Tech

Kenya’s cloud-based HR startup Workpay secures $5m funding to boost expansion drive

Published

4 months ago

September 1, 2024

Kenya’s cloud-based HR and payroll startup, Workpay, has announced securing $5 million in a Series A funding round that will enable it boost its expansion drive into more countries globally.

This funding round, according to the startup, was led by Norrsken22 with participation from notable investors such as Visa, Y Combinator, Saviu Ventures, Axian, Plug n Play, Verod-Kepple Africa Ventures, and Acadian Ventures, a firm that specializes in investing in the next generation of work technologies.

Confirming the development,
CEO and co-founder of Workpay,
Paul Kimani, said with the new funding, Workpay is strategically positioned to assist companies both within and outside the continent to pay their employees in compliance with local regulations while offering essential financial services to their workforce.

“Our objective is to become the preferred solution for employers and employees in managing HR, payroll, and work-related benefits.

“Our comprehensive knowledge of regulations across the African continent enables businesses operating in multiple countries to handle payroll and taxes through a single, integrated platform. This funding round will be crucial in helping Workpay achieve profitability, marking a significant milestone for our company.

“Workpay plans to utilize the funds raised to support its expansion across the continent and to enhance its financial services offerings.

“Businesses across Africa are navigating a complex employment landscape, characterized by diverse regulations, widely dispersed employees, and increasingly popular hybrid work environments.

“The platform offers a wide range of features, including payroll processing, time tracking, leave management, expense tracking, performance management, employee benefits administration, and Employer of Record (EOR) services.

“Managing payroll remains a time-consuming task for Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs), with around 80% still relying on manual processes using Excel and Google Sheets. Such methods are prone to errors, often resulting in financial losses, weak compliance, and potential penalties. Many SMBs lack the necessary resources to adopt or maintain complex payroll systems,” he said.

Related Topics:Expansion Featured Funding HR Kenya Workpay

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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.

Tech

DR Congo sues tech giant Apple over illegal mineral exploitation

Published

4 days ago

December 18, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has filed a criminal case against the European subsidiaries of tech giant, Apple, accusing them of illegal mineral exploitation and allegedly using “blood minerals” in its supply chain.

In the suit filed on Tuesday, the DRC alleges that Apple has bought contraband supplies from the country’s conflict-ladden east and Rwanda, zones in which it allege the materials are mined illegally and then integrated into global supply chains before ending up in tech devices.

The DRC suit specifically mentioned Apple subsidiaries in France and Belgium, accusing the tech giant of using conflict minerals in its supply chain.

The DRC is a major source of tin, tantalum, and tungsten which are used in electronic devices, with some mines controlled by armed groups responsible for human rights violations.

International lawyers representing the African country’s government have accused Apple’s local subsidiaries of taking these minerals from conflict areas and laundering them through international supply chains, with one lawyer telling journalists that Belgium had a moral duty to act given its history of exploiting the country’s resources under colonial rule.

However, in its response, Apple claims it conducts supplier audits and does not directly source primary minerals.

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1262670-dr-congo-sues-apple-over-alleged-illegal-mineral-exploitation