Covid-19 and African tech startups roundup [26/06/2020]

Telkom Business has launched Yep!, a digital marketplace app where customers can search and purchase from small businesses.

This, while new statistics from fintech Payfast show that the number of Generation Z, or users aged 18 to 24, using their online payment system in South Africa via local online merchants between January and June 2020 increased by 139% over the same period in 2019.

With 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.

Telkom Business has launched a digital marketplace app where customers can purchase from small businesses

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

New Telkom app for small businesses: Telkom Business yesterday announced the launch of its Yep! app on Google Play and Apple’s app store. The app serves as is a digital marketplace where customers can search and purchase from small, trusted businesses. Users can create their own online store with their own unique branding, upload their list of services to find new customers.

139% in Generation Z payments: New statistics from Payfast show that the number of Generation Z, or users aged 18 to 24, using the fintech’s online payment system in South Africa via local online merchants between January and June 2020 was up 139% over the same period in 2019. This, while the number of millennial users, aged 25 to 34, grew by 55%, but still account for the largest group of online shoppers. Overall, mobile usage for online shopping has grown by 159% year-on-year compared to desktop, which has only grown by 37% year-on-year.

Logistics startup adds food delivery: Johannesburg based Mapha Logistics has taken advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic to add a grocery delivery service to its courier offering. The startup, founded in 2016 by Lesego Mokou, Noble Nyoni, Loyiso Vatsha (pictured above, left to right) and Tshidiso Vatsha (not pictured), uses bicycles to deliver food and parcels to residents and business owners in Johannesburg townships which are typically not serviced by bigger operators such as Uber Eats and MrD. The four founders have so far bootstrapped the business with R300 000 of their own money. The startup’s initial app has had over 2000 downloads, while 40 businesses have so far signed up. Currently 14 active businesses are utilising the company’s services and the business has made over 1200 deliveries so far.

Kandua adds disinfection service: SA online home services marketplace Kandua has partnered with Singapore-based Disinfection2U to bring their commercial, vehicle and residential disinfection services to South Africa. Kandua will offer the service to its customers locally by working with some of the vetted professional cleaning service SMEs on its platform. Kandua’s online platform connects home owners and building maintenance managers with rated and vetted artisans. The startup was founded in 2014 by Arjun Khoosal, Sayo Folawiyo and Lucas Du Toit.

Read more: Covid-19 and African tech startups roundup [25/06/2020]
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