Author: Victor Olayiwola

South African renewable energy company SolarSaver has successfully raised US$60 million in funding to accelerate its mission of delivering affordable, reliable, and sustainable solar power solutions to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Southern Africa. The capital will support the company’s ambitious plans to scale operations in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, and Zambia, addressing energy insecurity and high electricity costs for businesses in the region. SolarSaver specializes in developing, owning, and operating small-scale solar and battery systems that provide businesses with a consistent and independent source of electricity. Unlike traditional models that require large upfront investments, SolarSaver installs and manages…

South African-founded clean technology company maxwell+spark has successfully closed a US$15 million Series B funding round, aiming to accelerate its ambitious mission of transforming industrial logistics. The company specializes in a unified lithium-ion battery ecosystem designed to replace traditional diesel engines and lead-acid systems across sectors such as forklifts, refrigerated transport, and backup power solutions. Founded in 2017 in Durban, maxwell+spark made its mark by developing the world’s first battery-powered transport refrigeration system, engineered and rigorously tested on South African roads. Their pioneering solution, the fridge.li prototype, entered commercial service with retail giant SPAR in 2018 and continues to operate…

Velents, a fast-emerging Egyptian startup at the forefront of enterprise-focused artificial intelligence solutions, has successfully raised US$1.5 million in new funding while unveiling a groundbreaking product: Agent.sa, the first fully autonomous AI employee fluent in Arabic and tailored specifically for business environments across the Middle East. The company was originally founded by tech entrepreneurs Mohamed Gaber and Abdulaziz Almuhaydib and operates through a combined Egyptian-Saudi team. Although Velents initially launched as a recruitment platform, the startup shifted its strategy in 2023 toward building a broader ecosystem of AI-powered tools designed to elevate how companies attract, engage, and manage talent in…

South Africa is set to welcome two major crypto-focused events this month: the Blockchain Africa Conference 2025 and Crypto Fest 2025. These gatherings are expected to attract hundreds of blockchain and cryptocurrency experts, investors, developers, and enthusiasts from across the continent and around the world. The Blockchain Africa Conference kicks off tomorrow in Johannesburg and marks the 11th edition of the event. This year’s theme, “Ready for Business,” reflects the growing maturity of blockchain and crypto technologies. Once viewed with skepticism, these technologies are now central to the operations of global giants such as Microsoft, IBM, JP Morgan, and Amazon.…

Orange has officially unveiled the five winners of its 15th annual Orange Social Ventures Prize (OSVP), an initiative dedicated to recognizing and supporting socially impactful startups across Africa and the Middle East. Since its inception in 2011, OSVP has worked to encourage technological innovation that contributes directly to sustainable development and social inclusion. This landmark anniversary edition, hosted under the theme of “responsible and inclusive innovation,” concluded during a high-profile international ceremony at the Mobile World Congress in Kigali, Rwanda. From a pool of 70 finalists representing 17 countries, five outstanding ventures were selected for their creativity, scalability, and social…

Kenya-based mobility company Spiro, widely recognized as a pioneer in electric two-wheel transportation and battery-swapping technology, has raised US$100 million to scale its mission of delivering affordable, accessible, and clean mobility solutions across Africa. The investment marks one of the largest funding rounds in the continent’s electric mobility sector and reinforces Spiro’s position as a leader in sustainable urban transport. Spiro currently stands as Africa’s largest electric mobility operator, running the continent’s most expansive and rapidly growing network of battery-swapping stations for electric motorcycles. The company has deployed over 60,000 electric bikes, established more than 1,200 battery-swap locations, and facilitated…

Kenyan inventor Elly Savatia has been named the winner of the prestigious Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation for his groundbreaking solution, Terp 360 — a cutting-edge app that uses artificial intelligence to translate spoken language into sign language through 3D avatars. The Africa Prize, launched in 2014 by the Royal Academy of Engineering, is one of the continent’s most influential awards for engineering entrepreneurs. Since its inception, it has supported 165 businesses from 22 African nations, providing them with training, mentoring, and crucial communication resources to scale their impact. Earlier this year, 16 innovators were shortlisted for the prize and…

The Lagos Angel Network (LAN), in partnership with the African Angel Academy (AAA) and with support from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), today officially launched the Lagos Angel Fellowship Program. The landmark event, held at the UNDP Office in Lagos, marks a significant step towards expanding and professionalizing Nigeria’s angel investment community. The Lagos Angel Fellowship is a fully funded, six-week flagship initiative designed to provide a structured pathway for seasoned professionals to build confidence, sharpen their investment skills, and join a pan-African network of active angel investors. The program aims to bridge the gap between capital and innovation by…

Tunisian insurtech startup PAYDAY has successfully closed a pre-seed funding round that places the young company at a US$3 million valuation, marking a significant vote of confidence in its mission to transform access to financial services for underserved workers. Founded in 2024 by Mohamed Anouar Gadhoum and Shaher Abbas, PAYDAY offers a fully digital platform designed to connect insurers, banks, and employers. The goal is to provide low- and middle-income employees with accessible financial tools that enhance their productivity, support financial well-being, and improve long-term stability. By digitizing the entire process, PAYDAY aims to remove traditional barriers that often limit…

Cairo-based artificial intelligence startup Nanovate has raised US$1 million in a pre-seed funding round backed by several angel investors, marking a major milestone as the young company prepares to expand its footprint beyond Egypt and into global markets. Nanovate was founded in January by Nancy Madbouly and Ahmed Gamal with a mission to build advanced Arabic-first AI technologies. The company specializes in fully integrated AI solutions tailored for the MENA region, including intelligent voice assistants, conversational chat agents, automation systems, and enterprise-level AI tools capable of operating across 22 distinct Arabic dialects. These solutions help businesses streamline operations, improve customer…