Did African startups raise $496M, $1B or $2B in 2019?
Five years ago, it was hard to come by any numbers for annual VC investment in Africa. These days the challenge is choosing which number to follow. That’s the case… »
Category: Egypt
Africa’s top mobile phone seller Transsion lists in Chinese IPO
Chinese mobile-phone and device maker Transsion has listed in an IPO on Shanghai’s STAR Market, a Transsion spokesperson confirmed to TechCrunch. Headquartered in Shenzhen, Transsion is a top-seller of smartphones in… »
Africa focused Andela cuts 400 staff as it confirms $50M in revenue
Africa focused tech talent accelerator Andela will cut 400 junior engineers across Kenya, Uganda, and Nigeria, CEO Jeremy Johnson told TechCrunch. The layoffs come as the startup released first time… »
What is Andela, the Africa tech talent accelerator?
As someone who covers Africa’s tech scene, I’m frequently asked about Andela . That’s not surprising, given the venture gets more global press (arguably) than any startup in Africa. I’ve… »
Y Combinator-backed Trella brings transparency to Egypt’s trucking and shipping industry
Y Combinator has become one of the key ways that startups from emerging markets get the attention of American investors. And arguably no clutch of companies has benefitted more from… »
At least 20 dead in explosion outside Cairo hospital
Blast occurred around midnight at National Cancer Institute in Egyptian capital Twenty people have been killed and 47 injured after an explosion outside a cancer hospital in central Cairo. The… »
VertoFX raises $2M for its African and EM currency trading platform
VertoFX, an Africa and emerging markets focused currency trading and payment startup, has raised a $2.1 million seed round, led by Accelerated Digital Ventures. The London based company, with a… »
‘Bent’ pyramid: Egypt opens ancient oddity for tourism
Pharoah Sneferu’s structure marks key step in Egyptian architecture, as builders had to change the angle when it started to crack Egypt has opened to visitors the “bent” pyramid built… »
Mohamed Morsi, ousted president of Egypt, dies in court
Imprisoned former leader, 67, collapses and dies while on trial on espionage charges Egypt’s first democratically elected civilian president, Mohamed Morsi, has collapsed during a court session and died, almost… »
Africa Roundup: Jumia files for IPO, OneFi acquires Amplify, FlexClub expands in Mexico
Less than a decade ago IPOs, acquisitions, and global expansion by African startups were more possibility than reality. March saw all three from the continent’s tech scene. Pan-African e-commerce company… »
Uber is paying $3.1BN to pick up Middle East rival Careem
After months and months of rumors it’s finally been confirmed that ride-hailing giant Uber is picking up its Middle East rival Careem in an acquisition deal worth $3.1 billion —… »
Nigerian fintech startup OneFi acquires payment company Amplify
Lagos based online lending startup OneFi is buying Nigerian payment solutions company Amplify for an undisclosed amount. OneFi will take over Amplify’s IP, team, and client network of over 1000… »
‘It is as if I am flying’: Egyptian journalist freed from jail after almost six years
Photographer Mahmoud Abu Zeid, AKA Shawkan, was jailed in 2013 after covering protests The award-winning Egyptian photojournalist Mahmoud Abu Zeid has been released from prison after spending nearly six years… »
One-third of UK arms sales go to states on human rights watchlist, say analysts
Figures show that since 2008 Britain has sold weaponry worth £12bn to countries about which government has serious concerns Nearly a third of arms exports authorised by Britain over the… »
Egypt arrests two people accused of helping stage naked photoshoot on pyramid
Officials question authenticity of photo and describe it as ‘violation of public morality’ Egypt has reportedly arrested two people accused of helping a Danish photographer stage a naked photoshoot on… »
British student who took photo from plane faces Egypt spying trial
Muhammed Fathi Abulkasem, 19, from Manchester accused of photographing military helicopter A 19-year-old British student is facing trial in Egypt for spying, after being accused of taking a photograph of… »
Africa Roundup: Local VC funds surge, Naspers ramps up and fintech diversifies
Jake Bright Contributor Jake Bright is a writer and author in New York City. He is co-author of The Next Africa. More posts by this contributor Tarform debuted new e-motorcycles… »
New discovery throws light on mystery of pyramids’ construction
Egyptologists stumble across ramp that helps explain how huge blocks of stones were hauled into place The mystery of how, exactly, the pyramids were built may have come a step… »
Education secretary Gavin Williamson did not ask for funds for half-term, say officials The row at the heart of government over free school meals was laid bare on Monday night… »
Campaigners call on home secretary to stop ‘industrial scale’ sexual exploitation of Romanian women ‘He beat me many times’: how trafficked women are sexually exploited in UK The home secretary,… »
