Startup news

Four startups selected for Founders Factory Africa programme each net over £30k

Corporate-backed accelerator and incubator Founders Factory Africa has announced that it has accepted four new startups to its Venture Scale programme, which kicked off yesterday….

Top three can win share of R150k in prizes in Ayoba virtual hackathon [Updated]

*Correction: The top three teams in the Ayoba hackathon will win a share of a R150 000 prize pool — and not R150 000…

Covid-19 and African tech startups roundup [30/03/2020]

In just a few days SA small businesses and startups can expect more details from financiers Business Partners on how to access funding from…

World Bank launches AG Innovation Challenge to address food security in SADC region

The World Bank Agriculture Observatory, together with Draper University and innovation platform InnMind, are calling on innovators to take part in the AG Innovation…

Meet the 7 startups selected for Nigeria’s Ventures Platform, Lasric’s Covid-19 challenge

Seven startups have been selected by Nigeria’s Ventures Platform and the Lagos State Science and Research and Innovation Council (Lasric) to take part in…

Nearly 15 000 firms register on SA’s Covid-19 Bizportal as essential service providers [Updated]

UPDATE (30 March 2020): The Minister of Trade, Industry and Economic Development Ebrahim Patel on Friday (27 March) said in a statement that the…

Covid-19 and African tech startups roundup [27/03/2020]

South Africans woke today to day one of a 21-day lockdown. To get through this period, SA startups can register as an essential service…

Covid-19 and African tech startups roundup [25/03/2020]

As South Africa heads for a lockdown set to start at midnight tomorrow, the government revealed more details on financial support for small businesses….

The Africa Mobility Initiative calls on startups to apply for accelerator

The Africa Mobility Initiative is calling on startups with solutions that seek to mitigate the continent’s mobility challenges to apply for an accelerator. The…

Covid-19 and African tech startups roundup [24/03/2020]

With the coronavirus (Covid-19) headlining news all over the world, Ventureburn has launched the first edition of a daily roundup on the virus and…

Relief for small business owners during Covid-19 time [Opinion]

The Covid-19 pandemic, which has been declared a National Disaster and has prompted a 21-day national shut down, is having catastrophic effects on businesses…

Kenyan fintech Pezesha wins Best Catapulter Award at LHoFT

Kenyan fintech startup Pezesha earlier this month took home the Best Catapulter Award at the conclusion of the Catapult: Inclusion Africa fintech bootcamp hosted by…

Covid-19 fears drive spike in orders at alcohol, grocery delivery startups in SA

SA ecommerce startups that retail and deliver items such as groceries and alcohol, have seen online orders hit the roof, following the onset of…

SA’s Recomed reports record number of medical bookings following Covid-19 onset

Medical bookings platform Recomed last week saw its highest volume week on record, the startup’s CEO and founder Sheraan Amod revealed yesterday. The platform,…

Silvertree racing to meet demand as online orders at startups spike amid coronavirus

Cape Town based investment company Silvertree Holdings is pressing suppliers to keep providing its stable of ecommerce startups with stock, amid a surge in ecommerce…

Applications open for 2020 MEST Africa Challenge

MEST — the pan-African training programme, seed fund, incubator and hub for tech entrepreneurs in Africa — has opened applications for the 2020 MEST…

Department to set up fund to help SA small businesses affected by coronavirus [Updated]

UPDATE (30 March 2020): The Department of Small Business Development on Saturday (28 March) said in a statement that it had published guidelines for application for the Debt Relief…

GIZ’s Agricultural Innovation Fund looking to award up €50k in support to startups

Through its Agricultural Innovation Fund, the GIZ, the German agency for international co-operation, is looking to award up to €50 000 to three winners…

Former Hellocomputer CEO launches new outsourced digital marketing offering

Former Hellocomputer CEO Dave Moffat, who sold the SA digital marketing agency to NYSE listed IPG in 2012 for undisclosed amount, is back with…

Design Innovation Seed Fund open for applications from Western Cape innovators

The Craft and Design Institute (CDI) has opened its latest call for applications for its Design Innovation Seed Fund (DISF). Designers, inventors, entrepreneurs and product…

Fresh from netting R25m, Grindstone Accelerator will go ahead despite coronavirus

The next cohort of SA’s Grindstone Accelerator due to start in June, will go ahead, despite the threat of the coronavirus, the programme’s directors…

Here are the African startups and Africa-focused firms from Y Combinator’s W20 Demo Day

Thirteen African and Africa-focused startups graduated yesterday in US accelerator Y Combinator‘s latest batch. Each can have netted $150 000 in funding. Twice a…

SA tech startups put in place measures to tackle coronavirus

SA’s tech startups are responding to the threat of the coronavirus by putting in place austerity measures and devising new innovative solutions for customers,…

FNB Connect drops its once-off data prices, increases Lifestyle data

Deezer opens a three-month free trial for users under lockdown

Dark Sky ditches Android users, weather apps after it joins Apple

Russia’s StudyFree named the winner of Seedstars World 2020

SA’s Custostech lays off staff after VC sues startup for $4.5m over failed investment bid

Covid-19 and African tech startups roundup [03/04/2020]

Apple’s next budget phone will likely be called the iPhone SE… again

Fitbit Charge 4 debuts in SA with GPS, effort monitoring for R2999

Huawei Y7p: a full, affordable photography studio in your pocket [Sponsored]

Toyota’s new Corolla blends sharper style with upgraded features

The Suzuki S-Presso is now South Africa’s cheapest passenger car

Mazda 2 road test: a compelling, compact Japanese hatchback