Tech

Uber, Google partner to launch empowerment program for Kenyan female drivers

Published

2 years ago

March 25, 2023

Global ride-hailing company Uber, has teamed up with Google to launch an empowerment initiative for female drivers and delivery partners using the platform in Kenya.

The community-based initiative tagged “GigSister,” according to
Uber’s Head of Communications East and West Africa, Lorraine Onduru, “is intended to connect, grow, and empower a community of women drivers and couriers on the platform through an array of initiatives.”

The program, Onduru said, has already achieved success in parts of Europe and the UK, with Uber teaming up with like-minded partners, including Google and L’Oreal, to uplift and empower women through mental health support, motivation, and self-promotion, as well as self-defense training.

She said the platform will eliminate barriers for women in the gig economy.

“We want to support women, provide them with a platform to network, and make them feel empowered to get into the tech space, and make a living out of it,” she said.

“The training is designed to equip the earners with leadership tools they can use to position themselves for success in running their businesses,” Onduru added.

Head of Communications & Public Affairs, Africa at Google, Dorothy Ooko, who also spoke on the initiative, said:

“We are pleased to partner with Uber to roll out the #IAmRemarkable training which will help more women celebrate their achievements in the workplace and thrive in their businesses in the tech space.”

“We believe this is a step in the right direction to ensure that women are equally equipped with the information, support and opportunities they need.”

“With the gender gap in ICT in Africa being at 23 percent, the African Union strategy for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment aims to enable women and girls to become more active users and influencers of the technological space. The aim is for women to unlock greater gender-enabling e-solutions for funding,” Ooko said.

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Tech

20 African tech-preneurs embark on Korean innovation tour

Published

13 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The African Development Bank Group’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Lab has selected 20 promising tech entrepreneurs from various African technology ventures and enterprise support organisations to embark on a two-week study tour of the Republic of Korea, with the aim of seeking investment and insights from the country’s innovative tech ecosystem.

The selected entrepreneurs are from 133 ventures that participated in last month’s Africa Tech Startup Forum.

The forum which will hold under the auspices of the lab’s “Leveraging the Entrepreneurial and Innovation Success of Korea to Strengthen African Enterprise Support” project, had selected entrepreneurs who pitched the best business models during the week-long virtual market access and acceleration programme preparing, training, and connecting technology ventures with opportunities.

The 20 young tech-preneurs were selected from eight African countries including Nigeria, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Rwanda, South Africa, and Uganda, with the delegates spanning various sectors in the technology space.

While in Korea, the African delegates will pay visits to prestigious institutions such as Global Startup Centre, LG Science Park, the Korea Software Technology Association, and the Global Digital Innovation Network.

Speaking on behalf of the delegates, founder of Kenya-based health technology venture Zuri Health, Uche Ezadinachi said:

“I am excited to go to Korea because the country has made serious technological developments. The country is a technology-driven society, and this tour is an opportunity for me to see how we can bring such technology to Africa.

“We will share experiences with our Korean counterparts; they will learn from us as much as we learn from them,” he added.

Tech

Kenya’s ticketing startup BuuPass partners Flexpay for flexible travel payments

Published

3 days ago

December 19, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Kenyan digital ticketing startup, BuuPass, has entered into a partnership with goal-based savings platform, Flexpay, to offer customers flexible payment plans ahead of holiday travels as well as simplify travel planning and ease the financial burden of holiday travel for Kenyans.

Co-founder and CEO at Buupass, Sonia Kabra, who unveiled the package at a press conference, said the collaboration between the two platforms will allow travellers to save for their journeys in manageable, interest-free installments over four to 12 weeks.

“Travelers can select their travel dates, book tickets, and pay a small deposit upfront, with the remaining balance spread across weekly or monthly payments,” she said.

“This approach offers a stress-free way for families and large groups to secure their tickets early, helping them avoid last-minute price hikes as fares are locked in.

“By partnering with Flexpay, we’re giving travelers the flexibility to budget for their trips in advance. This initiative aligns with our mission to make travel accessible to everyone, providing a solution that meets customers where they are financially,” said Kabra.

Also speaking at the event, Richard Machomba, CEO and founder of Flexpay, said:

“Flexpay’s mission is to empower individuals by providing accessible financial solutions that make it easier for them to achieve their financial goals.

“By partnering with BuuPass, we’re making travel more accessible and stress-free for Kenyans, especially during the holiday season when expenses can be overwhelming,” Machomba added.

Founded in 2016 by Kabra and Wyclife Omondi, BuuPass is a B2B2C mobility marketplace that enables users to search, compare, and book travel tickets via web, app, or USSD, while its SaaS platform helps bus operators manage their operations, inventory, and sales.

FlexPay, on the other hand, is an online and offline payment gateway that allows merchants to offer interest-free targeted savings to their customers in Africa.