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Alain El Hajj

African Changemaker

Alain El Hajj

Alain is an Egyptian fintech enthusiast and entrepreneur with a demonstrated history of working in the financial technology industry.

He is a strong advocate for entrepreneurship and financial Inclusion as the two main cornerstones for social and economic prosperity.

Alain is the Co-Founder and COO of Paymob, a financial technology company based in Cairo on a mission to fuel SME growth in the digital economy.


Paymob offers a payments gateway that delivers the most innovative digital payment methods to businesses of all sizes. Alain started his entrepreneurial journey while studying computer science at the American University in Cairo.

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Did you know that over 525 million people used the internet in Africa in 2019? If current growth trends continue, almost 75% of Africans are expected to come online by 2030.
Mohamed El Ghaissani is a Moroccan serial entrepreneur with over 12 years of experience in multimedia and technology.
Farid, a pioneering Egyptian edtech startup, has successfully secured $250,000 in pre-seed funding from Saudi entrepreneur Amal bint Abdulaziz Al-Ajlan.
Uncap, a venture capital firm operating in Munich and Nairobi, has announced the launch of a $33 million fund aimed at supporting the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Africa.
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Mareme Dieng

African Changemaker

Mareme Dieng

Mareme is a Senegalese venture capitalist helping African founders build fast-growing technology companies to access funding.

She is the Africa Lead at 500 Global, a venture capital firm based in San Francisco, California. In her role, Mareme is responsible for sourcing and evaluating investment opportunities and working with portfolio companies to help them scale and succeed.

Before joining 500 Global, Mareme worked as an investment banking analyst at Goldman Sachs in New York.
She has been recognized as one of the “Top 40 under 40” by the Association for Corporate Growth and was also named to Forbes’ “30 under 30” list in the Venture Capital category.

You may also like...

Did you know that over 525 million people used the internet in Africa in 2019? If current growth trends continue, almost 75% of Africans are expected to come online by 2030.
Mohamed El Ghaissani is a Moroccan serial entrepreneur with over 12 years of experience in multimedia and technology.
Farid, a pioneering Egyptian edtech startup, has successfully secured $250,000 in pre-seed funding from Saudi entrepreneur Amal bint Abdulaziz Al-Ajlan.
Uncap, a venture capital firm operating in Munich and Nairobi, has announced the launch of a $33 million fund aimed at supporting the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Africa.
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Unleashing the Power of Tech Education: How Ethiopia’s Gebeya is Bridging the Skills Gap and Driving Tech Excellence

StartUp Spotlight

Unleashing the Power of Tech Education: How Ethiopia's Gebeya is Bridging the Skills Gap and Driving Tech Excellence

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This week on the Startup Spotlight, we feature Gebeya, an innovative ed-tech startup based in Ethiopia.

Gebeya is revolutionizing the education landscape and empowering individuals to thrive in the digital era. At Gebeya, their mission is to bridge the skills gap and unlock the potential of talented individuals across Africa by providing them with high-quality tech education and connecting them with rewarding job opportunities.

 

Founded in 2016, Gebeya aims to democratize access to tech education and opportunities, particularly for underrepresented communities in Ethiopia. They aim to equip individuals with in-demand tech skills, foster a culture of continuous learning, and facilitate seamless integration into the digital workforce.

 

By doing so, they are building a future where talent knows no boundaries and every individual has the chance to thrive. Their comprehensive training programs have empowered thousands of students and professionals to acquire skills in software development, data science, AI, cybersecurity, and more.

 

Gebeya’s impact extends beyond individual success stories. By nurturing a skilled tech workforce, they drive innovation, foster entrepreneurship, and attract investment in Ethiopia’s tech ecosystem.

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Nigerian fintech startup Zeeh Africa gets funding to consolidate financial data

New Investments

Nigerian fintech startup Zeeh Africa gets funding to consolidate financial data

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Nigerian fintech startup Zeeh Africa has funding to consolidate financial data in a single platform.

Zeeh Africa secured the funding from Tekedia Capital, a firm investing in mainly technology-anchored companies operating in any industry, including finance. Founded in 2022, Zeeh Africa specializes in unifying financial data in one place, offering a comprehensive solution for businesses and individuals.

 

The startup plans to utilize the funds to further develop its cutting-edge financial data consolidation platform, which aims to revolutionize how financial institutions manage and analyze vast amounts of data. By offering a unified solution, Zeeh Africa aims to tackle the challenge of fragmented financial information across various systems and platforms, enabling banks, insurance companies, and other financial institutions to streamline their operations efficiently.

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Ghanaian cleantech startup Kofa secures funding to make clean energy affordable and accessible

New Investments

Ghanaian cleantech startup Kofa secures funding to make clean energy affordable and accessible

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Kofa, a dynamic startup based in Ghana, has secured funding to revolutionize the energy sector with its pioneering Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) model.

In a bid to overcome the limitations of traditional energy storage systems, Kofa has set its sights on powering the nation’s future with a sustainable and innovative approach. Kofa’s game-changing BaaS model allows customers to access advanced battery technology without the hassle of upfront costs or ownership.

 

This transformative service allows residential and commercial clients to tap into the advantages of energy storage without bearing the burden of heavy capital investment. By proactively harnessing renewable energy sources, Kofa aims to bridge the gap between intermittent power supply and constant demand. Kofa’s recent funding round was led by Mercy Corps Ventures, Shell Foundation, UK’s FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office), and Wangara Green Ventures.

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Nigerian B2B e-commerce startup Sabi raises $38 million in Series B funding

New Investments

Nigerian B2B e-commerce startup Sabi raises $38 million in Series B funding

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Sabi, a prominent B2B African e-commerce platform, has raised $38 million in Series B funding at a valuation of $300 million.

The substantial valuation was driven by a consortium of investors, including Commerz Ventures, Norrsken22, Fluent Ventures, Proof VC and pan-African early-stage investors CRE Venture Capital and Janngo.africa Capital. The funding injection will fuel Sabi’s expansion plans, enhance its technological infrastructure, and bolster its market presence across multiple African countries.

 

Sabi’s platform seeks to revolutionize how B2B transactions are conducted in Africa, providing a seamless digital marketplace for buyers and sellers to connect, negotiate, and trade goods and services. By leveraging technology and economies of scale, Sabi has successfully transformed the traditional B2B landscape, simplifying complex procurement processes and streamlining supply chains for businesses of all sizes.

 

The new funding will enable Sabi to develop its platform further, enhancing its features and user experience. Additionally, Sabi plans to invest significantly in its logistics network and expand its reach to underserved regions, ensuring that businesses across Africa can access a reliable and efficient B2B e-commerce ecosystem. The success of Sabi reflects the increasing investor interest in African startups and highlights the untapped opportunities within the B2B e-commerce space.

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Kenya to launch 1 million locally assembled smartphones by July

Key Developments

Kenya to launch 1 million locally assembled smartphones by July

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Kenya, a vibrant hub of technological innovation in Africa, has embarked on an ambitious plan to roll out 1 million locally assembled smartphones by July.

The Kenyan government, in collaboration with industry stakeholders, is implementing the comprehensive plan to promote domestic smartphone assembly. “Based on feasibility studies undertaken, we can locally assemble smartphones at a unit cost of about $40. We’ve partnered with the private sector to ensure in the next two months, we can roll out our first consignment of low-cost smartphones,” ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo said.

 

This endeavor is driven by the recognition that local production contributes to the national economy, creates employment opportunities, and enables technology transfer and skill development. The move marks a significant milestone in Kenya’s journey towards self-sufficiency and promoting a thriving digital ecosystem.

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TIZETI and Microsoft partner to bring affordable internet to 5 million people in Ivory Coast

Key Developments

TIZETI and Microsoft partner to bring affordable internet to 5 million people in Ivory Coast

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TIZETI, one of the leading internet service providers in West Africa, has partnered with Microsoft to address the challenge of broadband underdevelopment in Cote d’Ivoire.

This collaboration aims to expand affordable and reliable internet access to more than 5 million people across the country, fostering digital inclusion and driving economic growth. Côte d’Ivoire, like many other African nations, faces challenges in providing widespread access to high-quality and affordable internet connectivity.

 

Recognizing this opportunity, Tizeti and Microsoft have joined forces to bridge the digital divide and empower individuals, businesses, and communities with seamless internet access. As part of the partnership, Tizeti will leverage its expertise in deploying cost-effective solar-powered Wi-Fi towers and its innovative “Complimentary Wi-Fi” model to provide affordable internet connectivity to underserved areas of Côte d’Ivoire.

 

Microsoft’s support will enable Tizeti to scale its operations and enhance its network infrastructure, ensuring that more communities can benefit from reliable broadband access. This partnership is expected to facilitate the implementation of digital initiatives in various sectors, such as education, healthcare, agriculture, and e-commerce, unlocking new opportunities for growth and development.

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AfDB approves $11 million to facilitate fertilizer access for African farmers

Key Developments

AfDB approves $11 million to facilitate fertilizer access for African farmers

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The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has approved an $11.7 million grant to facilitate access to fertilizers for smallholder farmers across the continent.
 

AFDB apportioned the funding to the African Fertilizer Financing Mechanism (AFFM). Established in 2006, the Africa Fertilizer Financing Mechanism seeks to enhance pan-African agricultural productivity by promoting using fertilizers. The AFFM works multilaterally, focusing on the critical transnational factors impeding fertilizer use to develop comprehensive strategies for jump-starting Africa’s stagnant agricultural productivity.

 

By facilitating access to fertilizers, the AfDB aims to boost agricultural productivity, enhance soil fertility, and increase farmers’ incomes, ultimately contributing to poverty reduction and economic development in rural communities. The initiative aligns with the Bank’s overarching goals of promoting inclusive growth, improving livelihoods, and achieving food self-sufficiency in Africa.

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