Covid-19 and African tech startups roundup [02/04/2020]

Finnish development financier Finnfund has invested $1-million in Kasha, an e-commerce platform that provides hygiene and self-care products to women in East Africa, which could prove vital under Covid-19.

A number of other tech startups have developed Covid-19 offerings or are providing their tech services and platforms for free — the latest being SA’s Digemy and DragonWorks Software.

With the coronavirus (Covid-19) headlining news all over the world, Ventureburn has launched a regular daily roundup on the virus and how it is affecting Africa’s tech startup sector.

Those with any news releases relating to Covid-19 and Africa’s tech startup sector can send these to editor@memeburn.com.

A number of tech startups have developed Covid-19 offerings or are providing their tech services and platforms for free

Here then is the latest on the coronavirus and African tech startups:

Ecommerce site nets funding: Finnish development financier Finnfund has invested $1-million in Kasha, an e-commerce platform that aims to improves women’s access to health, hygiene and self-care products in East Africa. Kasha is serving as a safe way to get hand sanitisers, antibacterial soaps, masks, gloves and eventually Covid-19 diagnostic rapid tests, Joanna Bichsel (pictured above), the startup’s CEO said (see this story).

Covid-19 challenge finalists announced: Egyptian angel investor group Cairo Angels has announced the four finalists of its coronavirus-focused pitch challenge, tech publication Disrupt Africa reported in an article earlier today. The four are: Kofoof, Markazzy, NIoTEK and Tactful AI. The winner, who will be announced soon, will take away a $6000 cash prize.

Investor announces debt facility: Swiss headquartered impact investor Vital Capital has announced a new debt facility to provide loans to businesses to help them get through the coronavirus pandemic while continuing to offer essential services. The vehicle will primarily target companies involved in agro-industry and processing, healthcare, sustainable infrastructure and education, and is initially launching in Kenya and Uganda (see this story).

Sanitiser out of stale bread: Researchers at Stellenbosch University say they have discovered how to make hand sanitiser using stale bread crumbs, Business Report said in an article yesterday.

Startup launches Covid-19 platform: SA startup Digemy has launched a gamified, data-light e-learning platform to educate users on Covid-19, tech publication Disrupt Africa reported in an article yesterday. It said Digemy has partnered marketing agency The Loudhailer to launch a course on Covid-19, which aims to explain the virus in simple terms that anyone can understand.

Free leave management system: LeavePro, a cloud-based leave management solution and a division of DragonWorks Software, has announced that it will be offering its platform free of charge to SA companies amid the coronavirus pandemic. LeavePro’s online leave management solution is designed to automatically track the leave balances for all staff, eliminating the need to use spreadsheets, paper and other tedious forms of leave management.

Essential Guide for SMME’s during lockdown: Invest Cape Town has launched an online guide that provides critical information for business, including where to find the regulations applicable to Covid-19 , a clear explanation of what constitute essential goods and services, how and where businesses can apply to operate as an essential service, as well as all information related to government funding available to small businesses. Find it here.

Read more: Covid-19 and African tech startups roundup [01/04/2020]
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Featured image: Kasha co-founder Joanna Bichsel (Facebook)