Africa-focused edtech startups, Kukua, closed a $2.5 million series seed led by EchoVC partners. While Manuel Koser, co-founder and managing director of Silvertree, says that it is wrong and flawed for investors and entrepreneurs to focus on creating the next unicorn. That and more in today's brief.
Africell raises $100m from OPIC to expand mobile telephone and internet services in Uganda & DRC
The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the U.S. Government’s development finance institution has announced it will loan $100 million to Africell Holdings to expand access to telecommunications in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. TechMoran.
Obsession with raising $1bn to become a unicorn is wrong says Silvertree man
Speaking at a panel at the 2018 Africa Early Stage Investor Summit, hosted by VC4A at Workshop 17 in Cape Town, Koser says the focus on trying to create the next unicorn leads to what he calls a “dangerous obsession”. Ventureburn.
Free Wifi Service Launched in Surulere, Lagos by Governorship Elections candidate, BabaJide Sanwo-Olu
In Surulere, Lagos, a free wifi service was launched courtesy of BabaJide Sanwo-Olu, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Lagos State. The initiative was launched two days after he spoke about how “technology is changing the way people live, work and socialize” at a technology event at the Vibranium valley in Lagos. TechMoran.
Peer-to-Peer Bitcoin Exchange Cryptogem Launches in Zimbabwe
The exchange has opened a branch in Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, where it is offering Bitcoin trading to Zimbabweans. This is despite the de facto cryptocurrencies ban by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. Bitcoin Africa.
Mara Group's 'True African' smartphone promises affordability, quality
Africa's truly full-scale smartphone will be manufactured in South Africa and Rwanda. This was the word from Mara Group founder Ashish Thakkar, announcing his company plans to establish manufacturing plants in the two countries to produce its newest product, the Mara smartphone (Maraphone). IT Web.
Afrobytes is set to hold events across 7 cities throughout 2019
The cities that they have mapped out and the dates are; London (Dec/2018), New York (Jan/2019), San Francisco (Jan/2019), Hong Kong (Feb/2019), Nairobi (March/2019) and Addis Ababa (April/2019). Digest Africa.
Kukua secures $2.5M in a Seed round led by EchoVC
Kukua, an Edtech startup with operations in Africa, has secured a $2.5 million seed round led by EchoVC partners. Kima Ventures, Founders Factory, Burda Principal Investments and Firstminute Capital also participated in the round. Additionally, angels like Lars Fjeldsoe-Nielsen – a former VP of mobile at Uber and Dropbox – also participated. Digest Africa.
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