Technology
African startups raised $705 million in the first quarter of the year, marking a 26.5% increase compared to the same period last year. The more important shift is structural, debt financing is increasingly competing with equity as founders look for ways to scale without excessive dilution.
Finance and Investment
Less than 30% of SMEs across the continent maintain digital financial records, not because the information does not exist, but because it remains scattered, unstructured, and largely invisible to machines.
Business
The overwhelming majority of capital raised by African startups over the past decade has been structured through holding companies domiciled outside of Africa. Typically, in Delaware, Mauritius, or the Cayman Islands. The innovation is African, but the architecture is not.
Technology
At the launch of Ghana's National Artificial Intelligence Strategy in Accra, President John Dramani Mahama announced the $250 million investment to establish a world-class AI computing center, alongside a $20 million commitment for a short-to-medium term implementation.
Technology
At recent gatherings where Africa's financial technology future has been debated, including the Africa Fintech Summit held in Washington D.C., one theme cut through the noise with unusual clarity: the continent is no longer building fintech as a sector. It is building fintech as infrastructure.
Technology
The GSMA has highlighted several African markets including Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda as priority markets in efforts to expand access to affordable 4G smartphones and reduce the continent’s digital usage gap.
Technology
South African digital economy officials are spotlighting the role of local startups in developing blockchain and cryptocurrency‑based financial solutions tailored to communities in townships and other underserved areas. These fintech innovations aim to expand financial inclusion by offering alternatives to traditional banking services and helping users access secure, low‑
Governance
The People of Gabon woke up, reached for their phones and realised their social platforms were gone. No timelines, no updates, no instant reactions. A digital blackout justified by the government's reason to control the spread of false information.
Finance
Kenya is making waves in Africa’s digital finance sector. The country has announced the creation of a Virtual Asset Compensation Fund to protect cryptocurrency investors if licensed dealers fail to meet their obligations
Technology
Ethiopia has kept moving forward on major infrastructure projects, from roads and railways to expanding its energy capacity. While progress varies by region, Ethiopia’s long-term strategy is clear: reliable power and transport are key to attracting investment and driving growth.
Technology
A fresh report on AI readiness in Africa is getting traction this week, offering the first broad look at how the continent is positioned to adopt and benefit from artificial intelligence.