Top African Technology News For December

No doubt, technology is fast changing our lives than ever before. Below we outline some of the ways this is happening with new and different innovations.

1. Introducing Moneywave by Flutterwave

Fintech startup, Flutterwave has launched Moneywave, a payments solution for individuals, especially small merchants, in Africa who need a faster and easier way to receive payments from different platforms (debit cards, mobile money, bank transfers, etc.). According to TechCrunch, Moneywave isn’t user-facing, but an API layer that can be integrated into users’ business platforms.

Read all about it here.

2. The African Technology Foundation is the new Managing Partner of LIONS@FRICA

The US State Department has appointed Silicon Valley-based African Technology Foundation (ATF) as the new Managing Partner of the Liberalizing Innovation Opportunity Nations (LIONS@FRICA) partnership. As Managing Partner, ATF  will support African startups with capacity building and training in venture creation.

Read all about it here.

3. University of Nairobi is setting up a $1million fund for startups founded by its alumni

Yep. The fund is a way for the university to create jobs for its graduates. Partnerships and sole proprietorships are eligible.

Read more about it here.

4. Kudimoney is now live

The online credit service has officially opened its doors to the public. Anyone can now access flexible, short-term credit to take care of emergency needs.

More information is here.

5. Delivery startup, MAX, has launched a dedicated food delivery platform in Lagos

They are calling it MAX Eats and it promises to make deliveries in 30 minutes. Orders can be made online or through the MAX Eats app which is available on iOS and Android.

Read all about it here.

6. SA’s First National Bank (FNB) banking app has won a Banking Technology Award

Their banking application won the award for Best Mobile System/Service Initiative at the Annual Banking Technology Awards held in London on December 1.

Read more about it here.

7. South African enterprise social network, Quainted, has raised $319,000 in funding

Quainted raised the money from Technogym, an Italian fitness equipment manufacturer. This is Quainted’s second funding round and it is relocating from Johannesburg to Italy to work more closely with Technogym.

More information is here.

8. Metta’s parent company, Nest, is partnering with Visa to host an intensive four-day boot camp for fintech startups

The four-day boot camp will be for early stage fintech startups working to revolutionise financial services for Africans. Applications are now open and they will be closing on February 10, 2017.  The boot camp will take place in Metta’s newly launched space in Nairobi and will kick off on March 24, 2017.

Read here for more information.

9. Four Somalian startups have received $15,000 in investment from the Innovate Accelerator program

This is the first edition of the accelerator program and it saw 12 startups pitch their ideas at a demo day wrapping up the 10-week program. First place was a tie with two companies receiving $5,000 while the 2nd and 3rd place startups received $3,000 and $2,000 respectively.

Read all about it here.

10. Register to attend Compex Africa’s strategic business forum happening in Lagos on December 9

Online business marketplace, Compex Africa, is hosting a strategic business exit forum where top experts will be speaking on the importance of planning your startup’s exit strategy and managing the process of exiting and acquiring a business.

Interested participants can register to attend here.