Tech

Rwanda’s Ampersand partners China’s BYD to electrify Africa’s transport system

Published

3 months ago

June 25, 2024

Kigali, Rwanda-based electric transport energy company, Ampersand, has entered into a partnered with Chinese multinational manufacturing company, BYD, which is aimed at a collaborating on the decarbonisation and electrification of Africa’s commercial motorbike transport system.

The partnership, according to Josh Whale, CEO of Ampersand, will “enable Ampersand to rapidly scale its electric fleet and its charging infrastructure, which is already the largest in Rwanda and Kenya.”

“This partnership marks a major milestone for Ampersand as we continue to lead the charge in providing sustainable, cost effective, mass-market EV solutions,” said Whale.

“BYD’s world-leading battery cells and manufacturing scale, combined with Ampersand’s deep customer insight and technical product knowledge will help fast track the electrification of Africa’s commercial motorcycles.”

Whale added that the partnership with BYD will see Ampersand purchase BYD’s high-tech battery cells to build around 40,000 electric motorcycles by the end of 2026, with the long-term goal of electrifying a large portion of Africa’s 30 million commercial motorbikes.

Ampersand is Rwanda’s leading assemblers and financiers of electric motorcycles that cost less to buy and operate, and perform better than the five million petrol motorcycle taxis in use across East Africa.

And since its commercial launch in May 2019, Ampersand’s fleet has grown to over 1,000 in size, and is expected to exceed 10,000 by late 2024.

“Switching the millions of taxi and delivery two-wheelers to EV energy tech represents one of the world’s best value-for-money decarbonisation opportunities,” Whale noted.

“At the same time, this transformation will save millions of hardworking motorcycle riders six hundred dollars each a year, driving clean economic prosperity,” he added.

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Tech

Moroccan recruitment startup Kwiks raises $827k funding to develop AI-driven solutions

Published

4 hours ago

September 28, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Moroccan recruitment startup, Kwiks, has announced raising MAD8 million ($827,000) in funding from Azur Innovation Management (AIM) to help it accelerate the development of its AI-driven solutions.

Co-founder and CEO of Kwiks, Amine Khayatei Houssaini, who made the announcement, said the new funds would enable the platform to continue innovating and providing cutting-edge solutions to its clients.

“This investment will allow us to continue innovating and providing cutting-edge solutions to our clients, while strengthening our position in the local and international markets,” Houssaini said.

He added that the funds would be used to enhance the recruitment platform by accelerating the development of AI-driven solutions, as well as developing new features, such as R2DS solutions that generate automated candidate reports.

Founded in 2013 by Houssaini and Karim Kaoukabi, (more…)

Tech

Starlink launches high-speed Internet services in Burundi

Published

1 day ago

September 27, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Elon Musk’s Starlink has announced launching its high-speed internet services in Burundi after the president granted the company an official licence to operate within the country.

The licence was awarded to the satellite-based internet provider under the oversight of the Telecommunications Regulation and Control Agency (ARCT) of Burundi, with its Director-General responsible for implementing the decree.

A statement by the ARCT said the development marked a significant step toward improving internet connectivity, following the issuance of an operating licence in May 2024, granted through a presidential decree.

“This development marks a significant step forward in improving internet access for the people of Burundi,” the ARCT said.

Burundi, one of the world’s poorest countries, currently has one of the lowest rates of internet usage globally, largely due to high costs and limited infrastructure.

With the launch of the high-speed internet services, Burundi becomes the latest of 14 African nations to adopt Starlink’s Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation, aiming to enhance satellite internet services across the country. The company is set to expand its operations to several additional countries by the end of 2024.

Starlink is now available in 15 African nations, following its recent launch in Zimbabwe. Other African countries that have gained access to Starlink include Kenya, Nigeria, South Sudan, Rwanda, and Zambia.