Ecobank, the pan-African banking leader, is excited to announce that submissions are now open for the seventh edition of its prestigious Fintech Challenge. This annual competition invites both early-stage and mature fintech businesses to partner with Ecobank for the chance to scale their solutions across 35 African countries.
Apple has taken a significant leap in the AI arena with the unveiling of “Apple Intelligence,” announced by CEO Tim Cook and senior executives at the Worldwide Developers Conference. This suite of new features, developed in collaboration with OpenAI, marks a pivotal moment in Apple’s technological journey.
Sahl, an innovative Egyptian fintech company, has successfully raised $6 million in Series A and seed funding rounds. Led by Ayady for Investment and Development, alongside existing investors Egypt Pay, Delta Electronic Systems, and E-Finance, this funding will enable Sahl to enhance its offerings and expand its footprint both in Egypt and across the region.
Access Bank Plc has successfully completed the acquisition of African Banking Corporation of Tanzania (ABCT) Limited, marking another significant milestone in its expansion strategy. This acquisition, initially announced in July 2023, is part of Access Bank’s broader vision to establish a strong foundation in Tanzania for intra-African trade within East Africa and beyond.
Kenya is actively seeking investment from Malaysia’s private sector to support its ambitious Digital Superhighway plan, aimed at accelerating the country’s digital economy. The initiative includes deploying 100,000 kilometers of optic fiber and numerous Wi-Fi hotspots to connect public institutions and residences across Kenya.
Vodacom is proud to announce its recent achievement of ISO 50001 certification for energy management, marking a significant milestone in its commitment to sustainability and climate action across Africa. This certification underscores Vodacom’s dedication to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50% and sourcing 100% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2025.
Thiqa Digital Finance, a South African finance platform, has joined forces with Uganda’s Paymenow to revolutionize financial access for government employees. Through this partnership, civil servants in Uganda will gain early, interest-free access to their salaries via a mobile app, enhancing their financial flexibility and well-being.
Kenya is set to revolutionize its digital landscape by utilizing over 70,000 power transformers as internet hotspots across the country. This innovative initiative, announced by the government in collaboration with the Kenya Power and Lighting Company, aims to provide widespread internet access through existing infrastructure, rather than laying new fibre optic cables.
