BitKE

Ghanaian startups are invited to apply for UNICEF StartUp Lab's 6-month accelerator focused on tech solutions for social impact, addressing various SDGs. Selected startups receive mentorship, funding, and access to UNICEF's network.

VALR.com, a cryptocurrency exchange headquartered in South Africa, has announced that it has raised $50 million (over R750 million) in Africa’s largest ever crypto funding round.
This values the company at $240 million (R3.7 billion)
VALR’s oversubscribed Series B equity funding round was led

SumSub has expanded its Non-Document Verification solution to South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, and Ghana, reaching over 350 million potential users. This initiative enhances KYC/AML compliance, fights identity fraud, and simplifies user onboarding in Africa.

Kenyan fintechs M-PESA and Pezesha are launching Mkopo wa Pochi, a credit service for small business owners to borrow through M-PESA accounts. Available from June 2024, it aims to utilize both firms' strengths, offering quick loans with flexible terms and a credit assessment process.

Agent Banking Company (ABC), a Ugandan fintech, has received an undisclosed investment from Goodwell Investments.
The investment, derived from Goodwell’s €150 million uMunthu II Fund, will help ABC expand its client base, increase agent coverage, and introduce new services. uMunthu II Fund

Tunisia is set to witness the first Hedera hackathon which will take place between Janauary 26-28 2024.
The hackathon is a collaborative effort between the following entities:
Dar Blockchain – Tunisian Web3 company and a pionner of the blockchain space in the country
The Hashgraph Association (H

長年にわたり、汎用ブロックチェーンはほぼすべてのアプリケーションをサポートできるプラットフォームとして位置付けられてきました。しかし、採用が実験段階を超えて実産業に進むにつれて、問題点が浮き彫りになり始めています。実際、「ユニバーサル」ブロックチェーンと呼ばれるものは、ますますその能力を十分に発揮できなくなることに苦労しています。

PayStack, the Nigerian fintech acquired by Stripe in 2020 for $200 million, is reportedly laying off 33 workers in Europe and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Flutterwave has acquired money transfer licenses in 13 U.S. states, enhancing its ability to facilitate secure, cost-effective money transfers between the U.S. and Africa. This strategic move expands its reach to 29 states, supporting the African diaspora. The company is also expanding globally, having acquired additional licenses in Africa and launched services in India.

Munify, a fintech startup backed by Y Combinator, has secured $3 million in seed funding to enhance Egypt's remittance services, targeting faster and cheaper cross-border transfers. With the growing remittance market and over 10 million Egyptians abroad, Munify aims to improve financial inclusion and cater to both individual and enterprise clients. The funding will facilitate team scaling and regulatory partnerships, supporting future expansion into Gulf, Europe, and the UK.