Tech

Zenith Bank kicks off Zecathon 3.0 competition in Nigeria

Published

6 months ago

November 13, 2023

Nigerian financial institution, Zenith Bank PLC has announced the launch of a startup pitch competition called the “Zenith Bank Zecathon 3.0”, in partnership with Seedstars Global Network.

The Zecathon 3.0, according to Temitope Fasoranti, an Executive Director with the bank, reaffirms Zenith’s “commitment to identifying, supporting, and mentoring Nigerian MVP stage startups, aimed at shaping the future of business in Africa.”

Fasoranti, in a statement while launching the competition in Lagos, said winners will take home prize money from pool of N59 million aside other mouthwatering incentives in business support, training, mentorship, and investor networking opportunities that would enable the startups to achieve their growth trajectories.

“After witnessing the unparalleled impact and success of our previous collaboration with Seedstars, we’re thrilled to introduce Zecathon 3.0,” Fasoranti said.

“Zenith Bank remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering technological advancements in Nigeria.

‘’Our goal is to spotlight and uplift innovative startups that use technology to address modern-day challenges, steering us towards a brighter tomorrow,” he added.

He advised that startups looking to participate in the programme should be at the MVP stage with a full team, and must have raised no more than $75,000 in funding.

“Additionally, intending startups must operate within the following domains:

“Future of Retail, Future of eCommerce, Future of Payments, Future of Lending, Future of Wellness, Future of Cybersecurity, Future of EdTech, Future of Energy, Future of AgriTech, Future of Entertainment, Future of Transport and Logistics and Future of SMEs.

“Winning participants will not only receive the cash prizes but will also gain invaluable pitch training, be part of a follow-on program, and access to Seedstars’ global network.

“The first prize is N20m plus an opportunity to pitch investors and access the Seedstars Mentorship Hub; Second Prize: N15m, inclusive of a scholarship into the Seedstars mentorship hub while the third prize is N10m complemented by a scholarship into the Seedstars mentorship hub. The subsequent 10 startups (4th – 10th) will each be granted a participatory prize of N2m,” Fasoranti said.

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Tech

Dubai’s cybersecurity firm CyberKnight sets up business in Africa

Published

16 mins ago

May 17, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

Dubai-based cybersecurity company, CyberKnight, has expanded its business into Africa by opening an office in Egypt.

CyberKnight, a cybersecurity advisory and value-added-distributor (VAD), which has its international headquarters in Dubai with a strong presence across the Middle East, announced its expansion into Africa on Friday with the appointment of Naoufal Mzali as the Regional Sales Director for the continent to spearhead its business development efforts on the continent.

As the newly appointed Regional Sales Director for Levant, Egypt & Africa, Mzali will lead the charge in strengthening CyberKnight’s presence in the territory and fostering growth in the African cybersecurity market, the company said in a statement.

“With over 17 years of experience in technology and cybersecurity, his strong engineering background, coupled with a successful track record in sales, makes Naoufal an asset to the CyberKnight team.”

A statement signed by Mzali to welcome CyberKnight into Africa said:

“We are excited to enter this new chapter of growth with CyberKnight’s on-the-ground expansion into Africa.

“Since the company’s inception, we have been doing business opportunistically in multiple African countries from our HQ in Dubai.

“This underscores our commitment to delivering best-of-breed cybersecurity expertise to enterprise and government customers, as well as strategic partners across Africa.

“Moving forward, we will be building teams across the continent, starting with North Africa.”

Tech

Google relaunches Hustle Academy with AI focus to empower African SMBs

Published

21 hours ago

May 16, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

Google has relaunched the 2024 cohort of its Hustle Academy, a programme dedicated to accelerating the growth of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Making the announcement on Thursday, Google said it is opening of applications for the Hustle Academy with a special focus on using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to provide comprehensive business education, mentorship, and networking opportunities to SMBs.

According to Kristy Grant, Head of B2B marketing for Sub-Saharan Africa at Google, the 2024 cohort of the programme introduces a significant upgrade – business-focused AI training integrated directly into the curriculum.

“This year, the new AI modules focus on data-driven decisions, optimising operations, and building AI-powered marketing strategies,” Grant said.

“AI holds immense potential for African small and medium-sized businesses SMBs, enabling them to drive innovation, increase efficiency, and unlock new levels of economic growth.

“The Hustle Academy has supported over 10,000 businesses who have gone ahead to raise funding and create jobs since inception.

“By incorporating AI into our curriculum, we aim to further amplify this impact, equipping SMBs to harness AI technologies for improved business performance and economic progress,” Grant emphasized.

She added that applications for the 2024 Hustle Academy cohort are open to SMBs in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa.