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Founder Fridays : Mkazi
Sometimes the best business ideas begin with a simple observation. For Siphiwo Peace Mjwara and his co-founders, it was something they noticed every time they visited public healthcare facilities. While hand hygiene is recognised as one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of infections, there was little visibility into whether patients or
How Automation Is Changing Sales for African SMEs and Startups
Sales teams around Africa are finding it harder to keep up with growing numbers of customer enquiries. Businesses are selling through websites, social media, WhatsApp and online marketplaces, creating more leads than many sales teams can comfortably manage using spreadsheets or manual follow ups. That is one reason more companies are introducing automation into their
The Bankability Challenge for African Mining Startups
Mining is one of the few industries where discovering a commercially attractive mineral deposit is not enough. Turning that discovery into a producing mine requires significant capital, and this is where the questions of finance and bankability come in. Before approving finance, banks need confidence that a project can move beyond exploration and become a
The Mining Wrap
This week's Mining Wrap covers mining technology, critical minerals, mine development, strategic transactions and policy developments from across Africa. Highlights include Rio Tinto's latest Mining Tech Accelerator, new critical minerals developments in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Malawi, Epiroc's acquisition of Eventspec, and Fortuna Mining's expansion of the Séguéla Gold Mine in Côte d'Ivoire.
ASUS Opens Flagship Store in Nigeria with Konga
ASUS has opened a flagship store in Lagos through a partnership with Konga. The new outlet gives the technology company a dedicated retail presence in Nigeria. Located in Computer Village, Ikeja, the store stocks ASUS laptops, gaming devices, creator laptops and other computing products. ASUS says it is the company's first flagship store in Africa.The
Breaking News Today – Friday 7 August 2026
African Start-up News Headlines: Business News Today Intra Africa Trade Gets System Boost The AfCFTA Secretariat has signed a 20-year, $3.1 billion concession agreement with Nigeria’s Bergmans Security Consultants and Supplies Ltd (via its subsidiary AfriTrade CMP Ltd) for the AfCFTA Customs Modernisation Project. Signed in Abuja, the private-sector-funded deal will deploy digital and physical
How Digital Payment Data Is Changing Access to Finance for African Startups
The majority of African startups and small businesses, getting a bank loan has often depended on having financial records that many young businesses simply do not have. Banks have traditionally relied on payslips, bank statements and credit histories when assessing loan applications. While those remain part of the process, they do not always reflect how
South Africa – Contraction of Growth As Capital Exits and Policy Constricts
The latest Stats SA monthly indicators paint a clear and uncomfortable picture. Core sectors of the South African economy are contracting or stagnating at a time when the country can least afford it. Mining production fell by -5.4% year-on-year in May 2026. Manufacturing output declined by – 4.3% while Electricity generation dropped -9.0 percent. The
Africa's Crypto Industry Faces a New Regulatory Reality
Several African governments are introducing clearer rules for cryptocurrency businesses, replacing years of uncertainty with licensing frameworks and compliance requirements. People and businesses now use digital assets for payments, remittances and investment. Instead of debating whether cryptocurrencies should exist, regulators are focusing on the businesses that offer crypto services and the risks they need to
Jeff Dean Leaves Google to Launch Discovery Loop AI Startup
Former Google executive Jeff Dean has left the technology company to launch Discovery Loop, an artificial intelligence startup focused on accelerating scientific research through AI-driven experimentation. Dean, one of Google's longest-serving engineers and a leading figure in the company's AI efforts, is joined by several former colleagues, including Sanjay Ghemawat, Quoc Le and Oriol Vinyals.
Robinhood Launches Public Venture Fund Focused on Y Combinator Startups
Robinhood has introduced a new publicly traded investment fund that will give retail investors exposure to startups backed by Y Combinator, one of Silicon Valley's best-known startup accelerators. The Robinhood Venture Fund II (RVII) is expected to begin trading on 13 August with an opening share price of $25. According to Reuters, the fund aims
Mozambique LNG Academy Faces Criticism Over Maputo Training Location
Mozambique's newly launched LNG Academy has come under criticism in just a week after civil society organisations questioned the decision to base its initial training programme in Maputo instead of Cabo Delgado, where the country's flagship liquefied natural gas project is located. The Forum of Civil Society Organizations of Cabo Delgado (FOCADE) said the decision
Côte d'Ivoire Launches Ivoire Tech Next 15 and Scale Up Programmes
Côte d'Ivoire has launched two programmes aimed at helping technology businesses grow, with the government selecting 15 startups and 15 digital SMEs for a two-year acceleration programme. The initiatives, Ivoire Tech Next 15 and Ivoire Tech Scale Up, were launched by the Ministry of Digital Transition and Technological Innovation in Abidjan on 29 July. Applications
PalmPay Explores Hong Kong Listing Amid Funding Talks
PalmPay is considering a public listing in Hong Kong, according to a Bloomberg report, as the fintech explores its options for raising fresh capital. The report says the company is in talks to raise about $200 million in a funding round that could value the business at more than $1 billion. It is also considering
MTN Wins Shareholder Approval for Full IHS Acquisition
MTN Group has secured shareholder approval to acquire the remaining shares in IHS Holding Limited, moving a step closer to taking full ownership of one of Africa's largest telecommunications tower companies. Shareholders voted in favour of the proposal during an Extraordinary General Meeting on 4 August, giving MTN one of the final approvals it needs
Breaking News Today – Thursday 6 August 2026
African Start-up News Headlines: Business News Today Startup Acceleration in Tanzania Tanzanian startups raised $52 million in the first half (H1) of 2026, according to data from Africa: The Big Deal. This amount almost matches the country’s full-year total for 2024 ($53 million) and positions Tanzania as one of the stronger mid-tier African ecosystems, ranking
Africa Business Registration: How businesses are registered in Eswatini
Starting a business in Eswatini involves more than coming up with an idea or finding customers. Before a company can trade, entrepreneurs must register it and meet the country's tax and licensing requirements. Over the past few years, Eswatini has brought several government services together through its One Stop Business Facilitation Centre. The aim is
Egyptian Startup Simplex Opens $50 Million CNC Manufacturing Facility
Egyptian manufacturing startup Simplex has opened a new $50 million manufacturing facility in 10th of Ramadan City, expanding its production capacity as it seeks to grow exports and strengthen its presence in regional markets. The new facility covers 40,000 square metres and will manufacture Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines used across industrial production. Commercial manufacturing
Google Expands Play Signal API for Safer Apps
Google is expanding its Play Signal API globally, giving Android developers a new way to identify the age range of users and deliver age-appropriate experiences without collecting sensitive personal information. The feature, which is already available in Brazil, will expand to Australia and Canada by mid-August before rolling out to additional markets by the end
Sahara Group Targets Higher Production at Nigeria's OML 18 Oil Block
Sahara Group has deployed a new 380,000-barrel oil tanker to support crude exports from Nigeria's OML 18 oil block as the company works to increase production and improve export efficiency. The vessel, MT D Adesanya, will operate alongside the MT D Bayero at Bonny Anchorage before transferring crude to the FSO Cawthorne, a floating storage