Latest news with #AfricaTechSummit
Zawya
21-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Industry leaders and investors convene at Africa Tech Summit London to unlock global capital for African tech ventures
The 9th Africa Tech Summit London, taking place at the London Stock Exchange on June 6th 2025, aims to facilitate access to global capital for African tech ventures. Supported by partners including Amazon Web Services, London Stock Exchange, Fincra, Flutterwave, Tola Mobile, Bank of America, the UK Department for Business and Trade, Payaza Africa, Wimbart, and TLP Advisor, the summit is set to welcome over 350 investors, founders, and industry leaders to discuss how African ventures can scale globally, navigate new economic realities, and unlock funding. High level speakers from organizations playing a significant role in accelerating investment flows across Africa including; Helios Investment Partners, Cassava Technologies, Novastar Ventures, Deloitte, Goodwin, and Catalyst Fund, will share insights and unpack the latest on capital raising and IPOs, Generative AI, Global Payments, the Web3 Landscape, Digital Identity, Cross-Border Trade, the Africa Funding Resurgence, Future Trends, and more. The African startup ecosystem has shown remarkable resilience and innovation despite a slowdown in funding since 2022. According to Africa: The Big Deal, last month alone, startups across the continent raised $343mn, marking the second-best April on record since 2022. On the other hand, startups raised $803mn between January and April 2025, a 43 per cent increase from $563mn raised in the same period last year. Economic uncertainties have created a volatile economic environment in the region, negatively impacting investment flows. However, investor confidence is returning, with over 225 unique investors participating in deals so far this year. If the trend continues, total funding is projected to surpass the 2024 figures. 'This is a critical time for African ventures,' said Andrew Fassnidge, Founder of Africa Tech Summit. 'The funding taps may have slowed, but the appetite for scalable, impactful African solutions hasn't gone anywhere. We aim to connect ventures with global investors and capital markets at the London Stock Exchange next month. In a complex, shifting economic landscape, we need bold conversations, real opportunities, and capital that moves.' The Africa Tech Summit London investment showcase continues to provide a platform connecting leading African tech ventures and investors. This year, 13 ventures offering solutions across SAAS, Fintech, Legal, Healthtech, HRTech, Blockchain, Payments, Climatetech, and Cybersecurity have been selected and they include: Blockradar (Africa) offers a wallet-as-a-service product that provides fintechs with secure, scalable wallet infrastructure to power stablecoin transactions. Blueroomcare LTD (Nigeria) is breaking barriers in mental health care by tackling stigma, improving access, and making therapy more affordable for Nigerians. Build Africa (Nigeria) leverages AI to make it affordable for property builders and owners to construct homes across Africa. CtrlFleet (South Africa) is a one-stop shop for the logistics and freight industry, offering a complete suite of tools designed to streamline operations and enhance efficiency. Lawyered Up (South Africa) leverages Artificial Intelligence (AI) to solve the inefficiency of traditional legal processes, making legal support more accessible, efficient, and affordable for SMEs and startups. MyItura (Nigeria) is solving the problem of fragmented, inaccessible, and unaffordable healthcare by providing individuals with a seamless way to consult doctors, access tests, order medication, and manage health records. NotchHR (Nigeria) is an HR and people management software that simplifies and automates HR processes for businesses of all sizes. NjiaPay Group (South Africa) is a payments-as-a-service provider that simplifies payment processes for online businesses across Africa. Pika Insights (Nigeria) provides real-time market intelligence on informal commerce in emerging markets and informal retail sectors. Rafiki (South Africa) combines custom-built software with embedded expert and talent services to help flexible teams collaborate, contract, and get paid instantly. Smartfill Ltd (South Africa) is increasing food affordability and reducing plastic pollution by eliminating single-use plastic and unnecessary packaging through smart IoT-enabled dispensers. straitPay (Pan African) is simplifying intra-African payments and boosting the flow of funds across African countries. WALLX Africa (Nigeria) addresses B2B payment fraud issues such as payment diversions and unauthorised transactions using PayCodes. To join the conversation at the ninth Africa Tech Summit London, register here About Africa Tech Summit Africa Tech Summit London connects tech leaders from the African ecosystem and international players under one roof, at the London Stock Exchange. Network and do business with tech corporates, investors, leading ventures, and industry stakeholders, driving business and investment forward. Following three consecutive sold-out years, the ninth edition will convene on June 6, 2025.
Zawya
10-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Africa Tech Summit returns to the London Stock Exchange
London – The 9th Africa Tech Summit London will convene at the London Stock Exchange on 6 June 2025, reinforcing the critical role of London as a gateway for capital and partnerships in Africa's continuously evolving tech ecosystem. This year's summit comes at a pivotal time for the African tech landscape, as tech ventures across the continent experienced a decrease in gross funding, with $3.2bn secured in 2024 - a 7% decline year-on-year, according to Partech's 2024 Africa Tech Venture Capital Report. The summit, kindly supported by the London Stock Exchange, Amazon Web Services, Flutterwave, Tola Mobile, 4G Capital and more, will host 350+ leaders, including founders, investors, and policymakers and feature keynotes, sector-focused panels, and fireside chats, alongside networking opportunities to accelerate business partnerships. The summit will spotlight pathways to foster growth, with a focus on climate tech, scaling, and cross-border partnerships. A dedicated Africa Climate Tech and Investment Summit on 5 June will highlight the continent's emergence as a climate innovation hub, with climate ventures securing $413.9m (33% of all African venture funding in 2024, per Dabafinance). Andrew Fassnidge, Founder of Africa Tech Summit, noted: "The African tech ecosystem has evolved from early-stage innovation to a maturing market primed for scale and exits. Returning to the London Stock Exchange for our ninth edition highlights its role in connecting African tech ventures with global capital. With climate tech surging, investor confidence rebuilding, and IPO pipelines strengthening, we're excited to see another chapter of Africa's tech story being written here." The London Stock Exchange's participation underscores its commitment to providing a premier platform for African companies seeking to scale. Currently, over 140 African businesses are listed on London markets, and the exchange actively facilitates access to international capital. Abi Ajayi, Head of Primary Markets, Middle East & Africa at the London Stock Exchange, commented: "We are delighted to welcome back the Africa Tech Summit. Our partnership reflects the London Stock Exchange's important role as a financing destination for African companies and our purpose of convening companies with capital. From fintech to climate tech, we are committed to supporting growth companies and delivering opportunities that enable companies to connect with investors, advisors, and the wider community." Early bird tickets for Africa Tech Summit London and Africa Climate Tech and Investment Summit are now on sale HERE About Africa Tech Summit Africa Tech Summit London connects tech leaders from the African ecosystem and international players under one roof, at the London Stock Exchange. Network and do business with tech corporates, investors, leading ventures, and industry stakeholders, driving business and investment forward. Following three consecutive sold-out years, the ninth edition will convene on June 6, 2025. For more information: Email: register@ Social: Twitter: @AfricaTechSMT LinkedIn: Africa Tech Summit Instagram: ATS Instagram Facebook: Africa Tech Summit HQ Media Contact: Emily Okello emily@
Voice of America
19-02-2025
- Business
- Voice of America
Solar refrigerators in Kenya reduce food waste
Milk and egg vendor Caroline Mukundi has lost a lot of her stock in her years of selling fresh food at a Nairobi market. Mukundi said she had no way to keep food fresh, and the cost of refrigerating was out of reach. 'The food would go bad,' she said, and she would have to throw it away. 'It was a big challenge for me.' Mukundi said her situation turned around when she acquired a solar-powered refrigerator. The refrigerators, named Koolboks and manufactured in Kenya, are fitted with ice compartments that can chill food even without a source of power. The devices can keep food cool for up to four days without electricity, even with limited sunlight. Customers can buy the refrigerators on a customized payment model, said Natalie Casey, chief business officer at the Koolboks startup company. 'They can be between 1,500 and 3,000 US dollars, because it includes not only the appliances but also the solar panels and battery storage to enable the continuous cooling,' she said. 'We've decided what might be more accessible to them is to first pay a down payment between 20 and 35% of the total, and the customer can pay in installments of up to 24 months.' Koolboks has sold about 7,000 solar-powered refrigerators. Conventional refrigerators for businesses can cost anywhere from $11,000 to $100,000 or more, said Dorothy Otieno, program manager at the Center for Environmental Justice and Development. 'Some businesses, especially small businesses, are not able to afford it,' she said. 'We are looking at, for example, how businesses can be supported to get access to [the Koolboks refrigerators], especially for communities that are not able to afford,' she said. The refrigerator was among dozens of innovations showcased at the recent Africa Tech Summit in Nairobi. The conference's founder, Andrew Fassnidge, told VOA that such creations are crucial to solving local problems on the continent. 'What's interesting with ... Koolboks refrigeration is, if we look at the Covid vaccine, one of the biggest issues at the time was refrigeration, and it's still an issue in most markets,' he said. Koolboks markets a refrigerator specifically for vaccines. The refrigerators could have an impact on climate change, too. A 2024 survey by the U.N. Environmental Program showed Kenya has a high level of food waste, with annual waste ranging from 40 to 100 kilograms per person. Environmentalists say high levels of organic waste worsen climate change, so preventing food waste can have an impact.
Zawya
18-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Winners announced for the Africa Tech Summit Awards 2025
Nairobi, Kenya, Africa Tech Summit Awards announced the 2025 winners, recognising the leading entrepreneurs and ventures shaping the tech industry across the continent. The awards ceremony was held during the seventh edition of Africa Tech Summit Nairobi, powered by Raenest, which connected over 1,600 tech leaders from more than 65 countries to do business. Lauren Adair, Director of Africa Tech Summit, said: 'The Awards were created to celebrate tech companies driving business and growth across a range of sectors and it was fantastic to host so many finalists doing this, all in one room. A huge thank you to our independent judging panel and to everyone who joined us in recognising their achievements, cheering them on and closing the seventh Africa Tech Summit Nairobi on a high.' Winners of the Africa Tech Summit Awards are: Agritech Award - Mazao AgClimate Limited (Tanzania): With over 50 million smallholder farmers at risk of losing arable land due to the overuse of synthetic fertilizers and deforestation, MazaoHub aims to restore soil health, reduce fertilizer dependency, and prevent environmental collapse, enabling both ecological balance and food security. AI Award - Cassava Technologies (South Africa): Cassava Technologies is pioneering AI-driven infrastructure to enhance connectivity, cybersecurity, and cloud services. Their innovations ensure businesses and individuals can access secure, scalable, and affordable digital solutions, fueling Africa's digital economy. Climate Tech Award - Sabi (Nigeria): Sabi's Technology Rails for African Commodity Exchange (TRACE) platform is a blockchain-enabled climate technology that delivers real-time traceability, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) compliance, and carbon tracking for commodities like cocoa, lithium, and copper. Cross Border Payments Award - Flutterwave (Nigeria): Flutterwave's Send App simplifies international remittances, helping individuals and businesses transfer money seamlessly across 35+ countries, including the UK, US, Canada, Nigeria, and Kenya in minutes. Digital Commerce Award - OmniRetail (Nigeria): Retail trade in Africa is highly fragmented, with nearly 90 per cent of retailers relying on the traditional distribution system. OmniRetail is digitizing the retail sector by simplifying distribution and enabling better access to essential goods. EdTech Award - Ikusasa Technology Solutions (South Africa): Championing inclusive education, Ikusasa Technology Solutions is digitizing vocational training through its SMART Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) initiative. Enterprise Award - Smile ID (Nigeria): Africa faces significant challenges in identity verification, with over 400 million individuals lacking reliable IDs. Smile ID addresses this gap by providing innovative solutions that verify identities in real time, reduce fraud risks, and enable secure transactions. FemTech Award - My Pregnancy Journey (South Africa): The first African-focused maternal digital health app, offering culturally relevant pregnancy tracking, local health expert connections, and a digital ecosystem that supports women from pregnancy through postpartum. FinTech Award - HUB2 (Mauritius): Cross-border payments in Francophone Africa remain complex, with over 100 mobile money operators and numerous banks working independently. This fragmentation makes it challenging for businesses to navigate and integrate payment systems. HUB2 addresses this issue by providing a single API that consolidates mobile money, bank transfers, card payments, and cryptocurrency, simplifying the transaction process. Health Tech Award - Zuri Health (Kenya): Is a pioneering digital healthcare platform that ensures affordable and accessible healthcare across Africa. With virtual consultations, AI-powered diagnostics, pharmacy delivery, and chronic care management, Zuri Health serves patients via mobile apps, WhatsApp, SMS, and websites. Web3 Award - MiniPay (Nigeria): Millions of people in emerging markets lack access to essential financial services, and many find blockchain and cryptocurrency products intimidating. Integrated into Opera Mini, MiniPay enables fast and low-cost peer-to-peer transactions using USD Coin (USDC), Tether (USDT), and Celo Dollar (cUSD). Female Tech Innovator - Chinwe Udo-Davis (Nigeria): Chinwe is the Co-Founder & CEO of Instollar, a green energy marketplace that addresses the limited access to clean, reliable energy in Africa, particularly in rural and underserved areas. InstallHer trains women in solar installation, empowering them with skills and creating job opportunities in the green economy. Young Tech Innovator - Maxwell Opondo (Kenya): He developed Zerobionic, a robotic arm that responds to sign language, enabling real-time communication and interaction for students with hearing impairments. Africa Tech Summit Nairobi, powered by Raenest, featured a range of exciting activities, including the launch of the Africa Climate Tech and Sustainability report, developed in partnership with The Sixth D and Mercy Corps Ventures. This report offers valuable insights from leading practitioners investing in and implementing climate tech innovations across Africa. Additionally, the summit marked the inauguration of Project Jacaranda, a groundbreaking collaboration between Sirona's Direct Air Capture and Cella's permanent carbon storage technologies in Kenya. Industry leaders will convene at Africa Tech Summit London on June 6th, 2025 at the London Stock Exchange. About Africa Tech Summit Nairobi Africa Tech Summit Nairobi (ATSNBO) is a leading African tech event providing insight and networking with the African tech ecosystem. ATSNBO brings together tech leaders, MNOs, banks, international investors, entrepreneurs, governments, trade bodies, media and leading ventures to drive investment and business in African tech.
Zawya
29-01-2025
- Business
- Zawya
55 finalists announced for the inaugural Africa Tech Summit Awards 2025
Nairobi, Kenya – The Africa Tech Summit Awards has announced the 2025 finalists, celebrating individuals and companies impacting the technology sector across the continent. The winners will be revealed at the awards gathering on February 13th during the seventh edition of Africa Tech Summit Nairobi. The summit, taking place on February 12th and 13th, 2025, will bring together over 2,000 industry leaders and more than 1000 companies, providing a platform for networking, collaboration, and knowledge sharing. The Africa Tech Summit Awards highlight achievements in 11 sector categories and two individual categories, celebrating the companies and leaders shaping Africa's tech landscape and addressing critical challenges on the continent. The 55 companies were selected from a pool of over 300 applications received. A panel of independent judges evaluated all applications based on innovation, impact, scalability, and relevance to the African market. Lauren Adair, Director of Africa Tech Summit commented: 'We're delighted to announce the finalists for the inaugural Africa Tech Summit Awards. With over 300 entries, our judges had the tough task of narrowing it down to only 5 finalists in each category. All the finalists are transforming their sectors and driving growth across the continent, and we look forward to celebrating their achievements in Nairobi next month.' The 2025 finalists include: Agritech AFEX (Nigeria), ChipChip (Ethiopia), Mazao AgClimate Limited (Tanzania), Keep it Cool (Kenya), and Winich Farms (Nigeria). Artificial Intelligence Cassava Technologies (South Africa), Chpter (Kenya), NextAV (Tunisia), Tawi Fresh (Kenya), and ToumAI Analytics (Morocco). Climate Tech Afrilogic Solutions (Ghana), Innovex (U) Ltd (Uganda), Instollar Technologies (Nigeria), Sabi (Nigeria) and Takazuri (Kenya). Cross Border Payments Aza Finance (Kenya), Flutterwave (Nigeria), Grey (Nigeria), WeWire (Nigeria), and Yellow Card (South Africa). Digital Commerce OmniRetail (Nigeria), Sendmercury (Nigeria), SwiftVEE (South Africa), Tawi Fresh (Kenya), and Tola (Ireland). EdTech Cassava Technologies (South Africa), DirectEd Development (Kenya), Hermplify (Nigeria), Ikusasa Technology Solutions(South Africa), and Laboussole (Cameroon). Enterprise Andela (United States), Beacon Power Services (Nigeria), Froid Energy Ltd (Kenya), Incentro Africa (Kenya) and Smile ID (Nigeria). FemTech Babysteps (Kenya), Hermplify (Nigeria), Mara Scientific (Uganda), My Pregnancy Journey (South Africa), and Sanicle Digital Health (United States). Fintech Flow (Uganda), HUB2 (Mauritius), Peach Payments (South Africa), Valu (Eqypt), and Yellow Card (South Africa). Health Tech Antara Health (Kenya), ION Kenya (Kenya), OneHealth (Nigeria), Remedial Health (Nigeria) and Zuri Health (Kenya) Web3 ICP Hub (Kenya), Investa Farm (Kenya), MiniPay (Nigeria), Sabi (Nigeria), and Yellow Card (South Africa) All finalists will receive tickets to Africa Tech Summit Nairobi and recognition within the industry. Winners will receive a physical Africa Tech Summit Award. This recognition opens the door to networking opportunities and the potential to attract investors and partners. About Africa Tech Summit Nairobi Africa Tech Summit Nairobi (ATSNBO) is a leading African tech event providing insight and networking with the African tech ecosystem. ATSNBO brings together tech leaders, MNOs, banks, international investors, entrepreneurs, governments, trade bodies, media and leading ventures to drive investment and business in African tech. Social: Twitter: @AfricaTechSMT LinkedIn: Africa Tech Summit Instagram: ATS Instagram Facebook: Africa Tech Summit HQ Media Contact: emily@
