Staff Reporter, Author at Ventureburn

Entries now open for AppsAfrica Innovation Awards 2017
By Staff Reporter on 3 August, 2017
Think you are one of Africa’s best mobile and tech ventures? Submissions for the AppsAfrica Innovation Awards 2017 are now open and will close on 10 September. The awards are held by AppsAfrica.com, a news portal and advisory service, in collaboration with Mobile Monday South Africa and Mobile Ecosystem Forum (MEF). To qualify, applicants must have launched services in at least one African country. Applicants can apply for awards under any one of 12 categories, namely: best disruptive innovation, best social and messaging, best African app, enterprise solutions, news and entertainment, education, fintech, social impact, brand campaign, mobile commerce, changing Africa and the outstanding industry. The...
Dell ranks Johannesburg 28th out of 50 in support of women entrepreneurs
By Staff Reporter on 3 August, 2017
Computer company Dell has ranked Johannesburg 28th out of 50 global cities in fostering high-potential women entrepreneurs, in its 2017 Women Entrepreneur Cities Index (WE Cities). The latest index, which was released last month, places Johannesburg ahead of cities such as Seoul, São Paulo, Kuala Lumpur, Barcelona, Tokyo and Dublin. However the South African city has slid from its position at 23rd in the 2016 study, which Dell said is reflective of tougher market conditions. Dell explained that the 2016 and 2017 studies differ in several ways, including the total number of cities, number of indicators and the weight of indicators based on new data sources....
18 SA tech firms to meet with Silicon Valley’s Indus Entrepreneurs Global
By Staff Reporter on 3 August, 2017
Tech founders from 18 South African startups and companies are hoping to get some valuable networking done this morning as they rub shoulders with some top professionals from Silicon Valley in a meetup held in Cape Town by the Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) Global. The event will be held at the Table Bay Hotel in Cape Town's V&A Waterfront. In a press release, Vuyisa Qabaka of Entrepreneur Traction -- which is facilitating the meetup -- said the event has been fashioned as a one-day bootcamp by TiE. Local tech founders would be able to undergo one-on-one mentorship with global leaders, while panel discussions would be...
SA drone startup Aerobotics secures R8m in funding from 4Di, Savannah Fund
By Staff Reporter on 1 August, 2017
Aerial data-analytics specialist Aerobotics has secured a joint R8-million seed-funding round from South African venture capital company 4Di Capital and the Savannah Fund in Kenya. In a press release today, Aerobotics co-founder James Paterson (pictured above, right with fellow co-founder Benji Meltzer) said the cash injection will be used to expand Aerobotics’ sales and marketing capabilities. Aerobotics has built a solid client base of farmers and agricultural consultants in South Africa and the rest of the continent, as well as in Australia and the UK and Patterson added that the startup is currently working on finalising a number of pilot projects with large agricultural, finance...

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Top startup events in South Africa, Africa you should know about this week [31/07/2017]
By Staff Reporter on 31 July, 2017
Looking to get into the South African startup scene or catch up on some of your skills? Well, you've come to the right place. There are loads of competitions, networking sessions and workshops happening around South Africa and the rest of the continent (namely Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana) that we've rounded up to make your life a bit easier. This article is part of a weekly series that highlights all the top startup competitions, networking sessions, workshops and conferences around South Africa, and the greater region. If you have any event recommendations for us to add to the list, or...
Google Launchpad to provide over $3m to more than 60 African startups – CEO
By Staff Reporter on 28 July, 2017
Google will provide more than $3-million in equity-free funding, mentorship, working space and access to expert advisers to more than 60 African startups over three years, the company's CEO Sundar Pichai said in Lagos, Nigeria yesterday. Pichai said the initiative will be based on Google's global Launchpad Accelerator programme. He added that intensive three-month programmes, held twice per year, will run out of a new Google Launchpad Space in Lagos — the first time the programme will be located outside of the US. In addition he announced that Google's charitable arm, Google.org, is committing $20-million over the next five years to non-profits that are working...
Fewer than one in five SA entrepreneurs applied for finance in last year – survey
By Staff Reporter on 26 July, 2017
Ask any business owner what their top need is and they'll say -- "finance". Yet fewer than one in five entrepreneurs applied for finance from banks or other funding institutions in the last year, a survey released today revealed. The survey, carried out by Seed Academy -- a division of ICT accelerator Seed Engine -- sampled 1 200 entrepreneurs. In a press release, Seed Engine CEO Donna Rachelson, said that only 18% of the surveyed entrepreneurs have in the last year attempted to get funding from banks or funding institutions like the Industrial Development Corporation or the Department of Trade and Industry. “Some entrepreneurs indicated that they simply don’t know where...
TIA-backed startups have two weeks left to apply for Young Enterprise Initiative
By Staff Reporter on 24 July, 2017
Young South African entrepreneurs who have received support or funding from the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) have two weeks left to apply for the Young Enterprise Initiative South Africa (YEI South Africa) 2017 programme. Applications close on 7 August. The programme, held by the French Embassy in South Africa and TIA aims to provide four South African startups with an opportunity to develop and grow in France. To be eligible for support applicants have to have companies that are at the early-revenue or pre-commercialisation stage that have been funded by TIA or that have participated in one of the agency's programmes. In an announcement last week on the French Embassy...
Top startup events in South Africa, Africa you should know about this week [24/07/2017]
By Staff Reporter on 24 July, 2017
Looking to get into the South African startup scene or catch up on some of your skills? Well, you've come to the right place. There are loads of competitions, networking sessions and workshops happening around South Africa and the rest of the continent (namely Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana) that we've rounded up to make your life a bit easier. This article is part of a weekly series that highlights all the top startup competitions, networking sessions, workshops and conferences around South Africa, and the greater region. If you have any event recommendations for us to add to the list, or...
How to make a killing with online sports betting in South Africa
By Staff Reporter on 24 July, 2017
The internet has made virtually everything easier, faster and more convenient in South Africa, and sports betting is no exception. In fact, many South African punters and operators alike are using online bookmaking sites to make a killing as you read these words. From a punter’s perspective, during the dark old days of South Africa they had little choice but to physically trek to their nearest TAB outlet to place their horse racing bets. Today, however, they can wager on horse racing and a variety of other local and international sports in Rands on their desktop computer, laptop, smart phone or...