Hi guys,
Welcome to another edition of the Big 5 Daily.
Let’s dive in!
We have news that, South Africa-based crypto trading platform VALR is set to launch its digital asset trading platform after securing a US$1.5 million fund led by the US-based Bittrex. It plans to leverage the technology of BIttrex: a digital asset trading platform to offer a wide selection of digital assets. On it, customers can buy, sell, store and transfer crypto currencies seamlessly and securely.
We also have news that, Beyond Capital announced an investment of $627,000 to fund Tulaa’s expansion and a further development of its digital platform in Kenya. Tulaa is a mobile commerce solution that connects agricultural-input suppliers, financial service providers and commodity buyers to smallholder farmers. The mobile commerce solution leverages on mobile technology to enable farmers to save and borrow purchase inputs, receive tailored agronomic advice and market their crops at harvest time. Awesome news for Agriculture in Africa.
Moving on, Fundanii was one of the 53 non-profit organizations to receive micro grants from Google in 2018. This grant has helped build the Fundanii Stories website, a digital storytelling platform for kids and children’s authors aimed to educate pupils in surrounding schools in computer literacy while creating employment opportunities for those that have an interest in software development and IT. It was established by Sinovuyo Apleni and Luthando Gubevu in 2016 and located near East London, Mdantsane.
Next on the Big 5, Africa based agri-tech startup, Hello Tractor has collaborated with Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation ACP-EU (CTA) to expand and connect over 5000 smallholder farmers to its mechanization services across Nigeria and Kenya. This partnership will increase the farmer’s access to mechanization services and youth employment opportunities. It also aims to create jobs for youths as tractor operators and booking agents.
Finally on the Big 5, The African Netpreneur Prize Initiative (ANPI), powered by Jack Ma’s foundation announced the addition of three regional partners it will work with on the 10 million USD African Netpreneur Prize yesterday, 4th of March 2019. They include; Abuja-based Network of Incubators and Innovators in Nigeria (Nine), Cairo-based entrepreneurship platform RiseUp, and Johannesburg-based startup campus 22 On Sloane. They will serve as the initiative’s official western, northern, and southern African regional partners alongside Nailab, the East African partner.
That’s it for the Big 5 Daily.
Thanks for joining!
