Connect with us

Tech

Google announces 15 promising startups for Accelerator Africa Class 7

Published

on

Tech giant, Google, on Monday announced fifteen participants for its 2022 Google for Startups Accelerator Africa Class 7 with Cote D’Ivoire joining for the first time.

A representative of Google and Head of Startup Ecosystem, Africa, Folarin Aiyegbusi made the announcement in a statement made available to newsmen

– “We’re thrilled to be starting off our seventh cohort with such a diverse and inspiring group of companies who are harnessing technology to tackle the problems that many people on the continent face every day”.

The class, which was selected from thousands of applications, with final selection based on product stage, programme alignment and market fit is aimed at lifting African companies who are committed to providing tech solutions to challenges, particularly problems that are peculiar to Africa.

“Startups in Africa are solving some of the region’s most pressing issues -from employment to logistics, banking, healthcare, and education. This is a journey that we’re happy to be on.”

The Google for Startups Accelerator Africa programme has supported 82 startups from 17 African countries over the past four years. Collectively, they have raised $112 million and created 2800 direct jobs. In this time, Google has invested $5 million through a combination of equity free funding and product credits for Google services.

“Google is committed to Africa’s growing startup and developer ecosystem,” adds Aiyegbusi.

“Providing end-to-end support and investment to startups pays off for everyone in the long run. As these startups grow, they advance their local economies, create jobs and opportunities, and provide solutions in their communities. A stronger African economy is great for everyone, and Google is committed to helping African businesses thrive,” he concludes.

One of the selected participants, Zita Agwunobi, CEO of iVerify.ng, expressed enthusiasm towards highly coveted opportunity and thanked the tech giant for “validating our dream”

“As a digital identity onboarding platform based in Nigeria, iVerify.ng is extremely delighted to have been selected for Class 7 of Google for Startups Accelerator Africa amidst our need to deploy more robust technology infrastructure and scale our operations across Africa. We’re looking forward to the workshops, mentoring and inestimable value we’ve heard so much about” Zita Agwunobi added

Another selected Start-up, Balqis  Chepkwony CEO of Kenyan Fleetsimplify says: “Fleetsimplify is thrilled to have been selected for the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa! We’re looking forward to working with the Google team to bring sustainable shared mobility solutions in Africa.”

Tech

Payment solution fintech, LemFi launches diaspora remittance services in Kenya

Published

on

Cross-border payment solution platform, LemFi has launched its diaspora remittance services in Kenya in a bid to enable citizens send and receive money back home.

The fintech which formally launched its services in the east African country on Friday, said it entered the Kenyan market through a partnership with PesaSwap, a local online and mobile payment solutions company based in Nairobi and the United Kingdom.

The company said it hoped to get a share of the diaspora remittance market which currently stood at Sh44.1 billion ($320.3 million) in April, according to data from the Central Bank of Kenya.

LemFi Country Manager, Kakea Mbacha said the app provided a Kenya Shillings wallet setup with which customers could open and fund their accounts via mobile money.

“Using the LemFi app, customers in the United Kingdom, United States and Canada who remain the largest source of remittances to Kenya, can send funds directly into a bank and mobile money accounts at zero fees,” he said.

“When Africans leave their countries to work, study or live abroad, they still maintain family, business and friendship connections back home.

“These connections are often maintained through communication and the need for effective ways to send and receive items and money from home.

“It is for this reason that LemFi exists. Our services will not attract any fees as we strive to ensure that Kenyans in the diaspora can send money home instantly, at the best rates. This is the brand’s promise,” Mbacha said.

The LemFi app also supports the use of multiple currencies through various wallets that customers can open and deposit money in different accounts, he explained.

“Once open, the customer can easily change their Kenya Shillings to other currencies like USD, GBP & CAD depending on their transactions.

“LemFi says it’s targeting over 500,000 Kenyans living outside the country, with the United States, United Kingdom and Canada being among the most popular destinations.”

Continue Reading

Tech

Egypt’s e-health startup, Rology acquires Saudi teleradiology provider, Arkan United

Published

on

Egyptian e-health startup, Rology has acquired Saudi Arabian teleradiology provider, Arkan United in its bid to position itself as the leading teleradiology company in Africa and the Middle East.

The acquisition of Arkan United, which is headquartered in Jeddah, is coming two months after Rology closed a pre-Series A round of funding that helped its expansion drive across the MENA region, and has now seen it make an incursion into Saudi Arabia which has the largest healthcare sector in the region.

According to Rology co-founder and CEO, Amr Abodriaa, the acquisition of Arkan United has been part of Rology’s long-term plans of “bringing the latest innovations in teleradiology to healthcare providers and patients in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and beyond.”

“We’re excited to announce our acquisition of Arkan for medical services in Saudi Arabia,” Abodriaa said.

“This acquisition allows us to accelerate our mission of combining Rology’s cutting-edge technology and network with Arkan’s established expertise, we’re poised to revolutionise the field of teleradiology and improve patient care in unprecedented ways,” Abodriaa added.

Arkan’s CEO, Tarik Baeshen, who welcomed the acquisition, said “Rology has the people and the disruptive solution that the Saudi healthcare system truly needed.

“I am proud of what Arkan has done for the healthcare landscape in the kingdom, and I am eager to see Rology take it one step further”.

Rology, which was founded in 2017 by AboDraiaa, Moaaz Hossam, Mahmoud Eldefrawy and Bassam Khallaf, has successfully built a cloud-based platform that “provides intelligent matchmaking between patients and remote radiologists, tackling the global shortage of the latter.”

The startup gives radiologists anywhere in the world the freedom to work as long as they have access to internet connection.

Continue Reading

EDITOR’S PICK

VenturesNow13 hours ago

Nigeria’s central bank governor, Godwin Emefiele suspended by President Tinubu

Nigerian president, Bola Tinubu has suspended the country’s central bank governor, Godwin Emefiele. The office of the Secretary to the...

Politics14 hours ago

Opposition party wins majority seats in Guinea Bissau’s parliament

After a thirteen months break in Guinea-Bissau’s parliament, the opposition coalition has won majority seats after the legislative elections held...

VenturesNow15 hours ago

Ghana records 32% increase in gold production in 2022

West African country, Ghana has returned to top of gold production on the continent after displacing South Africa following a...

Musings From Abroad15 hours ago

China supports South Africa on BRICS summit— Report

Local media in China are reporting that the Asian giant will support South Africa to host the BRICS summit later...

Musings From Abroad15 hours ago

Italy, Netherlands, EU set to announce aid package for Tunisia

Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni has said that a fresh aid package to Tunisia would be announced by the European...

Tech18 hours ago

Payment solution fintech, LemFi launches diaspora remittance services in Kenya

Cross-border payment solution platform, LemFi has launched its diaspora remittance services in Kenya in a bid to enable citizens send...

Metro19 hours ago

South Africa slams 54 fraud, immigration charges on Rwandan genocide suspect

One of the most wanted Rwandan Genocide suspects, Fulgence Kayishema has been slammed with a 54-count charge by South African...

Metro19 hours ago

US, WFP, USAID suspend food aid to Ethiopia

The United States along with the World Food Program (WFP) and the USAID have suspended food aid to Ethiopia following...

Culture19 hours ago

Rare Mozambican Ruby rakes in world-record $34 million in New York auction

A 55.22 carat legendary Mozambican Ruby named the “Estrela de Fura” has broken the world record in sales after it...

Sports19 hours ago

Senegal football federation suspends all football activities after deadly protests

Following a spate of violent protests which has led to the death of over 23 people, the Senegalese Football Federation...

Trending