Staff Reporter, Author at Ventureburn

Fintechs can tap microfinance clients with new Finca International platform
By Staff Reporter on 8 October, 2018
Fintech startups will be able to test their value propositions with prospective clients looking for microfinance, with the launch of an innovation platform by US-based microfinance organisation Finca International. Finca International announced the launch of the platform, Finca Forward -- which is a two-year pilot funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) -- last Thursday (4 October). The platform will facilitate the collaboration between early-stage fintech enterprises and microfinance institutions supporting the world's poor. In a statement last week, Finca International CEO and president Rupert Scofield said the non-profit organisation has long been dedicated to serving both unbanked and underbanked populations. Finca Forward will bring early-stage fintechs...
Seedstars puts out call to SA startups to take part in three pitching events
By Staff Reporter on 8 October, 2018
One of the largest startup competitions for emerging markets, Seedstars World, is coming to South Africa for the fourth time and will hold three pitch events -- with the first scheduled for 19 October in Cape Town, followed by Johannesburg next month. In a press release last week, Seedstars said the top three startups from the Cape Town and Johannesburg events respectively, will join the other competitors at the main event to be held next month in Cape Town and will compete to become the country winner. The country winner will get the chance to represent South Africa at the Seedstars Summit in Switzerland next...
Top startup events in South Africa, Africa you should know about this week [8/10/2018]
By Staff Reporter on 7 October, 2018
This coming week, Johannesburg will host the 12J Indaba which takes place on Wednesday (10 October). Investment professionals will discuss best practice and key challenges that the sector currently faces. In Cape Town, Startupbootcamp Afritech programme manager Nsovo Nkatingi will share her insights on how to put together a winning pitch deck, at an event at UCT's Solution Space on Thursday (11 October). In East Africa, the third edition of the AfriLabs Annual Gathering, themed "Innovation in the data age" will take place from Thursday to Saturday (11 to 13 October) at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. In West Africa, the African Development Bank...
VC association Savca appoints new directors to fill two vacancies
By Staff Reporter on 4 October, 2018
The Southern African Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (Savca) announced the appointment yesterday of two new directors, as well as the re-appointment of an existing director to its board. The appointments follow Savca's annual general meeting held yesterday (3 October) in Johannesburg. The new appointees are Langa Madonko, investment principal for investor relations and capital raising at Summit Africa and Rory Ord, head of unlisted investments at 27four Investment Managers. The two will fill the space left by Edge Growth managing director Dan Hatfield and Helical Capital Partners co-CEO Craig Beney, who are leaving the board, Savca said today. The appointments were made after...
AfriLabs expands footprint to four new countries, adds 23 new hubs
By Staff Reporter on 4 October, 2018
Afrilabs, a pan-African network of innovation hubs, has announced the addition of 23 new hubs, while expanding its footprint to four new countries -- Burundi, Lesotho, Mozambique and Sudan. AfriLabs now covers 123 hubs across 34 African countries in its network. In June the organisation announced that its network had grown to 100 labs spanning 30 countries across the continent. In a statement yesterday (3 October), Afrilabs executive director Anna Ekeledo said the organisation was excited to have added the new members to its network and for extending its reach to more African countries. AfriLabs' network now comprises a total of 123 hubs across 34...
Innovation Edge offering up to R1m for tech solutions to early childhood needs
By Staff Reporter on 4 October, 2018
Cape Town based investment platform Innovation Edge is offering up to R1-million to innovators with tech solutions to problems faced by young children and those who care for them. Innovation Edge will accept applications from individuals, non-profits and for-profit organisations, as well as early-stage ideas that are at the pre-proof or post-proof of concept phase. Qualifying ideas must address a defined need within early childhood and have a sustainable route to scale, that includes families living in poverty. The deadline for submissions is 19 October. 'This sector is desperate for innovative solutions that offer impact at scale,' -- Innovation Edge executive director Sonja Giese The...
Workshop 17 opens Paarl co-working space in former warehouse
By Staff Reporter on 4 October, 2018
Workshop 17 have announced the opening of their latest co-working space in Paarl, in the Western Cape, in the heritage site, the Tabakhuis. The new site opened on Monday (1 October). The company is known for its various co-working spaces around the country -- including those at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town as well as a space at Maboneng, Johannesburg. Workshop 17 Tabakhuis, is located on the corner of Tabak and Louws Street in Southern Paarl, is in a historical building that was once used as a storage facility for tobacco, hence the name. It has been transformed into a...
Global accelerator opens call to foster innovation in accounting, finance
By Staff Reporter on 3 October, 2018
The US based Association of International Certified Professional Accountants and CPA.com have opened a call for candidates for their joint startup accelerator programme which aims to foster innovation in accounting and finance. Applications for the accelerator -- which launched last year and focuses on early-stage startups in tech and financial information as well as professional competency innovation -- will close on 30 November. The six-month long accelerator programme -- which is conducted both virtually and in person -- is open to entrepreneurial companies worldwide. To be considered, applicants must be at seed or pre-Series-A, have a working product or service and be focusing on fintech...
Egypt’s iCommunity raises $600k from Algebra Ventures in Series-A round
By Staff Reporter on 2 October, 2018
Cairo-based community management platform iCommunity has raised $600 000 from Egyptian VC firm Algebra Ventures in a Series-A funding round. The startup -- which was founded in 2016 by managing director Karim Akram and CTO Antoine Megalla -- connects residents, real-estate developers and facility management through its app. The platform's target market is Egypt's gated communities. Commenting in a statement from Algebra Ventures today (2 October), Akram said the startup intends to use the investment to expand in both its home country and internationally. Cairo-based iCommunity was founded in 2016 by managing director Karim Akram and CTO Antoine Megalla "We want to build the best team...
CiTi adds three new board members to back move to expand support initiatives
By Staff Reporter on 2 October, 2018
The Cape Innovation and Technology Initiative (CiTi) has announced the appointment of three additional directors to its board to support the organisation as it expands its support and training programmes. To cope with the demand from the digital economy, CiTi recently increased the volume of technology candidates placed in jobs through its CapaCiTi Job Readiness Programme which aims to support 3000 placements over the next three years. In addition, CiTi is expanding its incubation and enterprise development programmes to meet the Pan-African demand. In a statement yesterday (1 October), Joshin Raghubar, chairman of CiTi and The Bandwith Barn announced the appointment of Sweepsouth co-founder Aisha...