Hi guys,
Welcome to another edition of the Big 5 Daily.
Let’s dive in!
We have news that International Finance Corporation (IFC) has set aside 6 million USD for tech startups in Sub Saharan Africa (Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa). The fund will be controlled by Tide Africa, a subsidiary of TLcom Capital LLP. Tide Africa will control the identification and funding of the technology enabled and innovative startups in Sub Saharan Africa. This is an interesting news for Startups.
Moving on, Uganda has test-driven its first Electric car within Kamapla, Mbarara, Kisoro and back for 1000 kilometers. The Kiira EVS electric vehicle powered by Kiira Motors Corporation was set to kick off in 2018 but couldn’t due to certain setbacks. The government however reviewed the timeline with productions set for later this year. This is a good one for Africa don’t you think so?
Wema bank has launched a Hackathon for tech startups competition. The program is meant to bring software developers and digital solutions to challenges, which will drive business ideas and grow technology in the world. All participants will analyze, strategize, brainstorm and develop solutions for the given problem areas, which a team of reliable judges will screen. Hackaholic is set to kick-off from the 29th to the 31st of March, 2019. All innovators, developers and coding experts across Nigeria are invited to apply. Prizes includes; funding, access to the Wema Bank Codeville incubator and accelerator program, exposure to investors and opportunities to deploy solutions.
Interested? Click here to register.
Next on the Big 5, the independent telecoms tower infrastructure company, Helios Towers Ltd. announced an agreement with Africa’s Vulatel Ltd to build 1000 telecommunication towers in South Africa over the next three years. Helios entered South Africa last month by striking a local partnership and buying an independent tower operator, giving it a foothold in a country expected to lead sub-Saharan Africa in rolling out faster, fifth-generation networks.
Finally on the Big 5 Daily, Vodacom has partnered with Apple to become the first Telco in South Africa to offer access to the Device Enrollment Programme (DEP) to its customers. The program will ensure that all business offered with any Apple device is secured, set up and configured correctly. This allows organizations to; activate supervised mode over the air, continue exercising supervisory privileges over time, Simplify the end user’s initial experience within Apple’s Setup Assistant, enforce MDM enrolment within Setup Assistant.
More on TechGist Africa:
- Jack Ma Announces $10m Netpreneur Prize for Africa Startups, FSD Opens Submission for US$130,000 Startup Grant and More
- Amazon Launches PayCode in Kenya, Telecoming, Ubongo Partner and More
- Kenya’s BRCK Acquires Surf; Becomes One of Africa’s Biggest Wifi Network Provider, AirtelTigo Business launched in Ghana and Much More
- Nigeria’s CcHUB Expands to Rwanda, UBA Partners Google on Wifi Hotspot, Conlog, Econet and More
- UNESCO, Armor to Supply African Pupils Photo-Voltaic Films, NCC Fines Telecoms $205,394.04 For Violation and More