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WhatsApp Brings Voice and Video Calling to Web Browsers
Meta has begun rolling out voice and video calling on WhatsApp Web, allowing users to make and receive calls directly through a desktop browser without downloading the desktop application. The update introduces support for both one-on-one and group voice and video calls, bringing the browser version of WhatsApp closer to the feature set already available
Africa Business Registration: How to register a startup or SME in Botswana
Botswana has moved much of its business registration process online, making it easier for entrepreneurs to set up a company without visiting several government offices. The Companies and Intellectual Property Authority (CIPA) manages company registrations through its online portal, where founders can reserve a business name, submit incorporation documents and receive their registration certificate. For
Shell Discovers Crude Oil in Egypt's Deepest-Ever Mediterranean Well
Shell has announced a significant offshore oil discovery in Egypt's North Cleopatra block after drilling the deepest well ever completed in the Mediterranean. The Velox-1X exploration well reached a depth of approximately 6,500 metres below sea level, confirming the presence of crude oil in the largely unexplored Herodotus Basin. The discovery marks the first confirmed
Google Opens Applications for 2026 South Africa AI Startup Accelerator
Google has opened applications for the 2026 Google for Startups Accelerator South Africa, offering up to R1 million in equity-free funding to 15 South African AI startups as part of its continued investment in the country's growing innovation ecosystem. The three-month hybrid accelerator is aimed at growth-stage startups building AI-powered products for the South African
Absa Kenya automates 71% of operations after $31 million technology investment
The bank's 2025 sustainability report shows that customers completed 94% of all transactions through digital and alternative channels. As a result, only a small share of banking activity now takes place inside branches. Absa is not alone. Kenya's largest banks report similar trends as customers increasingly use mobile and online banking for everyday transactions. I&M
SARS is checking more taxpayer information before tax returns are filed
Most South Africans only deal with the South African Revenue Service (SARS) when they submit a tax return. By then, the revenue authority has already received information from employers, banks, retirement funds and other reporting institutions. SARS now uses artificial intelligence, machine learning and data analytics to compare that information, identify discrepancies and decide which
Business School – How to Optimise Your Website
How to Optimise Your Website’s Visibility – A practical guide for African founders and startups Most African founders invest heavily in building a product or service with far less focus in making sure people can find it. A functional website that no one discovers is in essence nothing more than a quiet cost centre. Visibility
Breaking News Today – Wednesday 29 July 2026
African Start-up News Headlines: Business News Today Angolan Telecommunications Group Unitel Hit By Cyber Attack Before IPO The telecommunications major group in Angola, Unitel, suffered a major cyberattack that disrupted its mobile, internet and voice services across the country, only hours before its shares were due to be listed on the Angolan stock exchange, in
Nigerian Fintech OPay Selects Top 48 Teams for National Innovation Challenge
OPay has selected the top 48 teams to advance to the next stage of its National Innovation Challenge after receiving more than 2,200 applications from over 11,000 undergraduate students across Nigeria. The competition forms part of the expanded OPay Scholars Programme, which also includes the company's N1.2 billion, 10-year scholarship programme and OPay Futures, a
How AI Is Helping Small Businesses Create Better Marketing Content
Marketing has become a constant part of running a business. Keeping websites updated, posting on social media, writing product descriptions and sending customer emails all take time. Yet many small businesses do not have dedicated marketing teams or the budget to outsource every task. Artificial intelligence (AI) is helping reduce some of that workload. Businesses
Can AI Skills Change Career Prospects for Women in Africa's Mining Industry?
I know I've already touched on this, but I feel it's worth revisiting. There seems to be an assumption that once women complete an AI or digital mining course, the rest takes care of itself. I'm not convinced it's that simple. Training opportunities have certainly grown, particularly through micro-credentials, making digital skills more accessible than
Vodacom's $548 billion mobile money business is becoming a bigger part of the company
Vodacom processed nearly $548 billion in mobile money transactions over the past year, highlighting the growing role of financial services in the group's business. In its trading update for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, the company said its mobile money platforms, including Safaricom's M-PESA, handled close to $548 billion in transactions over the previous
Egyptian Startup Kuadra Secures Funding to Digitise Construction with AI
Egyptian construction technology startup Kuadra has secured funding from Cairo-based Edafa Venture as it prepares to launch an AI-powered platform designed to automate procurement and project management for construction companies. The investment will support the commercial rollout of the platform, which aims to digitise some of the construction industry's most time-consuming administrative processes. Financial terms
Airtel Money Kenya MD Steps Down Ahead of Planned London IPO
Anne Kinuthia Otieno has resigned as Managing Director of Airtel Money Kenya after nearly five years in the role, departing just months before Airtel Africa's mobile money business is expected to pursue a London listing. Her exit comes during a period of significant leadership changes across Kenya's mobile money sector. It follows the recent appointment
Zedcrest adds Leatherback to its financial services portfolio
Zedcrest Group has acquired cross border payments company Leatherback, turning an early investment into full ownership. The deal adds another fintech business to the financial services group's portfolio. The companies did not disclose the value of the transaction. Leatherback will continue operating as a standalone business under Zedcrest. It will keep its existing brand and
Breaking News Today – Tuesday 28 July 2026
African Start-up News Headlines: Business News Today Angolan Kwanza Added to Cross-Border Settlement System On Monday, 27 July 2026, South African Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago and Banco Nacional de Angola Governor Manuel Tiago Dias formally announced that the Angolan kwanza has been added as a settlement currency on the SADC-RTGS system (the Southern African
How AI Is Changing Entry-Level Hiring
Graduates looking for their first job are entering a market that has changed over the past two years. Companies are still hiring junior employees, but the work they expect them to do is starting to look different. Many businesses now use AI tools to complete routine tasks that were once assigned to entry level staff.
Vercel Acquires Egyptian AI Startup Stakpak Days After Ethiopian Deal
US cloud platform Vercel has acquired Egyptian-founded AI infrastructure startup Stakpak for an undisclosed amount, strengthening its push into AI-powered software development and infrastructure management. The acquisition comes just days after Vercel announced the purchase of Better Auth, an Ethiopian-founded developer tools startup, highlighting the company's growing interest in African-founded software infrastructure businesses. As part
Who gets access to Africa's payment rails?
Africa has made significant progress in building instant payment systems over the past decade. Today, countries can process payments in seconds instead of hours. But as that infrastructure matures, the conversation is changing. The challenge is not just about how quickly money moves. It is about who can access the infrastructure, how much it costs
Tech4Dev Launches Women Techsters Sprint Programme in Ghana
Nigerian technology skills nonprofit Tech4Dev has opened applications for its Women Techsters Sprint Programme in Ghana, giving women with foundational digital skills an opportunity to advance into professional careers in data science, cybersecurity and software development. The virtual programme is designed for women who already have a basic understanding of digital technologies and want to