A selection of tech news from Nigeria and Africa at large.
Kenya Startup Ed Fund Private Schools | South Africa Launches Electric Taxi | Ghanaian Agri-Tech Oyster Funded | Google AI And Data Analytics Training Program | Technigerian Dating App | Tramatch, Business Solutions Startup Traction Expansion
Kenya’s Ed Partners secures $1.5m debt funding to fund affordable private schools – Disrupt Africa
Kenyan startup Ed Partners has secured US$1.5 million in debt funding from social impact investor Oikocredit to provide affordable financing to private schools.
Founded in 2018 by Lydia Koros and David FitzHerbert, and currently led by CEO Amos Mwangi, Ed Partners provides financing options for crucial elements of the education system, including infrastructure, technology, and transport. Its impact has already reached over 100,000 students across 350 schools.
The startup, which raised a US$1.9 million funding round in June 2021, provides infrastructural loans to educational institutions to support the construction of new classrooms, washrooms, laboratories and dormitories, as well as the acquisition of computers, buses, vans, and internet connectivity.
Ed Partners has now secured a further US$1.5 million capital in the form of a loan fromOikocredit, a social impact investor and worldwide cooperative that aims to enable people with low incomes in Africa, Asia, and Latin America to improve their living standards sustainably. The funds will be utilised to offer more affordable loans to Kenyan private schools. Read more here:
Electricity Crisis, South Africa Launches Electric Taxi – Tech In Africa
Despite facing a significant load-shedding crisis, South Africa continues progressing towards green energy solutions. A team from Stellenbosch University (SU), a government-owned institution, is examining the viability of introducing the nation’s inaugural electric taxis. These taxis can potentially cover distances of up to 120 kilometres before necessitating a recharge. They are equipped with an electric motor boasting a power of 90 kWh and a battery capacity of 53.76 kWh.
The SU team has successfully transformed a minibus taxi into an electric-powered vehicle in partnership with Rham Equipment. The converted taxi is currently undergoing road testing, with performance assessments planned to follow shortly.
Stephan Lacock, a team member, described the conversion process, which involved removing the original internal combustion engine (ICE) and associated components such as the petrol tank, manual transmission, gas pipe, and radiator. Read more here:
Ghanaian agri-tech startup Oyster Agribusiness raises $310k funding to scale – Disrupt Africa
Ghana’s Oyster Agribusiness, an agricultural enterprise that employs significant levels of tech and works closely with smallholder farmers, has raised US$310,000 in grant and debt funding to propel its mission of sustainable agriculture, gender inclusion, and talent management.
Founded in 2018, Oyster Agribusiness is dedicated to empowering smallholder farmers through the provision of sustainable inputs, improved agronomic practices, and a reliable market for their produce. It does this using tech to power its input distributions and yield, as well as utilising seeders for planting and drones for spraying.
The company, which already works with 3,000 smallholder farmers, has recently secured a total of US$310,000 in debt and grant funding, which it will use to expand its operations.
Oyster’s debt capital comes from Root Capital, a non-profit lender committed to fostering resilience and prosperity in rural communities, while the startup has also received two grants totalling a further US$10,000. Read more here:
Google Empowers Nigerian Youth with AI and Data Analytics Training Program – Tech In Africa
Google is making a significant move to boost digital skills, employability, and business growth by revealing a plan to educate 20,000 Nigerian women and youth in digital competencies.
This program is funded by a grant from Google’s charitable division, which collaborates with Data Science Nigeria and the Creative Industry Initiative for Africa . to synchronize with the Nigerian government’s pledge to increase the involvement of young people in the digital economy.
The objective? Addressing youth unemployment in Nigeria by arming participants with the essential digital capabilities needed for the upcoming job environment. Notably, the tech giant already runs the “Grow with Google in Africa” program, partnering with numerous African governments and industry specialists to aid individuals in enhancing their digital expertise for their professions and enterprises. Read more here:
TECHNigerian-founded dating app, Tramatch, launches beta to democratize love – Ripples News
Tramatch, a Nigerian-founded dating app that connects lovers, has announced its beta launch on mobile to democratize how people connect with potential partners. The cofounder and product manager, Ani Okono, made the announcement in a press release forwarded to Ripples Nigeria on Thursday, August 17, 2023.
Founded in 2023, Tramatch.com, according to Ani, is on a mission to address “the age-old human yearning for authentic connections and enduring relationships. Its user friendly service website offers subscribers a novel spin on matchmaking that distinguishes it from traditional dating apps. Read more here:
Nigerian business solutions startup Traction plans expansion after serving 70k customers – Disrupt Africa
Nigerian startup Traction, a comprehensive business solutions platform designed exclusively for African MSMEs, is planning continental expansion after serving 70,000 customers and banking US$6 million in funding.
Founded in 2020, Traction has developed a comprehensive one-stop platform that enables businesses to accept payments, manage finances, and access essential operational tools. Business owners can accept payments via POS terminals or virtual accounts, use point-of-sale software to record their sales, track inventory, and manage customers through CRM and loyalty solutions.
The platform also offers a range of financial services, including merchant wallets, cash advance loans, savings, and bill payments. Traction obtained a payments solution services license from the Central Bank of Nigeria last year, allowing it to operate as a payment solution provider across various payment categories. Read more here:
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Image Credit: Image by Tech In Africa
