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Nigerian Startup Koolboks Deploys 10,000 Solar Refrigerators in Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda
Pan-African startup Koolboks has deployed more than 10,000 solar-powered refrigerators and freezers across Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda since 2021, as it looks to address refrigeration challenges in communities with limited or unreliable access to electricity. Founded in 2018 by Ayoola Dominic and Deborah Gael, the company did not initially focus on refrigeration for African markets.
Airtel Uganda Tests Starlink Satellite-to-Phone Service
Airtel Uganda has begun testing Starlink’s Direct-to-Cell technology, a satellite-based service that allows ordinary smartphones to connect directly to satellites without requiring additional hardware. The trial forms part of the operator’s efforts to improve connectivity in areas where building traditional telecom infrastructure remains difficult or commercially challenging. The company announced the pilot on May 19
Startup Mondays: Raise When You Have Proof of Concept
Business Founders love to confuse fundraising with winning. A founder announces a seed round. Tech press picks it up. LinkedIn lights up with congrats. For a week, the startup looks inevitable. But investors don’t buy your product. Customers do. That’s the whole game. Too many founders start pitching before they’ve built anything customers would miss if
Founder Friday: Aions
For many entrepreneurs, success is measured by funding rounds, valuations and exits. For Mitchan Adams, co-founder of Ozow and founder of Aions Ventures, success is measured by something more enduring: building businesses that create jobs, unlock opportunity and strengthen South Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. After helping scale Ozow from a startup idea into one of South
Meta Moves 7,000 Employees to AI Teams, Cuts 10% of Workforce
Meta is deepening its commitment to artificial intelligence through a major organisational restructuring that will move thousands of employees into AI-focused roles while reducing headcount across other areas of the business. According to reports, the company is reallocating around 7,000 employees into AI-related positions and consolidating them into four new organisations. The changes form part
The Mining Wrap
The continent-wide Timbuktoo MineTech Accelerator Programme has scaled its second phase by awarding equity-free funding to startups building tech-enabled solutions for mining operations and sustainability. The program targets early-stage companies working on operational efficiency, safety, and environmental monitoring. This gives founders capital without dilution, accelerating product development and pilot deployments. It also signals stronger investor
BW Energy Bets $300 Million on Gabon Offshore Oil Growth
BW Energy has approved a final investment decision (FID) for the Bourdon offshore oil field in Gabon, committing $300 million to a project that could help boost production in a country grappling with declining oil output. The Norwegian energy company announced on May 20 that it had sanctioned development of the Bourdon field, located within
Kenya Court Extends Block on Safaricom Stake Sale to Vodacom
Kenya’s High Court has extended an order suspending the government’s proposed sale of a 15% stake in Safaricom to South African telecommunications giant Vodacom, delaying a transaction that would hand the company effective control of East Africa’s largest telecom operator. A three-judge bench appointed by Chief Justice Martha Koome ruled that conservatory orders issued in
Google Rolls Out Biggest Changes to Search in 25 Years
Google announces major AI upgrades to Search and Gemini at its annual I/O developer conference, introducing new AI agents, coding tools, and expanded AI-driven features as competition with OpenAI, Anthropic, and other AI firms continues to intensify. One of the biggest changes was Google’s effort to turn Search into a more active AI-driven experience instead
Shell Advances Libya Oil Field Studies as Global Majors Return
Shell is expected to submit an assessment report on several Libyan oil and gas fields to the National Oil Corporation (NOC) before the end of May, according to Libya Herald, which cited NOC Chairman Masoud Suleiman. The timeline was discussed during a meeting in London involving Shell executives and NOC technical teams. Shell reportedly presented
Is “Smart Mining” Just a Cost-Cutting Tool Disguised as Innovation?
“Smart mining” has become a common phrase in mining, especially across African mining investments and operations, almost to the point of becoming a mantra. Companies repeat it consistently in presentations, pilot projects, and investor briefings, usually alongside automation, sensors, and data systems promising better performance. The language around it is familiar efficiency, optimisation, and real-time
Talent Acquisition and Retention in Competitive African Tech Hubs
Hiring in African tech hubs has changed over the past few years. In cities like Lagos, Nairobi, Cape Town, and Johannesburg, the same developers and product leads are now being approached by local startups, established firms, and remote employers at the same time. The pool has not necessarily grown at the same pace as demand,
Startup Mondays: When to approach investors
It’s common practice for startups to think about and approach investors sooner than they should. Once something begins to show promise, the next step feels obvious raise capital and push forward. In practice, that step changes how the business operates, what is expected, and how decisions are made. Timing matters. Investors look beyond the idea
Founder Fridays: Everlectric.
South Africa’s electric vehicle conversation is usually discussed at a policy level white papers, incentives, long-term targets and infrastructure. But that view often misses how things play out in practice. For Ndia Magadagela, the entry into electric mobility came from a different place. It was not a planned career path but driven by curiosity and
THE MINING WRAP
Mining startup MinersAI is refining its geoscience platform by organising scattered exploration data into structured models that support more accurate drill targeting. The system brings together geological, geophysical, and assay data into one working environment, making it easier for teams to interpret results. This reduces time spent cleaning and reconciling datasets. It also limits unnecessary
The Cost of Late Product-Market Adjustments in Startups
In startup environments, failure is not something people like to talk about, whether in business circles, accelerator programs, or strategy discussions. The focus is usually on growth, innovation, and success. But the reality is that risk is always present, no matter how strong the idea may seem at the start. What matters is how a
TotalEnergies Extends Angola Offshore Investment to 2043
TotalEnergies has committed to a longer-term presence in Angola, agreeing to continue developing Block 32 one of the country’s largest ultra-deepwater oil assets through 2043. The extension adds another 17 years of production and investment. The agreement was formalised in Luanda on May 6 with the National Agency for Oil, Gas and Biofuels and covers
Eswatini Launches Startup World Cup to Connect Local Innovators to Global Investors
Entrepreneurs in Eswatini now have a chance to compete for a US$1 million investment following the launch of Startup World Cup Eswatini 2026. The competition links local startups to international investors, including those in Silicon Valley, and opens a pathway to global markets. Minister for Information, Communication and Technology, Savannah Maziya, launched the initiative at
Choosing the Right Startup Funding for the Business At The Right Time
Startup funding is usually framed around venture capital, but that model doesn’t suit every business. In many cases, the pressure to grow quickly and deliver large returns doesn’t match how revenue comes in. As a result, founders are looking at other ways to fund their work options that are less visible but easier to manage
Startup Mondays: How to define your MVP properly
It is common practice in startups that, before building anything, the idea feels solid enough to move on. That’s when teams tend to rush. Product teams start adding features and structuring the product before deciding what they actually need to prove first. This is where an MVP comes in. An MVP, or Minimum Viable Product,