Startups + Innovations
Sub-Saharan Africa

- 27.05.2023
- Engineering for Change
- Growing numbers of innovators across the continent are responding to the plastic waste challenge. The main challenge is scaling. This is slow on the continent. Startups in the recycling industry face additional challenges like inadequate funding and an under-developed plastic market that offers limited opportunities for growth and income generation.

- 27.05.2023
- Mercy Corps
- Despite their essential role, SME are underserved in several crucial areas that could hinder their growth and resilience. These areas include the supply chains they use, their access to markets and information, their access to financial services. We are interested in understanding and investing in solutions to what we see as one of the most important disruptors to these communities: climate change

- 27.05.2023
- The Nation
- ColdHubs Ltd. is a social enterprise in Nigeria that designs, installs, commissions and operates 100 per cent solar-powered, walk-in cold rooms known as “ColdHubs”. Heifer International has supported ColdHubs to build a 100-tonne capacity offgrid solar-powered storage solutions in Danmagaji market, Zaria, Kaduna State.

- 19.05.2023
- it web
- Amini is focused on solving Africa’s environmental data gap through artificial intelligence and satellite technology. Founded in 2022 by Kate Kallot, Amini was designed to address Africa's data scarcity, facilitate capital investment, promote climate resilience, and accelerate economic development opportunities in the region.

- 17.05.2023
- Techjaja
- Karaa, an e-Bike tracking, charging, retrofit, and rentals startup, aims to provide affordable delivery services, empower local youth, and leverage surplus clean electricity in Uganda. In an interview we had with him, Mutabazi shares the story on the inspiration behind Karaa, its potential impact, and the future of clean energy in Uganda.

- 16.05.2023
- TechCrunch
- Figorr (previously Gricd) runs IoT-powered solutions that provide businesses, especially those in healthcare and agriculture, with key data such as location, humidity and temperature of highly perishable products, helping entrepreneurs to cut the losses that emerge from lack of such visibility.

- 15.05.2023
- techcabal
- In previous years, Africa’s tech ecosystem was awash with venture capital but that has changed in the last six months. Owing to the funding downturn, founders are beginning to embrace debt financing. Techcabal has released its new report "The State of Tech in Africa Q1/2023" with interesting insights on the investor landscape in and for Africa. Here are some excerpts from the report.

- 14.05.2023
- TechTrendsKE
- This delivery represents the largest fleet of electric buses to enter operation with a single Nairobi bus operator. In addition to being 100% electric, MetroTrans and BasiGo are partnering to make these buses 100% cashless, bringing ease and convenience payments to passengers.

- 13.05.2023
- New Times
- SLS Energy, a local startup focusing on recycling lead-cell batteries is among the top 10 African startup companies selected to benefit from the inaugural seven month equity-free mentorship program by tech giants Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. The program is the first of its kind in Africa and is designed to add to the continued growth of the continent’s technology startup ecosystem, Rwanda inclusive

- 12.05.2023
- INNO-NEAT Energy Solutions
- In many rural communities, people rely on contaminated surface water or untreated groundwater for drinking and cooking. These sources of water often contain harmful bacteria, viruses, and parasites that cause waterborne diseases. This is where solar-powered water filters come in.

- 12.05.2023
- Techcabal
- Today, African startups are faced with a new reality where investor appetite has dropped. Some founders told TechCabal that in response to this, there has been a shift towards forgoing venture capital and instead focusing on attaining profitability. Considering the waning investor appetite, it is now highly recommended that founders approach investors with lower valuations for their startups.

- 11.05.2023
- Yahoo News
- The taxable benefit will be based on the fair market value of the startup’s shares at the end of the five years or at the time of the disposal, and where unavailable, the tax commissioner will make the determination based on the startup’s financial statements. If the changes are adopted, the special tax regime will come into effect on July 1.

- 06.05.2023
- Africa e-mobility alliance
- Kenya Power is looking to leverage new business frontiers as part of its 5-year Strategic Plan. The new e-mobility tariff has been set at 16 Kenyan shillings for energy consumption up to 15,000 kWh during peak periods and 8 Kenyan shillings per kWh during off-peak periods, also up to 15,000 kWh. 16 Kenyan shillings works out to 12 US cents/kWh at the current exchange rate.

- 06.05.2023
- The Independent
- The off-road three-wheelers are being offered by Mobility for Africa (MFA), a company registered in Mauritius and operating in Zimbabwe. It provides environmentally sustainable mobility services to rural communities, particularly women. The e-tricycle is a custom-built electric tricycle powered by swappable solar-charged battery packs, as a fleet system with a central charging station.

- 06.05.2023
- CleanTechnica
- Spiro is the largest EV platform in Africa, with over 6,000 electric motorcycles and scooters and more than 30,000 projected for the end of 2023. Originally called M-Auto, Spiro started operations in Benin and Togo, West Africa, in May 2022. Spiro is now expanding to East Africa starting with Rwanda and Uganda.