Tech

Google partners USAID to expand small business growth in Kenya

Published

1 year ago

August 4, 2023

Google has announced a partnership with the USAID eTrade Alliance aimed at expanding Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs) in Kenya.

The collaboration, which is in conjunction with the Hustle Academy Program in the eastern African country, will provide 2,500 SMBs with access to critical resources and digital tools to foster growth over 18 months, bringing the number of SMBs trained in Kenya to 3,700.

East Africa Country Director for Google, Agnes Gathaiya, who announced the partnership, said the Hustle Academy which was launched in 2022, was conceived to tackle the lack of financial resources, providing SMBs across Sub-Saharan Africa with the requisite skills, tools, and knowledge to harness digital technology and secure funding.

“Our partnership with the USAID e-Trade Alliance allows us to augment this impact, placing a special emphasis on harnessing e-commerce to catalyse a robust digital economy across Kenya,” she said.

“The effectiveness of the program is rooted in its 5-day bootcamp, which provides hands-on training and actionable advice. The comprehensive curriculum touches on key areas: business strategy, sales enhancement, digital marketing, financial planning, and successful pitching techniques.

“Through a strategic partnership with the USAID eTrade Alliance, capabilities in ecommerce are also integrated, creating a cohesive and practical learning journey and this equips small to medium businesses (SMBs) with the tools necessary to formulate growth plans, devise effective digital marketing strategies, identify and access funding opportunities, pitch successfully to investors, and harness the power of online selling,” she added.

Also eulogising the collaboration, USAID eTrade Alliance Senior Manager for Africa Programs, Michael Poor, said the Alliance was proud to launch the Google Hustle Academy eCommerce program in Kenya.

“With a core mandate to promote economic growth for MSMEs through digital commerce and trade, this partnership with Google’s Hustle Academy supports the Alliance’s commitment to deliver on its goals.”

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Tech

20 African tech-preneurs embark on Korean innovation tour

Published

44 minutes 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.