed to bring fast, secure, and inclusive internet access to every corner of the country. This initiative is the product of a partnership between local telecom Sombha Solutions Store, global tech company Veea Inc., and infrastructure firm BG Titan Group (BGT). Dubbed the “Internet-for-All” network, the project marks a clear shift in how connectivity is delivered. It moves away from isolated telecom competition to a shared model that allows every licensed operator to access the same infrastructure. This results in a rapid, cost-efficient, and widespread digital access for…

A new report by SAP is sounding the alarm as African companies are not ready for the AI revolution, at least not from a skills perspective. The report, titled ‘Africa’s AI Skills Readiness Revealed’, offers a timely look into how organisations across Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa are gearing up for an AI-driven future — and where the cracks are already starting to show. “The data is clear: African companies expect demand for AI skills to surge this year,” says Nazia Pillay, Interim Managing Director for SAP South Africa. “Six in ten organisations view AI skills as extremely important to…

Aleph and Spotify have announced an expanded partnership that makes Aleph Spotify’s advertising sales partner in 80+ markets, providing access to 20,000+ advertisers. Spotify Advertising has been modernising its ad tech, strengthening its partnerships and deepening its human expertise to make it easier for advertisers to buy, create, measure, and get clear results on Spotify’s ad platform. Spotify’s efforts reflect a significant step forward in automated buying and creative innovation for the ad platform and the broader digital audio industry. Most notably, Spotify is continuing to innovate its self-serve platform, Spotify Ads Manager, with more advanced targeting capabilities, new 1P…

Kaspersky has appointed Chris Norton as its new General Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa. With over three decades of IT industry experience, Norton is to drive Kaspersky’s expansion across the continent. This appointment underscores Africa’s importance for Kaspersky as a high-growth market and the company’s commitment to a forward-looking cybersecurity vision. Kaspersky has been operating on the continent since 2009 and has placed a strong focus on Africa. In 2024, Kaspersky’s business in Africa achieved standout performance, with consumer (B2C) sales up 36% and enterprise (B2B) sales up 10% year-on-year. This contributed to an overall regional sales growth of 19%, outpacing…

Jasiri Growth Accelerator is inviting founders in Kenya and Rwanda to its accelerator program. This is designed for early-stage startups. It offers a blend of strategic support and funding, up to $75,000 per venture. The program is tailored to businesses that are tackling complex challenges with scalable, impactful solutions. Who It’s For The accelerator is open to startups registered in Kenya or Rwanda that are: But more than just being a business with traction, Jasiri is looking for founders who are creating new markets—making essential products or services accessible to people who couldn’t afford or access them before. What Founders…

Egyptian mobility startup Sylndr has announced the close of $15.7 million Series A funding round. This round was led by Development Partners International (DPI) Venture Capital via the Nclude Fund. It also saw the participation from Algebra Ventures, Nuwa Capital, Raed Ventures, Egyptian Gulf Holding, Uncovered Fund, Beltone Venture Capital, and Camel Ventures. Founded in 2022, Sylndr is a used car platform targeting buyers and sellers in Egypt. The startup is reimagining every touchpoint in the car ownership journey, from discovery and financing to maintenance and resale. “This new chapter gives us the fuel to scale nationally and expand our…

Equity Group has been named the prestigious Superbrand title for the fourth time. The Superbrands designation is now in its ninth edition and celebrates organizations that exemplify quality, reliability, and distinction. “We are honored to be recognized as a Superbrand,” said Dr. James Mwangi, Group Managing Director and CEO. “This recognition belongs to our customers and our staff who go the extra mile. It reflects our deep commitment to transforming lives, building wealth, and improving livelihoods across East Africa.” Equity was first named a Superbrand back in 2007, making it the first Kenyan bank to receive the distinction. This recognition…

Cassava Technologies has announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sand Technologies, a leading global enterprise AI solutions company and a key player in Africa’s emerging artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem. The strategic partnership, announced at the Global AI Summit on Africa in Kigali, Rwanda, aims to enhance the delivery of AI solutions and GPU-as-a-service (GPUaas) across the African continent, making AI solutions more accessible to African businesses. “As more businesses across Africa seek to harness the potential of AI, the demand for powerful GPU processing capabilities is increasing. By providing Sand Technologies with access to Cassava’s…

NCBA Bank and Strathmore Business School (SBS) have celebrated the graduation of 38 entrepreneurs from their flagship Enterprise Development Programme (EDP). The graduates, drawn from a variety of sectors including manufacturing, agribusiness, retail, logistics, and professional services, completed a six-month course designed to sharpen their leadership, strategy, and operational capabilities. The programme reflects NCBA’s broader commitment to not just financing SMEs, but also helping them build strong, resilient businesses. “We are delighted to empower our SME customers through this programme,” said Dennis Njau, Acting Group Director for Retail Banking at NCBA. “Our goal is to equip entrepreneurs with the tools…

Westcon-Comstor has today announced that it has been certified by Great Place To Work in South Africa.  Great Place To Work is the global authority on workplace culture, employee experience and the leadership behaviours proven to deliver market-leading revenue, employee retention and increased innovation. Whether a company achieves certification is based entirely on what current employees say about their experience. This is the first time that Westcon-Comstor, which employs more than 3,600 people around the world, has sought and achieved Great Place To Work® certification in South Africa. The company also achieved certification in 26 other countries. In South Africa,…