In rural South Sudan, where venomous snakebites claim thousands of lives annually, a new AI initiative is giving healthcare workers a lifeline. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is piloting an AI-driven app that can identify dangerous snake species, offering hope in a region where access to effective treatments is scarce. With snakebites killing between 81,000 and 138,000 people globally each year, this solution could help save lives by ensuring the right antivenom is administered promptly. Tackling A Neglected Crisis Snakebite envenoming is one of the world’s most overlooked tropical diseases, with
Bolt Kenya has awarded 10 drivers with KSh 288,000 ($2,200) each in seed funding as part of its first-ever accelerator program. The awards, amounting to a total of €20,000 ($22,400) mark the culmination of a six-month program aimed at creating innovation in Kenya’s mobility sector. A Platform for Innovation The Bolt Accelerator, launched in April 2024, provided drivers with business training, mentorship, and funding to create innovative solutions for transport and delivery services. The program attracted over 800 applications from Bolt drivers and couriers, including ideas for electric vehicle charging
Nigerian e-health startup, Field, has unveiled a new service aimed at addressing Africa’s maternal mortality crisis. Backed by a $11 million investment from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Field’s initiative focuses on emerging therapies for maternal, newborn, and child health as well as improving nutrition across the continent. Helping healthcare access Co-founded in 2015 by Michael Moreland, Justin Lorenzon, and Peter Bunor, Field has already made significant strides in transforming healthcare delivery through its pharmaceutical supply chain solutions, operating in Nigeria and Kenya. The company has supported over 800
Kofa Technologies, a Ghanaian company specializing in portable clean energy solutions, has announced an expansion of its battery-swapping network, supported by a £6.15 million (approximately $5 million) initiative. The project, led by Kofa and impact investor PASH Global and backed by Shell Foundation, the UK Government, and PASH Global, aims to accelerate electric vehicle (EV) adoption and clean energy access in Ghana. EV Battery Swapping Kofa’s battery-swapping network aims to provide a sustainable, cost-effective solution to reduce urban pollution and boost EV adoption. The system allows users to swap depleted
Out of Africa’s 100 most-funded startups since 2019, only three have female CEOs, according to Africa: The Big Deal. Of the three female CEOs, only two are Black women. Despite over $1 billion raised by giants like MTN-Halan, Sun King, and OPay, female leadership remains rare at the top. No Women Leading Top 10 Funded Ventures All top 10 ventures in terms of funding are led by men. In fact all startups that raised over $100 million since 2019 have male CEOs. Even beyond the top ventures, the disparity continues. Gro
The UK government has launched an initiative to strengthen science, technology, and innovation systems across West Africa, with a new £1.9 million ($2.5 million) funding package. The initiative, named Sankore, was announced by Lord Collins, UK Minister for Africa, at a press conference in Accra. This project is part of the West Africa Research and Innovation Hub (WARIH), designed to support economic growth in the region by driving innovation and strengthening digital services. Focus on Ghana and Nigeria The Sankore project will primarily focus on Ghana and Nigeria, two of
Uncap has launched Unconventional Capital, a new €30 million (USD 33.4 million) fund to provide early-stage African small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with alternative financing. Backed by major institutions like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Bayer Foundation, the fund will focus on high-impact sectors such as agriculture, climate resilience, and financial inclusion, driving economic development across Africa. A New Approach to Financing Based in Munich and Nairobi, Uncap has been working to close the capital gap for African businesses since 2019, using a remote, data-driven approach. The
Kredete, a Nigerian fintech platform, has raised $2.25 million in seed funding, enhancing its ability to serve African immigrants in the U.S. The funding round, led by Blockchain Founders Fund (BFF), also included investors like Techstars, Tezos Foundation, Polymorphic Capital, among others. Kredete’s mission is to help African immigrants build credit while simplifying remittances, transforming how they send money home. Addressing Financial Barriers for African Immigrants Kredete’s innovative approach has attracted a user base of over 300,000 and processed transactions exceeding $100 million. The platform allows immigrants to send money
TikTok has announced the formation of its inaugural Sub-Saharan Africa Safety Advisory Council, an initiative aimed at ensuring user safety across the region. This council, the first of its kind for a tech platform in Sub-Saharan Africa, was launched in Nairobi, Kenya. A Regional First for Tech Safety With millions of Africans using the platform for creativity and self-expression, the new council brings together independent experts across various fields, from youth safety to combating hate speech, to help shape policies that maintain TikTok’s reputation as a safe online environment. The
Chpter, an AI-powered conversational commerce platform, recently secured $1.2 million in pre-seed funding to drive the growth of its business. Chpter’s platform helps businesses sell more efficiently on popular social platforms such as WhatsApp, TikTok, and Instagram by automating conversations, marketing, and payments. Making social media sales easier As social commerce continues to grow in Africa—where e-commerce is projected to reach $46 billion by 2025—many businesses face challenges managing customer interactions and conversions, according to Chpter. To address these challenges, Mesongo Sibuti (CTO), Kuria Kevin (CPO), Mark Kiarie (COO) and Tesh Mbaabu (CEO) partnered to build Chpter. Chpter’s
