Tech

Bolt Kenya partners OWIT to empower female drivers

Published

9 months ago

March 21, 2024

Bolt Kenya has entered into a partnership deal with the Organisation of Women in International Trade (OWIT), aimed at empowering female drivers on its platform.

The partnership, according to Linda Ndungu, Bolt Country Manager for Kenya, was to align with the recently celebrated International Women’s Day which was “focused on global women’s inclusion and fostered meaningful discussions on entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and well-being.”

She noted that the new initiative also “aligned with Bolt’s commitment to fostering gender diversity and inclusion within its driver community and OWIT’s mandate to empower women to transform communities through global trade.”

At an event held at Bolt’s Driver Engagement Centre where the partnership deal was sealed, Ndungu said the Bolt initiative will serve as a platform for women drivers to engage in value-driven conversations on key topics such as business acumen, financial literacy, and personal wellness.

“Through interactive workshops, panel discussions, and networking sessions, participants have the opportunity to gain valuable insights, share experiences, and connect with like-minded individuals in a supportive and empowering environment,” she said.

“We are excited to partner with the Organisation of Women in International Trade to empower and uplift women drivers on our platform.

“At Bolt, we recognise the importance of providing our female driver partners with the tools, resources, and support they need to succeed in both their professional and personal lives.

“Through this event, we aim to foster a sense of community, promote dialogue on gender equality in the workplace, and celebrate the achievements of our remarkable women drivers.”

She added that in addition to empowering women drivers, the event also promoted discussion and dialogue on what it means to be a woman in business today.

“By highlighting the experiences, challenges, and successes of women entrepreneurs within the ride-hailing industry, Bolt and OWIT seek to inspire and empower future generations of female leaders and change-makers.”

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Tech

20 African tech-preneurs embark on Korean innovation tour

Published

3 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.