African startup News - WeeTracker

Headquartered in India’s Financial Capital Mumbai, Nazara Games now has plans to enthrall gamers in Africa. The company has sealed a 70% stake in the Kenyan subsidiary NZ World Kenya Ltd. It has secured a betting license from the ‘Betting Control Board of Kenya’ to operate certain products within the gamut of the permit.

Little Rides is all set to expand its reach in East & West Africa with proposed moves towards Uganda and Nigeria. The Safaricom backed ride-hailing startup is the brainchild of Kamal Budhabhatti, the founder and CEO of Craft Silicon. Launched in Nairobi in partnership with Safaricom and having settled its roots in Kenya, the 2-year-old startup is now ready to take on the ride-hailing industry in Uganda and Nigeria aggressively.

In keeping with the shared Mobility Principals for Livable Cities signed by 15 of the world’s most influential transport tech players, Uber has launched a data sharing portal in Kenya. Kenya becomes the third African country where the Silicon Valley app has launched its Uber movement service following releases in Egypt and South Africa.

Well, Cape Town-based Knife Capital just got a grand exit from one of its portfolio’s frontrunner – orderTalk. The investment which was made ten years ago can be tagged as an investment with a foresight. Back then online ordering was in a very nascent phase with a handful of significant players in the market like GrubHub, Seamless, and Webvan.

When one thinks of the advances of the world, contrastingly the global populace has individualistic tendencies towards how these advances can help themselves and those in their grasp. We tend to put our needs before the needs of the community. Furthermore, our ideas of success are based on assumptions that doing it our way is the best way. This notion leaves bounds of potential opportunities gone astray to connect, build and maintain successful ventures. Community before self, toys on the notion that if we fully arrogated all resources to the fortunate, as well as unfortunate in a democratic way, we could create tremendous opportunities.

After being instructed by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to cease its operations, Golix has won an enormous victory after the High Court in Harare ruled in their favour. Golix was ordered to shut down operations by Reserve Bank Governor John Mangudya, and that was followed up by a letter from the registrar of the central bank, Norman Maturake.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai has announced USD 6 Mn in grants to NGOs spread across, East, South and West Africa as part of extending the pledge made through the philanthropic arm of Google – Google.org. Launched in 2005, the mission has worked to push the boundaries of innovation when it comes to nonprofit organizations, offering fiscal, technical and personnel support.

Standing out in a group of 50 applications may actually feel more like a win than the USD 150 k prize money up for grabs. CompareIN Ltd made it through a screening process that whittled down 50 startup applicants to 12 eventual competitors. The screening process culminated in a VentureClash pitch held in Lagos at the Radisson Blu last week.

Egyptian startup Entlaqa, which develops SaaS-based products, raised USD 300 K from two Saudi Investors Salem ben Saleh Ba Wazier and Mohamed ben Saleh Ba Wazier. The transaction is in return for 30% equity of the company.

Johannesburg based Lebashe group announced that it would increase its stake in the Peer-to-Peer lending startup RainFin, this Friday. It will expand its current holding by 24% to make it a significant chunk of the stake at 75% for an undisclosed sum. The ambition reportedly is fuelled by the company’s vision of building a black-owned bank.

As the youngest French President to inherit the hot seat, Macron has not only brought in revitalized energy and modernity to France’s global perceptions but looks to do that by working with a continent that has some of the highest rates of youth entrepreneurship.

Off-grid solar startup Pawame, recently raised USD 543 K in debt financing through crowdfunding. Sweden based Trine, which is a solar crowdfunding entity drove the round. The solar energy startup intends to utilize the funding for accelerating their expansion by financing equipment and inventory. The young startup had raised seed investment USD 2 Mn in March from Gulf investors. With this funding round they have reached a total of  USD 2.5 Mn.

A partnership between HearX and Listen Longer promises to bring digital solutions for prevention, detection, and intervention in hearing health care to the fore. “The shared vision is to make hearing safe for everyone, to prolong healthy hearing and positively change healthy hearing behavior. Together they are working to provide ‘dbTrack’ which is set to be a groundbreaking solution.”

Nigeria’s Piggybank.ng, an online and mobile app savings platform, announced that it has raised USD 1.1 Mn in Seed Funding from High Net Worth Individuals, led by Olumide Soyombo, Founder of LeadPath Nigeria, and with participation from International and Pan-African investors Village Capital and Ventures Platform.

Johannesburg based AURA, a safetech startup, has secured USD 158 K from HAVAIC. The investment is part of the USD 475 K funding that the startup plans to raise in the coming few months. The startup has developed a product that helps users notify security companies in distressed situations via a mobile app.

Brantu, a Swedish- Egyptian startup that specializes in e-commerce venture building, has picked up seed investment of USD 1.2 million from Swedish firm Helhjärtad Finans AB. Founded in late 2016, Brantu aims to develop an e-commerce ecosystem in emerging markets of Middle East and Northern Africa.

Casablanca-based realtech startup Mubawab has been acquired by Dubai’s Emerging Markets Property Group (EMPG) for an undisclosed amount. EPMG that owns UAE’s one of the most extensive property listing website Bayut, has bought all previous shareholders of Mubawab.

In recent months, Uber has faced a great deal with leadership changes, unresolved legal battles, lost traction in major territories and a failed driverless trial. Nevertheless, Uber has been one of the single most valued contributors to the transport industry and global mobility as we see it. However, Taxify, who is snapping at their heels seem to have found a groove upping the ante in their global rivalry.

Electric motorcycle taxi service, e-Moto, is set to be launched in Rwanda by German-company, Ampersand, to change the Boda-Boda sector.

Google Launchpad Accelerator Africa Class 2 were hosted in Johannesburg, South Africa, yesterday.

The John Agyekum Kufuor (JAK) Foundation has launched the Kufuor Young Entrepreneurs Network (K-YEM), which is zeroing in on supporting young Ghanaian entrepreneurs in their growth and the development of business skills.

Ugandan Startup Yunga Wins USD 6 K Cash Prize In HiiL Justice Innovation Challenge.

Egyptian real estate startup, iCommunity, has secured Series-A funding worth USD 600 K from Algebra Ventures to fund its growth and build its team.

South Africa This Week: Startup Events Glimpses [1st-7th October, 2018]