Tech

Ethiopia to host Global Startup Awards Africa Summit in October

Published

1 year ago

July 16, 2023

The 2023 edition of the Global Startup Awards (GSA) Africa Summit, an initiative of the Global Innovation Initiative Group (GIIG) and Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI), will be hosted in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia in October, according to the organisers.

In a statement announcing the upcoming event, the organisers said the annual GSA Africa Summit would take place at the newly inaugurated Museum of Art and Science, with the aim being to “unite the African startup ecosystem and celebrate the outstanding achievements of startups, entrepreneurs, and innovators from across the continent,” GIIG and GSA Africa co-founder, Jo Griffiths said.

“The summit will bring together key stakeholders in African innovation including leaders from industry, government, academia, and the wider ecosystem – to meet and engage with the continent’s top technology solutions,” the statement said.

“Here, startups will have the opportunity to participate in a series of solution exchange workshops, where they can connect with industry experts to explore potential partnership opportunities.”

The statement added that a gala dinner would see 15 regional finalists who would be named winners of the 2022/23 season of GSA Africa.

“As African winners, these startups will be recognised for their exceptional role in addressing critical global challenges. Furthermore, they will have the exclusive opportunity to engage with the GIIG Africa Fund, offering a pathway to potential investment as future change makers.

“Critically, we want this event to act as a spark for younger generations, to encourage them to explore the world of innovation as a promising career path,” Griffiths said.

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Tech

Fintech startup DigMo launched in Zambia to gamify financial planning

Published

17 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Isaac Dachen

DigMo, a gamified fintech startup which helps users to build wealth tools from low to middle-income earners, has been launched in Zambia.

CEO of the DigMo Group, Sylvia Brune, who made the announcement, says the platform which is licensed by the Bank of Zambia to operate a wallet, offers a secure, free digital money account with a special account for users to play a financial planning game which incentivises customers to get started putting money away for the future.

“By giving customers the chance to win big rewards, DigMo is encouraging sustainable habits,” said Brune.

She stated that with an initial rollout in Zambia, DigMo wallet’s first offering, Save to Win, will make putting money away regularly, easy and rewarding with no fixed costs or fees.

“DigMo Save to Win allows users to start with small amounts – from just ZMW10 (US$0.37) – for the chance to win prizes of up to ZMW500,000 (US$19,000).

“We are committed to financial planning innovation for low and middle-income earners across Africa. To achieve this meaningful impact, we approach this like a game studio – where we constantly create and test many new products until we find those with an outsized impact,” Brune said.

“If we just take existing products and make them more affordable or accessible, it is unlikely that we can dramatically change behaviours.

“To succeed, we have engaged directly with users, observing and learning from them to develop DigMo, a solution that will dramatically improve their financial well-being and meet their unique needs,” she added.

Tech

Kenya’s startup BuuPass partners with GiftPesa to launch digital travel vouchers

Published

2 days ago

November 23, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Kenyan digital ticketing and transportation management solutions startup, BuuPass, has entered into a partnership with fintech company, GiftPesa, to introduce digital travel vouchers ahead of the holiday season.

In a statement by BuuPass cofounder and CEO, Sonia Kabra, the move will offer a more flexible and convenient way for Kenyans to manage and gift travel arrangements during the bustling holiday period.

“We’ve noticed a growing demand for digital solutions in the travel industry, especially during peak periods like the holiday season,” said Kabra.

“This partnership with GiftPesa enhances the travel experience for our customers, offering them a convenient way to send travel tickets as gifts and have a safety net for unconfirmed travel dates.

“Unlike traditional paper vouchers that can expire or get lost, GiftPesa vouchers are valid for 12 months and can be redeemed in parts at over 3,000 outlets across the country.

“This flexibility allows recipients to use the vouchers for multiple trips or select their preferred destination, making travel more accessible,” she added.

Founded in 2016 by Kabra and Wyclife Omondi, BuuPass is a leading 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.

GiftPesa, on the other hand, is a fintech startup that provides businesses and individuals with a platform for creating digital vouchers.

The partnership between the two companies will introduce digital travel vouchers, helping users manage and gift travel arrangements during the bustling holiday period.