African Originals, the company behind popular craft beverage brands Kenyan Originals and 5.8, has successfully secured $2 million in funding, led by Phoenix Beverages Limited. This significant investment marks a major milestone for African Originals, enabling the company to scale its operations, expand its product range, and reinforce its commitment to sustainability and community impact.
Field, an African healthtech leader, has launched a groundbreaking route-to-market service aimed at combating maternal mortality, newborn and child health issues, and improving nutrition across the continent. This initiative leverages Field’s proprietary technology and extensive distribution network, which serves over 40,000 healthcare providers in Kenya and Nigeria. The service is supported by an initial $11 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, underscoring the commitment to introduce innovative therapies and transform supply chains to address Africa’s urgent health priorities.
Apple’s recent product launch underscores a significant shift towards artificial intelligence (AI) with the introduction of the iPhone 16 series. Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, emphasized that AI is central to their vision, stating, “The next generation of iPhone has been designed for Apple Intelligence from the ground up.” This new focus on AI marks a pivotal evolution in Apple’s product strategy, aiming to drive consumer interest and upgrades despite slower sales of previous iPhone models.
NamPower, Namibia’s state-owned utility, has announced a major advancement in its energy sector with the signing of a contract valued at N$1.6 billion ($89 million) to develop the country’s largest solar power plant. The contract, awarded to China Jiangxi International Economic and Technical and Zhejiang Chint New Energy Development, will see the construction of the 100 MW Rosh Pinah solar plant over the next 18 months, with commercial operations projected to start in the second quarter of 2026.
This week, Standard Bank Group is hosting its tenth annual Kuunda Disrupt Hackathon, a significant event that fosters innovation and creative problem-solving among its global workforce. The hackathon invites participation from all Standard Bank employees, including those based in South Africa, the rest of Africa, and beyond, reflecting the bank’s commitment to leveraging its diverse talent pool to address client challenges.
Clear Blue Technologies International has partnered with Growth Energy to power a network of telecom facilities across Africa, marking a significant step towards replacing traditional diesel generator-based systems with clean, reliable, and cost-effective solar energy solutions. Growth Energy, known for developing, financing, and managing renewable energy power plants, has selected Clear Blue as its original equipment manufacturer partner, leveraging Clear Blue’s Esite-Micro power technology and Illumience Smart Power management service for this ambitious project.
MTN Cameroon’s ambition to deploy 5G technology is currently hindered by the absence of a regulatory framework, according to CEO Mitwa Ng’ambi. Speaking during her second anniversary as CEO, Ng’ambi emphasized MTN’s commitment to evolving with technology and providing cutting-edge solutions to consumers. However, she noted that the deployment of 5G remains on hold pending government regulation.
