Hi guys,
Welcome to today’s edition of the Big 5 Daily! While we gear towards the weekend, please try your hands on this juicy innovative information from Africa.
Have a fun read!
This one is for techies! Google has revealed plans to focus on Artificial Intelligence Startups in its next Launchpad Accelerator program for Africa. This move is in a bid to support more AI-focused startups growth through its accelerator program. Isn’t that awesome!
Next on the Big 5, Los Angeles-based micro-loan startup ‘Tala’, has secured $110 million Series D funding. The firm plans to leverage the fund which values it at about $800 million to expand its services to West Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Did you hear? Popular African e-commerce store Jumia Technologies has identified improper sales at its Nigerian sales-force. These sales contributed to 4% of its first-quarter sales. Some of these orders were made through J-Force–a team of independent Nigerian sales consultants. The orders account for 2% of 2018 gross merchandise volume and eventually rose to 4% in the first quarter of 2019. Could Citron research be right?
Guess what? Airtel Africa is trying its hands-on mobile money. The telecommunications company is set to launch a mobile money service in Abuja, Nigeria. The telco revealed that they are looking to secure the confirmation of a brand name and at the same time obtain a license for the service. What do you think?
Finally, Estonian ride-hailing company Bolt has deepened its services by launching an on-demand food delivery Service ‘Bolt Food’. They will leverage this move to compete with other online food delivery services. However, the service will first begin in Tallinn, Estonia and afterward spread to other countries.
That’s it for today’s Big 5 Daily!
Thanks for joining!