Covid-19 and African tech startups roundup [27/05/2020]

A Cape Town based company known for its contributions to HIV drug-resistance testing, Hyrax Biosciences, has released a software tool to detect mutations in the genome of Sars-CoV-2, the coronavirus responsible for Covid-19.

This, as eight entrepreneurs, including five female entrepreneurs, are combining their engineering and business skills in the fight against Covid-19 in Africa thanks to funding from the Royal Academy of Engineering through its Project Care initiative.

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

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.

Hyrax Biosciences, has released a software tool to detect mutations in the genome of Sars-CoV-2

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

Eight entrepreneurs honoured: Eight entrepreneurs, including five female entrepreneurs, are combining their engineering and business skills in the fight against Covid-19 in Africa thanks to funding from the Royal Academy of Engineering through its Project Care (Covid Africa Rapid Entrepreneurs) initiative. Each of the eight has received £5000 to support them in pivoting or scaling up their current business model. The eight are: The Slimlak Agencies’s Catherine Wanjoya (Kenya), Josephine Marie Godwyll (Ghana) of Lab & Library on Wheels, Chinenye Justin Nwaogwugwu (Nigeria) of Macjames Global Resources Limited, ChanjoPlus’s Osewe Collince Oluoch (Kenya), Afyakit’s Frida Njogu-Ndongwe (Kenya), Givo’s Victor Boyle-Komolafe (Nigeria), Farmers Assistant’s Linah Pununu Maphanga (South Africa) and Farmz2U’s Aishat Raheem (Nigeria).

Biotech releases Covid-19 software tool: A Cape Town based company known for its contributions to HIV drug-resistance testing, Hyrax Biosciences, has released a software tool to detect mutations in the genome of Sars-CoV-2, the coronavirus responsible for Covid-19. The Exatype Sars-CoV-2 runs on the Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud and is used worldwide in efforts to track the evolution of the virus. The tool automates the analysis and interpretation of data, reducing the time spent analysing the data from days or weeks to hours. Pricing for the service is generally bundled into the cost of the partner’s genetic full test, meaning that end-users (primarily pathology laboratories) do not pay the startup directly. The startup was founded in 2015 by Baruch Lubinsky, Dr Imogen Wright, Dr Simon Travers and Dr Natasha Wood (pictured above, from left to right). Initial product development was funded by government grants.

Edtech uses Telegram for coaching: An Ethiopian edtech startup, Accelerated has launched a coaching programme for parents to help them carry out home schooling. The programme is being run on the secure messaging platform Telegram, tech publication Disrupt Africa reported in an article yesterday.

Getsmarter man to open campuses: Former Getsmarter co-founder Rob Paddock has announced that his online high school, the Valenture Institute, will in January 2021 be opening doors for its boutique, tech-enabled high school campuses in Joburg and Cape Town. The campuses will be located in Constantia and Newlands in Cape Town; and Sandton in Johannesburg. Each campus will include real-time Covid-19 monitoring. While annual fees range between R95 000 and R115 000, the institute says it is offering a payment concession to alleviate school fee penalties in the transition to online learning and enrolling at the institute.

Read more: Covid-19 and African tech startups roundup [26/05/2020]
Read more: Covid-19 and African tech startups roundup [25/05/2020]

Featured image: Hyrax Biosciences founders Baruch Lubinsky, Dr Imogen Wright, Dr Simon Travers and Dr Natasha Wood (Supplied)