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11 African Countries to Benefit from $16.2 Million Broadband Mapping Project

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11 African Countries to Benefit from $16.2 Million Broadband Mapping Project

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Eleven African nations are set to receive a share of a $16.2 million project aimed at establishing National Broadband Mapping Systems.

The announcement came during the recent Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR-24) hosted by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Kampala, Uganda.

This initiative, funded by the European Commission, will focus on developing broadband mapping systems across participating countries.

This will help identify critical gaps in internet access, including coverage, quality, and affordability. The project targets Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The ITU says the collected data will be instrumental in “enabling data-driven decision-making for investments in digital infrastructure,” ultimately fostering Africa’s digital transformation.

Alongside the broadband mapping project announcement, African regulators endorsed a new set of guidelines designed to maximize the benefits of transformative information and communication technologies (ICTs).

These “GSR-24 Best Practice Guidelines” address the need to balance innovation with effective regulation.

The guidelines take into account emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and aim to create a positive impact on societies and economies.

ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin emphasized the importance of innovation, trust, and inclusivity in policymaking.

The Global Symposium for Regulators, organized by the ITU, brought together over 600 participants, including government ministers, regulatory leaders, industry executives, and academics, to discuss pressing issues in the field of digital regulation.

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UNDP and METI Team Up to Empower Six African Startups for Investment Success

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UNDP and METI Team Up to Empower Six African Startups for Investment Success

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Six African tech startups have been chosen as finalists for the “Meet the Tôshikas” program, a joint initiative by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).

This program aims to bridge the gap between African startups and Japanese investors.

It offers a deep dive into Africa’s vibrant startup scene for Japanese investors, while also equipping promising African startups with the tools they need to attract investment.

The first edition of “Meet the Tôshikas” focuses on Zambia, Angola, and South Africa.
 
Initially, 30 startups (10 from each country) participated in bootcamps.
 
Now, six finalists – two from each nation – have been selected for a more intensive three-month investment readiness program.

These finalists will receive a $20,000 grant and participate in a week-long investor roadshow in Tokyo, where they can connect with potential Japanese backers.

The six finalists include:

  • Angola: Anda (formalizing the moto-taxi market) and Mamboo (facilitating fast food and FMCG deliveries)
  • South Africa: Zoie Health (e-health) and Jobox (graduate job placement)
  • Zambia: Bosso (construction platform) and AfriOnline Group (integrated ordering platform)
“This program offers a unique opportunity for African startups to showcase their potential to Japanese investors,” said Tomas Sales, a UNDP advisor overseeing the project.  
 
 

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Innovate Africa Fund Launches with $2.5 Million to Empower Early-Stage African Startups

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Innovate Africa Fund Launches with $2.5 Million to Empower Early-Stage African Startups

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Innovate Africa, a newly established angel investment fund, has begun operations with an initial commitment of $2.5 million.

The fund aims to support up to 20 early-stage startups in its first year, focusing on ventures that use technology to tackle critical challenges like insecurity, unemployment, and poverty.

This launch comes amidst a complex funding landscape for African startups.

While total equity funding reached $2 billion in 2023, a 43% decline from the previous year, recent months have shown signs of recovery. As of May 2024, African startups raised $187 million, a 149% increase from April’s figures.

Innovate Africa Fund seeks to address the specific needs of early-stage founders by providing strategic capital to help startups navigate the crucial stages from ideation to market fit and secure further funding.

“Our goal is to empower founders to accelerate their growth trajectory,” said a spokesperson for Innovate Africa Fund. “We go beyond just financing; we offer comprehensive support across finance, governance, public relations, and strategy.”

The venture fund will offer an average investment of $50,000 per startup alongside tailored support in areas like product development, market fit achievement through the Product Leadership Accelerator program, and connections to skilled professionals through their partner network.

Co-founded by Kristin Wilson and Christian Idiodi, Innovate Africa Fund positions itself as a “founder-centric” catalyst fund within a broader ecosystem.

Through the Innovate Africa ecosystem, portfolio companies will gain access to experienced advisors and operators, both locally in Africa and internationally, to ensure they have the resources needed to thrive.

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Jean-Arsène Houla-Houla is Revolutionizing Gabon’s Public Transport Using WhatsApp

Jean-Arsène Houla-Houla is Revolutionizing Gabon's Public Transport via WhatsApp

Jean-Arsène Houla-Houla is making waves in the transportation sector with his innovative solutions to the mobility challenges in Gabon.

In 2020, recognizing the inefficiencies in Gabon’s public transportation system, Houla-Houla founded WebCars, a startup dedicated to carpooling for short distances.

What began as a simple WhatsApp group has now evolved into a comprehensive platform that connects passengers and drivers within trusted networks.

This service allows passengers to plan their trips, ensuring they can avoid the frequent delays and shortages associated with public transport.

For drivers, WebCars offers a means to earn additional income while providing rides to people they know, creating a safer and more reliable travel environment.

Through his startup, WebCars, he aims to address the challenges of unreliable public transportation and provide a reliable, community-based carpooling solution.

By creating a platform that allows users to form carpooling groups with trusted individuals, he is working to make transportation more accessible, efficient, and secure for both passengers and drivers

Before the inception of WebCars, he founded Rehoboth Finance in 2016, where he served as CEO until 2022.

In 2019, he launched Les Génies Solidaires (LGS), an investment fund that aims to foster economic growth and support local businesses.

Jean-Arsène holds a degree in mathematics and physics from the University of Science and Technology of Masuku and a master’s degree in accounting and finance from the National Institute of Management Sciences.

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Rodrigue Msechu

Rodrigue Msechu is a Tanzanian entrepreneur and business advisor. He is the founder and CEO of Anza Strategy, a business advisory firm that helps companies enter and grow in the African market.

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