Emerging Markets

A Day in the Life of: CiTi CEO Ian Merrington [Native Article]

The Cape Innovation and Technology Initiative (CiTi) is one of South Africa’s oldest initiatives dedicated to boost local innovation. Founded in 1998, CiTi has…

Two SA startups to battle it out in international pitch competition

South African companies Newtech Rail and Adfire Creative M3dia’s iMORPH3D app will compete in the international Get In The Ring finals in Colombia later…

What does India’s $1.5bn Action Plan really mean for startups?

Startups in India can expect a significant boost following the announcement by the country’s prime minister Narendra Modi of new support for the sector….

PM Modi unveils $1.5bn fund, tax cuts to fire up India’s startup space

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi this weekend unveiled a massive US$1.5-billion fund to support the country’s already fast-growing startup sector. Speaking at Startup India…

Taking African innovation global: Q&A with Aaron Fu from Nairobi’s Nest

“We’re seeing a lot of innovation born in Africa, servicing the world,” says Aaron Fu (pictured left), managing partner of the Hong Kong VC…

Innotribe Startup Challenge looks to Africa, Latin America for fintech innovation

Global provider of secure financial messaging, SWIFT has announced that its innovation arm, Innotribe Startup Challenge, will be expanding its focus to include emerging fintech…

Bitcoin exchange startup BitX secures funding from Asia’s Venturra Capital

Emerging market bitcoin exchange startup BitX has just announced an undisclosed round of funding from Southeast Asia’s Venturra Capital. Venturra Capital is a US$150-million…

Kenya’s ICTA launches $1.2-million fund for tech startups

A new initiative launched last week by Kenya’s Information Communication Technology Authority (ICTA) and the Netherlands Trust Fund phase III — a programme funded…

Foodpanda buys out Asian competitors with massive expansion

When German startup factory Rocket Internet moves, it moves big. And no less so is Foodpanda proving this with its most recent announcement. Rocket…

ApexPeak expands to the Middle East with Cashnomix acquisition

Marking its expansion into the Middle East, alternative finance company ApexPeak has just acquired Dubai based Cashnomix — a cloud based invoicing service. ApexPeak,…

Israeli VCs raised US$914-million in 2014, the most in six years

Israel is, without doubt, one of the most exciting startup hotspots on the planet. If it’s not the admiring government support, it’s the succinct…

14 tech startups from emerging markets onto something big

This year, for Ventureburn and all the other tech blogs covering startup scenes, we’ve seen an exciting crop of talent show face. From major…

10 exciting startups from Israel you should watch out for 2015

Of the thousands of Israeli startups vying to become global businesses, only a small percentage of them will make it to the big leagues….

Looking beyond garments: The future is bright for Bangladeshi tech startups

We’ve been touring emerging markets for more than a year now, and are quite excited to visit Bangladesh soon — a country better known…

Zomato closes $60m round of funding for its appetite to take over the world

Zomato‘s restaurant discovery train is showing no signs of slowing down. The startup, which hails from India, has just announced that it’s raised a…

BitX launches stylish bitcoin app to drive adoption in emerging markets

South Africa and Singapore-based bitcoin exchange and tech startup BitX just launched a virtual currency app which hopes to unlock the growing potential presented by…

India is home to 3rd-biggest startup ecosystem in the world, says report

In what should come as heartening news for Indians after being placed at No. 142 in the World Bank’s Doing Business ratings, India has been…

Sage Business Index 2014 reveals SMEs’ falling confidence in South African economy

The outlook of South African businesses on the state of the country’s economy is not at all optimistic, suggests this year’s Sage Business Index….

Here are 4 very impressive startup finalists from Seedstars World 2014

Seedstars World is a competition of startups across emerging markets. Last year, it roamed 20 countries to organise as many local competitions. Each city’s…

India’s ecommerce market said to rocket to $6-billion in 2015

Ecommerce might be young in India but it’s growing super fast. India’s ecommerce market will reach US$6-billion in consumer spending in 2015, leaping from…

Why diasporas are emerging markets’ top assets when it comes to tech

Our world is on the move, as more and more people are qualified as migrants by statistical organizations. And it’s growing fast. In 1990,…

$400m for the startup scene in Lebanon raises more questions than it brings solutions

How to be innovative in a country where two decades of civil war and rather noisy neighbours such as Syria keep the focus of…

Looking for a change? 5 reasons to start a company in the Philippines

You may not be familiar yet with South-East Asia, so here’s a big picture to give an understanding on why it matters when it…

SA’s Smallest Businesses Are Job Engines – So Why Can’t They Get Funding

Starlink in South Africa – Regulatory turbulence grounds Elon Musk’s satellite internet plans—for now

ASUS and AMD Launch AI-Driven Expert P Series PCs for South African SMBs

South Africa’s MSMEs Still Locked Out of Funding – New Report Calls for Radical Reform

Africa Bridge Fund seeks to build a thriving Africa tech ecosystem

MortgageMarket and EasyEquities partner to launch EasyMortgages, unlocking a new era in home loan access for South Africans

Acer Unleashes Beastly New Predator BiFrost and Nitro GPUs with AMD Radeon RX 9000 Series

Philips Evnia Drops Jaw-Dropping QD OLED Monitors: 240Hz, Ambiglow, and All the Good Stuff

Microsoft launches new Surface devices in new AI era

Everest better at exploring than Explorer

Trail Boss badge comes to BEVs

Slate Truck is an outrageously sensible pickup