Covid-19 and African tech startups roundup [05/05/2020]

SA money transfer fintech Mama Money has raised R250 000 in an internal fund for its field agents

This, while LinkdPro, a SA digital platform that connects leading companies and brands to freelance talent, has reported a “massive” uptake in users amid the current crisis.

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.

SA money transfer fintech Mama Money has raised R250 000 in an internal fund for its field agents

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

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

Lagos begins lifting lockdown: Lagos, Nigeria’s main business centre, as well as its capital city, Abuja, yesterday lifted lockdowns put in place over four weeks ago, Reuters reported in an article yesterday. The government said a stay-at-home order in place since March 30 in Abuja and the states of Lagos and Ogun will be lifted gradually over the next six weeks. Restrictions include an overnight curfew, mandatory face masks in public and a ban on non-essential travel between states.

Helping their agents: SA money transfer fintech Mama Money has raised R250 000 in an internal fund for its field agents — independent contractors whose income has been drastically affected due to Covid-19 pandemic. Meanwhile the fintech now allows customers to send money to EU and UK bank accounts for as little as 0.4% per transaction. Customers previously were not been able to send money outside of Africa and Asia, as the startup focused only on sending money from South Africa to 17 countries across the two regions. The new update however allows customers to now send money from South Africa to over 50 countries worldwide.

Freelancing platform sees surge: LinkdPro, a SA digital platform that connects leading companies and brands to freelance talent, has reported a “massive” uptake in users amid the current crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. CEO Scelo Makhathini says the number of people on the platform’s waiting list has increased almost six-fold over pre-Covid-19 levels.  To assist clients, the startup has made its “Comprehensive Guide for Working Remotely” free to CEOs and HR executives and is also running free webinars.

Read more: Covid-19 and African tech startups roundup [04/04/2020]

Featured image (left to right): MamaMoney founders Mathieu Coquillon and Raphael Grojnowski (Supplied)