Tag: Gitex Africa

  • Zambian fintech Lupiya wins GITEX Africa supernova challenge

    Zambian fintech Lupiya wins GITEX Africa supernova challenge

    Lupiya, a female-led Zambian microfinance startup, has clinched the top spot at the GITEX Africa Supernova Challenge during Morocco’s GITEX Africa 2024 event. The conference is the continent’s most significant technology and digital economy trade show, attracting over 30,000 visitors.

    Founded by Evelyn Kaingu and Muchu Kaingu, Lupiya’s victory has sent excitement through Africa’s tech, innovation, and investment ecosystem, positioning Lupiya as a trailblazer in the continent’s financial inclusion drive.

    “I still have to pinch myself!” says Evelyn Kaingu, Lupiya’s co-founder and CEO, beaming excitedly. “Winning the overall GITEX Africa Supernova Challenge has been an absolute adrenaline rush! This win further validates our Lupiya team’s hard work over the years.

    Read also: NITDA, KAOUN plans to launch GITEX Nigeria

    But more than that, it gives us the visibility and credibility to drive our mission forward at full speed across Africa. The interest and opportunities from GITEX have been overwhelming in the best way. We’re buzzing with ideas to expand access to financial services for the underserved.”

    Evelyn emphasises the significance of this win for the African tech scene and Lupiya’s trajectory. “Most importantly, I hope our story inspires other Zambian innovators to dream big. If we can impress global investors, there’s no limit to what our people can achieve. Get ready, Africa, because an era of brilliant African innovators is inevitable!”

    GITEX Africa’s Prize Financial Boost for Lupiya

    As part of the victory, Lupiya received a $50,000 prize, which Evelyn notes will significantly affect their startup operations. “For a startup focused on financial inclusion, every dollar counts towards our mission of reaching more underserved communities. This influx of funding will turbocharge our efforts to fine-tune our products, services, and reach.”

    Reflecting on Lupiya’s journey, Evelyn shares insights into their challenges as a fintech startup in Zambia. “Launching into a new sector, especially as a startup, isn’t for the faint of heart,” she says. “One of the first hurdles we faced was building trust in a new sector: Fintech was a relatively new concept in Zambia. Educating our target audience about the security and benefits of Lupiya’s platform took time and strategic communication.”

    Read also: Fincra to launch EUR virtual account at GITEX Africa

    A Bright Future Ahead

    Looking ahead, Evelyn is optimistic about Lupiya’s future. “Lupiya’s future is bright! We are expanding our product offerings to provide a wider range of financial services, payments, and enhanced mobility through a mobile app. We also have ambitious plans to scale our operations across the region.”

    Lupiya’s win at the GITEX Africa Supernova Challenge validates their innovative approach to financial inclusion and underscores the potential of African startups to drive meaningful change across the continent.

  • Fincra to launch EUR virtual account at GITEX Africa

    Fincra to launch EUR virtual account at GITEX Africa

    Fincra, a Nigerian fintech firm, has announced plans to launch its latest Banking as a Service (BaaS) product, the EUR Virtual Account. This innovative solution enables businesses across North and Francophone Africa to effortlessly collect foreign currency payments, particularly in Euros.

    Fincra’s EUR Virtual Account aims to simplify the process of receiving Euro payments through straightforward bank transfers.

    This capability will benefit diverse industries, from traditional retail and e-commerce to hospitality, tourism, and professional services, allowing these businesses to serve their European clientele better.

    Read also: Tala Kenya unveils new savings products for over 3.5 million users

    “Businesses in Africa are increasingly seeking reliable and cost-effective solutions to manage their international payments, especially in Euros,” said Wole Ayodele, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Fincra. “Our EUR Virtual Account offers a cheaper alternative to card funding, simplifies Euro payment collections, and enables platforms to issue named Euro accounts to their customers. This makes it an ideal choice for businesses aiming to streamline their payment processes.”

    Fincra’s Diverse Offerings

    With the EUR Virtual Account launch, Fincra is expanding its comprehensive suite of payment solutions. The company’s existing tools, part of the Pay-In product line, facilitate seamless transactions by allowing businesses to accept payments through multiple methods, such as checkout systems and payment links. Fincra’s Pay-In solutions support payments via cards, bank transfers, and mobile money, providing businesses with versatile options to cater to their customers.

    Fincra currently offers virtual accounts in various African currencies, including the Nigerian Naira (NGN), Kenyan Shilling (KES), Ghanaian Cedi (GHS), and Ugandan Shilling (UGX). Introducing the EUR Virtual Account marks Fincra’s first foray into offering a currency solution outside Africa, specifically to meet the needs of businesses in North and Francophone Africa.

    Read also: Flutterwave secures Mozambique operational licence

    Unveiling at GITEX AFRICA Morocco 2024

    The EUR Virtual Account will be officially launched at GITEX AFRICA Morocco 2024, highlighting Fincra’s commitment to providing innovative financial solutions tailored to the needs of African businesses.

    As African businesses increasingly engage in international trade, the need for efficient, reliable payment solutions becomes more critical. The EUR Virtual Account is poised to address these demands, offering a streamlined, cost-effective alternative for managing Euro payments.

    By introducing the EUR Virtual Account, Fincra enhances financial connectivity between African businesses and their European clients. This move facilitates smoother transactions and positions Fincra as a critical player in the fintech landscape, driving innovation and efficiency in cross-border payments.

  • Explore Tech’s most significant event at GITEX Africa 2024 Live – the ultimate Startup show

    Explore Tech’s most significant event at GITEX Africa 2024 Live – the ultimate Startup show

    According to experts, GITEX GLOBAL is the best tech event in the world and the most prominent tech and business event.

    The corporate owner of the GITEX GLOBAL website and office is the Dubai World Trade Centre L.L.C. Founded in Dubai, UAE, GITEX GLOBAL, also known as the Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX), has its main office at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

    It is a worldwide tech show that takes place in the Dubai World Trade Centre in the United Arab Emirates. In October 2022, the 42nd version, which took place on two million square feet, or 33 football fields, drew 170,000 people from 176 countries and more than 5,000 businesses. At GITEX GLOBAL 2022, the most empowering event ever, seven multi-tech themes looked at the metaverse, a decentralised internet, and a sustainable global digital economy.

    Read also: African Tech Summit (ATS) 2024 holds in June

    According to reports, GITEX Africa will occur in Marrakech, Morocco, from May 29 to May 31, 2024.

    GITEX previous remarks 

    GITEX GLOBAL 2023 was a huge success, giving people worldwide a place to interact, create new ideas, and establish enduring global partnerships.

    The globe saw startups fully utilising AI’s power and potential. In addition to over 6,000 companies, over 1,400 speakers, over 40 workshops, and hundreds of lectures by business and industry experts, GITEX Global is featured.

    GITEX Africa 2024 is a platform for innovation and teamwork, not just an exhibition. The event creates a path for a better future for technology in Africa by connecting investors, established businesses, and startups.

    GITEX Africa 2024: Driving digital economy by equipping Policymakers

    At the GITEX AFRICA Digital Summit, the primary themes of discussion include the increasing prevalence of digital technology in Africa and the continent’s progress towards establishing a unified digital market. Along with international IT leaders and regulatory bodies, the 33 government delegates from across Africa met in 2023.

    In the year 2024, this premier gathering of innovators, wise leaders, and policymakers is the driving force behind the digital transformation that is proceeding in Africa.

    Read also: EduTAMS approves #25 Million for startups in Ogun State

    The sessions, presented by organisers and government officials, are centred on national challenges, and they encourage creative conversations and practical solutions. Additionally, there are many possibilities for networking.

    As prominent African ICT markets, GITEX 2024 will focus on Nigeria, Ethiopia, UAE, Morocco, Kenya, and DRC. In Nigeria, the most prominent industries are e-farming, mobile currency, e-health, and fintech. UAE seeks social improvement, Morocco innovation, Kenya e-agriculture, and DRC technology mining.

    GITEX is a unique event that gathers experts, investors, tech firms, and government officials to discuss future projects and investments.

    Visit the website @ gitexafrica.com.

  • Nigerian start-up Nearpays wins fintech prize at Gitex Africa

    Nigerian start-up Nearpays wins fintech prize at Gitex Africa

    Nearpays Technology Limited, a startup company based in Nigeria, emerged victorious in the Fintech and Blockchain category of the Supernova Challenge held in Morocco during GITEX Africa.

    A monetary reward in the amount of 10,000 United States Dollars as well as a free trip to GITEX Global, which will be held in the United Arab Emirates in October 2023 and will be hosted by the Dubai World Trade Centre, has been granted to Nearpays.

    This information was made public in a statement by Mrs Hadiza Umar, who serves as the Head of Cooperate Affairs for the Nigerian National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

    Read also: Tanzanian biotech firm NovFeed, wins $1 million Milken-Motsepe Prize in Agritech

    What Nearpays has in store for its Clients

    Clients can take advantage of a full range of financial services, from beginning to end, with Nearpays’ full-service financial payment platform. On the premise that transactions should go off without a hitch, it is equipped with a number of features that will, to the greatest extent possible, streamline online payment processes.

    In addition, it provides a comprehensive selection of services, which may include personal and business banking, internet banking, and virtual debit cards.

    Blockchain technology is used by the platform to build a decentralised payment system, which in turn makes the network more safe and efficient than traditional payment systems. The platform was established by Victor Daniyan.

    As a fintech payment company that aims to boost financial inclusion by ensuring card transactions are more affordable and simple using NFC and scan-to-pay technology.

    Nearpays is currently making headway in the Nigerian market with the intention of expanding into other markets in Africa. Additionally, the company intends to introduce its services in Europe and the United States in the not too distant future.

    Kashifu Inuwa, Director General of NITDA, praised Nearpays for bringing Nigeria’s name to the attention of audiences around the world.

    According to what he claimed, the triumph was a “proud moment for Nigeria and that it was a testament to the hard work and dedication of the company’s founders and team”.

     

    What NITDA thinks of Nearpays’ Sucess

    According to the Nigerian Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the success of Nearpays at GITEX Africa Morocco is a portent of many good things to come for the Nigerian startup ecosystem, particularly now that the Nigeria Startup Act is in the stage of implementation.

    A sizable and expanding segment of the country’s population is comprised of tech-savvy young businesspeople. These businesspeople, who have the backing of the government, are well positioned to make a big contribution to the economy of the entire world.

    Sixty-seven Nigerian startups took part in the first edition of GITEX Africa, which reaffirmed the country’s burgeoning tech ecosystem and gave a platform for them to exhibit their cutting-edge ideas, gain invaluable exposure from the global tech community, and attract potential investments that will catalyse Nigeria’s digital economy. GITEX Africa was held in Nigeria, which reaffirmed the country’s burgeoning tech ecosystem and provided a platform for them to exhibit their cutting-edge ideas.

    The narrative concerning Africa’s technological potential is being rewritten as a result of the continued success of Nigerian tech startups on the international stage.

    Nigerian startups are positioned to make a revolutionary change, establishing the country at the forefront of technology innovation in Africa and beyond, thanks to the original ideas and entrepreneurial drive of Nigerian startup founders, as well as the support of the Nigerian government and international investors.

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    Remarks from some Executives

    The Chief Executive Officer of NITDA stated that the Nigerian government had enacted several policies over the past several years, most notably the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy, also known as NDEPS, which creates an environment conducive to the growth of digital innovation and entrepreneurship.

    “In addition, the Nigerian government equally enacted the Nigeria Startup Act (NSA) to provide an enabling environment for the establishment, development and operation of startups in Nigeria. 

    “The government’s policies have helped to attract investments in the Nigerian digital economy sector and have led to the growth of a number of thriving startups, such as Nearpays. The government’s continued support for the sector is helping Nigeria to become a leading hub for talent and innovation in the world.

    “The success of Nearpays is a testament to the potential of the Nigerian startup ecosystem. The country has a large and growing population of young and tech-savvy entrepreneurs. With the support of the government, these entrepreneurs are poised to make a significant impact on the global economy,” NITDA CEO added.

    Inuwa, the Director General of NITDA  reaffirmed that the Nigerian government was dedicated to the creation of an environment that was favourable for beginning businesses and that it would continue to provide support for the industry.

    “The government is committed to creating a conducive environment for the growth of the startup ecosystem. We will continue to provide support to startups through enabling policies, programs, and initiatives”, he said.

    Victor Daniyan, the CEO and Co-founder of Nearspays, expressed his gratitude for the accolade while also stating that the award is a.” significant milestone” for the company and that it would “help us to further accelerate our growth and expansion plans.”

    He also remarked that it was an honour to represent Nigeria at the global scene and that they are devoted to using technology to solve some of the most serious concerns facing Africa.