Omidyar Network

Nigeria’s Stears raises $600k from Omidyar Group’s Luminate, other investors

UPDATE (8 May 2020): We had it initially that Luminate led this round. However, A Luminate representative subsequently contacted Ventureburn to point out that…

African tech startups can tap millions of dollars from new funds launched in 2019 [List]

While Africa’s venture capital (VC) sector remains small, there might be something to smile about for tech startups that operate on the continent. More…

Tanzania’s Ubongo to invest Next Billion Edtech Prize winnings to reach kids in remote areas

Tanzanian edutainment startup Ubongo plans to invest the $25 000 prize money the company won as overall winner of the Next Billion Edtech Prize — to…

Here’s what you need to know about Omidyar’s $300m fintech fund Flourish

Philanthropic investment firm Omidyar Network has spun out its financial inclusion initiative unit to launch Flourish, an evergreen venture fund that will back impact…

Just under two days left to apply for Cities Alliance innovation grants

Innovators working on solutions that could improve tenure security, property and land rights in African cities have until Thursday to apply for up to…

Nigeria’s OneFi secures $5m debt facility for its Paylater mobile platform

Lagos based finance company OneFi today announced that is has secured a $5-million debt facility from New York and Nairobi-based debt platform Lendable. In…

Twiga Foods pilot to put more farm land to use to meet demand [Sponsored]

Kenyan mobile-based B2B distribution platform Twiga Foods wants to put about 8000 acres of unused agricultural land in Kenya to use to meet growing demand for its platform…

Nigerian fintech Paga raises $10m in round led by Global Innovation Fund

Nigerian mobile payments company Paga has raised $10-million in a Series-B funding round led by London-based Global Innovation Fund. Impact investors Goodwell Investments, Unreasonable Capital and Omidyar…

Ahead of Nigeria’s do-or-die match, here’s what you should know of top fintech Lidya

Tonight’s match pitting Nigeria against Argentina, kicking off at 8pm Central African Time, is arguably the biggest game of the day. The match is…

Seedstars, Omidyar Network to launch Seedspace in Dar es Salaam

Seedstars, the Swiss-based organisation that supports startups in emerging markets, has announced that it will next month — in partnership with philanthropic investment firm…

It was ‘now or never’ says Digest RSA founder on leaving corporate finance job

For Dhanyal Davidson leaving a successful career in finance and accounting to start a financial literacy platform was a no brainer — but it…

‘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…

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…

Ventureburn invited to attend prestigious Seedstars Summit in Switzerland

Ventureburn has been invited to attend the fifth annual Seedstars World Summit — one of the largest emerging markets startup competitions of its kind. The…

Six finalists stand chance to each win R500 000 in SAMIP Innovation Challenge

Newly launched South Africa Media Innovation Program has opened a call for applications for its SAMIP Innovation Challenge, in which up to six finalists will each…

Phandeeyar launches as first tech accelerator in Myanmar

Myanmar’s (Burma) first ever tech accelerator, Phandeeyar, began accepting submissions for the programme on 17 June. Phandeeyar emerged from the Code For Change hackathon which…

Giraffe receives undisclosed seed funding from Omidyar Network

Recruitment service startup Giraffe has closed a round of seed funding from Silicon Valley-based VC fund Omidyar Network. The VC was established by eBay founder Pierre…

Nigerian accommodation booking site Hotels.ng just raised $1.2m

Nigerian accommodation booking site Hotels.ng has just raised US$1.2-million in funding from global firms Omidyar Group and EchoVC, TechCabal reports. Founded by Mark Essien…

Omidyar Network provides two-year tax grant to Tax Justice Network Africa

Omidyar Network has announced a two-year grant, worth over US$450 000, to the Tax Justice Network Africa (TJN-A) in order to support the Nairobi,…

Ubongo, Lekki Peninsula Affordable Schools named Africa’s top edupreneurs

There are plenty of exciting entrepreneurs in Africa trying to kickstart education systems through affordable education, interactive games, online content and digital career discovery…

Africa is rising, but will we rise together? Africa Summit 2013 at a glance

The 2013 Africa Summit (#AfricaSummit), hosted by the Omidyar Network in Mauritius, took place last week on 2 October where delegates from around Africa…

Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship: the 2013 winners

The winners of the 2013 Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship (AAE) has been announced at a Gala Awards Ceremony held in Mauritius by the African…

Government and educators should team up to promote entrepreneurship [AES]

Saying education has a role to play in entrepreneurship seems superfluous. It’s not just about educating students though, teachers need to be taught how…

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