TechPression

Tag: Digital Africa

  • Digital Africa, Orange Ventures to support African startups

    Digital Africa, Orange Ventures to support African startups

    To accelerate the growth of startups arising from the Orange Digital Centres (ODC) network, Ventures and Digital Africa have partnered strategically to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in Africa and the Middle East. 

    The collaboration agreement, signed by Vivatech, underlines both organisations’ dedication to funding and assisting African companies.

    The ecosystem of the Orange Digital Centre includes 8 European nations and 17 countries in Africa and the Middle East. It is a central location for several initiatives, such as funding, company incubation, acceleration, and digital training. Through fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, the ODC network seeks to establish an environment that supports startups at every stage of their development.

    Read also: World Food Forum opens applications for Startup Innovation Awards

    Orange Ventures, Digital Africa recently launched the Fuze scheme

    Orange Ventures and Digital Africa can now double the funding allocated to businesses through the recently launched Fuzé scheme. Through collaborative application evaluation and shared finance, they enable entrepreneurs needing financial assistance. This cooperative strategy guarantees that startups have the resources they need to succeed.

    Geneva, a platform established in 2019 in New York, is essential to this project. It brings people together who share interests in a community, making it easier for jogging clubs, reading clubs, and other community-based initiatives to take off. Bumble’s acquisition of Geneva is more evidence of how crucial friendships and community building are in the digital era.

    Funding Achievements

    Through Digital Africa’s Fuzé programme, five startups from the ODC network were funded for up to €50,000 per startup over the first year. Prominent recipients consist of health tech’s Clinihome in Cameroon; Fintech Koree in Cameroon; Cameroonia’s Colorfol (Cultural and Creative Industries); Senegal’s Tolbi (Agritech); Senegal’s Proboutik Fintech

    These grants enable these fledgling companies to grow and leave a lasting legacy.

    Orange Ventures’ CEO, Fayçal Adlouni, reaffirmed the organisation’s dedication to developing emerging innovators in the Middle East and Africa. Orange hopes to foster an atmosphere enabling businesses to flourish and participate in the region’s digital revolution through its partnership with Digital Africa.

    Read also: Visa announces 20 startups for second cohort for Africa fintech accelerator

    This opinion was also expressed by Asma Ennaifer, Executive Director of CSR, Communications, and Orange Digital Centre for Orange Middle East and Africa. She emphasised that Orange Digital Centres act as idea-to-reality catalysts, spurring innovation.

    The CEO of Digital Africa, Grégoire de Padirac, praised the collaboration and emphasised their mutual dedication to assisting African business owners at all phases of development.

    This partnership between Orange Ventures and Digital Africa sets the standard for significant support and investment at a time when startups are driving technical improvements. Entrepreneurs interested in participating in this project can look into the options that Orange Digital Centre, Orange Ventures, and Digital Africa offer.

  • Airtel launches Telesonic fibre for Digital Africa

    Airtel launches Telesonic fibre for Digital Africa

    To meet the rising demand for wholesale data in Africa, Airtel Africa is launching Telesonic, a state-of-the-art fibre bandwidth service that uses ground fibre assets and submarine cable systems.

    Telesonic seeks to establish local organisations in major African markets to ease wholesale business management and operations. 

    It should improve quality of life and boost economic growth for the telecom industry and the African community.

    Read also: Airtel Nigeria Invests in Network Infrastructure Upgrades

    Powering Digital Africa with Telesonic

    With more than 75,000 kilometres of ground fibre, Telesonic’s network makes it easier for Airtel Africa to reach all 14 of its markets. 

    In addition, the business has put money into the 2Africa underwater cable system, an ambitious project that will change how people in Africa, the Middle East, and Europe connect. 

    As the biggest submarine cable project in these parts of the world, 2Africa promises to connect 33 countries in a way that has never been done before. It will significantly affect education and healthcare by making them more efficient and accessible.

    Telesonic provides a variety of services, such as leased lines for both domestic and foreign calls, dedicated internet access, IP and IP transit services, and MPLS services. Its broad range of services shows that Airtel Africa is serious about making Africa more digitally capable.

    Africa’s Airtel Group CEO remarked

    According to Airtel Africa’s Group CEO, Segun Ogunsanya, “The establishment of Airtel Africa Telesonic Limited underscores Airtel Africa’s commitment to addressing Africa’s needs for the digital revolution by providing cutting-edge fibre-optic solutions.” 

    He called for bridging the digital divide, especially for the continent’s growing youth population, to spur creativity and economic growth.

    It’s not just a technological leap that Airtel Africa made when it invested in Telesonic; it’s also a step towards growth that brings people and ideas together across borders. 

    Airtel Africa Telesonic is helping to make Africa’s digital revolution possible by improving the continent’s digital infrastructure. It will keep Africa at the cutting edge of technology progress and connectivity.

  • Ghana National Identity card to go digital in 2024

    Ghana National Identity card to go digital in 2024

    A digital form of Ghana’s national ID card, called the Ghana Card, will be released next year by Margins ID, the company that makes the physical Ghana Card.

    In a recent interview with tech news site media, Moses Baiden, CEO of Margins ID Group, said that the digital version will have all the same features and functions as the physical card. The information about the users will be stored on a chip in their devices and accessed through a mobile app.

    Margins ID Group will also make a digital ID that can be used on an app. They already make NFC readers who can read all Ghana Cards, whether online or offline.

    Read also: Kenya to launch digital national identity cards

    Ghana Card for payments

    Baiden said this would make it easier to verify and authenticate someone’s name even if they don’t have their physical Ghana Card, either because they forgot to bring it with them or it got lost or damaged.

    Baiden says that the digital version of the Ghana Card won’t replace the physical card because he thinks that Ghana, being a developing country, doesn’t have all the facilities needed to check digital IDs everywhere in the country yet.

    According to the official, “the digital ID can be a good addition to the physical Ghana Card, but we are not yet at the stage where we can get rid of the physical card and go completely digital.” It is because the number of people in Ghana who own cell phones is growing.

    Baiden also said that next year, another critical digital feature currently dormant on the physical version of the Ghana Card will be activated: an app for digital transfers. He said that this is one of 18 features on the ID card that have not been turned on yet because the correct laws are not in place.

    Lagos unveils multipurpose resident ID cards

    Pre-Financing by Margins

    Margins ID Group officials also recalled the Ghanaian government spending a lot of money on a foreign contractor to deliver a national ID card system “that does not work,” stressing that an ID provider must have the cash to succeed. Pakistan’s NADRA, Nigeria’s NIMC, and India’s UIDAI can teach digital ID funding sustainability.

    Baiden said Margins ID has pre-financed Ghanaian ID card production for over a decade despite unpaid obligations. He said Ghana saved $1.5 billion by introducing the Ghana Card, which state entities would have used to collect data for government services.

    Given the Ghana Card’s growing use cases, he believes it can boost Ghana’s development economy by providing access to a wide range of services. Recently, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia announced the Ghana Card will underlie an auto loans scheme.

  • Itana secures $2m for Africa’s first digital free zone

    Itana secures $2m for Africa’s first digital free zone

    Itana (formerly Talent City), aiming to be Africa’s first digital free zone, has received $2 million in a pre-seed round led by global venture capitalists LocalGlobe, Amplo, Pronomos Capital, and Future Africa. Itana’s attempts to improve the ease-of-doing-business index, attract foreign direct investment, and create jobs in Nigeria will be helped by the money.

    The deal combines the deep business knowledge and technical know-how of partners who have backed model digital societies like e-Estonia and are building products that many people can use.

    “We’re excited to let you know about this round of funding. It confirms what we’ve been doing and shows that our funders and partners share the same goal of making it easy to invest and do business in Africa’s digital economy, says Luqman Edu, the CEO of Itana. 

    “The African market is still largely untapped, and Itana will provide the ideal business environment, which will be fully online, for global and pan-African digital and service companies to use Nigeria as an anchorage to operate easily across the continent,” he says. 

    Read also: Kenya launches first private free economic zone

    Itana digital free zone 

    Itana Free Zone will be made for startups, both local and international, as well as technology and service companies that want to grow across Africa without having to deal with uncertain policies, a lack of infrastructure, and other business problems.

    Itana will enable entrepreneurs to develop an internationally recognised firm in Nigeria’s first digital free zone by harnessing benefits hitherto only enjoyed by traditional manufacturing or oil and gas industries in Nigeria’s free zones.

    As a digital free-zone enterprise, enterprises will use ‘Itana Edge’, an online one-stop shop for business and government services, to take advantage of globally competitive business regulations and incentives.

    Taxation, business visas, banking, capital repatriation, and supportive legislation give enterprises access to the local and worldwide business community. Itana wants to create an atmosphere where enterprises may conduct global business in Nigeria from anywhere and reach Africa’s largest markets. 

    Zenith Bank, AfCFTA digitalises intra-Africa trade for exporters

    More on Itana

    Nigerian entrepreneurs Luqman Edu (CEO), Iyinoluwa Aboyeji (Founding Investor), and Coco Liu formed Itana. Iyinoluwa is the Founding Partner of Future Africa and co-founder of Andela and Flutterwave, while Luqman provides services and building technology solutions for UK and Nigerian cities and governments. Coco provides operational skills from working for multinational digital organisations and creating early-stage businesses.

    The business aspires to construct a virtual city like Delaware (U.S.), E-Estonia (Europe), or Dubai (Asia) that lets global corporations incorporate and operate in a Nigerian Free Zone remotely.

    The Itana digital free zone offers stable policies, tax and capital repatriation advantages, and remote operations for startups. I expect Nigerian global firms from this, says Iyin.

    The sustainably designed 72,000 sqm “live-work-build” campus, ‘Itana District, in Alaro City (in Lekki Free Zone, just outside Lagos, Nigeria), will host networking events, coworking, coliving, and more for permanent residents and digital community visitors—the first phase of the Itana District digital model city and infrastructure in Africa completed by 2027. 

    “The market opportunity to serve digital service and technology businesses in Africa is significant – the ecosystem is growing at pace despite the huge infrastructure challenges faced by startups across the continent,” says LocalGlobe Partner Yvonne Bajela. E-Estonia and other digital societies have helped enterprises scale.”

    Tech and service companies wishing to establish virtually in Nigeria can join the Itana Digital Free Zone business licence queue at www.itana.africa. 

    Itana’s aggressive approach to solving these issues and empowering young Nigerian and international entrepreneurs excites us. We’re thrilled to sponsor such an ambitious team and establish an African innovation cluster with them, Yvonne said. 

    In 2022, Itana launched a digital residency programme introducing business executives and potential residents to e-governance, global networking, and Africa’s digital economy. This online community of Itana Digital Residents has 3,000 tech entrepreneurs building for Africa.

    “I’m thrilled about Itana’s impact on Africa’s economy, having worked with various international corporations in Nigeria. According to Coco, Itana’s COO, we build infrastructure and processes to help firms register bank accounts and receive licences remotely.

    Our business platform should be transparent and user-friendly.”

    Africa’s young and fast-growing population attracts software developers and foreign direct investment, as Nigeria’s incorporated enterprises have expanded 400% year-over-year. Itana inspires ‘builders of tomorrow’—founders, entrepreneurs, creatives, and inventors.

  • Orange, Digital Africa in partnership to boost African start-ups

    Orange, Digital Africa in partnership to boost African start-ups

    Orange partners with Digital Africa to help African startups grow using the knowledge and resources of both businesses.

    The agreement was signed by the CEO of Orange, Middle East and Africa, Jérôme Hénique, and the CEO of Digital Africa, Isadora Bigourdan. This started the work of finding and choosing bright tech startups all over Africa.

    Selected startups will have access to a wide range of resources, such as mentoring programmes, technical help, funding, and chances to network through the Orange Digital Centre and the Digital Africa community.

     Read also: Digital Africa to invest in Côte d’Ivoire’s Fatala Digital House

    Orange Digital Centres (ODC) across Africa, the Middle East, and Europe

    Orange Digital Centres (ODC) are ecosystems in 17 countries in Africa and the Middle East and 8 countries in Europe that support, train, and guide young people and those with new ideas to make them more employable and ready for future jobs (AI, cybersecurity, etc.) or to become digital entrepreneurs.

    Orange Digital Centres offer a variety of free, open-to-all initiatives, including digital training for youth, startup acceleration, and aid and funding for project leads.

    ODC 2.0, the new phase of Orange Digital Centres, targets women and others without internet access. This would assist them in growing digital entrepreneurship in each country’s priority areas, such as environment, e-agri, e-health, and e-commerce.

    Digital Africa aims to make it easier for African firms to generate and use digital innovations in large numbers for the real economy. Digital Africa brings together global startups, researchers, incubators, institutional investors, venture capitalists, and cluster techs. Proparco, as the sole stakeholder, is the most important of these partners.

    Digital Africa bases its programmes on three primary priorities:

    • Access to trained local talent and data boosts startup abilities and tools.
    • Creating investor communities to increase seed financing access
    • Supporting “made in Africa” innovation policies that benefit African digital entrepreneurs and digital issue knowledge production

    Startups can expand their businesses and accelerate growth by connecting with investors, partners, and customers through Orange Digital Centres and Digital Africa.

    NITDA advocates Pan-African collaboration to drive digital growth

    Orange-Digital Africa partnership

    Orange and Digital Africa will collaborate to grow Africa’s startup environment. This relationship empowers young entrepreneurs to convert their unique ideas into profitable enterprises by providing them with tools, information, and support. They support digital innovation “made in Africa” and socio-economic development on the continent.

    Orange and Digital Africa personnel were enthusiastic and committed to this relationship at the signing event. They stressed indigenous talent, digital inclusiveness, and African entrepreneurial potential.

    Digital talent will alter Africa. “This partnership with the Orange Digital Centres aligns with our strategy for identifying promising entrepreneurs locally and helping them access support, funding, and lobbying tools through an international network of allies,” said Digital Africa CEO Isadora Bigourdan.

    “We are very excited to launch this collaboration with Digital Africa, as it adds an essential component to our existing Orange Digital Centres network, facilitating access to flexible financing solutions specifically designed to meet the needs of seed-stage entrepreneurs,” said Orange Middle East and Africa CEO Jérôme Hénique. This alliance will boost the African startup ecosystem.”

  • Digital Africa to invest in Côte d’Ivoire’s Fatala Digital House

    Digital Africa to invest in Côte d’Ivoire’s Fatala Digital House

    Digital Africa, a prominent organisation that fosters technological growth and innovation in Africa, is pleased to announce that it will invest in the Ivorian company Fatala Digital House. 

    Leveraging largely African talent, this strategic collaboration seeks to accelerate the digital transformation of European and African businesses. With Digital Africa’s support, Fatala Digital House can concentrate on its ambitious goals. 

    Digital Africa is committed to supporting African solutions in emerging by offering at least €130 million in finance from the AFD-Proparco group, as well as an extensive array of aid programmes geared to address the requirements of Africa’s inventive entrepreneurs.

    When it comes to digital services, Fatal Digital House is lightning quick, and they’ve been helping companies throughout Europe, and Africa make the transition to Disastrousal for quite some time now. Fatal Digital House has a significant emphasis on the African continent and harnesses the potential of local expertise to propel technological advancement. 

    This is Digital Africa’s first investment in Côte d’Ivoire, and the company plans to make further investments in the future.

    Read also: Google announces Cleantech Accelerator in the Middle East and Africa

    Digital Africa aims to accelerate the digital revolution in Africa

    The strategic partnership with Fatala Digital House demonstrates Digital Africa’s commitment to encouraging innovation and development in the African startup ecosystem. The team at Digital Africa is confident in Africa’s potential to become a global hub for technology, and they are excited to contribute to this development.

    This investment demonstrates Digitai’s dedication to fostering the development of and providing continuity of service to Africa’s startup community. Funding innovative initiatives like Fatala Digital House is one-way Digital Africa aims to foster innovation and cultivate local talent. This will aid in the development of Africa’s digital technology sector.

    Digital Africa is one of the most significant organization aiming to accelerate the digital revolution in Africa. Digital Africa aims to encourage creativity and economic development and make Africa a worldwide digital powerhouse by providing prospective businesses with funding, mentoring, and other tools.

    The new drive in technology, VR or AR

    Main focus is on “Made in Africa” digital innovations

    Launched in 2018, Digital Africa aims to equip African tech and digital entrepreneurs with the skills they need to create and develop innovations directly impacting the continent’s economic growth. The programme unites a group of international partners interested in supporting African digital entrepreneurs, with the French Development Agency (AFD) in the lead. 

    Digital Africa: Technological Transformation for Jobs investigates ways to generate and promote the wider use of inexpensive and appealing digital technologies (DTs) suited for Sub-Saharan Africa’s rising workforce and encourage continuing learning through adoption.

    To achieve its overarching mission of promoting equitable development through digital innovations “made in Africa,” Digital Africa has organized a series of programmes around three areas of engagement. Capacity building and direct technical assistance to digital start-ups with high impact potential are examples of such initiatives, as are the pursuit of and access to funding in Africa and abroad to facilitate the global dissemination of African technological innovations and the promotion of public policies that are receptive to the needs of Africa’s innovative digital entrepreneurs.