Venture capital

BECO Capital closes $100m MENA-focused tech startup fund

Dubai-based early-stage venture capital (VC) firm BECO Capital has announced it has closed a capital raise for a $100-million Middle East and North Africa…

IFC invests $1m in Flat6Labs Tunisia’s Anava Seed Fund to support women entrepreneurs

The World Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC) has announced that it is investing $1-million in Flat6Labs Tunisia’s Anava Seed Fund. IFC said in a…

VC4A announces 12 startups selected for its 2019 Series-A Venture Showcase

African funding platform VC4A has announced the 12 companies selected for its 2019 Series-A Venture Showcase. The founders of the 12 companies will showcase their…

Egyptian online print shop PrintX raises $150k from a Saudi angel investor

PrintX, a Cairo-based online print shop, has raised $150 000 from Saudi angel investor Mohamed Elbazz. Tech publication MenaBytes reported in an article yesterday…

10 questions startup founders should ask before looking for funding

So, you’ve launched a startup and now you want to raise millions from a venture capitalist or angel investor. Hang on a second, do…

Egyptian health, beauty services startup Glamera raises $250k

Glamera, a Cairo-based health and beauty services startup, has raised a $250 000 seed round from an unnamed Saudi angel investor. The startup was…

Zambian fintech Zazu announces it’s raised $1.4m

Lusaka-based fintech Zazu announced yesterday in a blog post that it had raised $1.4-million in funding. The startup, which is registered in the UK…

Ahead of new deal Clifftop Colony head speaks on portfolio’s performance [Q&A]

Clifftop Ventures, the venture investment arm of financial firm Clifftop Colony, is expected to announce its fourth deal, an official at the company confirmed today. Clifftop Colony corporate…

SA crowdfunding site The People’s Fund in first payout of R43k to 42 investors

Ten months after launching, Johannesburg based crowdfunding platform The People’s Fund has made its first payout of R43 800 to 42 investors who earlier this year…

Lumkani to extend coverage in Joburg, expand team after closing seed round

Cape Town-based startup Lumkani is set to service more communities in Johannesburg, this after it announced yesterday (7 June) that it had closed a seed…

Fifth Africa VC summit to kick off Global Entrepreneurship Week in Cape Town

The fifth edition of the Africa Early Stage Investor Summit (AESIS 2018) will kick off Global Entrepreneurship Week in Cape Town this year, organisers…

Here are 4 things Kalon Venture Partners looks for when picking startups [Q&A]

Disruptive technology that is 12 months ahead of the competition. A proven product. A large addressable market. The best team on the planet. These are…

EXCLUSIVE: SA SME Fund CEO’s stepping down was ‘amicable’ says fund official

The head of the SA SME Fund Quinton Dicks has parted ways “amicably” with the fund, a right-hand official of Discovery CEO Adrian Gore who initiated…

SA incubator Savant in process of raising funding for 11 tech companies [Q&A]

Cape Town tech incubator Savant is busy raising funding for four of the 16 technology related companies in its portfolio — while pursuing second-round funding for another nine, the incubator’s…

Sometimes startup just hits right market at right time – Angelhub man [Q&A]

The difference between a well performing and poorly performing investment often comes down to three things, says Angelhub Ventures lead partner Brett Commaille. For…

‘Playing patient investor, Omidyar has not made many exits from $1.3bn portfolio’ [Updated]

Philanthropic impact investor Omidyar Network has invested close to $1.3-billion* in non-profit and for-profit ventures globally since it was founded in 2004 by eBay founder Pierre…

‘$1.1m funding will help Piggybank.ng to capitalise on opportunities’

Automated savings platform Piggybank.ng‘s latest round of $1.1-million seed funding will allow the Nigerian startup to “expand and capitalise on the many opportunities that the…

First Uber partnership, now Aura secures first R2m from HAVAÍC in equity raise

Days after concluding a deal with ride-hailing company Uber, Joburg-based startup Aura announced today that it has secured the first R2-million in a R6-million equity…

Knowledge, networks, funding: what’s behind VC that set up Uber exit [Q&A]

It’s just days after arguably the biggest deal so far this year — Cape Town founded company orderTalk’s exit to Uber Eats. Many may be…

HAVAÍC holds onto five investments despite two offers, says Ian Lessem [Q&A]

While Cape Town venture capital (VC) company HAVAÍC has yet to exit any of its five portfolio investments, it has had two opportunities to do so since…

Jozi Angels wants R8m return from R400k invested per startup [Q&A]

So, your startup is looking for money then? If you head to angel investment network Jozi Angels make sure you can within seven years, generate return…

Three reasons why Uber acquisition of SA grown orderTalk is so big a deal [Updated]

Uber’s food delivery business Uber Eats has acquired tech company orderTalk, which was once headquartered as a startup in Cape Town, South Africa. Here’s why it’s such…

Nigerian fintech Lidya raises $6.9m in Series-A round led by Omidyar Network [Updated]

Nigerian fintech startup Lidya has announced that it has raised $6.9-million in a Series A round led by Silicon Valley-based philanthropic investment firm Omidyar…

Productivity On A Large Screen

Everlytic Launches Cutting-Edge AI Studio with WhatsApp Chatbots for Smarter Communication

Everlytic’s new API Communicator feature enhances customer engagement across multiple channels

Savant Launches Savant Build Cohort 3 to Accelerate Deep-Tech Innovation in the Green Economy

Simplicity at scale: The role of leadership in agile transformation

Microsoft launches new Surface devices in new AI era

Honor Magic V3 launches, four things to know

Honor Magic V3, a Guinness world record attempt

Nio Firefly brings Galaxy design to compact EVs

Google Cast and other Christmas goodies for Rivian

GM switches-off Cruise control on $10bn robotaxi project