Covid-19 and African tech startups roundup [04/06/2020]

Droppa, a Johannesburg based on-demand platform for trucks and bakkies, announced yesterday that it had expanded its recently launched Droppa Express service beyond a 25km delivery radius.

This as Joburg-based fintech startup uKheshe has launched a track-and-trace service using its payment ecosystem of small businesses to assist consumers to manage risk factors during the lockdown.

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.

Droppa, has expanded its recently launched Droppa Express service beyond a 25km delivery radius.

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:

Healthtech signs tele-health deal: Egyptian healthtech startup Vezeeta has partnered with Saudi Arabian telecom company STC to provide its employees with free tele-health services, Menabytes reported in an article yesterday. In a statement to the publication, the startup — which was founded in 2012 by Amir Barsoum, said the partnership reiterates Vezeeta’s mission and responsibility as a healthtech leader to support the efforts of the local government in combating the spread of Covid-19 in the region. In February Vezeeta announced that it had raised $40-million (see this story).

Delivery startup expands: Droppa, a Johannesburg based on-demand platform for trucks and bakkies, announced yesterday that it had expanded its recently launched Droppa Express to offer delivery services beyond a 25km radius from senders. Droppa Express is now able to courier lightweight goods under 25kg nationally from Pretoria, Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban, it said. Droppa founder Khathu Mufamadi said the startup had identified a growing need for express courier services amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The startup in December announced that it had landed a multi-million rand deal (see this story).

Track-and-track service: Joburg-based fintech startup uKheshe has launched a track-and-trace service using its payment ecosystem of small businesses to assist consumers to manage risk factors during the lockdown, tech publication Techmoran reported in an article yesterday. The startup, founded by Jason Penton and Clayton Hayward (pictured above) in 2018, last year raised $500 000 (see this story).

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: uKheshe co-founder Clayton Howard (Supplied)