Tech

Tanzania’s auto-tech startup Spana is simplifying car maintenance— CEO

Published

7 months ago

April 24, 2024

Tanzania’s auto-tech startup, Spana, has developed a mobile application for a bouquet of automobile services, enabling individual car owners and businesses to request auto diagnostic checks, vehicle servicing, and repairs, or subscribe their vehicles to annual routine maintenance, according to co-founder and CEO, Julius Mbungo.

Mbungo who made the boast in an interview on Wednesday, said the startup which was founded in late 2023 by himself, Ebenezery Kimaro, and John Mwapinga, allows “users to access reliable mechanics, their car’s maintenance history, track expenses, and receive service reminders, among other things.”

In the interview, Mbungo said before coming up with the startup, he had, in 2022, conducted a survey of car owners, mechanics and garage owners to learn about how car owners access services for their cars and the challenges they face when it comes to dealing with mechanics.

“We talked to more than 800 people, and the results were astonishing. Eighty per cent weren’t very happy with existing solutions, and those who were at least satisfied complained about the rip-off from some of the service providers,” he stated.

“Tanzania, like most Sub-Saharan African countries, is a used-car dominated market, by a ratio of 90:10, where cars as old as 20-years still find their way onto the roads.

“The used cars are powered by after-market spare parts where most are fake, leading to frequent breakdowns and car owners spending four times more on maintenance. There’s also a lack of expertise and modern tools,” Mbungo said.

He emphasized that “Spana is on a mission to provide efficient, affordable, and transparent auto repair and maintenance, combating counterfeit spare parts.”

“We want to foster a vehicle maintenance culture in Tanzania, helping customers with repairs and spare part procurement along the way.

“We want to prolong the longevity of Tanzanians’ vehicles and keep our roads and people safe.

“Since our inception, we have 30 workshops registered on our platform, and 180 mechanics, with over 1,000 cars registered.”

He stressed that the platform currently operates in two Tanzanian cities – Dar es Salaam and Arusha – with plans to expand to Dodoma and Zanzibar later this year.

“But we are looking forward to adding more services on the platform, such as vehicle insurance and vehicle repair loan,” Mbungo added.

Click to comment

Tech

Bolt invests $107m in Nigeria to boost safety standards

Published

1 day ago

November 14, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Ride-hailing platform, Bolt, has announced an investment of $107 million in its bid to boost safety and service quality in Nigeria’s ride-hailing sector, with a special technology enhancing safety standards for both drivers and passengers.

Lola Masha, Bolt’s Regional Manager for North and West Africa, who made the announcement in a statement, said the “investment will fund new safety technologies, accident prevention measures, customer support upgrades, and public safety awareness campaigns, underscoring Bolt’s commitment to providing a secure and reliable platform.”

She revealed that as part of its quality check, the company had removed more than 5,000 drivers from its platform in 2023 so as to cleanup its database cleanup effort and will continue to implementing a driver score system to maintain quality standards.

“The driver score evaluates performance by monitoring how frequently drivers accept ride requests, successfully complete trips, and respond to passenger feedback. Essentially, it rates drivers based on their performance over their last 100 trips,” she noted.

Masha emphasized that the move came as a result of complains by the Amalgamated Union of App-based Transporters of Nigeria (AUTON) which raised concerns about the potential downsides experienced by users and the psychological stress on drivers, which could negatively affect their performance.

According to her, among the upcoming features are a four-digit trip pickup code and a trip counter, both aimed at making rides more secure and dependable for all users.

Tech

Egyptian VC Flat6Labs partners ITIDA to launch programme for tech startups

Published

3 days ago

November 12, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Egyptian Venture Capital firm, Flat6Labs, has partnered with Egypt’s Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) to launch an InvestIT programme which will offer tech startups in the country, particularly at the seed or pre-Series A stages, access to consultancy, tools, and investor connections to help them scale operations and enhance global competitiveness.

The programme, according to Egypt’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Dr Amr Talaat, will be run by the Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (TIEC), a subsidiary of ITIDA, and will support startups across various governorates, encouraging innovation and growth in Egypt’s digital economy.

“Through two phases, it will prepare startups for investment with tailored training sessions and workshops, followed by connecting them with local and international investors,” Talaat said in a statement.

“The Egyptian government remains steadfast in its dedication to cultivating a thriving tech startup ecosystem. We are rolling out diverse initiatives to equip entrepreneurs with essential skills, attract global incubators, and facilitate connections between startups and investors.

“By establishing Digital Egypt innovation hubs nationwide, we empower innovators to transform their ideas into successful ventures.

“Alongside this, we are streamlining processes and investing in advanced digital infrastructure, positioning Egypt among the top three countries in the Middle East and Africa for tech startup investments,” the Minister said.

Flat6Labs founder and chairman Hany El Sonbaty, who also spoke on the initiative, said the launch of the InvestIT programme has further expanded his company’s support for Egyptian entrepreneurs.

“This programme is not just about preparing startups for investment; it’s about equipping them with the tools and connections to scale their impact.

“Through our collaboration with ITIDA and TIEC, we’re committed to building a strong, vibrant ecosystem where startups can make a real impact on the tech landscape in Egypt,” he said.

The programme, he said, will support 12 startups over six-to-eight months with each startup receiving tailored consultancy services to enhance their investment readiness and assist with setting up data rooms and preparing for investor engagements.