Covid-19 and African tech startups roundup [08/06/2020]

In South Africa, fintech Yoco’s Small Business Recovery Monitor has revealed that the average turnover of small firms was up nine percent in the week to 3 June.

This, as Kenya’s Wheels for Life initiative is helping save pregnant mothers during the country’s lockdown. Tech startup Rescue.co (also known as Rescue by Flare) which is part of the initiative was last month one of 12 startups that has received part of a $150 000 grant from incubator Villgro Kenya for Covid-19 response solutions.

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.

Kenya’s Wheels for Life initiative is helping save pregnant mothers during the country’s lockdown

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

Small traders see slight recovery: SA fintech Yoco’s Small Business Recovery Monitor, which surveys its client base (mainly made up of small traders and services firms) has revealed that the average turnover of these small firms was up nine percent in the week to 3 June. This brings the index up to 56% of pre-Covid-19 levels countrywide. Yoco said the recovery was strongest in the three days following the move to Level 3 (last Monday to Wednesday), when firms increased their annual turnover to about two thirds of what their turnover was before the lockdown started on 27 March.

Initiative helps pregnant women: Kenya’s Wheels for Life initiative is helping save pregnant mothers during the country’s lockdown. The initiative — a collaboration between a number of organisations, including Rescue.co (also known as Rescue by Flare) and Kenya’s Ministry of Health — has fielded 3714 calls, dispatched 198 taxis and 60 ambulances since 28 April. A call centre managed by Telesky has been set up that routes emergency calls to volunteer physicians. Calls that require an ambulance are directed to Rescue.co’s dispatch centre while those that can be handled by a taxi are dispatched to a Bolt taxi. Last month Rescue.co was one of 12 startups that has received part of a $150 000 grant from incubator Villgro Kenya for Covid-19 response solutions.

Covid-19 coaching programme: To help South African entrepreneurs recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, the UK-South Africa Tech Hub has launched Express Expert. The short coaching series will be run next month by Fraser Consulting and will offer up to 30 entrepreneurs access to expert support for building their strategic and leadership capabilities, as well as refining their financial plan. The programme will be delivered via video-conferencing, and data bundles will be sponsored for those who need them. Applicants must be the owners of tech or tech-enabled firms that have been in operation for at least one year and that employ at least one person. Applications close on 17 June.

Read more: Covid-19 and African tech startups roundup [05/06/2020]
Read more: Covid-19 and African tech startups roundup [04/06/2020]
Read more: Covid-19 and African tech startups roundup [03/06/2020]
Read more: Covid-19 and African tech startups roundup [02/06/2020]
Read more: Covid-19 and African tech startups roundup [01/06/2020]

Featured image: Rescue.co staff (Supplied)