This Week in African Tech ?? [September 1st]

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Welcome to Tech Safari Weekly - where we round up everything that happened this week in African Tech.

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This week was huge, let’s dive in:

Tech roundup

• Uber launches electric motorbike fleet in Kenya, its first in Africa. Uber wants to make its platform emissions-free by 2040.

• Ugandan fintech Asaak, which provides motorcycle loans and smartphone loans, has acquired Mexico’s Flex Club to expand beyond Africa. This makes Asaak the first East African fintech in Latin America.

• VISA introduces contactless payment in Kenya, joining forces with local banks and fintechs. This lets customers use their banking app on smartphones or wearables to pay easily.

• Nigerian logistics startup Kwik, which raised $2 million series A last year, has launched on-demand e-commerce fulfillment service KwikShelf. Nigerian sellers can now rent storage space and get help with delivering their products.

• Gabon's military brings back internet access after overthrowing President Ali Bongo’s government. The country’s internet got cut in the middle of its presidential and parliamentary elections last week.

Deal Roundup

• Airtel Uganda raises $216 million by selling 20% equity in an IPO. The raise will fund Airtel’s expansion plans. It is currently the third largest Telecom in Africa, providing telecommunication and mobile money services to 14 African countries.
• 16 African startups will compete for a $100k equity prize at the TechCrunch Disrupt conference. The chosen startups are from Nigeria (7), South Africa (3), Kenya (2), Uganda (2) Tanzania (1), and Ghana (1).

• Tunisia’s Contech startup, SeekMake, raises $539K from European Private Equity firm Lafayette Group. Launched in 2018, SeekMake connects clients with construction and manufacturing companies in 40 countries.
• Black Ostrich Ventures has launched a $20 million fund for startups outside Africa’s “Big Four”: Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, and Egypt. Based in LA, they’re especially keen on Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, and Morocco.
• South Africa’s insurtech LeaseSurance has raised $161,000 to make renting homes better. They use tech to replace security deposits with insurance and help landlords make smarter choices about their properties.
• Drive Electric, a philanthropic campaign to end pollution, will give $1.05 million to seven electric mobility projects in Africa and Latin America. They intend to boost electric transport in these areas through their LEAP Fund (Leapfrogging to E-mobility Acceleration Partnership).

Events and Opportunities

In this week’s newsletter, we have a bunch of events and opportunities in African Tech. From exciting conferences to funding programs.

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