Said El Mansour Cherkaoui – Originally published on June 18, 2023 6:48 am
Give me that High Five, We Got the World to Believe in Our Fine TechShow – Dreams of Rolling the Mechanics and the Dice over Silicon Valley and the World of “Incredulous Investors.” Babe, Let’s Buy an Island and Go Around the World
Global Fintech Funding and Rounds from Q1 2022 to Q2 2023
EMEA Fintech Funding takes the largest dive YoY in H1 2023, compared to other regions
Africa has over half a billion mobile money accounts and it is the largest and fastest-growing fintech segment on the continent
Egypt, Iran, and Saudi Arabia technically have the largest addressable market sizes for fintech across the MENA region
African Startups Not Celebrating the New Year 2024
How many startups fail in USA? Approximately 10% of startups fail within the first year. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the startup failure rate increases over time, and the most significant percentage of businesses that fail are younger than 10 years. Over the long run, 90% of startups fail. Startup ★ Stars … Continue reading
African Startups Not Celebrating 2024
The companies are well positioned to benefit from the growth of Africa’s tech but they must address the needs of African users
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Last year, Google’s Equiano undersea cable began conveying terabytes of data per second to and from African shores. Valued at $1 billion, Equiano stretches from Western Europe to South Africa and has 20 times the capacity of the previous cables that served the continent. According to Google projections, the new cable has the potential to transform Africa’s economy by creating millions of jobs, reducing data costs by nearly 20%, and enabling a fivefold increase in internet speeds.
Other prominent US-based tech companies are also investing heavily in Africa. Amazon is in the midst of constructing its African headquarters in South Africa, while Microsoft recently launched an initiative to bring internet access to 100 million Africans by 2025. Meanwhile, Meta (formerly Facebook) is building 2Africa, an undersea cable expected to be the world’s longest when it is completed in 2024.
The impetus for these investments is the growing recognition that the future of America’s technology industry hinges on expanding its African customer base. Today, a little over a third of Africa’s 1.4 billion people use the internet, representing a small fraction of the world’s internet users. But the continent’s population is projected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050 one-quarter of the global total. The vast majority of Africans are expected to become internet users by then, offering tech companies opportunities that no other region can match.
Still, there is no guarantee that the investments made by Google and other US tech companies will pay off. In recent years, foreign competitors, particularly China-based firms, have also recognized Africa’s immense potential for the technology sector, leading to intense competition for market shares.
Currently, no single actor dominates African markets. Whereas Chinese companies lead in some sectors, such as telecommunications hardware, US companies prevail in software platforms, operating systems, and search. Meanwhile, African-owned fintech companies and startups are growing rapidly, and the continent’s undersea cables and data centers are managed by a diverse set of local and remote enterprises.
The most persistent challenge facing Big Tech firms in Africa is their ignorance of and disregard for Africans’ preferences and needs. For example, some US analysts have expressed concern about the rise of Chinese companies such as Transsion, which manufactures nearly half of Africa’s smartphones. But the main reason companies such as Apple and Google struggle to compete is that their products are priced as luxury goods and are ill-suited for consumers in low-income countries. The base price of the iPhone 14, the top-selling phone in the United States, is $799, nearly half of Sub-Saharan Africa’s GDP per capita. Transsion’s phones, by contrast, sell for as little as $20.
Likewise, data localization is widely supported by African governments, researchers, and citizens. But Big Tech companies vehemently oppose efforts to store data on African citizens within their countries of origin.
To be sure, data localization is not always cost-effective and could be used by governments to undermine civil rights. But studies commissioned by the Internet Society show that efforts to localize internet traffic in Nigeria and Kenya have reduced prices, decreased latency, and fueled the growth of the local tech ecosystem. Conversely, as Nima Elmi observed, Big Tech’s approach effectively perpetuates African countries’ status as consumers of “foreign tech innovations that are developed using their own data and then sold back to them.”
Big Tech firms’ labor and recruitment practices are another example of their disregard for Africa’s needs and interests. At the top end of the pay scale, African policymakers are concerned that tech giants’ tendency to poach top talent will undermine the growth of their domestic industries. Meanwhile, these companies face legal action for subjecting content moderators, many of whom are based in Nairobi, to traumatizing experiences and inadequate wages.
Moreover, the proliferation of disinformation and incitement on social media has severely eroded the reputation of US-based platforms like Facebook, which has fueled violent conflict in Ethiopia and provided fertile ground for extremist groups such as the al-Qaeda-backed al-Shabaab. For years, Facebook ignored organized criminal groups’ use of its platform to lure Africans into domestic servitude. The company finally acted only after Apple threatened to remove Facebook and Instagram from its app store.
Given Big Tech’s record of ignoring and neglecting Africans’ needs and concerns, it is no wonder that African governments have begun to explore alternatives. Nigeria, for example, imposed a seven-month ban on Twitter in 2021, lifting it only after the company agreed to open a local office, pay taxes, and cooperate with national-security agencies. Other countries, such as Kenya, have threatened similar bans.
With their unparalleled expertise and world-class technology, US companies are well positioned to benefit from the growth of Africa’s tech market. But to maximize this opportunity, they must address the needs of African users. Moreover, establishing stronger partnerships with the burgeoning African tech industry could greatly benefit these companies, enabling them to tailor their technologies to the preferences of underserved users and mitigate the impact of disinformation. By fostering relationships with Africa-based researchers and civil-society groups, US tech companies could support the creation of a healthy digital ecosystem that promotes prosperity, security, and accountability for all users.
Over the past few years, Big Tech firms’ failure to address privacy concerns and combat disinformation has prompted a growing debate about the apparent conflict between their professed values and their bottom lines. But to succeed in Africa, US-based tech companies must recognize the falseness of this dichotomy. While investing in African businesses may yield financial rewards, investing in African citizens is the key to unlocking the continent’s vast economic potential.
***** The Independent June 13, 2023 Business, In The Magazine – Source: Project Syndicate.
AFRICAFRIQUE TECH ECOSYSTEM
The Reality of Digital Network and Startup / Tech Hubs in Africa
During the first quarter of 2020, Africa has 522 million internet users representing 11.5% and was ranked third in the global tally. The first one wa Asia that accounts for more than half of the global internet users. Data gathered by Learnbonds indicates that during the first quarter of 2020, the Asian continent accounted for 2.3 billion users representing about 50.3% of the global users. From the same data, Europe has the second-highest number of internet users at 15.9% which represents 727 million users.
With 453 million users, Latin America and the Caribbean region comes fourth. The region accounts for 10.1% of the worldwide internet users. In fifth place is North America with 327 million users, which represents 7.8% followed by the Middle East at 175 million users (3.9%). Oceania and the Australian region account for the least global internet user globally at 29 million which represents 0.6%.
The rise of Africa is a confirmation of a trend that compared to all regions, the strongest growth has been reported in Africa, where the percentage of people using the Internet increased from 2.1 per cent in 2005 to 24.4 per cent in 2018, according to ITU data. … The theme, “Boosting Africa’s Digital Economy,” recognizes the key role of digital technologies in the modern economy. May 27, 2019
Africa Needs to Think Big and Think Fresh
According to certain indicators, Africa is hosting only 11% of the world’s Internet subscribers and only 35.2% of the African population are accessing the Internet and mainly trough the mobile phone.
In response, efforts were made by the African governments to increase the development of fiber optique as network. Taking the example on the American, European, Indian and Chinese markets, African regulators are trying to implement policies “that encourage network sharing and access to ducts, thus facilitating the roll out of networks and reducing deployment costs. This trend is actually happening in Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Tunisia and Nigeria.
However, some people in Africa have been abandoned along the way in recent years as technology and robotisation have reduced the wages of some communities “of workers, says Christine Lagarde, the director general of the IMF.
On the other hand, the Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau, Doreen Bogdan-Martin said: “Africa cannot afford to think small or act slowly, and at the current rate of progress, hundreds of millions of African children will still be denied the opportunity to realize their potential. Without more rapid digital transformation, Africa will not succeed in creating the huge number of new jobs needed to match its population growth.”
Building a solid digital economy will require a focus in key areas, such as: digital infrastructure, digital literacy and skills, digital financial services, digital platforms, and digital entrepreneurship and innovation, says Ms Bogdan-Martin.
“Can we attain the goal of universal and affordable access to broadband for all Africans by 2030? Not without a paradigm shift,” says Ms Bogdan-Martin. “Africa’s digital transformation is going to need all hands on deck. We need to work together more effectively; engage old and new partners more effectively; innovate more effectively.”
“We need a coordinated effort to push forward the digital transformation of Africa through shared vision, policies and measures to support pan-African digital integration,” says Ms Bogdan-Martin. “Digital transformation will provide the springboard for a leap into the African Century. Africa’s youth are ready and waiting to make that leap. We must not let them down.”
Startup and Tech Trends in Africa
In a challenge to Uber’s (Dara Khosrowshahi) dominance in South Africa, Estonia-based ride-hailing app Bolt (Markus Villig) to double its service there after having raised more than $200 million from investors since its launch in 2013. Reuters
12 African startups to watch in 2020
BY GABRIELLA MULLIGAN ON JANUARY 2, 2020 – https://disruptafrica.com/
While you’re at it, check these picks for 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
For the Disrupt Africa team, it has been another fascinating year of conversations and meetings with hundreds of inspiring, innovative African tech startups.
But which of these companies do we think have the brightest futures ahead of them? Here is our pick of the top 12 African startups to watch out for in 2020.
NORTH AFRICA
Trella
Egyptian trucking marketplace Trella is our first rising star of 2019, having raised more than US$600,000 in a pre-seed funding round; selected for Silicon Valley-based accelerator Y Combinator; and concluding the year by acquiring local competitor Trukt.
Founded last year, Trella operates a B2B trucking marketplace, connecting shippers with carriers in real-time, to make the entire supply chain faster and more reliable while reducing slack and exceptions.
This year’s impressive list of successes comes from a team that told Disrupt Africa they are taking growth “step-by-step”, and not making any hasty moves – so we’re eagerly anticipating the next set of well-planned moves the startup makes.
Eksab
Also from Egypt, we’re betting fantasy sports platform Eksab will keep up its winning streak in 2020.
Eksab is looking to tap into the MENA region’s love for football by providing users with exciting and engaging mobile games, to become the leading fantasy sports site in the region.
In its first year, the startup processed more than five million predictions, and in June secured a six-figure seed investment from 500 Startups to help it scale its product across the region.
With such a solid start to the startup’s growth plans, we’ll be keeping a keen eye on Eksab over the coming months.
Kaoun
Tunisian fintech Kaoun is tackling the epic question of financial inclusion. The company’s first product, Flouci, is a mobile and web app that allows users to create free bank accounts remotely; facilitating the process through an innovative Know Your Customer (KYC) system via smartphone.
A critical component to any startup’s success, the team behind Kaoun is top-notch: co-founders Nebras Jemel, Anis Kallel, and Rostom Bouazizi put their studies in the United States – at Harvard University, University of Rochester, and Columbia University respectively – on hold to come back to Tunisia and build a fintech startup.
Launched in 2018, Kaoun has already raised funding from two angel investors, and secured key partnerships with two Tunisian banks and the country’s National Digital Certification Agency. This startup is worth watching.
SOUTHERN AFRICA
FlexClub
Here at Disrupt Africa, we’re interested to see how FlexClub fares in 2020, after a solid start since launching last year.
The South African startup allows users to purchase vehicles which are then matched with Uber drivers who pay a weekly rental charge to the investor.
With a solid founding team – including two former Uber employees; the startup raised US$1.2 million in a seed round led by CRE Venture Capital and also featuring Montegray Capital and Savannah Fund in March, amidst plans to grow its team and expand into new geographies.
Intergreatme
Regtech startup Intergreatme can be credited as one of the first crowdfunding successes of Southern Africa; securing a whirlwind ZAR32.436 million (US$2.19 million) from 406 investors via the Uprise. Africa platform in May. Within six days it had already raised ZAR28.5 million (US$1.98m), with the startup limiting the raise to ZAR32 million which it managed in 2 weeks. The raise was marred slightly by the fact the startup later decided to reject a bulk of it after some investors failed compliance processes.
The fact still stands the startup is an attractive proposition, however, and we get what all the hype is about. Intergreatme has developed a web and app platform that digitises verified personal information for over 25 million credit-active South Africans; for streamlined use across businesses and other organisations.
We can’t wait to see what the startup does next, as we’re sure 2020 is going to be an immense year.
Pineapple
Insurtech startup Pineapple is the third South African venture to make our watch list for 2020.
Founded in 2017, Pineapple allows users to get quotes and insurance on items with just the snap of a picture.
The startup has been going from strength to strength since launching, raising seed funding, and taking part in Google’s Launchpad Africa accelerator and the US-based Hartford Insurtech Hub’s accelerator.
Then in 2019, it won the single biggest prize at the annual VentureClash challenge in the United States (US), securing US$1.5 million from a US$5 million prize fund. With the milestones rolling in, we’re sure 2020 will be a stellar year for this startup.
EAST AFRICA
Exuus
Rwandan fintech Exuus has had an exciting year; in particular, it has been busy honing its pitch to perfection.
The startup is taking traditional savings groups online in a bid to smooth processes and help low-income communities become more financially resilient.
In February, Exuus was one of 10 startups selected to pitch live to an audience of over 600 attendees at the annual Africa Startup Summit, held in Kigali; picked from more than 100 applicants from around the continent.
The startup was also named winner of Seedstars’ Rwandan event, securing a place in the global final, at which Exuus will pitch for up to US$500,000 in equity investment. We think they stand a good chance of coming out on top of the contest.
MPost
Launched in 2015, it has taken Kenya’s MPost a while to get going, but recently things have started hotting up.
Simple but effective, MPost has developed a platform that enables the conversion of mobile numbers into official virtual addresses, which allows notifications to be sent to clients whenever they get mail through their postal addresses.
The startup participated in the Startupbootcamp AfriTech program held in Cape Town in late 2018; and this year raised a US$1.9 million Series A funding round to finance its expansion and further development of its proprietary platform.
We’ll be keeping our ears glued to the ground for more news from this exciting venture.
RideSafe
Take motorbike taxis, affordable emergency response, and blockchain – mix them with a bucket of innovation and you get RideSafe. The Kenyan startup offers an emergency response service for public motorcycle taxis, that utilizes a micro-insurance financing model running on a decentralized blockchain application.
The startup has had quite the year – having raised US$100,000 in funding from æternity Ventures after taking part in the Bulgaria-based æternity Starfleet Incubator for blockchain startups; as well as being selected to pitch at the Africa Startup Summit in Rwanda in February.
We know we’ll be seeing big things from this company in 2020.
WEST AFRICA
OKO Finance
It’s not every day a startup from Mali makes the list of the continent’s top 12 startups to watch – but OKO Finance has.
Founded in 2017, OKO develops affordable mobile-based crop insurance products to provide smallholder farmers with the financial security they need, regardless of unstable climate trends.
The startup raised pre-seed funding of US$300,000, but is now looking to raise US$1.5 million in order to grow more quickly. We feel confident they’ll get the backing, and we’re looking forward to seeing them scale their solution to more farmers and more markets in 2020.
Yobante Express
At Disrupt Africa, we’re really excited about Senegalese startup Yobante Express, which has developed an innovative relay-based way of tackling last-mile deliveries.
Founded in November 2018, Yobante Express is an online marketplace that connects local couriers with local commerce; combining the gig economy and machine learning, to optimize domestic, cross-border, and last-mile delivery.
Already delivering over-delivering 8,000 parcels and generating more than US$50,000 every month, Yobante Express expanded to South Africa in November, and we have a feeling this startup will be pan-African before long.
54Gene
Nigeria’s 54Gene means serious business: it is building the first African DNA biobank.
Just six months old, 54gene is a product of Stack Dx, which raised funding from early-stage VC firm Microtraction to develop the platform in January. Since then it has been selected to take part in the Y Combinator and Google Launchpad Africa accelerator programs, and in July, raised a US$4.5 million seed round.
The startup is now positioned to build the largest database of genomic and phenotypic consented data of Africans. And for us, there’s no doubt that this startup merits a spot on our must-watch list for 2020.
Ahmed Benjas, MBA Finance Director | SAP | IFRS | SOX | US GAAP | Middle East & North Africa regions |
“When I see these figures, I wonder what makes us believe that we are a country where the economy moves.” -: studies overly paid by the State (McKinsey, Roland Berger …) and we do not have not got the thread to start yet? – Incubators that ultimately serve what? – too many startup events …. !!!! – CoWorking Spaces where we only display the signs of laid-back startups …. – business angels who are not ready to play the game … In my opinion, the failure is total, and our ecosystem is unattractive ” end of the quote.
Raising Capital Funding for Start-up in Africa 2017 (in Millions of dollars)
Google launched a network of free Wi-Fi hotspots in Nigeria on Thursday, August 9, 2018, as part of its effort to increase its presence in Africa’s most populous nation.
The U.S. technology firm owned by Alphabet Inc has partnered with Nigerian fiber cable network provider 21st Century to provide its public Wi-Fi service, Google Station, in six places in the commercial capital Lagos, including the city’s airport.
Internet penetration is relatively low in Nigeria. Some 25.7 percent of the population made use of the internet in 2016, according to World Bank Data.
We are rolling out the service in Lagos today but the plan is to quickly expand to other locations.
The poor internet infrastructure is a major challenge for businesses operating in the country, which is Africa’s largest oil producer. Broadband services are either unreliable or unaffordable to many of Nigeria’s 190 million inhabitants.
“We are rolling out the service in Lagos today but the plan is to quickly expand to other locations,” Anjali Joshi, Google’s vice president for product management, told Reuters in Lagos.
The company said it aimed to collaborate with internet service providers to reach millions of Nigerians in 200 public spaces, across five cities by the end of 2019.
It said it would generate cash from the service in Nigeria by placing Google adverts in the login portal. Google did not disclose the amount invested in the new Nigeria service.
The technology firm said it planned to share revenues with its partners to help them maintain and deploy the Wi-Fi service but did not disclose the expected advertising revenue split.
Africa’s rapid population growth, falling data costs, and heavy adoption of mobile phones have made it an attractive investment prospect for technology companies.
Nigeria is the fifth country to launch Google Station. Similar services have been launched in India, Indonesia, Mexico and Thailand.
The service is aimed at countries with rapidly expanding populations. The United Nations estimates Nigeria will be the world’s third most populous nation, after China and India, by 2050.
“A lot of people who found data to be too expensive for them to use, are using it,” said Joshi. “In India, we have tens of millions of users, and close to a million in Mexico.”
However, many do not disclose how profitable the continent’s markets are, or if they make the companies money at all.
Last year, Google announced plans to train 10 million Africans in online skills within five years. It also said it aimed to provide $3 million in equity-free support to African start-ups.
Nigerian Vice President Yemi Osinbajo visited Google’s Silicon Valley headquarters this month to meet the company’s chief executive, Sundar Pichai.
REUTERS
The average size of the deals struck in Africa by startups also increased year-on-year at every stage of investment, with Series A funding, for example, increasing to around $3.7m. Series A refers to a company’s first significant round of venture capital financing. At the same time, the number of tech hubs in Africa has risen to 310, with 173 accelerators and incubators recorded in 2016, according to the World Bank. There were 117 in the previous ye
For Startups: High Priority Should be given to Assembling Founding Team
While it is true that an entrepreneur needs to be very disciplined hence the 24 steps in Disciplined Entrepreneurship taught by Prof Bill Aulet, I cannot hide my eureka moment when I become more and more convinced after conforming: the number one skill that an aspiring founder must prioritize is FOUNDING TEAM ASSEMBLY – choosing co-founders, splitting equity, recruiting advisors, managing a board.
This is articulated by Thomas R. Eisenmann, Rob Howe, and Beth Altringer in “What Does an Aspiring Founder Need to Know?“
Interestingly, Prof Matt Marx of MIT Sloan elaborated carefully in his class “Dilemmas in Founding New Ventures (a full semester in 80 minutes)”. In it he gave examples from Smartix, Segway, Wily Technology, and Zipcar.com that could have been conducted better during the founding team assembly stage. He outlined some observations that the Skills and Networks of the founders must complement each other, but objectives must be similar among the founders. Skills is easily observed. Networks is also rather easy if you probe. However, the raison d’être of the co-founder is not observable.
 INNOVATION Agritech Platform Farmcrowdy Closes $1Million Seed Funding Round
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Copyright © 2013 – Today. All rights reserved – Copyright © 2017 – Today by TRI CK USA – TRI CONSULTING KYOTO and Said El Mansour Cherkaoui.
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In Tribute to Nass Al Ghiwane and Moroccan Popular Culture and its Human and Artistic Pillars
North African Sahara: Traditional Music and Universal Rhythms
How many startups fail in USA?
Approximately 10% of startups fail within the first year. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the startup failure rate increases over time, and the most significant percentage of businesses that fail are younger than 10 years. Over the long run, 90% of startups fail.
All but the most promising and well-run VC-backed startups struggled to raise funding as venture capital investors became much more selective than they were just a few years ago. As a result, startups that weren’t yet able to sustain their operations without additional funding ran out of money and closed up shop.
Africa Dismay and Startup Going Down
- VC funding in the African startup ecosystem has steadily declined in 2023, causing experts to worry about the future of the once fast-growing sector.
- With fewer investors willing to bet on the continent during the tech downturn, the funding crunch has triggered mass layoffs, slashed valuations, and the liquidation of several African startups.
- Recent news reports of mismanagement and fraud have impacted investor perception, leading to increased scrutiny and demand for credibility from local and global investors.
The funding crunch has already caused several casualties. Since the beginning of the year, at least 10 African startups.
2023 has been a difficult year for African startups. The global economic downturn has led to a decrease in venture capital funding for startups worldwide, including African startups. Funding for African startups has dropped significantly, with estimates suggesting a decline of 50% or more compared to 2022.
Other reasons for the shutdown of African startups in 2023 include:
- Fewer investors willing to bet on the continent
- Mass layoffs
- Slashed valuations
- Liquidation of several African startups
- Fund mismanagement
- Unfavorable market conditions
- Challenges associated with certain business models
- Lack of liquidity in the market
- Difficulties startups use to regularly raising capital
- Inability to convince investors
Other challenges that impact the success of startups in Sub-Saharan Africa include: Infrastructure deficits, Regulatory obstacles, Limited mentorship, Frugality issues, Inadequate marketing and branding. The absence of internet connection is also a factor in limiting the expansion of E-commerce and other business online transactions. This is not just in the rural areas but also in the cities.
Some notable African startups that shut down in 2023 include:
- HytchA Nigerian B2B logistic platform that shut down because it “couldn’t raise [funding] and couldn’t sustain the business with just the money [it was] making”
- OkadaBooksA Nigerian digital publishing platform that shut down due to unspecified “insurmountable challenges”
- DashA Ghanaian payments startup that folded in October amid allegations of financial impropriety and false reporting
TOP TEN African Startups Not Celebrating the New Year 2024
Sub-Saharan Africa faces unique challenges that impact the success of startups. An article published on Medium in April 2023 outlines these challenges, including a lack of funding, infrastructure deficits, regulatory obstacles, limited mentorship, frugality issues, and inadequate marketing and branding.
Sendy: In August, Kenyan end-to-end fulfillment startup Sendy shut down operations and announced a fire sale of assets (it didn’t call it that), with reports saying reduced order volumes and fuel price hikes meant it was making deliveries at a loss, and had a monthly burn rate of US$1 million. Sendy raised US$20 million in capital as recently as January 2020, but in the current climate further funding was not to be found.
54gene: 54gene, a genomics research company that had raised US$45 million across three funding rounds, revealed in September that it had started winding down its operations. 54gene, which has had three CEOs in the last 12 months.
Dash: Ghanaian payments startup Dash, founded in 2019, had raised a whopping US$86 million, but folded in October amid allegations of financial impropriety and false reporting.
WhereIsMyTransport: South African mobility startup WhereIsMyTransport, bankrolled to the tune of over US$27 million by investors such as Naspers in recent years, announced it was closing down in October after failing to secure more investment.
Lazerpay: In April, Lazerpay, a Nigerian crypto and web3 company, confirmed it was shutting down operations after failing to raise additional funding. The startup had laid off some employees last year after the proposed lead investor for its seed round withdrew due to the “market conditions and disagreement on terms”.
Zumi: Kenyan B2B e-commerce startup Zumi announced in March it had closed down after failing to secure the necessary funding to continue operations. Launched in 2016, Zumi began life as a female-focused digital magazine, before pivoting into e-commerce in 2020. According to co-founder and CEO William McCarren, the startup achieved over US$20 million in sales, acquired 5,000 customers, and built a team of 150 people, but closed after failing to secure investment.
Zazuu: Last month, Zazuu, a London-based marketplace for African remittance companies that and raised more than US$2 million in total funding, also shut down, citing a lack of funding.
Hytch: In February, Nigerian logistics startup Hytch confirmed it had shut down barely nine months after launch.
Okada Books: Nigeria’s Okada Books, founded in 2013 and a pioneer in digital publishing and bookselling, closed down last month, citing rough macroeconomic conditions.
Pivo: Formed by Ijeoma Akwiwu and Nkiru Amadi-Emina in July 2021 and launched in public beta in September, Pivo offered banking services to small supply chain businesses, and raised a US$2 million seed round a little over a year ago. It, too, has now closed its doors, though by all accounts founder conflict also played a part.
Copia: Kenyan e-commerce company Copia, which raised US$50 million Series C funding last year, announced it was pulling out of Uganda, “consistent with many of the best companies in Africa and across the world which are responding to the market environment and prioritising profit.”
MarketForce: Another Kenyan retail-tech startup, MarketForce, is also facing challenges. The company raised US$40 million in funding in February of last year, back in the boom times, but stunningly, certain VCs that had committed funds backed out. In all, US$8 million of that capital was never wired. MarketForce has struggled to raise more capital, announced a bunch of layoffs, and recently turned to crowdfunding to get some cash in the bank.
Twiga Foods: Twiga Foods, a platform that connects Kenyan farmers to food vendors, recently secured undisclosed funding as part of a business refinancing process, just weeks after facing a KES40 million (USD 262,000) debt collection lawsuit. Twiga secured the new funding from Creadev, Juven, TLcom Capital Partners, and DOB Equity, investors that participated in the US$50 million Series C round it raised in 2021.
Paystack: Nigerian payments company Paystack, acquired by Stripe in 2020, has been steadily growing its geographical presence since then, but is now taking a step back. The company announced last month it had reduced its operations outside of Africa, cutting its workforce in Europe and Dubai.
Various sources and documentation were used in this article. Corresponding references are listed in the text of this article as links to connect to for further indications.
CHERKAOUI JOURNAL NEWSLETTER
OCTOBER 3, 2022
U.S. Finance Policy Facing High-Tech Clouds
U.S. Finance Policy Facing High Tech Clouds October 3, 2022, For the U.S. Financial Regulators, the Limit is NOT the Sky of the Financial Space, It is the Crypto Cloud Platforms Next the European Central Bank will follow the Course #cloud #bank #cryptonews
SAID EL MANSOUR CHERKAOUI∙1 MIN READ
