Somalia is making a bold leap into the digital era, this time through travel. On Sunday, August 24, 2025, the government officially launched its e-Visa system, a modern, streamlined gateway for international visitors. The platform, developed with support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), enables travelers to apply for visas online, foregoing the old-school […]
In a bold move toward digital sovereignty, Kenya is laying the foundation for more resilient internet connectivity, and its name says it all. Daraja, Swahili for “bridge,” is Safaricom’s first fully owned subsea cable, underwritten with strategic backing from Meta’s infrastructure arm, Edge Network Services. Why Daraja Matters This $23 million, 4,108 km undersea cable […]
In Africa’s rapidly evolving fintech landscape, First Circle Capital stands out, not just for its investment strategy but for how deeply it engages with founders and systems alike. Leadership driving the force A female-led fund driving fintech innovation established by fintech veterans, Selma Ribica and Agnes Aistleitner Kisuule, First Circle Capital is an early-stage VC focused […]
Africa’s Gen Z is proving that innovation knows no age. These hyper-connected, tech-native 16– to 28-year-olds aren’t waiting for the “right time.” From Lagos to Nairobi, Cape Town, and Accra, they’re building solutions that solve real problems, right now. What Makes Them Stand Out They bring more than youthful energy. They’re digital natives, growing up […]
The first half of this year was a period of redefinition in the African Startup Ecosystem. It was a period characterised by diversification, the emergence of new top performers, cross-border investments, a merger and, importantly, a record-breaker. African startups have broken a record set by economic setbacks by securing $1.4 billion in funding in H1 […]
In the crowded streets of Lagos, where flooding chokes drainage systems clogged with discarded plastic, Salubata saw an opportunity, a chance to turn pollution into possibility. Reimagining Waste as Design Co-founded in 2020 by environmental scientist and creative director Fela Buyi Akinse, along with Yewande Akinse, Salubata creates modular shoes from recycled plastic waste sourced […]
When a bad cup of office coffee met a childhood rooted in Kenya’s coffee farms, something unexpected happened: Margaret Nyamumbo discovered a mission and a business. Roots in Coffee and Resilience Growing up on her grandfather’s coffee farm in Kisii, Kenya, Margaret witnessed the backbone of the industry firsthand. While women provided 90 percent of […]
Kenya cemented its position as the leader in Africa’s startup funding landscape in 2024. It raised an impressive $638 million, according to Africa: The Big Deal’s annual funding report. This marked 88% of East Africa’s total funding and was driven by significant investments in climate tech startups like and SunCulture. Meanwhile, Nigerian startups followed closely, […]
The African fintech landscape in 2024 was marked by both challenges and opportunities, underscoring the sector’s resilience and adaptability.
The fight against climate change has a new hero, and it’s not from where you’d expect. Meet Octavia Carbon, a groundbreaking Kenyan startup rewriting the rules of carbon removal with cutting-edge Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology.
