Inspiring Sustainable Business in Africa
UGANDA – Kenyan-founded digital payments services provider Cellulant has been granted a licence by the National Bank of Uganda to offer online payment solutions. The firm has been granted a Payments Systems Operator licence in line with the National Payments System Act, 2020, which seeks to streamline burgeoning fintech space in Uganda. By obtaining the license, Cellulant will be able…
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EGYPT – Blnk, a fintech startup that enables instant consumer credit in Egypt, has raised US$23.7 million in equity and debt funding, and US$8.3 million in securitized bond issuance to accelerate financial inclusion within underserved communities across the country. The funds will support further development of Blnk’s Artificial Intelligence-powered lending infrastructure and the financing of the company’s fast-growing portfolio of customers. …
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KENYA – Absa Bank Kenya has signed an agreement with Interswitch to provide financial assistance to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to fast track acquisition of KRA’s new electronic tax devices. The partnership between the lender and the electronic payments and infrastructure company comes just three weeks ahead of the November 30 set by the taxman. KRA extended the deadline…
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EGYPT – Brotinni, an Egyptian foodtech and dark butcher startup bringing innovation to the meat industry, has raised US$600,000 in a seed funding round led by Innlife investments. Founded by Dalia Abou Omar, Brotinni offers a platform to order hand-cut, farm-sourced and vacuum-sealed fresh meat and poultry cuts. Its offerings also include flash-frozen and ready-to-cook products and provides delivery services…
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AFRICA – Quona Capital, an emerging market venture capital (VC) firm, has raised US$332 million for its third fund, exceeding its US$250 million aim and significantly exceeding the US$203 million it disclosed for its second fund in 2020. This raises the VC’s total fund raised to over US$745 million. The funding will help fintechs establish solutions that have an impact on…
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KENYA – Sendy, a Nairobi-based on demand logistics platform, has secured an investment from KMOL PLUS, a Tokyo based investor. This is the first investment by MOL PLUS in an African startup. Sendy operates a platform that connects logistics companies and shippers in Kenya and the rest of Africa. Connecting consumer goods manufacturers and e-commerce companies’ delivery needs with individual…
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ALGERIA – Yassir, an Algerian multi-sided marketplace offering on-demand services such as ride-hailing, food and grocery delivery, banking and more, has raised US$150 million in Series B funding from prominent global investors. The investment was led by BOND, with participation from DN Capital, Dorsal Capital, Quiet Capital, Stanford Alumni Ventures (aka Spike Ventures) and Y Combinator, among other strategic investors. …
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EGYPT – Egyptian fintech startup MoneyFellows has announced the first close of its Series B round funding with a US$31 million investment to help it accelerate its growth and move into new markets. The startup raised a US$4 million Series A round back in 2020, and the US$31 million first close of its Series B was led by CommerzVentures, Middle…
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EGYPT – Sanabil Investments, a wholly owned company by Public Investment Fund, has led a US$40 million Series A investment round in Classera, a global EdTech e-learning company focused on emerging markets. “Classera has developed and successfully deployed a platform that reaches millions of users and has grown to become one of the leading emerging market e-learning solution providers globally,”…
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NIGERIA – The African Development Bank has signed an agreement with First City Monument Bank (FCMB) for a US$50 million line of credit to support access to finance for small and medium-sized and women-empowered enterprises. FCMB will use the line of credit to expand lending activities that will boost the country’s post-pandemic economic recovery and drive more inclusive and climate-resilient…
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