MyCover.ai has just been named one of the Top 100 most innovative InsurTech companies in the world by FinTech Global! This is a significant achievement and a testament to the hard work and dedication of their team in bringing innovative insurance solutions to the Nigerian and African markets.
Over the span of the last two years, MyCover.ai has steadfastly dedicated its efforts to ensuring the seamless distribution of insurance products to the Nigerian market through the embedding of their innovative API Solution into their audiences’ favorite products and services. Their commitment to this vision has been unwavering, as they diligently build a digital insurance infrastructure. MyCover.ai’s primary objective is to catalyze the growth of insurance penetration and adoption across the African continent. It is with immense satisfaction that they announce the distinguished recognition as one of the Top 100 most innovative InsurTech companies worldwide, as conferred by FinTech Global.
FinTech Global is a premier provider of FinTech-related information services, B2B media solutions, and industry-specific events. They’re all about connecting FinTech stakeholders worldwide, including buyers, sellers, and innovators.
This year, analysts and seasoned industry experts reviewed a massive list of over 1,500 businesses provided by FinTech Global and selected the Top 100. MyCover.ai made this list and it’s a testament to the work the good people behind have put in.
Their focus on creating a seamless distribution of insurance through innovative API Solution is a commendable effort. It’s clear that this dedication to building a digital infrastructure for insurance penetration and adoption in Africa is making a positive impact.
The distinction of MyCover.ai in this context is derived from a combination of factors, primarily stemming from their notable growth trajectory. Their innovative technological solutions, while highly sophisticated, extend beyond mere efficiency improvements and cost reductions; they profoundly reshape the insurance value chain and greatly improve client revenue enhancement.
The core of their operations lies in their open insurance API, a pioneering solution that aims to deepen the reach of insurance services and streamline insurance processes throughout the African continent. This solution is uniquely tailored to facilitate the seamless integration of insurance products into the offerings of innovators and businesses, and to empower insurance companies in expediting product distribution and simplifying claims procedures. MyCover.ai’s ultimate objective is to provide end-users with unparalleled access to insurance products, characterized by a seamless and enriching experience.
Their partnership portfolio spans a broad spectrum of industries, including logistics, mobility/ride hailing, e-commerce, Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) platforms, and fintech, among others. Consider, for instance, a third-party logistics entity empowered to provide real-time Goods in Transit Coverage for the commodities transported within its fleet, alongside comprehensive health insurance and personal accident coverage for its personnel. The entire spectrum of claims and insurance processes is efficiently managed within the ambit of this platform.
This distinction as one of the Top 100 most innovative InsurTech companies marks a watershed moment for them, and it fuels their fervor to continually ascend new heights of growth and innovation. They extend their heartfelt appreciation to those who have joined them on this remarkable journey.
Drugstoc, an innovative startup that leverages technology to enhance access to health care has been announced as the overall winner of the 2023 Global Visa Everywhere Initiative (VEI) – an open innovation program and competition for start-ups and fintech companies, targeted at solving the payment challenges of tomorrow through innovation. The startup also won the Audience Favorite award.
The finale was hosted on September 19 during TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco, CA where this year’s VEI finalists pitched their payment solution to an esteemed panel of judges.
As a vital component of the program, Visa has made its network available to drive inclusive economic growth with the goal of giving everyone, everywhere, access to the global economy. Notably, minority-owned businesses have tripled after the pandemic, introducing new ideas for the fintech space. The 2023 VEI program saw a significant uptick in diverse applicants, with women-led businesses representing nearly half of this year’s entrants.
Last year, ThriveAgric, another Nigerian startup that provides smallholder farmers access to finance, insights, and distribution was crowned the 2022 winner of VEI.
VEI is an open innovation program and competition for start-ups and fintech companies, targeted at solving the payment challenges of tomorrow through innovation. Visit our website to learn more about the VEI program.
Dreams of building a home are universally shared by Africans at home and in the diaspora. However, the path to actualising these dreams often comes with obstacles in the form of outdated construction management practices and a lack of transparency in the industry.
Many Africans in the diaspora have experienced frustration and disappointment when attempting to build in their home countries, where innovation has long been overdue. Kólé is a trailblazing startup with a mission to transform the planning and management of construction projects in Africa.
Yemi Jegede and Muyiwa Oyinlola, the visionary co-founders of Kólé, met as Ph.D. students at the University of Warwick and discovered a shared passion for improving the African construction industry. They collaborated on several projects aimed at sustainable development in Africa, where they worked with stakeholders across the construction supply chain to create eco-friendly housing solutions. However, they soon realised that the traditional construction planning and management methods made it difficult to oversee construction projects effectively.
Yemi and Muyiwa were also aware that numerous Africans in the diaspora were hesitant to build in their home countries due to the fear of fraud and the absence of reliable tools to manage their projects effectively. They identified a pressing need for a solution that would enable Africans, home and abroad, to participate in construction projects confidently, regardless of their location, while ensuring transparency and accountability throughout the entire process. Driven by this, they set out to create a company that would bring about a new era in the African construction industry.
“We saw the huge gap in the market for innovative and sustainable construction solutions, and we were determined to fill that gap by leveraging technology to help Africans effortlessly oversee their construction projects, ensuring timely and cost-effective completion from anywhere across the globe,” Muyiwa said, sharing the origin of their vision.
Kólé firmly believes in the transformative power of technology to shape the African construction landscape. That is why Kólé’s construction management software is designed to streamline and optimise every stage of the construction process. Kólé empowers Africans to start building projects, overcome traditional hurdles and embrace digital transformation. From a comprehensive project scheduling assistant to precise budgeting and seamless communication, Kólé’s innovative software provides a unified platform where users can plan, execute, and deliver construction projects in Africa.
“There is immense potential for technology to transform the construction sector. And with our cutting-edge digital solution, we are changing how construction projects are executed to enable Africans at home and in the diaspora to build faster, smarter, better,” said Yemi.
At the core of Kólé’s vision lies a commitment to simplify the construction process. By replacing archaic paper-based systems with intuitive digital solutions. Kólé enables construction professionals to streamline their workflows and collaborate more effectively. The startup’s user-friendly interface eliminates the need for complex manual tasks, reducing human error and increasing overall productivity. With the Kólé app, construction project teams and owners can allocate resources efficiently, manage timelines with precision, and make data-driven decisions that optimise project outcomes.
What sets Kólé apart is its user-led product development approach. They actively engage with their users, fostering a culture of open communication where ideas thrive and practical solutions are born. By listening to and incorporating feedback from its user base, Kólé ensures that its software evolves to meet the changing needs and trends of its users. This commitment keeps them at the forefront of construction management technology, providing tailored solutions that drive industry-wide transformation.
With Kólé as a trusted partner, Africa’s construction industry is poised to unlock its full potential, ushering in a new era of growth and development.
It is safe to say that a brighter future awaits the construction industry in Africa.
Data centres are critical infrastructure for modern businesses and governments, providing secure and reliable storage, processing, and management of digital data. Despite the growing demand for data centres in Nigeria, Nigeria is behind other African countries such as South Africa and Kenya in terms of the number and quality of data centres available.
A key component of thriving economies, data centres house computer servers and associated components, such as telecommunications and storage systems. These facilities are designed to provide a secure and controlled environment for IT equipment, with features such as redundant power supplies, backup generators, and cooling systems.
Growing Demand for Data Centres in Nigeria
Nigeria has seen rapid growth in its digital economy, with an increasing number of businesses and organisations relying on digital technologies to operate. This has resulted in a corresponding growth in demand for data centres to provide the necessary infrastructure to support these operations.
One of the primary drivers of demand for data centres in Nigeria is the growth of the country’s e-commerce industry. This growth is fuelled by factors such as increasing Internet penetration, rising mobile phone usage, and a growing middle class with increasing disposable income.
Another factor contributing to the growth of data centres in Nigeria is the increasing adoption of cloud computing. Cloud computing is a technology that allows businesses to store and access data and applications over the Internet rather than on local servers or personal computers. This technology is becoming increasingly popular in Nigeria, as it provides businesses with a flexible and cost-effective way to manage their IT infrastructure.
Challenges
A significant challenge facing the development of data centres in Nigeria is the country’s inadequate power infrastructure. Nigeria is known for its frequent power outages, which can cause significant damage to IT equipment and disrupt business operations. To mitigate this risk, data centres in Nigeria rely heavily on backup power generators and uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems.
Another challenge is the slow-paced government support for the development of data centres in Nigeria. Despite these challenges, there are several companies that have established data centres in Nigeria in recent years. One of such is Rack Centre, the first carrier and cloud-neutral Tier III Constructed Facility Certified data in West Africa, providing global-standard data centre colocation services and unrestricted interconnectivity between carriers and customers.
Establishing Rack Centre
The company was founded in 2013 when Maher Jarmakani of Jagal, a diversified Nigerian conglomerate, realised the need for an independent data centre in Africa’s biggest economy. He sought to fill a gap he identified in the technology infrastructure space in Nigeria and across sub-Saharan Africa: The need for a world-class facility where businesses could reliably and securely host their data.
Jarmakani noticed that enterprises within the country had pseudo-data centres – computer rooms where they warehoused their data in-house. And typically, with that, there was no clear policy and procedure for how that infrastructure and the data were managed. This also gave rise to latency issues as companies were limited to a few connectivity providers.
“The key motivation for establishing Rack Centre was the need for a Nigerian entity to establish an in-country data centre providing connectivity and to drive collocation – a practice of housing servers, networking equipment, and other computing hardware in a third-party data centre that could provide unparalleled connectivity to users with significant network performance, cost savings, resiliency, and security benefits.
The idea was to build a carrier-neutral facility which would not be directly controlled by any telecommunications company. Basically, the creation of a facility that gave the ISPs and telco providers the comfort to enter an environment and provide connectivity without any concern about the biases of the owners.”
“We engaged all the key ISPs and network providers, granting them connectivity, cost-savings, flexibility, and improved network performance helping them see value in collocating in Rack Centre.’’
Funding, Partnerships, and Regulatory Support
Pulling off a project of such magnitude required a huge capital outlay, which Jagal funded 100%. The holding company also engaged reliable and tested equipment manufacturers that could establish a data centre with the prerequisite global specifications and standards.
Regulatory authorities have also been quite helpful in driving growth in cloud storage facilities in the country. The Central Bank of Nigeria mandates that all banks must have at least one of their data centres housed in a tier-three certified facility. Banks were given 18 months from 2015 to ensure this was done.
“Now most banks have either the primary or the secondary storage in data centre facility.’’
Rack Centre also had to work with regulatory bodies in the country to change the mindset of industry players that they needed their own storage facilities. According to Jarmakani, ‘’We started working with the Central Bank of Nigeria to make industry players understand the importance of colocation.’’
The Nigerian Information Technology Agency also mandates that businesses should host their data locally. That has also helped drive the growth of data centres in Nigeria. According to insights from TechCabal, Africa has the lowest number of data centres per internet user in the world, with South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria, and Kenya housing most of the colocation data centres on the continent. That means there is still a significant upside for the business in Nigeria as the economy continues to grow.
Capacity Expansion in sub-Saharan Africa
With milestones, including being the first data centre company in sub-Saharan Africa to be tier III certified in Nigeria and several global awards to its credit, Rack Centre is poised to grow its world-class service across sub-Saharan Africa.
Rack Centre began to diversify its service offerings portfolio and bring in additional investors to take advantage of the growing demand for storage services in the country to expand its services further.
After a detailed assessment of the players in the African market, Actis, a leading investor of private capital in global emerging markets, identified Rack Centre as a data centre with the most significant potential to grow and expand in Africa. This gave rise to a joint venture between Actis and Jagal in 2020 underpinned by the expected heightened demand for hosting capacity in independently owned data centres across the continent.
“That process started when Jagal and new investors came together and decided that we needed to build for the future and meet the demand that is growing in the country.”
Rack Centre has grown to have the biggest market share in Nigeria as the demand for cloud storage facilities increases, driving a fast expansion in the country’s digital economy, especially the e-commerce space and access to financial services. The company’s ability to attract blue-chip clientele reflects its commitment to provide world-class data centre services in Nigeria. Amazon Web Services (AWS) recently announced the opening of a new AWS Direct Connect location within the Rack Centre data centre in Lagos, Nigeria. By providing a secure, reliable, and cost-effective platform for businesses to operate and grow, Rack Centre is helping to transform the Nigerian economy and establish the country as a hub for innovation and technology.
The data centre industry is projected to grow by an average 17.9% annually from 2021 to 2027 according to 6Wresearch. The growth will be driven by the rollout of 5G technologies by the telecom firms, and the increasing expansion of the tech startup space.
Maher Jarmakani’s vision to establish a world-class data centre within the shores of Nigeria has grown on a remarkable trajectory. Rack Centre has doubled capacity almost every year since it first opened its doors for business and is now set to commence the construction of an additional 12MW IT load data centre that would make it the largest data centre facility in sub-Saharan Africa.
In today’s fast-paced and interconnected world, technology innovation has emerged as an undisputed driving force behind economic development of developed and developing economies.
Since the establishment of the first National Science and Technology Policy in 1986, various administrations in Nigeria have shown interest in promoting science, technology, and innovation as a key driver of socio-economic development. The 2022 NSTIP offers a good reference point and baseline.
Nigeria has a new administration, whose tenure began May 29, 2023. Businesses and consumers are yearning for some landmark policy interventions that will position the country to take its pride position as the leading technology hub in Africa.
Technology and innovation are strategic enablers of economic progress globally which the Nigerian government can strategically leverage. In this report, we highlight some ten (10) technology innovation policy priorities that the new administration could consider.
Our top-ten (10) proposed technology innovation policy priorities for the new President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
Reduce digital divide by enabling telcos to increase broadband coverage across the nation especially in the hinterland.
Enforce data privacy laws to inspire trust and protect digital assets.
Implement effective cyber security architecture.
Promote private enterprise and enable regional champions.
Institute appropriate legal environment and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) framework to promote safety of assets and enable investments.
Establish a ‘Centre of Excellence’ to focus on a few relevant technologies such as AI, big data analytics, renewables, etc.
Promote STEM education from teacher training to nursery, primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions.
Incentivise viable R&D programs and collaborate with industry to commercialise R&D output.
Institute an agile governance architecture that coordinates R&D policy, investment, and innovation activities across MDAs
Sustain Lagos as a leading hub for technology and innovation in Africa, to outcompete Kenya, South Africa, and Egypt.
Positioning for sustainable impact
There are two fundamental strategic levers the new administration must leverage to drive sustainable and scalable impact in the implementation of a transformative technology innovation policy:
All Nigerian citizens and residents must have a unique ID: The Federal Government and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) must urgently harmonise all existing multiple IDs in the country and accelerate the issuance of a unique national digital ID to eligible Nigerians and residents. This will lay the needed foundation for trust, secure financial transactions, and efficient planning process. It will equally maximise the opportunities for financial inclusion, e-governance, efficient tax collection, better border control and national security, amongst other benefits.
Set-up an investment fund for early and growth-stage startups: The Nigerian government needs to sponsor a technology innovation fund that will invest in early-stage technology startups, in partnership with the private sector and international organisations. Many governments around the world have established funds to support and invest in technology startups within their countries. These funds aim to foster innovation, create jobs, and promote economic growth through technology-driven entrepreneurship.
Technology innovation does lead to economic development. This has been proven in many countries such as South Korea, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan, Denmark Israel, United Kingdom, and United States of America etc., where focus on innovation, research and technology led to remarkable economic progress. As expected, the mix of technology innovation policy alternatives the new administration decides to pursue will depend on prevailing circumstances, resource availability and socio-political priorities of the administration. A comprehensive and adaptable technology innovation policy can provide the foundation for economic growth, social progress, and global competitiveness in a sustainable manner.Read full report HERE.
Klasha, a leading global cross-border payments company, is thrilled to announce that it has been granted a license by the regulatory authorities of Sierra Leone to operate and offer its groundbreaking fintech services in the country.
Klasha’s inclusion in the Bank of Sierra Leone’s Regulatory Sandbox Program underscores the company’s commitment to developing cutting-edge cross-border financial technology solutions that enhance the efficiency, accessibility, and security of cross-border payments and digital commerce. With this license, Klasha will be able to operate in Sierra Leone and provide its innovative payment services to the country’s citizens and businesses.
“We are thrilled to have obtained this license, which will accelerate our growth and expand our reach in the Mano River Union,” said Klasha’s CEO Jessica Anuna. “Sierra Leone is a vibrant and growing market, and we look forward to working with the Bank of Sierra Leone and other stakeholders to drive seamless cross-border transactions in the country.”
Klasha’s acquisition of the financial services license in Sierra Leone is part of the company’s broader strategy to expand its presence across Africa. With its innovative payment solutions,
Klasha is well-positioned to address the challenges of e-commerce in Africa and drive financial inclusion on the continent.
About Klasha
Klasha is a technology company that powers African payments for international companies to sell cross-border online to millions of African consumers. The company has built a payables and receivables solution for businesses and consumers that allows frictionless movement of payments between Africa and the rest of the world and is backed by American Express, Greycroft, and Seedcamp.
For more information about Klasha and its payment services, visit their website at http://www.klasha.com/
In the frenzied world of crypto, the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) phenomenon has taken firm hold, with ardent followers of Fantom (FTM) and Cronos (CRO) now eyeing the latest offering – Everlodge (ELDG). Notably, this newcomer is currently running a presale event of discounted tokens, attracting a wealth of interest from the crypto community. Let’s find out what Everlodge is and what makes it a worthy contender for investors.
Everlodge (ELDG): The Modern Marvel in Luxury Real Estate Tokenization
At the heart of Everlodge lies a vision of democratizing luxury real estate. Utilizing the innovative approach of property tokenization and an entry point of just $100, individuals can own a stake in premium properties within the Everlodge ecosystem.
But it’s not only about accessibility. Tokenizing these high-end properties enhances transparency and trust in the notoriously opaque real estate market. This digital transformation ensures higher liquidity, enabling investors to realize their returns much quicker than traditional real estate ventures would allow.
Central to Everlodge’s offerings is the ELDG token. In its much-anticipated presale phase, ELDG is available at an enticing rate of $0.018 after an 80% surge from its initial price of $0.010. This price increases in stages as more investors get on board and the demand for ELDG tokens grows.
Beyond pure real estate tokenization, Everlodge’s platform is brimming with features. The Rewards Club, for instance, promises exclusive access and luxury stays across a sprawling network of properties. For those looking to further leverage their investments, the novel Lending feature offers a pathway for NFT property owners to tap into additional financial gains.
With FOMO hitting hard and industry titans getting on board, all eyes are on Everlodge and its ELDG token as we move forward. Analysts and enthusiasts eagerly await the platform’s full-scale launch, anticipating a 30x pump once it hits the market.
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>🏠Stage 2 presale is ALMOST SOLD OUT!!<br><br>This is your last chance to buy at this discounted price with the attached bonus. <br><br>Don't miss out: <a href=”https://t.co/SIYWBylwQD”>https://t.co/SIYWBylwQD</a> <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Everlodge?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#Everlodge</a> <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Presale?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#Presale</a> <a href=”https://twitter.com/search?q=%24ELDG&src=ctag&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>$ELDG</a> <a href=”https://t.co/GQZElmb2AA”>pic.twitter.com/GQZElmb2AA</a></p>— Everlodge (@EverlodgeHQ) <a href=”https://twitter.com/EverlodgeHQ/status/1701217342271652173?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>September 11, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>
Fantom (FTM): The Plunge in TVL and Token Value
The crypto community was jolted by the staggering security lapse on the Multichain Fantom bridge during July, which resulted in the loss of $126 million in digital assets. This incident caused a significant drop in Fantom’s key metrics, with its TVL falling from $7 billion a year ago to just $50 million.
Consequently, Fantom’s token value also hit, sinking from its earlier $0.32 to the current $0.1936. This price point is crucial; any further breach below this zone might lead to a more significant setback to the $0.10 zone.
The ball is now in Fantom’s court. Its recovery hinges on the team’s immediate measures post-incident and the prevailing mood of the market. The declining TVL paints a grim picture, and there are concerns that the network’s underlying fundamentals might have taken a hit.
Given the circumstances, it’s hardly surprising to witness Fantom enthusiasts considering the Everlodge presale, especially with the looming risk of breaching the $0.20 support and incurring more losses.
Cronos (CRO) Holders Consider the Everlodge (ELDG) Potential
Cronos, a pillar of the Crypto.com universe, endeavors to reshape the financial sector through the might of blockchain. Its native stablecoin, CROX, anchored to the US dollar, promises stable transactions, lending avenues, and investment potential.
Despite its distinctive offerings and landmark collaborations with titans like Visa and Mastercard, Cronos faces an uphill battle in retaining investor trust. A significant blow came when the platform chose to axe perks for its Cronos Debit Card users.
Formerly heralded for its potential and having touched a zenith at $0.96, Cronos’s policy changes have precipitated a 93% plunge to just $0.050. This stark Cronos downturn accentuates the intricacies of balancing user expectations and consistently catering value.
The current price landscape reveals a bleak picture for Cronos: it stands below its January 1st, 2023 value. This is a startling statistic, especially when juxtaposed against other altcoins, like Everlodge, which has surged by 80% in a fraction of the time. Cronos holders are now looking to Everlodge in hopes of salvaging their investments and capitalizing on the ensuing FOMO.
The SEC has announced it will appeal the decision versus Ripple, and this has investors once more looking towards decentralized projects like Near Protocol (NEAR) and Tradecurve Markets (TCRV). These DeFi operatives remain outside the SEC’s regulatory clutches, hence why investors are bidding on them.
Decentralization will be the future of finance, and the equation has become time-based. Not if but when. Protocols at the frontier will be some of 2023’s top performers, and analysts explored Near Protocol vs. Tradecurve Markets: two projects pioneering the future of decentralization.
Tradecurve Markets (TCRV) True Financial Inclusion Via Decentralization
Tradecurve Markets has leveraged the unique properties of blockchain to introduce a fully inclusive trading hub. Traders will be able to access an expansive range of asset classes while remaining anonymous and trading with high leverage up to 500:1.
The next step in on-chain trading has arrived, and Tradecurve Markets leads the movement. Moving away from the crypto-to-crypto pairings, it pioneers the crypto-to-derivatives pairings model. Tradecurve Markets features no KYC and integrated asset classes, including forex, commodities, traditional equities, cryptos, and bonds. Users sign up with an email, retain their privacy, collateralize crypto, and gain deep access to global financial markets.
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>🟢Exciting news<br><br>The <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/TradeCurve?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#TradeCurve</a> Demo Platform is NOW LIVE! <br><br>Dive in, explore, and experience the future of trading. We value your insights – sign up, give it a whirl, and share your feedback with us. <br><br>Let's shape the future together! 👉🏽<a href=”https://t.co/nuKSMkeh21″>https://t.co/nuKSMkeh21</a><a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cryptotrading?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#Cryptotrading</a> <a href=”https://t.co/HuMKbBeI7D”>pic.twitter.com/HuMKbBeI7D</a></p>— Tradecurve (@Tradecurveapp) <a href=”https://twitter.com/Tradecurveapp/status/1701172480365498775?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>September 11, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>
Including TradFi’s primary assets puts Tradecurve Markets in a league of its own. Not only because of the vast volume of trading these assets witness but the convenience for traders of being able to jump from market to market following liquidity from a single interface.
The native token $TCRV comes with a slew of benefits, including passive income via staking, access to the protocol’s backtested AI trading algorithms, social trading features, and entrance to trading competitions.
Analysts noted that $TCRV ownership is the primary avenue for gaining exposure to Tradecurve Markets’ growth, and they expect the token to surge by 5,000% before the presale closes.
Tradecurve Markets pushes the boundaries of what is possible through decentralization, and this nascent blockchain ICO could soon rival even established global players like Binance and Kraken.
Near Protocol (NEAR) Releases Blockchain Operating System
Near Protocol is an alternative layer one blockchain that focuses on dApp development. It offers a general-purpose blockchain for application deployment, and the team behind Near Protocol constructed the blockchain’s native language using JavaScript for precisely this purpose. Developers can dive straight into Near Protocol without learning a new language, which has fostered a growing network of builders on the chain.
A nice addition to the usability of Near Protocol is the introduction of human-readable addresses, and the most recent news surrounding the protocol led analysts to revise their price targets. They now expect the native token of Near Protocol $NEAR to target $2.74 in 2024.
The release of the Polygon zk-EVM dashboard partners Near Protocol with the popular layer two scaling solution, and users can access dApps hosted on Polygon via the dashboard hosted by Near Protocol. A significant step forward for cross-chain development and a favorable tailwind for both ecosystems.
For more information about the Tradecurve Markets (TCRV) presale:
Cryptocurrency markets are often characterized by enthusiasm, with different projects taking the spotlight at other times. As this article dives into the crypto landscape, it explores the potential for upward movement in Filecoin (FIL) and Fantom (FTM). Not only that, it also shines a light on the rising star, Pomerdoge (POMD), which has the crypto community buzzing.
Filecoin (FIL) aims to revolutionize how people store and access data. By creating a decentralized storage network, Filecoin allows users to rent out unused storage space, making it available to others on the network.
In recent Filecoin news, it has been chosen as the form of storage by the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute. The institution abandoned “on-premises storage systems” and cloud-based solutions, according to Todd Ryman, the IT director of the organization, since Filecoin provided cost savings.
The recent adoption of Filecoin by significant players in the tech industry, coupled with its expanding ecosystem of dApps, positions FIL as a project to watch. As the demand for decentralized storage solutions rises, Filecoin could see significant gains in the coming months. Therefore, experts forecast that the Filecoin price will reach $5.46 by December 2023.
Fantom (FTM): Building a Faster Future
Fantom (FTM) is another blockchain project gaining traction in crypto. Known for its high-speed and low-cost transactions, Fantom has positioned itself as a serious competitor to Ethereum. Its smart contract capabilities and focus on scalability make it an attractive option for developers looking to build decentralized applications.
Recently, the integration of the Fantom crypto as a payment method on LaborX was completed. Talents on LaborX can now opt to receive payments in Fantom, providing them with more flexibility and choice. Simultaneously, customers can use Fantom for transactions, further bolstering its adoption.
Due to all these reasons, analysts remain bullish on the Fantom crypto. They forecast that the Fantom price will soar to $0.30 within Q4 of 2023.
While Filecoin and Fantom are established projects, the crypto world’s rising star is Pomerdoge (POMD). This play-to-earn (P2E) gaming platform has captured the imagination of crypto enthusiasts, offering a unique blend of gaming and potential earnings.
Pomerdoge’s promise lies in its ability to connect players globally through competitive gameplay. Players can build up their characters, create custom items, and even participate in an in-game marketplace. Integrating an exclusive 7,777 NFT collection adds an extra layer of excitement, and the POMD token serves as the key to this vibrant ecosystem.
Currently, one POMD token costs only $0.014 as it is in Phase One of its public presale. However, unlike Filecoin and Fantom, POMD has a low market cap. In other words, it will experience gains much faster as fewer new funds are needed.
At the moment, Pomerdoge has raised over $1M during its presale, which is a fantastic accomplishment. Those who purchase the POMD token now will also gain access to $150,000 worth of weekly giveaways. Due to high demand, experts predict the POMD token will skyrocket by 20x before its presale finishes.
Find out more about the Pomerdoge (POMD) Presale Today
In the ever-evolving world of technology, Xiaomi has consistently stood out as an innovator, pushing boundaries and redefining what smartphones can do. Now, Xiaomi is ready to make waves once again with the highly anticipated launch of the Xiaomi 13T in Nigeria on September 27, 2023.
In the world of smartphones, few brands have made as significant an impact as Xiaomi and its sub-brand, Redmi. However, the relationship between these two names has often left consumers confused. Are they the same, or are there distinct differences between Xiaomi and Redmi? Let’s unravel the mystery and clarify the disparities between these two smartphone giants.
Xiaomi: A Company Overview
Founded in April 2010 by Lei Jun, Xiaomi Corporation has quickly become a household name in the world of technology. Headquartered in Beijing, China, the company’s mission is to make high-quality technology accessible to everyone. Xiaomi’s journey began with its MIUI (Mi User Interface) firmware, a highly customizable Android-based operating system, which gained a substantial following in China. This software laid the foundation for the company’s expansion into a wide range of consumer electronics.
Redmi: A Subsidiary Brand
Xiaomi’s success is not limited to its flagship products but also extends to its subsidiary brands. One of the most notable of these is Redmi. Established in 2013, Redmi is focused on delivering high-quality, budget-friendly smartphones to a global audience. Redmi devices often strike a balance between performance and affordability, catering to a broad spectrum of consumers.
Xiaomi vs. Redmi: What Sets Them Apart?
While Xiaomi and Redmi both produce smartphones, there are key differences that set them apart:
Target Audience: Xiaomi’s flagship smartphones, such as the Xiaomi Mix Series, Xiaomi Series, Xiaomi T Series, are typically designed for tech enthusiasts and those seeking the latest and most advanced features. Redmi, on the other hand, is oriented towards budget-conscious consumers who still desire quality and performance.
Price Range: Xiaomi flagship phones tend to have a higher price point due to their premium features, while Redmi phones are competitively priced to provide excellent value for money.
Features: Xiaomi’s flagship devices often showcase the latest technological advancements, such as cutting-edge processors, innovative camera setups, and unique design elements. Redmi devices, while feature-rich, may have slightly less advanced specifications to maintain affordability.
Design: Xiaomi’s flagship phones often boast premium materials and sleek designs, whereas Redmi phones prioritize functionality and durability.
The Xiaomi 13T: What to Expect
Now, let’s turn our attention to the eagerly awaited Xiaomi 13T, set to launch on September 27, 2023. While details about this device are still closely guarded, Xiaomi’s history of innovation suggests that the 13T will likely feature cutting-edge technology, powerful performance, and an attractive design.
A New Era of Innovation: Xiaomi has long been known for its commitment to delivering top-notch technology at affordable prices, and the Xiaomi 13T is poised to carry this legacy forward.
The Power of Connectivity: As we navigate an increasingly digital world, the importance of staying connected cannot be overstated. Xiaomi understands this, and the Xiaomi 13T is expected to come equipped with state-of-the-art connectivity features to keep you connected in every way possible.
A Visual Feast: One area where Xiaomi consistently shines is in its display technology. The Xiaomi 13T is rumored to feature a stunning display that will make everything from watching videos to browsing the web a visual treat. Crisp, vibrant colors and an immersive viewing experience are expected to be hallmarks of this device.
Performance Redefined: Xiaomi has a history of equipping its devices with cutting-edge processors, ample RAM, and advanced cooling systems to ensure smooth and lag-free performance. Xiaomi 13T is expected to be no different, promising a seamless user experience that can handle anything you throw at it.
As Xiaomi continues to disrupt the smartphone market with its innovative approach, the Xiaomi 13T launch promises to be a noteworthy event for tech enthusiasts and consumers worldwide. Stay tuned for more information on this exciting release as Xiaomi continues its journey of excellence and innovation.
The African fintech ecosystem is currently thriving; the drive to increase financial inclusion has led to a proliferation of fintech solutions and extensive backing from investors. Cross-border banking, instant payments, and other solutions made possible through technology have made financial services more accessible. According to a McKinsey report, domestic and cross-border e-payments on the continent generated $24 billion in revenues in 2020 and about $15 billion was domestic payments. These numbers are expected to continue to grow as more fintechs spring up and a look at the import-export numbers from the Nigerian National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) should give an idea of how much the cross-border payments industry is essential to businesses.
Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) dominate the African business landscape and these businesses rely on imports, exports, and cross-border financial systems. Fintech solutions have played a major role in making these cross-border transactions smoother and easier for these businesses. They have also helped a lot of these SMEs expand their reach from offline to online, increasing e-commerce transactions. During and post the COVID-19 pandemic online shopping increased with countries like Kenya and Ghana witnessing a 79% increase in e-commerce. The increase in payment solutions and e-commerce opportunities has allowed Africans to conduct business internationally, access global opportunities, and connect with the world at large.
Fintech solutions and the possibilities they bring represent a major opportunity for growth on the continent. They play a pivotal role in boosting entrepreneurship in Africa, empowering businesses to embrace international opportunities, and paving the way for African prosperity globally. But despite these advancements, there are still challenges plaguing the fintech industry in Africa and globally. As fintech has brought new tools and solutions, these tools also come with their own set of issues. Businesses, customers, and other individuals still face problems with the cost and speed of financial transactions both locally and across borders. Cross-border transactions are often facilitated through multiple banking intermediaries, this increases the costs of payments which contribute to operational costs for businesses and slows down the speed of transactions. Most cross-border payments are also converted to the dollar and many businesses cannot make payments in local currencies. The cost of sourcing foreign exchange (FX), lack of availability of FX, and fluctuating exchange rates also add to the increase in costs and slow down the speed of cross-border transactions.
The Payaza solution Businesses need innovative solutions that can improve these cross-border transactions and reduce costs. If costs can be reduced then businesses can expand globally and do so even quicker. Payaza Africa is at the forefront of innovative and cost-effective payment solutions. The fintech’s solution is a game changer in the African payment ecosystem and it stands out by making it possible to perform cross-border payments instantly and at very affordable rates. It is a solution for businesses with multiple stores or services (branches) and it offers these businesses the opportunity to conduct business in multiple regional markets from one platform and one provider.
Payaza has created a system that simplifies instant and bulk payouts (locally and internationally). The system streamlines the payment process so businesses know what they will pay upfront without performing multiple transactions with multiple providers. This streamlined process significantly reduces costs and increases speed allowing African businesses to prosper. Payaza also enables businesses to collect payments via multiple payment options including pay with transfer, bank, mobile money, and card. With this platform, businesses can receive payments internationally and boost revenue through FX. Its suite of collections solutions covers the needs of online and offline SMLEs (Small, Medium, and Large-scale Enterprises). These collection solutions include direct API Integration, dashboard access,the creation of payment pages to share via simple links and setting up recurring payments (subscription plans) . Payaza also gives out business loans to customers using its platform.
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Payaza operates with deep knowledge of African markets which has helped them better understand what the locals need on the ground. The company espouses a mission to make global payment solutions readily available on the African continent. With their payment solutions, businesses of any size can thrive and scale faster in an evolving global business landscape.
Sign up to use Payaza for your business transactions and experience cheaper, faster, and more secure transactions. You can also find Payaza on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn or reach out via email hello@payaza.africa
Element by Vesti, proudly launched its official digital banking app that allows users from other countries to open a US bank account. Designed for founders and start-ups, the app was originally launched at Lagos Start-Up Week 2023. The launch highlights Element by Vesti’s commitment to empowering immigrants and fostering financial inclusion on a global scale.
The immersive experience featured an engaging keynote address by Vesti’s Co-Founders, CEO Olusola Amusan and COO Abimbola Amusan, unveiling the remarkable features of the Element by Vesti app. It also featured power-packed entrepreneurial and investor panels, dynamic fireside chats along with an interactive Q&A session. The event concluded with a networking reception, connecting global entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and visionaries all under one roof.
In the next 5 years, Element by Vesti aims to have 5 million entrepreneurs and companies utilizing the Element by Vesti app. Element by Vesti is a digital banking solution for US and Europe bound startups. This new solution means that businesses can expand their reach to new markets without having to worry about location-based barriers. Element by Vesti is specifically designed for business founders, entrepreneurs, high-net-worth individuals, and global leaders with registered businesses in the United States and Europe, setting it apart from Vesti’s flagship offerings, the Vesti GlobalGeng Cards (Physical and Virtual Dollar Cards), available to all Vesti account holders.
Features of the Element by Vesti app include:
A remarkable “send money” functionality, enabling users to effortlessly transfer funds to US bank accounts or other US dollar-denominated accounts. This feature also facilitates Element-to-Element transfers, allowing users to send money to other Element app users using their unique usernames.
The “add money” feature empowers users to easily deposit funds into their Element accounts using debit cards from their home countries. Users with existing US bank cards or accounts can effortlessly link them to their Element accounts. Vesti users who share the same email address for both their Vesti and Element accounts can seamlessly transfer funds from their Vesti USD wallet to their Element accounts.
Convenience of virtual cards for smooth online transactions and physical cards for in-person purchases, generating payment invoices and creating payment links.
“Through extensive research and development, we have created a product that will truly transform the lifestyle of business owners, who are North America bound. Element brings together cutting-edge technology and user-centric design to empower our target audience with unmatched banking capabilities tailored for innovative companies. Element is like Brex for African founders that are US Bound,” – Olusola Amusan, Co-founder and CEO of Vesti.
The Element by Vesti app is now available for download starting today on the App Store. For more details on each feature of Element by Vesti, please visit our website at https://wevesti.com/element .
ABOUT VESTI
Vesti’s vision is to be the go-to legal and financial services platform for the next 1 billion immigrants. The company is on a mission to be the preferred platform for immigrants before they emigrate, providing information, community and ultimately a smooth transition to immigrants. Through a set of tailored payment products, Vesti delivers hassle-free migration guidance and financial services to immigrants moving to the United States and other top destinations in North America and Europe. Founded by two brothers who immigrated to the United States, the company is backed by both Africa and US-based investors and boasts of a thriving community of dreamers who represent the next generation of builders.
Element is a digital banking solution that eliminates location as a barrier for businesses. With Element, businesses can open a US bank account with their native KYC, get a credit card, and start transacting from Day 1. This means that businesses can expand their reach to new markets without having to worry about location-based barriers. Element is a fast, easy, and affordable way for businesses to grow their international operations.
The Inspire Africa Conference, the much-anticipated four-day event dedicated to exploring the intricacies of the product ecosystem came to an exciting conclusion on September 21st, 2023. Hosted at the prestigious Eko Convention Center in Lagos from September 18th to 21st, the event comprised of an array of insightful workshops that left attendees inspired and better equipped to navigate the dynamic world of product development.
These sessions featured local product leaders such as Funto Akinbeshin, Senior Product Manager at Spotify; Princess Edo-Osagie, Product Leader at Interswitch Group; Anthony Isichei, Senior Product Manager at Pagatech Limited; Temi Giwa, Product Lead at Paystack Nigeria; and Zainab Arilesere, Product Leader at Omnibiz Africa.
Marina Lauchengco delivered an insightful keynote address titled ‘How Africa can become a superpower.’ During her presentation, she shared valuable insights on the art of constructing exceptional products, debunked common product-related misconceptions, and issued a compelling call to action, emphasizing that the opportune moment has arrived for Africa to embark on its journey towards greatness.
Beyond the conference itself, participants took part in a series of workshops, featuring world-class product coaches like Christian Idiodi, Marty Cagan, Lea Hickman, Chris Jones, Martina Lauchengco, and Jon Moore, esteemed partners of Silicon Valley Product Group (SVPG), who will generously share their expertise.
These workshops were designed to further enrich the knowledge and skills of attendees, enabling them to effectively contribute to product innovation in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.
Rebecca King, representing Innovate Africa Foundation, highlighted the significance of the conference, stating, “The Inspire Africa Conference is a pivotal moment for Africa, bringing together industry leaders, local talent, and global experts to drive innovation. Our commitment to shaping the future extends beyond the conference, with workshops aimed at equipping attendees with the tools they need to make a meaningful impact.”
Interswitch, one of the lead sponsors of the event through its representative Princess Edo Osagie expressed their delight at the profound impact of the workshops, stating, “This knowledge exchange is certain to catalyze innovation and fuel industry growth.
Chris Idiodi, Founder of WorkNigeria and a lead sponsor, also stated that the goal of the event was to create an environment where industry professionals could come together to
learn, share, and collaborate. The positive feedback we’ve received from both attendees and sponsors reaffirms the importance of events like this in our ever-evolving product landscape. He also emphasized the pressing need for Africa to harness technology’s potential to address critical challenges, such as unemployment, poverty, and insecurity.
The Inspire Africa Conference was attended by 1,000 product professionals from 30+ countries in Africa, with participants from the U.K. and U.S. joining in Lagos, Nigeria. The event reaffirms its status as a pivotal milestone in Africa’s journey toward technological empowerment and economic transformation.
The agricultural sector remains one of the critical sectors driving the economy in Nigeria and accounting for 26.46% of the Gross Domestic Product in Q4 2022. The agricultural supply chain in Nigeria plays a pivotal role in the country’s economy, employing over 70% of the population and contributing significantly to its GDP. However, it faces numerous challenges, including infrastructure deficiencies, post-harvest losses, and limited access to markets. Agricultural Innovation provides an opportunity to solve these challenges across the supply chain, eliminate waste, support sustainable development, increase productivity, create decent jobs, and reduce poverty.
The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is a Swiss based foundation launched at the United Nations in 2002 to tackle the human suffering caused by malnutrition. Working with governments, businesses, and civil society, we aim to transform food systems to make healthier diets accessible to all people, especially the most vulnerable, in a sustainable manner. By 2027, we aim to improve 1.5 billion people’s access to nutritionally enhanced staple foods, 25 million people’s access to healthier diets, and support positive food systems.
The Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre was set up by the World Bank and supported by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Office of the former Vice President to develop and deploy solutions to climate change challenges in Nigeria by providing venture development and capacity-building support, as well as access to market, investment and funding to viable green businesses in smart agriculture, water solutions, green transportation tailored towards leading the growth of the Nigerian Green Economy.
The Agribusiness Innovation Challenge is designed to identify, develop, and scale agritech Innovations equipped to solve challenges across the food supply chain in Nigeria. The programme will be implemented under GAIN’s Strengthening Nutrition in Priority Staples project and will provide technical assistance and training to youth-led start-ups to strengthen their capacity, validate their solutions, improve their access to financial services through deal rooms, and scale their innovation to improve supply chain efficiency.
GAIN is calling on youth-led agri-tech start-ups with digital and hardware supply chain innovations to apply for the second edition of this Agribusiness Innovation Challenge in Nigeria. The Agribusiness Innovation Challenge culminates in a Demo Day where finalists battle for N12,000,000 ($16000+) in zero-equity prize money. While there will be only four prize winners, other finalists also get to pitch to a room full of global investors. The final 4 start-ups will be supported by GAIN to replicate their innovative solutions to address the food supply chain challenges in Kaduna, Nasarawa, Benue, and Oyo states.
Applications are now open in Nigeria until October 19, 2023. Selected participants will be notified by October 31, 2023, and must confirm their participation by November 3, 2023.
Apply Today!!!.
To join the challenge to support a healthy food supply chain in Nigeria, apply here:
Get ready to embark on an unparalleled journey of immersive entertainment as Xiaomi’s highly anticipated Redmi Pad SE has officially arrived in Nigeria, hitting the market on September 20th. This exceptional tablet promises to redefine your audio-visual experiences, offering an array of features that will transport you to a world of ultimate indulgence. From its stunning 11” FHD+ display to its powerful Snapdragon® processor and massive 8000mAh battery, the Redmi Pad SE is here to elevate your entertainment to new heights.
All-round Audio-Visuals
The Redmi Pad SE is all about delivering a complete sensory experience. Its 11” FHD+ display ensures that every image and video comes to life with vivid colors and sharp details. Whether you’re watching movies, browsing the web, or indulging in your favorite games, this tablet’s visuals will immerse you in the action.
Super Eye-Care Visuals
Your eyes deserve the best, and the Redmi Pad SE delivers just that. With a 90Hz high refresh rate and TÜV Rheinland Certification for reduced blue light emissions, your eyes will thank you for choosing this tablet. Say goodbye to eye strain and enjoy hours of comfortable viewing without compromising on visual quality.
Surge Sound
Exceptional visuals are only half the equation when it comes to immersive entertainment. The Redmi Pad SE features quad stereo speakers that are optimized for Dolby Atmos® support. Whether you’re listening to music, watching movies, or playing games, you’ll be surrounded by rich, immersive sound that makes every moment come alive.
Powerful Experience
Under the hood, the Redmi Pad SE is powered by a 6nm Snapdragon® processor, ensuring that it can handle anything you throw at it. From multitasking to running demanding applications, this tablet delivers a smooth and responsive experience that keeps up with your needs.
Long-Lasting Battery Life
There’s no need to worry about running out of power with the Redmi Pad SE. It boasts an impressive 8000mAh (typ) massive battery that provides long-lasting usage. Whether you’re on a long flight, a road trip, or simply enjoying a day at home, this tablet will be there to keep you entertained without constantly searching for a charger.
Immerse Yourself in a World of Ultra-Immersive Entertainment!
The Redmi Pad SE isn’t just a tablet, it’s a gateway to a world of entertainment that you’ll never want to leave. Whether you’re a movie buff, a gaming enthusiast, or someone who appreciates cutting-edge technology, this tablet promises to deliver an experience you’ll never forget.
With its combination of exceptional audio, stunning visuals, powerful processing, and long-lasting battery life, the Redmi Pad SE is set to become your go-to device for all your entertainment needs.
Don’t miss your chance to immerse yourself in a world of ultra-immersive entertainment with the Redmi Pad SE. Head to your nearest Xiaomi store or authorized retailer to get your hands on this remarkable device and embark on a journey of innovation, style, and performance.
Hey there, tech enthusiasts and smartphone aficionados! The excitement in the air is palpable because TECNO is on the brink of unveiling something truly remarkable: the PHANTOM V FLIP 5G. Brace yourselves for a groundbreaking addition to the Phantom series that promises to redefine your mobile technology experience.
A Glimpse of the Future
At first glance, the PHANTOM V FLIP may remind you of the classic flip phones we all adored. But here’s the twist: open it up, and you’ll step into a world of modern marvels. This device effortlessly marries style and functionality, offering portability without sacrificing screen space. With its expansive 6.9-inch flexible screen, you’re in for an immersive, virtually crease-free visual journey.
Photography enthusiasts, rejoice! The PHANTOM V FLIP is said to boast an impressive camera setup that’s poised to capture your world in stunning detail. With a triple camera setup equipped with dual-flash, every snap is a masterpiece. But wait, there’s more…
The PHANTOM V FLIP is rumored to introduce a new camera technology, a foldable imaging system set to redefine mobile photography. It features a unique free lens function that would enable seamless lens switching, unlocking limitless creative possibilities. Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to capturing life from every angle.
Giving a Powerful Performance
The PHANTOM V FLIP would offer you the power and room needed for all of your programs, games, and movies thanks to its generous amount of storage. This gadget offers a fluid user experience thanks to its Android 13 power.
Immersive Display and Control
Prepare to be awestruck by an expansive 6.9-inch AMOLED flexible screen that immerses you in visual brilliance. And when the device is closed, you gain control with “The Planet,” a unique cover screen that puts the power at your fingertips.
Choose Your Style
Express yourself with style! The PHANTOM V FLIP 5G will be available in two stunning colors, Haute Black and Misty Dawn. Whether you lean towards sleek sophistication or ethereal elegance, TECNO has you covered.
Built to Endure
Worried about wear and tear? Fear not! The PHANTOM V FLIP 5G is said to FLIP up to 200,000 times, making it truly crease-resistant. This phone is designed to stand the test of time.
Connectivity of Tomorrow
Embrace the future with 5G connectivity, promising blazing internet speeds and a seamless online experience.
Ready to elevate your smartphone game? You can pre-order the TECNO PHANTOM V FLIP 5G now for a chance to snag fantastic prizes from TECNO and MTN. Be sure to follow TECNO on TECNO on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for more thrilling updates.
Paychant, Africa’s fiat-to-crypto on and off-ramp solution, serves as the bridge that connects Africa’s traditional finance and digital assets. In less than 6 months since its launch, it’s processing over twenty thousand transactions monthly, eliminating the complexity for people in Africa to onboard into digital currency.
Over the years, people in Africa have shown a great interest in digital assets mostly because of its benefit of hedging against currency inflation and transferring money cheaply. However, the complexity of acquiring crypto assets has been an obstacle for many users in Africa, and this has made it extremely difficult for digital wallets and dApps to onboard mainstream users in Africa. 6 months ago, we launched the Paychant ramp solution to offer a simple yet intuitive platform for people in Africa to transition from fiat currency into digital currency right inside any digital wallet or dApps of their choice.
Paychant prides itself as Africa’s first and leading fiat-to-crypto on and off-ramp solution and remains committed to making digital currency accessible to a wider audience in Africa. We have partnered with digital wallets like Cenoa, Hurupay, and Flooz, acting as their fiat-to-crypto on and off-ramp providers in Africa and experiencing 100% month-on-month growth in both user base and transaction volume.
“Our ramp solution mainly focuses on Africa, supporting a wider range of local payment methods, allowing users to seamlessly buy and sell crypto with local bank transfer and mobile money which are the most recognized and preferred methods of payment on the continent.” The founders explained.
“Wallets and dApps looking to enter the African market can now take advantage of Paychant’s localized payment infrastructure, which offers low fees, reduced friction, and lower minimum crypto purchases. Our fiat on-and-off ramp customizable widget can be embedded directly into any wallet, dApp, DEX, or NFT platform with just a few lines of code. Paychant handles the compliance, and the entire fiat and crypto flow, so wallet providers can focus on their main business.”
Support for Multichain
Paychant supports 45+ crypto assets on major blockchain networks like Ethereum, Celo, Polygon, Binance, Solana, Tron, Cardano, Bitcoin Cash, Ripple, Litecoin, and the Bitcoin network.
Our Coverage
Our service is available in most of the biggest crypto markets in Africa, supporting all local payment methods for on-ramp and off-ramp in each of these regions.
Nigeria
Ghana
Kenya
Uganda
Zambia
Wallet and dApp that integrates Paychant will enable their users in these regions to buy and sell 45+ crypto via the listed local payment method:
Safaricom M-PESA
MTN Mobile Money (MoMo)
AirtelTigo
Vodafone cash
Zamtel
Airtel money
Bank transfer
Orange Money
Our mission is to connect Africa’s traditional finance and the decentralized finance world, giving the people in Africa equal access to the financial benefits and opportunities of Web3.
We are very excited about the future of Web3, and we are ready to make crypto onboarding easy for the next billion users in Africa.
If you are interested in integrating our fiat on/off ramp into your app, please reach out to us here, and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
itel, Africa’s leading mobile phone brand, has unveiled its latest flagship smartphone, the itel S23+, in Nigeria. The event which was held on September 19th, 2023, at the Radisson Blu Anchorage Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos was a three-pronged milestone event. It announced the itel S23+, itel’s first smartphone with an AMOLED 3D curved screen, 256 gigabytes of mega storage, 16 gigabytes of RAM, and a 36-month VIP warranty policy. MTN, a leading Nigerian telecom operator, will be providing exclusive data bundles for itel S23+ users. itel has also joined forces with Google to deliver the best of Android, including essential Google apps pre-installed on the itel S23+, ensuring seamless connectivity and productivity for users.
Experience Visual Brilliance and an AMOLED 3D Curved Display
Central to the itel S23+ is its remarkable 6.78-inch big FHD+ AMOLED 3D curved screen, which takes visual excellence to new heights. The screen’s 59-degree curvature and impressive 93% ultra-high screen-to-body ratio create a mesmerizing visual experience that captivates the senses.
The itel S23+ has 99% DCI-P3 colour saturation, an improvement of 12% over its predecessor. This ensures that colours are vibrant, accurate, and true to life. This, combined with a high resolution of 1080×2400, delivers dynamic clarity and colourful details. Furthermore, the in-display fingerprint technology adds to both convenience and security. The Corning Gorilla Glass 5 on the screen provides a superior touch experience and safeguards against accidental drops.
Meet Aivana GPT: Your Seamless AI Assistant
Operating on the itel OS13 system, the itel S23+ has Aivana GPT, an AI and voice assistant that offers automated support and helps users perform tasks quickly and easily using voice commands. Aivana GPT’s capabilities cover WhatsApp, music, SMS, map navigation, weather, translation, and many more.
Unmatched Performance Combined with Ample Storage and a Big Battery
The itel S23+ redefines storage capabilities with up to 16GB of RAM and a substantial 256GB of internal storage. Its innovative Extended RAM technology leverages an additional 8GB from ROM, enabling smooth transitions between as many as 20 background apps. This guarantees seamless and efficient multitasking, even during resource-intensive activities.
Equipped with 18W Fast Charge and a powerful 5000mAh battery, itel S23+ ensures a long-lasting standby time and quick charging. With a full charge achievable in just 2 hours, users can stay connected without interruption.
Capture Cherished Moments With Enhanced AI Cameras
The itel S23+ features a 32MP AI Selfie lens accompanied by a remarkable 50MP Portrait Camera to capture moments in exquisite detail. With an F1.6 large aperture, the camera maximizes light intake, resulting in clear and vibrant photos even in low-light conditions. The revolutionary eye-tracking mode guarantees that no moment goes unnoticed, facilitating the capture of impeccable portraits. Moreover, the Portrait Lite feature takes your portrait photography to new heights, by offering a suite of personalized options to meticulously enhance every aspect of your photo, from skin tone to facial features and face shape.
As itel’s first premium curved screen smartphone, itel S23+ marks an exciting milestone in the pursuit of pushing technological boundaries, enhancing user satisfaction and bringing innovation to a wider range of users. itel’s commitment to customer satisfaction is evident in itel S23+’s offerings. The itel S23+ comes with an impressive 36-month warranty and 6-month free screen replacement, underscoring itel’s confidence in the product’s durability and branding services.
Speaking at the event, Oke Umurhohwo, Marketing Manager for itel Mobile (West Africa 1), says: “Our mission at itel has always been to bridge the digital divide by making innovative technology accessible and affordable to all. With the unveiling of the itel S23+ smartphone, we are taking a significant step towards transforming the lives of Nigerian consumers.”
The itel S23+ is now available at authorized itel retail stores nationwide and on Jumia, ensuring accessibility for consumers across Nigeria. With its competitive pricing and impressive features, the itel S23+ is poised to become the smartphone of choice for Nigerians seeking quality without compromise.
About itel:
Established over 10 years ago, itel is a reliable smart life brand for everyone. Adopting “Enjoy Better Life” as its brand philosophy, itel’s mission is to provide budget-friendly consumer electronic products and lifestyle products for everyone. It democratises technology by giving entry to technology and connectedness to consumers without prior access to it. After more than 10 years of development, itel has expanded its presence in more than 50 emerging markets globally. itel has a product portfolio of smartphones, TVs, accessories, electrics, home appliances, laptops, and lifestyle products. In 2022, it ranked No.1 Global Smartphone brand under $100 and No.1 Feature Phone brand.
Picture a world where sending money across borders is as easy as sending a text message. That’s right, no more endless paperwork, no more exorbitant fees, and no more waiting for days before the funds land in a recipient’s account. Sounds like a dream, doesn’t it? But what if this isn’t a dream anymore, but a reality fashioned by Leatherback – a dynamic tech player, changing the stressful modalities of cross-border payments into simple and accessible modalities, for Africans across the globe. And Leatherback just launched a mobile app designed to turn this dream into a practical, everyday convenience for students, medical migrants, remote workers, freelancers, parents, and business owners.
Leatherback, a cross-border payment platform founded in 2019, simplifies cross-border payments for Africans by providing remittance and multi-currency solutions for everyone to send and receive money quickly without restrictions. Inspired by the Leatherback turtle, the CEO and Co-founder, Toyeeb Ibrahim, imagined a world where money could travel as freely and easily as the Leatherback turtle did.
The Leatherback turtle is the largest and most migratory of all sea turtles, spanning multiple continents. The leatherback turtle swims around the globe, crossing the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and travelling across Alaska, Norway, New Zealand, South America, and South Africa. It spans borders and is resilient enough to withstand vast temperature changes. Unlike that turtle, money cannot travel as freely. Challenges such as location, exchange rates, finding trusted finance partners, high transaction fees, and many more hinder people from attaining their desired lives. Then came Leatherback – the solution.
Like that turtle, Leatherback Finance is resilient and borderless. It aims to provide everyone with access to services that enable them to become genuinely global, experiencing the taste of absolute financial freedom.
Leatherback understands the pain points of cross-border payments and has worked tirelessly to develop a mobile app that allows everyone to instantly send and receive money in any currency of their choice. Students can pay tuition fees, migrants can use the Leatherback app to sort out their payments, and remote workers and freelancers can also use the Leatherback mobile app to get paid in any currency they choose.
The Leatherback mobile app boasts a sleek, intuitive, and easy-to-navigate interface, designed with the end user in mind. The straightforward onboarding process allows users to create an account in two minutes, eliminating the tedious paperwork. Notably, the Leatherback mobile app has a range of features that ensure a streamlined and secure currency transfer experience. Key features of the app include:
SendR: A Leatherback remittance product that enables individuals to send funds in their local currency, and the beneficiary will instantly receive the funds in the currency of their choice, be it in NGN, ZAR, TZS, CFA, XAF, XOF, GHS, GBP, USD and many more.
Multi-currency account: Individuals can own a multi-currency account to quickly process transactions, and deposit and withdraw funds in various currencies. Interestingly, users can transfer funds between sub-accounts or convert currency as needed, often at a preferential exchange rate compared to regular currency conversion fees.
Daily rates and negotiation: Individuals in the diaspora can access daily rates for each currency and negotiate the rates that suit them. Their negotiations are considered, while Leatherback ensures the offered rate works.
Instant transfers: Through advanced technology and strategic partnerships with banking networks, Leatherback enables instant fund transfers, empowering recipients with swift access to funds when needed.
As part of its commitment to cross-border payments, Leatherback is authorised by notable regulated bodies to ensure that the Leatherback mobile app is accessible to users in Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Tanzania, and other African countries. This inclusivity aligns with the company’s mission of creating a global community where barriers to financial transactions are dismantled.
Toyeeb Ibrahim, CEO of Leatherback, expressed his excitement about the app’s launch, stating, “We are proud to introduce our mobile app to empower Africans in the diaspora by providing solutions tailored to their cross-border payment needs. We love the idea of accessing 15+ currencies and transacting across 21 countries on the go, without physically visiting a bank”.
Leatherback’s mobile app represents a significant step towards a more interconnected world, where financial barriers are torn down, and individuals have the power to connect, support, and thrive across borders. In addition to focusing on efficient remittance services, Leatherback plans to integrate additional financial solutions in the future, further solidifying its commitment to providing individuals with the fastest cross-border payments.
To get started on the Leatherback app, download the app on Play Store and App Store. Visit www.leatherback.co to learn more.
Blockchain has become a topic on everyone’s lips as this new technology is revolutionising industries. Blockchain is commonly associated with Bitcoin, being the most famous cryptocurrency. Cryptocurrencies prove that blockchain technology works and can be utilised to change any industry.
In Africa and the world, blockchain technology can revolutionise the film industry. As filmmakers use blockchain technology’s various advantages, blockchain can assist filmmakers with digitising ownership records. Currently, filmmakers are using blockchain technology to create a digital fingerprint. This is done by putting content on the blockchain where it can be time stamped to produce some records, which means the information is protected.
How Blockchain Can Revolutionise the Film Industry
Here are a few ways blockchain can revolutionise the movie industry:
Blockchain can reduce risks associated with investing in the movie industry.
Independently producing a film can dig pretty deep into the pocket. Releasing a movie can be very expensive; movie creators usually make movies with the assistance of industry stakeholders. Stakeholders can then pay for copyright infringement, which can be secured using a blockchain ledger.
All film transactions can be transparent with blockchain
Blockchain technology validates a transaction and ensures transparency in all activities. The decentralisation that the network has to offer ensures that all transactions are legit before they are verified. This means the movie industry can verify and account for their financial transactions.
It will be difficult to remove any stakeholders as it’s easier for them to monitor transactions on the blockchain network. Some film creators take advantage of their stakeholders by removing them. This also means stakeholders can monitor content distribution or any illegal financial transactions.
Transparency also means no funds meant to create the movie will be misused. It’s easier to track cash flow and how it’s being distributed with Blockchain.
Introducing the Nollycoin
Nollycoin is an example of a coin created for Nollytainment (the Nigerian Film Industry). Nollycoin allows producers and their collaborators to use coded contracts to licence their content on the blockchain. It’s also the first coin designed to curb problems associated with the creation, film financing, and distribution of any Nollywood productions and other 3rd world industries.
The primary purpose of Nollycoin is to provide copyright protection and deal with any piracy issues. It will also provide a backing for the best producers in Nollywood and act as a universal means of exchange. It also enables fair compensation for any collaborators when creating the movies.
The open and transparent record-keeping of the ledger for stakeholders can open multiple opportunities for film directors. The Nollycoin blockchain can also assist in creating high-quality movies and other creative forms of art.
With cryptocurrency gaining global recognition, businesses and individuals alike have started to incorporate crypto transactions in their daily lives.
Tryptex has emerged with a clear mission: to streamline this process and establish a secure haven for seamless, lightning-fast transactions, all while offering the lowest trading fee in the market.
Eager to explore all features of Tryptex and learn how to start your crypto journey?
Here’s all the details you need.
What is Tryptex?
Tryptex is an all-in-one cryptocurrency suite that aims to serve Africans and the world at large with seamless crypto transactions with the lowest taker fee.
With its secure and user-friendly platform, Tryptex is poised to capture a significant market share in the rapidly expanding cryptocurrency landscape.
Let’s dive deeper into the world of Tryptex to uncover how it caters to both traders and non-traders.
Why Choose Tryptex?
Tryptex’s standout feature is its lowest trading rates, which go for as low as 0.08%, combined with its commitment to delivering the fastest crypto payouts in the market.
The good news is – Tryptex isn’t JUST for traders. You can also use the platform as a non-trader.
Wondering how?
Below are some of the significant features of Tryptex for both traders and non-traders.
For Traders:
The Tryptex wallet is functional, safe and easy to use on all devices and supports various cryptocurrencies, including popular options like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and many altcoins.
The platform uses a multi-factor authentication system that ensures the safety of your crypto wallet. These security measures (two-factor authentication (2FA) and security pin) deter hackers and scammers.
You can buy cryptocurrencies on the platform (including stable and unstable coins) using a debit or credit card.
Tryptex users also enjoy the privilege of multiple payment methods. The platform accepts over 350 payment modes, making the buying process more accessible and faster.
You can seamlessly send and receive cryptocurrency from buyers on the Tryptex P2P platform with just a few clicks. Even better, you get to chat directly with the buyer until a deal is finalised.
For Non-Traders:
The Trypay feature allows you to send and receive funds backed by cryptocurrency to other verified Tryptex users. A unique functionality of Trypay is that funds being sent are converted to the beneficiary’s local currency.
You can use the Tryptex virtual dollar cards to purchase from your favourite online store and subscribe to your streaming service, including Amazon, Shein, eBay, Aliexpress, Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Spotify.
Tryptex offers a secure platform that lets you pay for utilities such as: electricity, water, cable, TV, airtime and data. The platform offers mobile recharge online services in over 150 countries to help you stay connected with friends and family.
Tryptex allows you to earn by inviting your friends and family to sign up on the platform. The refer and earn feature offers registered and verified users 5% of trading profit whenever a person you refer uses the platform.
Where To Find Tryptex?
Be the first to be notified when the platform goes live!
For more information about the launch and regular updates, you can contact Tryptex customer support through our official website and social media channels.
In the ever-evolving data technology landscape, Statisense, a leading data company, announced a major transition and launch of its AI platform designed to empower businesses across Africa.
Previously known for its data visualization and consulting offerings, Statisense has made a strategic move into Artificial intelligence, capitalizing on the growing opportunity globally.
General Data Landscape
One of the biggest challenges Africa faces is its inability to organize and present its data in a way that decisions can be made quickly by businesses, governments and consumers.
Consequently, if wholly adopted, Generative and Analytical AI presents an equalizing effect to bring Africa at par with the rest of the world, transforming various sectors with data innovation across consumer landscapes like healthcare, finance, identity, markets, education, and more.
Evolving into AI
With over 500 million impressions across digital channels so far and a subscriber base running over 150,000, Statisense is the leading data visualization company in Nigeria, with its data sharing service followed by everyone from consumers to business leaders, industry captains and government institutions.
However, with demand for AI-driven analytics on the rise, Statisense is evolving beyond data sharing and visualization into an AI omnichannel for Businesses, with open APIs for developers.
When asked about the transition, Rihannat Amoo, Head, Products said: “We saw an opportunity beyond data collection and visualization, to provide transformational tools for everyday businesses. We believe our custom-developed AI tools will redefine the playbook for businesses across africa.”
The Statisense Approach
Statisense’s new AI solution will focus on problem areas in Banking, insurance, Identity discovery, Financial markets insights, document analysis etc.
Jude Francis, CTO Statisense, elaborates on this “We are providing a platform that helps convert any dataset into conversation, industry grade reports and instant infographics For example, in one of our many use cases, we have trained our model to be able to make sense of financial reports and generate insights from it the way a Big Four consultant would, all within a few seconds.”
Currently in selective Beta, Statisense will also be targeting specific industry use cases like borrower insights, market analysis for trading and decisioning, invoice and payment insights, credit modeling, portfolio insights, etc.
Growth Target
“In three years, we want to be seen as the category leader in Africa for data insights and AI in the business space, bringing value to both our customers and investors, who have backed us to turning this into a global business”, Femi Bejide, Co-founder Statisense, confidently projects.
If Statisense is able to pull this off, it will mark a significant milestone in the evolution of data analytics and AI on the continent, empowering businesses to achieve new levels of insight-driven success.
In closing, Femi also reiterates that despite its AI transition, Statisense remains committed to continuing its freemium macroeconomic insights service through its social channels. “It is what got us here in the first place, and our improved AI platform will only help deliver more on our data service to consumers”.
About Statisense
Statisense is a leading data company transitioning into using AI to simplify data and documents for businesses, consumers and governments. For more details: visit www.statisense.co
…… Appoints Nosiru Sonoiki As Chief Operating Officer
LibertyPay, Nigeria’s leading digital payment solution and distribution brand has digitized and formalised Ajo thrift collection and micro-savings with a robust plan to issue over 150,000 digital cards to various customers participating in ajo groups across Nigeria in the last quarter of 2023.
This innovative LibertyPay digitization of Ajo, an age-long thrift collection and micro-savings system in Nigeria is set to uplift communities, foster financial inclusion, change lives while ensuring a digitized system that is in tune with modernity.
According to Igbene Otimeyin, Chief Executive Officer of LibertyPay, with the Ajo innovation, the company sees over 150 percent increase in seamless savings collections by traditional thrift collectors from Ajo participants, a more streamlined, accessible and transparent system and a secure financial resilience aimed at transforming the lives of Nigerians.
“Traditional Ajo system have long been a cornerstone of informal micro-savings and thrift collection fostering trust and community cohesion. However, these age-old practices have been in need of a digital makeover to keep pace with the modern world. LibertyPay seizes this opportunity in partnership with industry players to usher in a new era of financial inclusion and empowerment that will not only streamline the savings process but also ensure financial transparency and accountability by all parties,” Otimeyin explained.
He continued that, “specifically, we are empowering Ajo collectors with over 1,000 Point of Sale machines simply accessible by dialing *347*180*4#. These devices empower collectors to seamlessly manage contributions and withdrawals, eliminating the need for cumbersome bookkeeping. With these collectors facilitating the transition to digital Ajo, we anticipate a digital thrift collection of N5 billion monthly or an impressive $5.5 million. This colossal shift is set to supercharge the financial inclusion of Nigeria’s informal sector.”
Meanwhile, LibertyPay has announced Nosiru Sonoiki as the company’s new Chief Operating Officer. Nosiru has consistently demonstrated exceptional dedication and a remarkable ability to forge critical partnerships during his tenure, particularly as the Head of Agency Banking and Business Development.
In his new role, Nosiru Sonoiki will be leading the effort to scale LibertyPay’s digital Ajo product with all the deliverables.
As LibertyPay continues to innovate, it’s worth noting that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) recognized its potential early in the game, awarding it an AIP under the supernatant category in January 2023. This heralds a promising future for LibertyPay as it charts new territories in the realm of financial inclusion for Nigerians.
Impact Hub Lagos in partnership with Jordan Forester are launching the Inaugural edition of The Africa Climate Tech Pitch Day. This event poses to be the most impactful gathering of climate tech investors, entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders. The ACT Pitch Day has gathered the interest of VC’s and Organizations like Lowercarbon Capital, Catalyst Fund, Greentown Labs, The Engine (built by MIT), Morgan Stanley, Inclusive Ventures, Azolla Ventures, MCJ Collective, Energy Impact Partners, Crusoe Energy, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Future Africa and many more.
The event is scheduled to be held on the 29th of September, 2023 both onsite and online. Individuals interested in attending this event and startups interested in pitching at this event are encouraged to register / apply here.
This event will provide opportunities for startups and investors to:
(i) Participate in a pitch event featuring 10 of Africa’s best climate tech startups for Investment opportunities from leading climate tech investors in the US and Africa
(ii) Collaborate, build networks, and meet leaders in Climate Tech within the US and emerging markets (Africa) spanning diverse institutions: startups, VC, government, accelerators, incubators, Silicon Valley, and Wall Street
(iii) Access to vetted climate tech startups in various industries
Impact Hub Lagos, member of the Impact Hub Global Network – a rapidly expanding, diverse, global network of entrepreneurial communities with over 16000 members in more than 100 cities in 55 countries. Launched in September 2017, Impact Hub Lagos became the 81st location in the global network and has relentlessly worked towards driving its mission to inspire, connect and enable impact driven entrepreneurs to create and scale their ventures. . Impact Hub Lagos has successfully carried out projects in partnership with organizations like GIZ, UNDP, Verraki, Advantage Austria, Afrilabs and Google to name a few.
Jordan Forester, entrepreneur currently advising climate tech startups in emerging markets including Africa, Southeast Asia, and LatAm. Jordan co-founded Courial to democratize the gig economy and decarbonize the mobility sector, leading to investment from Elemental Excelerator. He began his career with NYC investment banks JPMorgan and BofA Merrill Lynch (energy leveraged finance) after studying economics at College of the Holy Cross in Boston. At Elemental, Jordan learned about the potential of applying new climate tech such as Lilac Solutions (clean lithium mining), Sublime Systems (low-carbon cement), and Crusoe Energy (using stranded methane to power crypto) to emerging markets to fight the climate crisis.
Flutterwave, Africa’s leading payment technology company, is proud to be a sponsor of Moonshot by TechCabal, a significant collaboration aimed at expanding access to secure financial services across the African continent. Moonshot is a groundbreaking new conference from TechCabal that will bring together Africa’s tech ecosystem in person to network, collaborate, share insights and celebrate innovation on the continent. Click this link to grab your tickets to the conference. It will take place on October 11 and 12.
With a shared vision of empowering Africans through innovative financial solutions, this partnership marks an exciting milestone for both Flutterwave and TechCabal. As a sponsor of Moonshot, Flutterwave reaffirms its commitment to bridging the financial gap and driving economic growth across the region.
In the last 3 years, Flutterwave has established itself as a frontrunner in the fintech sector. Launching a range of consumer and business products that leverage state-of-the-art user experiences and cutting edge technology to address the distinct requirements of various target audiences. Moreover, Flutterwave has showcased unwavering product stability, increasing the trust and confidence of customers across Africa and beyond.
One of Flutterwave’s most recent initiatives, Send App, has caught the attention of the African diaspora community. Send App facilitates faster, easier, and more affordable money transfers from people in the diaspora to their families, friends, and loved ones in Africa. This cements Flutterwave’s commitment to simplifying financial transactions and fostering financial inclusion.
Flutterwave also recently announced Swap, a digital FX solution that is backed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in partnership with Wema Bank and Kadavra BDC. It is a secure & reliable digital platform for Nigerians to have immediate access to foreign currency at competitive exchange rates. Essentially a game-changer that levels the playing field for Nigerians who require swift access to Dollars, Euros & Pounds, to facilitate their educational pursuits, business endeavors, and diverse travel requirements.
Commenting on the sponsorship, Mathieu Limousi, VP of Marketing, Flutterwave said:
“At Flutterwave, we are excited by the magic that happens when brilliant minds converge, and this is why we are proud to be a major sponsor at TechCabal’s Moonshot Conference. This sponsorship is a testament to our culture of innovation which enables us to play a vital role in driving Africa’s tech landscape forward while contributing to the broader global fintech discourse.”
Join us at Moonshot, taking place this October, where you’ll have the exciting opportunity to connect with Flutterwave, a leading industry player, and immerse yourself in a day of networking with like-minded individuals, industry experts, and visionaries.
“The Africhange vision is to be at the forefront of new immigrants’ stories by assisting them at every step of their journey from their home to new country” Olatunji Obaoye, Senior Product Manager at Africhange.
Every day, thousands of Africans leave home and there are millions of Africans currently in the diaspora. In 2020 nearly 41 million people emigrated from the African continent and the japa syndrome is a common phenomenon documented in Nigeria, the most populous African nation. As Africans move daily for school, work, and the pursuit of other needs, families, friends, and colleagues are getting separated all over the world. Africhange, a money transfer platform, is helping immigrants settle in new countries and stay connected with family and friends through access to seamless remittances service.
Africhange has made it easy to send money to and from Nigeria to Canada and from Canada to anywhere with the best rates. Whether you’re interested in sending money to your parents from Canada, sending money for a friend’s wedding, or paying for services in Canada from Nigeria, Africhange provides an easy, fast, and reliable system with no hidden charges.
As people migrate for school and work, they carry along responsibilities from home and sometimes require financial assistance from parents and loved ones. Data shows that diaspora remittances to Africa (excluding North Africa) grew 14% to $49 billion in 2021 and this number will increase over the years as remittances remain a critical source of external finance for Africans. Relocating to a new country also involves a lot of funds and before this solution by Africhange, a lot of immigrants had to use middlemen to send and receive money from home. Using middlemen means depending on the exchange rate set by these middlemen and the speed and security of transactions is also dependent on these middlemen. These middlemen inflate the exchange rate, delay transactions, and can sometimes not be trusted so the security of your funds is not guaranteed. This is the main problem that Africhange is solving and they’re doing this by simplifying cross-border payments through a faster, cheaper, and easily accessible platform open to all.
The Africhange team
Founded and run mainly by immigrants, the personal immigration experiences of the team have helped influence the products and goals of the company. They are acutely aware of the myriad of challenges, emotions, and sheer bravery involved in leaving one’s homeland to forge a new path elsewhere so to continue to be part of and ease the new immigrant experience, the company is expanding its services beyond just remittance to other areas where immigrants need assistance. The Africhange Foundation is the nonprofit arm of the company and through this foundation, the company is seeking solutions and helping African immigrants with their transitioning and settling process. The Africhange Foundation stands as a beacon of hope in this journey, ensuring that these brave immigrants are not alone in their endeavours. With a vision to level the playing field for Africans worldwide, the foundation’s inaugural initiative is a testament to its dedication. They are awarding 20 deserving African students with grants of $2500 each. According to Tega Ogigirigi, Growth Marketing Manager at Africhange “This initiative not only serves as a financial boost but also stands as a symbol of encouragement, a gesture that says, “We believe in you.” In essence, the Africhange Foundation isn’t merely providing financial aid; it’s nurturing dreams, fostering ambitions, and championing the spirit of resilience. As the world becomes an increasingly interconnected global village, this foundation is ensuring that African voices aren’t just part of the chorus but are strong, vibrant, and resonant.” he says
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Africhange also has a feature embedded on the payment platform that gives students discounts and better rates for their financial transactions like paying school fees and other bills. Since a huge chunk of African immigrants are students, starting with this demographic was the right step for the Africhange Foundation. They’re catering to students first but eventually will move on to businesses and other communities to continue to immerse themselves in solving immigrant problems.
Other features on the Africhange payment platform include enabling users from Nigeria to pay bills in Canada. Businesses can also integrate with Africhange’s API to easily perform bulk business transactions. They can pay salaries and taxes, and perform other financial transactions.
The company is currently bootstrapping itself by not seeking any funding at this time and focusing on understanding the pain points of its customers and how to fix these pain points. So far the hard work and focus from the team is paying off as the company is growing rapidly with a hundred thousand users at the moment. Currently, Africhange only serves users in Canada, Nigeria, and Australia but they plan to expand operations as time goes on. Users in Canada can send money to Nigeria, Ghana, the US, Mexico, Kenya, Benin Republic, Togo, Senegal, etc. and users in Nigeria can send money to Canada.
You can make your cross-border experiences easier by joining the Africhange platform and enjoying seamless payments today.
Meta title: Crypto Insiders State That the Top Must-Have Tokens Are: Sui, NEAR Protocol & Everlodge
Meta description: Sui, NEAR Protocol, and Everlodge are the top must-have tokens in September, according to crypto insiders. Find out why they are gaining attention.
Sui keywords: Sui, Sui crypto, Sui tokenNEAR Protocol keywords: NEAR Protocol, NEAR Protocol crypto, NEAR Protocol price
Sui (SUI), NEAR Protocol (NEAR), and Everlodge (ELDG) – are the top three must-have tokens for September 2023. According to crypto insiders, these promising tokens can potentially deliver substantial returns. Keep reading to find out why these three cryptocurrencies have recently made headlines.
Summary
Sui sees a surge in daily active addresses
NEAR Protocol price prediction
Everlodge projected to experience a 30x rally on its launch day
Sui (SUI) is an innovative, decentralized L1 blockchain making waves in the crypto space. What sets Sui apart is its mission to redefine asset ownership. With a focus on creating a user-friendly, decentralized ecosystem, Sui aims to empower individuals by putting control back in their hands.
In the last 90 days, Sui has seen a surge in daily active addresses by 56.8%, a sign of growing interest and adoption. Crypto insiders are keeping a close eye on the Sui crypto, believing it has the potential to disrupt the blockchain landscape.
Market analysts remain bullish for the Sui token. In other words, many predict that the Sui value will sit between $0.68 and $0.78 within Q4 of 2023.
NEAR Protocol (NEAR): Breaking Barriers
NEAR Protocol (NEAR) is not a newcomer to the crypto scene, but it continues to impress with its forward-thinking approach. SailGP, a global water racing league, is making history by introducing the first-ever community-owned and managed team built on the NEAR Protocol.
This innovative partnership breaks barriers in the racing world and highlights NEAR’s ability to foster decentralized solutions in various industries. As the adoption of the NEAR Protocol crypto grows, so does its potential as an investment option.
Due to all these reasons, experts in the field foresee the NEAR Protocol price will reach $1.77 by December 2023.
The real estate market has long been known for its challenges, from lack of transparency to high barriers to entry. Everlodge (ELDG), a blockchain-based platform, aims to solve these issues. By offering transparent and efficient fractional property ownership and eliminating intermediaries, Everlodge is revolutionizing real estate.
In other words, Everlodge will build a unique property marketplace where high-end vacation homes and hotels will be digitized and minted into NFTs. Afterward, these NFTs are fractionalized. Therefore, this approach eliminates the problem of only wealthy individuals gaining access to this booming sector. Instead, anyone can become a fractional owner.
Another exciting feature of Everlodge is its Rewards Club. With this club, members gain access to a range of exclusive privileges. They can earn free nightly stays across all properties within the Everlodge ecosystem. Furthermore, members can even resell these nights, creating an opportunity for passive income.
However, only ELDG native token holders gain access to this club, discounts, and more. For this reason, countless individuals are flooding the Stage 2 presale as one ELDG costs just $0.016. Moreover, with its low market cap, this token may surge faster than Sui and NEAR Protocol. Therefore, experts predict a 30x rally when it gets listed on a CEX after its launch.
The stage is set for the Product Conference of the Year – the Inspire Africa Conference organized by Silicon Valley Product Group (SVPG), Innovate Africa Foundation and Work Nigeria, and headlined byInterswitch Group, Africa’s leading integrated payments and digital commerce company.
Scheduled to take place in Lagos from the 18th to 21st of September 2023, the conference will feature a diverse gathering of founders, and professionals from the product ecosystem, all with the shared goal of enhancing the expertise of African product professionals.
Attendees can look forward to four (4) immersive days of hands-on training and the unique opportunity to interact with over 30 global product leaders plus exceptional insights, impactful perspectives, all geared towards igniting interest and driving growth within the product industry.
Day one (1) will unveil the conference with keynote speeches from a number of renowned speakers from around the world. This will be followed by 3 intensive days of tailored workshops, catered to individuals at various stages of their product careers. Founders will have the opportunity to participate in Venture Capital panels, while product leaders will engage in workshops focused on creating an empowering environment for their product teams amongst others.
Distinguished local and international product and training leaders, including luminaries such as Marty Cagan, Christian Idiodi, Bayo Adedeji, Lea Hickman, Temi Giwa, and others, will lead these workshops and deliver keynote speeches.
Rebecca King representative of the Innovate Africa Foundation says that the collaboration with Interswitch has created the perfect landscape to enable the exchange of knowledge between local and international product communities, explaining that Africa has given rise to numerous technology-driven enterprises whose products have earned global acclaim.
Buttressing this point, Cherry Eromosele, Executive Vice President, Marketing & Corporate Communications at Interswitch Group emphasized the significance of this conference stating “Interswitch takes great pride in championing initiatives such as the Inspire Africa Conference. This event not only reaffirms our unwavering commitment to Africa’s technology ecosystem but also underscores our strong belief in the transformative potential of knowledge exchange and collaboration. As we partner with Silicon Valley Product Group, Innovate Africa and Work Nigeria to empower product professionals, we eagerly anticipate an event that will make a lasting imprint on Africa’s journey of innovation.”
Princess Edo-Osagie, Head of Product Leadership & Agile Governance at Interswitch Group, further added that “Initiatives like the Inspire Africa Conference are pivotal because they go beyond mere speeches and panels, offering attendees an immersive experience to refine their skills, expand their networks, and acquire practical knowledge.”
Interswitch’s commitment extends beyond the conference. With a history of accelerating impact and exponential growth in Africa’s technology and payments sectors over the past two decades, they prioritize partnerships and platforms that foster prosperity for individuals and communities across the continent.”, concluded Edo-Osagie.
In alignment with Interswitch’s mission to create opportunities and empower the product community, the tech firm’s Human Resource experts will be on-site to meet product professionals and engage with individuals who are exploring career transitions within the industry.
The Inspire Africa Conference is poised to be an intellectually stimulating and transformative event. Participants are encouraged to arrive well-prepared to actively engage in discussions covering a range of topics, including Go-to-Market best practices, Executive Team Leadership, Scalability Strategies and Objectives, and Key Results, and to take full advantage of enriching breakout sessions and additional offerings.
Founders Connect, the renowned YouTube platform celebrating the African tech ecosystem in collaboration with Wakanow, is thrilled to announce its inaugural live event in the United Kingdom, scheduled for October 14, 2023. Following the success of their inaugural event in Lagos, Nigeria, Founders Connect is eager to replicate the same vibrancy and connectivity for the African tech community in London. The event is open to everyone in the UK-Africa Tech Ecosystem, including founders, operators, media, investors, and creators.
With an impressive lineup of speakers, the event promises invaluable learning opportunities for attendees. Key sessions include an exclusive interview with respected Nigerian founder Tosin Eniolorunda, Founder and Group CEO of Moniepoint Inc. Other featured speakers include Bayo Adedeji, Jane Egerton-Idehen, Yele Bademosi, Damilare Ogunleye, Yewande Odumosu, Ola Oyetayo, & Olugbeminiyi Idowu. The lineup of speakers includes founders, operators and investors, with topics deliberately curated to be relevant to everyone in the room – be it founders, talents, creators, the media or investors.
The event will also feature an exclusive UK screening of the documentary “Innovating Africa – Rise of Tech in Nigeria“, a documentary produced by Founders Connect, showcasing the grit and resilience of Nigerian tech entrepreneurs in Nigeria over the last 15 years.
Tickets for Founders Connect Live in London are now available at www.foundersconnect.xyz/london Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with the black tech community in the UK. The event promises to be more than just a tech conference or networking event, offering engaging learning sessions, networking opportunities, food, games, and more.
Headlined by Wakanow, the event is also supported by sponsors including Ohentpay, Leatherback, Paga, and Talking Drum Communications, and media partners such as TechNext, TechCabal, and Benjamin Dada.
TechCabal, the leading African tech media platform, is pleased to announce Watsonx (powered by IBM), as a proud sponsor for Moonshot by TechCabal, an initiative aimed at fostering innovation and growth within the Pan-African tech industry.
Watsonx is a generative AI platform for customer experience transformation, improving and scaling productivity and automating business operations. We are also excited to highlight Huntrecht as Watsonx’s leading Business Partner for IBM. Huntrecht consists of a dedicated team of over 100 AI researchers and engineers who are at the forefront of driving innovation in the field of customer experience and B2B process automation.
Kayode Odeyemi, the Managing Partner of Huntrecht, has played a pivotal role in leading the charge in Watson AI implementation for customer experience, particularly with Ecobank. He stated, “Watsonx is designed to support businesses in multiple critical areas, including customer experience, pricing and revenue optimization, financial empowerment, customer-centric retail, data governance, process automation, accounts reconciliation, cross-border payments, and precision healthcare.”
IBM, in collaboration with Huntrecht, is also actively engaged in partnering with governments to design frameworks for sustainable digital economies. By delivering better government services through IBM Process Mining—a Watsonx automation offering—IBM is helping to pave the way for a more efficient and effective public sector.
TechCabal’s Moonshot initiative aims to inspire and support innovative projects and ideas within the tech ecosystem. With Watsonx as a sponsor, we are confident that this partnership will drive innovation to new heights, enabling businesses to thrive in an increasingly competitive and digital world. TechCabal’s CEO, Tomiwa Aladekomo, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “We are delighted to welcome Watsonx as a sponsor for Moonshot. This collaboration marks an exciting chapter in our journey to bring the latest advancements in technology to our audience. Watsonx’s cutting-edge innovations will undoubtedly enrich our platform and provide valuable insights to our readers. Together, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of what technology can achieve.”
TechCabal is excited about the potential that Watsonx brings to the tech landscape and the opportunities it presents for businesses looking to harness the power of AI-driven solutions.
MetaMask Snaps will capture the full extent of the innovation happening in web3 by enabling third-party developers to bring their specialist expertise to building for the MetaMask platform. This permissionless innovation program is poised to transform the manner in which users engage with MetaMask worldwide, presenting them with unparalleled control and customization possibilities. In the initial phases, the priority is to involve adept MetaMask users in trying out MetaMask Snaps and gathering their input while the MetaMask team continues its development journey towards realizing MetaMask Snaps’ ultimate vision.
Today, Consensys, a leading blockchain and web3 software company, announces the launch of the first iteration of MetaMask Snaps to the public. MetaMask Snaps is set to revolutionize the way users interact with MetaMask, the world’s leading self-custody web3 platform, offering them unprecedented control and customization. Snaps are new features and functionality, created by third-party developers, that MetaMask users worldwide can install directly into their wallet. Previously, MetaMask features were exclusively developed by MetaMask developers employed by Consensys. The initial rollout will include 34 Snaps, one of which was created by a Nigerian builder, that provides utility around transaction insights, interoperability with non-EVM blockchains like Bitcoin, and notifications.
The public launch of MetaMask Snaps marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of MetaMask as a wallet. By providing users with a new set of tools developed by third-party developers across the globe, MetaMask Snaps will empower individuals to shape their web3 experience according to their unique needs and preferences. Adept MetaMask users can access information about how to install the first available Snaps from the official website. The initial iterations will focus on getting experienced MetaMask users to try out MetaMask Snaps and collecting their feedback, while the MetaMask team continues its development journey towards realizing its ultimate vision.
Initial Snaps rollout: transaction insights, interoperability, and notifications
As the initial phase of realizing this vision, MetaMask Snaps will launch with a total of 34 Snaps. These Snaps went through security audits and were manually included in the allowlist by the MetaMask team. MetaMask will persist in auditing and incorporating Snaps into the allowlist until the transition to a permissionless system is achieved, eliminating the need for this intermediate step.
These first Snaps unlock unique use cases that include:
Transaction insights: Enhancing users’ web3 journey with clearer transaction insights, empowering them to identify potential security concerns and malicious smart contracts before finalizing a transaction.
Interoperability: MetaMask Snaps broadens web3 usage to encompass non-EVM blockchains such as Bitcoin, Solana, Cosmos, Filecoin, and EVM Layer 2 solutions like StarkNet.
Notifications: Keeping users informed and engaged with dapp-specific notifications directly in MetaMask, ensuring you never miss an essential update or event.
Nigerian Snaps
Wallet Chat: Wallet Chat is a user-friendly wallet application that allows users to securely carry their digital wallets
In 2022, MetaMask surpassed 100 million users. The web3 ecosystem has witnessed rapid growth, leading to new diverse use cases. Innovations that provide a personalized user experience continue to be crucial to eliminating barriers to entry and facilitating the growth of the web3 ecosystem, with the ultimate goal of onboarding 1 billion users.
While its origins are rooted in Ethereum, MetaMask holds the conviction that innovation occurs in many domains across the web3 ecosystem. With Snaps, the leading web3 wallet hopes to capture a fuller extent of the innovation happening in web3 by enabling third-party developers to bring their specialist expertise to building for the platform. MetaMask envisions an open, permissionless system of innovation where any web3 developer can build a Snap and make it available to users. A platform for the community, built by the community.
“The most important part of the Snaps story to me is that we now have a system at the heart of our wallet that allows us to step back and humbly invite the community to provide their own solutions to the hardest problems. I have some big ideas and opinions about what the future of transaction safety could look like, but that’s no reason for it to be the only idea being validated. We’re helping usher in a new paradigm of distributed computing, and there are a lot of questions that need creative solutions, and so I still believe that lowering the barrier and cost to trying new things can be an important accelerant to finding good answers to those hard problems. This isn’t about accelerating technology for its own sake, it’s about accelerating the process of finding improvements in the ways we do things,” said Dan Finlay, Co-founder of MetaMask.
Third-party developers building Snaps can independently ship and maintain their creations, separate from MetaMask. They maintain ownership of their code and establish a direct connection with their Snap’s users. In the long-term, MetaMask users will benefit from the convenience and versatility of countless Snaps, tailored for various use cases, across multiple protocols. They will see features that haven’t been imagined yet, developed at a pace that MetaMask couldn’t have achieved on its own.
“We are building MetaMask Snaps as an open platform for innovation and we do not charge developers for publishing Snaps to this platform. We believe that permissionless innovation is a cornerstone of a decentralized system—no gatekeepers. Innovation thrives at the pace of the network, not just within an individual development team at Consensys,” emphasized Christian Montoya, Product Lead for MetaMask Snaps.
Anticipating the future and what lies ahead, MetaMask has engaged in discussions with over 150 developers in the past few months to broaden the array of Snaps. These developers come from various regions around the world, including Nigeria, Asia, the US, LATAM, and Europe.
About Consensys Consensys is the leading blockchain and web3 software company. Since 2014, Consensys has been at the forefront of innovation, pioneering technological developments within the web3 ecosystem. Through our product suite, including the MetaMask platform,Infura, Linea,Diligence, and our NFT platform, we have become the trusted collaborator for users, creators, and developers on their path to build and belong in the world they want to see. Whether building a dapp, an NFT collection, a portfolio, or a better future, the instinct to build is universal. Consensys inspires and champions the builder instinct in everyone by making web3 universally easy to use and develop on. To explore our products and solutions, visit https://consensys.io/.
Smile ID, a leading provider of biometric identity verification solutions, has today announced the launch of Smile Links—a no-code solution that lets businesses verify customers faster.
Smile Links is a customisable, no-code KYC solution that reduces the technical requirements for businesses to go live. With a few clicks in the Smile ID portal, companies can generate and customise an identity verification flow complete with their name, logo, and data privacy policy, all in just a few minutes. Once generated, the user verification (KYC) flow will be published as a URL that can be shared with customers directly via email, WhatsApp, or embedded in an application. Businesses can see the results of the KYC checks performed in their Smile ID portal or receive results to a callback URL.
Smile Links is a pioneering technology that opens the doors of innovation to more builders. It is the first fully functional no-code ID verification solution from an African-focused company, allowing businesses to build, launch, and scale faster than ever. As businesses of all sizes look to reduce production time, cost, and technical skill requirements to build solutions, the demand for low- and no-code tools has increased. These tools allow businesses to stay competitive and innovative, allowing professionals who are not technically skilled to play crucial roles in the global digital transformation.
Smile Links is the latest milestone in Smile ID’s mission to provide Africans unrestricted access to a thriving digital economy. According to a report by Gartner, low-code/no-code development is expected to account for more than 65% of all application development by 2024. Low-code and no-code tools are also expected to play an essential role in digitising Africa and other developing markets, as they reduce the technical barriers to launching innovative solutions.
In line with these, Smile Links empowers companies to cut down on production time and launch fully functional solutions complete with KYC features that meet local compliance requirements without any technical expertise.
Combined with Smile ID’s Document Verification product, Smile Links allows businesses to verify a staggering 8500 ID types from 226 countries worldwide without increasing technical backlog or expending technical resources for integration. Companies looking to launch in multiple markets or onboard customers across different markets can do so with Smile ID in a single integration. They can now save time and money with little to no engineering effort. It is also compatible with other ID verification solutions like Biometric KYC, enabling business owners to create fraud-proof KYC solutions.
Speaking on the launch of Smile Links, Peace Itimi, Smile’s Director of Marketing, said, “We’re excited about what Smile Links means for the future of innovation in Africa and other parts of the world. No-code is the future of technology innovation, and we’re proud to be pioneering a product that helps businesses launch and scale faster than ever. ”
Peace added, “Smile Links is not just another no-code tool; it is a gate-pass to launching and scaling any product or service across multiple markets whether you have a lot of engineering resources or not. It opens the door for many more businesses to partake in Africa’s digital evolution.”
CinderBuild was launched with a vision to bring about a seamless buying experience in the real estate and construction space.
Our business model on the supply side is hinged on solid partnerships with major manufacturers which gives us an enviable catalog of building materials at very competitive prices (We actually prefer the word unbeatable). We deliver this value on the demand side through our digital platform to two user segments; Resellers (C-stores) and Corporate buyers
Initially, we focused on catering to the needs of the reseller segment. However, as time went on, we recognized the opportunity to establish dedicated offline distribution channels known as C-stores, stemming from our existing reseller user base. These C-stores, consisting of resellers who make substantial weekly bulk purchases, have become an integral part of our business. To alleviate the capital procurement challenges associated with restocking, we have implemented an automated system that ensures these C-stores receive restocks at least twice a week. As a result, they have become invaluable distribution partners for us. Presently, our network boasts over 1500 C-stores and continues to grow.
We have evolved as a business in line with data based feedback and insights gained from our interaction with key real estate and construction players, working with their procurement teams on their project. We developed Builder 360™, an all-in-one product suite to cater for this segment.
The Builder 360™ suite is an interconnected web of value-added solutions and services, made available to customers based on platform loyalty. For every amount spent on the platform, eligibility increases and at certain spend thresholds, users unlock a new solution typically addressing critical pain areas.
With Builder 360™, you get access to cutting-edge solutions that allow you outsmart inflation, store project materials virtually for future use. It doesn’t end there, you have access to inventory management tools, project financing, access to vetted artisans, visibility across board and much more.
Users can unlock the various solutions based on their rank within the community and they move up the rank as they hit transaction volume milestones.
Furthermore, the emergence of online marketplaces and procurement platforms like CinderBuild has made it easier for builders to source and purchase construction materials, equipment, and services. With CinderBuild’s Cloud Warehouse solution, for instance, builders can store materials virtually and receive on-demand piecewise site deliveries, reducing the need for physical storage space and eliminating the risk of theft or damage.
We are proud to currently serve a robust client base of corporates across the Real estate and construction space.
As a trendsetting organization, with a steadfast focus on reshaping the building materials procurement industry landscapes, our journey with our corporate clients in the real estate and construction space has ignited an unprecedented wave of innovation leading to the birth of Nigeria’s first credit Mortgage Card. We are issuing salary-backed mortgage loans to Nigeria’s working class allowing them to make down payments and installmental payments on exclusive real estate properties listed by our esteemed corporates. By doing this, salary earners are now well equipped to confidently explore the real estate market and secure their dream homes with ease.
Upon the successful acquisition of a property by a salary earner, the funds are transferred to our secure escrow system. Simultaneously, corporates have access to these funds, enabling them to procure high quality building materials for their construction projects from CinderBuild. This seamless integration streamlines the entire process, eliminating delays, and enhancing the efficiency of property development.
By empowering corporates with the financial resources to procure superior building materials, we are catalyzing a transformative change in the construction industry. The properties developed through our platform boast enhanced durability and quality materials, elevating the overall living experience for homeowners. This virtuous cycle fosters a reputation of excellence for corporates, attracting more potential buyers and creating a positive impact in the real estate market.
Owning a mortgage account with cinderbuild is simple and hassle-free. Homeowners can easily link their mortgage accounts to the card, allowing for direct payments and better visibility of mortgage-related transactions. Every financial transaction is meticulously tracked and recorded, ensuring complete visibility for both salary earners and corporates.
For us at CinderBuild, beyond the bottom line and the excitement of deploying a rapidly adopted technology solution, we are peeling back layer by layer the depth of value in tech enabled procurement and delivering this value to a fast growing user base in one of the largest construction markets in the world.
As we begin our next phase, we are tapping into the depth of learnings from launching in a robust market like Nigeria, and leveraging that to build locally-adapted digital products as we launch swiftly into more African countries. We see ourselves as an innovation leader in this space, as our teams are drawn from some of the most reputable institutions in the world, and backed by top-tier VCs from across Europe and the U.S.
Whether you’re building roads, bridges, housing estates, commercial buildings in the private and public sector, Builder 360™ has everything you need to take your construction projects and business to the next level.Visit our website today at www.cinderbuild.com or reach us on support@cinderbuild.com, +2347001236202.
Launching a startup is challenging enough without the added burden of identity verification costs. African KYC provider Verified.africa wants to level the playing field, allowing startups to focus on innovation and customer satisfaction.
Verified.africa connects startups seamlessly with genuine customers to grow their business. Over the last three years, they‘ve successfully verified three million+ customer identities, witnessing firsthand how KYC compliance costs are challenging for many startups.
To support aspiring entrepreneurs, Verified.africa is thrilled to announce the “Verified Startup Accelerator Program”. For six months, eligible startups can access their verification services entirely FREE! Yes, you read that correctly.
“We believe empowering startups with secure identity verification is the cornerstone of their success. Our Startup Accelerator Program is a game-changer, providing cutting-edge verification solutions to bolster your business’s growth,” says Joachim Odo, Product Owner, Verified.africa.
Empowering Startups with Cost-Free Identity Verification
In Africa, trust is crucial. The Verified.africa Startup Accelerator Program empowers early-stage startups by providing them with over $ 5,000 worth of complimentary verification usage credits for up to six months. With these credits, you can effortlessly protect your business, onboard up to 20,000 genuine customers, and ensure compliance with regulations, all without straining your budget.
The program runs for six months, ensuring you have ample time to leverage our services. Additionally, eligible startups will gain exclusive access to enriching networking sessions, providing opportunities to connect and learn from top experts, fellow entrepreneurs, and market leaders within the African ecosystem.
“Imagine the possibilities when startups can channel their resources into innovation and expansion rather than fretting over fraud. We’ve designed our accelerator program to provide startups with this essential advantage,” adds Joachim Odo.
Unlocking a Suite of Services for Startups
Our Startup Accelerator Program offers a comprehensive suite of services that will help you streamline operations, build customer trust, and concentrate on achieving exponential growth for your startup. Services include:
Face Match: Ensure the authenticity of each customer by using advanced facial capture technology to compare their facial features with the photo on their ID.
Document Verification: Meet your KYC requirements by cross-checking various identity documents across Africa, ensuring a reliable verification process.
Address Verification: Gain detailed insights into your customers’ residency and verify their identity, enhancing your confidence in their legitimacy and proximity.
Liveness Detection: Prevent fraudsters from impersonating someone else by checking if the user taking the selfie is a live person in real-time.
“We’re not just offering services; we’re offering a launchpad for startups to thrive in a secure environment. Your success story is our success story,” assures Joachim Odo.
Eligibility and Application
To qualify for this opportunity, your startup must meet the following criteria:
Launch Date: Your startup should have launched less than four years ago, reflecting our commitment to supporting early-stage businesses.
Working Product: You must have a functioning product already in the market, demonstrating your progress and readiness for growth.
Active Customers and Revenue: We encourage startups with active customers to generate revenue, as this indicates market traction and potential for expansion.
Whether in the tech sector, finance, telecoms, payments, healthcare, or any other industry, we encourage you to apply if your startup fulfills the above eligibility criteria.
Sign Up Now to Accelerate Your Growth
With Verified.africa’s Startup Accelerator Program, you have an incredible opportunity to onboard thousands, and even millions, of potential customers while ensuring digital security across multiple key markets, including Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, and Ghana.
You want to take advantage of this chance, as signing up for the program is free. If your application is successful, you gain access to a wide range of invaluable support, cutting-edge verification tools, and valuable mentorship tailored to your startup’s unique needs.
“At Verified.africa, we are committed to empowering startups to flourish in Africa’s dynamic and competitive landscape. Don’t hesitate to sign up now to accelerate your growth and build a secure future for your startup. Your success story begins here,” concludes Joachim Odo.
Verified.africa is a leading identity verification solution provider in Africa. With a mission to enhance digital trust and security, Verified.africa offers cutting-edge verification services to businesses across various industries. The Verified Startup Accelerator Program empowers early-stage startups with cost-free identity verification services, enabling them to grow confidently and securely in the African market.
Zap, the groundbreaking cryptocurrency brand, is thrilled to announce its official launch into the Nigerian market. With a mission to empower individuals to navigate the world of digital finance effortlessly, Zap is set to revolutionize the crypto landscape in Nigeria. The platform’s unique selling points (USPs) include instant crypto exchange for fiat, the fastest crypto payouts with the best rates, and seamless global cryptocurrency and fiat swaps.
Zap’s instant crypto exchange for fiat brings unparalleled convenience to Nigerian crypto enthusiasts. With just a few clicks, users can seamlessly convert their cryptocurrencies into fiat currencies at lightning speed. This feature eliminates the hassle of lengthy transaction times and offers users the freedom to access their funds instantly.
One of Zap’s standout features is its commitment to delivering the fastest crypto payouts in the market, combined with the most competitive rates. Users can trust that their transactions will be processed swiftly and at rates that ensure they receive the maximum value for their cryptocurrencies. Whether buying or selling, Zap promises an exceptional user experience every time.
Furthermore, Zap allows users to swap their cryptocurrencies or fiat from anywhere in the world, all while enjoying the best rates available. This global accessibility ensures that Zap users can make the most of their digital assets no matter where they are. Whether you’re a seasoned crypto trader or just starting your journey, Zap offers a reliable and user-friendly platform for all your cryptocurrency needs.
Zap’s entry into the Nigerian market is poised to redefine how Nigerians engage with cryptocurrency. With its focus on instant fiat exchange, lightning-fast payouts, and competitive rates, Zap is primed to become the go-to platform for cryptocurrency enthusiasts in Nigeria. Join us as we embark on this exciting journey towards a more accessible and user-friendly cryptocurrency landscape in Nigeria.
About Zap
Zap is a leading cryptocurrency brand that specializes in providing instant crypto-to-fiat exchange services, the fastest crypto payouts, and the best exchange rates in Nigeria. With a user-centric approach, Zap is committed to making cryptocurrency accessible to everyone and simplifying the exchange process for both beginners and experienced traders. To learn more about Zap and its services, visit https://zap.africa/.
Meta Title: Cardano (ADA) is heading for a resurgence while Shiba Inu (SHIB) and Pomerdoge (POMD) rally.
Meta Description: Cardano (ADA) has struggled to maintain an upward trajectory for days, with the coin heading for resurgence, while Shiba Inu (SHIB) and Pomerdoge (POMD) are experiencing uptrends.
As the price movements of coins in the crypto market swing from bear to bull and vice versa, experts analyse different coins to see whether they are worth investing for short and long-term profit. The crypto market chart shows that Cardano (ADA) could pull a resurgence soon while Shiba Inu (SHIB) and Pomerdoge (POMD) are currently experiencing uptrends. Let’s look at the market activity of these coins and whether they are worth investing in.
Cardano (ADA) Fails to Break $0.27 Resistance Level
Cardano (ADA) seemed to be on its way to breaking the $0.27 resistance level a few days ago before falling back to the bear market. However, the coin is heading for a resurgence, with the price curves tilting upwards.
Cardano, which is a proof-of-stake token, has lost 15% of its value in the last 30 days. However, with the crypto market bouncing back, its token holders will be hoping for a rally soon.
According to a forecast by Digitalcoinprice, Cardano will trade above $0.56 before the end of the year. The coin, which hit its all-time high of $3.09 in August 2021, has many use cases that could attract investors to the project.
Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson, in a series of tweets a few days ago, said that Cardano is here to stay. With the bull run anticipated, Cardano could rally soon.
Shiba Inu (SHIB) on Course To Replicate Bullish Surge Witnessed in Mid-August
Shiba Inu (SHIB) is experiencing a fresh surge in price value. This development has left experts predicting that the meme coin may see a market movement similar to the one witnessed in mid-August in which the token gained over 10% in price value.
Shiba Inu is currently experiencing bullish momentum which experts project could extend for days. This belief is also supported by the news of Shiba Inu’s newly launched layer-2 Shibarium network being opened to the public soon.
Shiba Inu has also seen a high number of SHIB tokens burned in the last few days in a show of support and hope of bullishness. With this positive news, there is no doubt that the token will rally soon.
The crypto market is currently bouncing back and Cardano, Shiba Inu and Pomerdoge could be heading to the bull market soon. Investors can become part of the presale of the Pomerdoge project, which will open doors for benefits and a chance to reap high ROI.
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>The <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/pomercrew?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#pomercrew</a> is approaching 2,000 members in our telegram channel. <br><br>We hold competitions, giveaways and release the latest and most up to date information there. <br><br>Come and join the Pomerdoge telegram today!<a href=”https://t.co/B9zhnIQa6C”>https://t.co/B9zhnIQa6C</a> <a href=”https://t.co/77nT9Yysds”>pic.twitter.com/77nT9Yysds</a></p>— Pomerdoge (@pomerdoge) <a href=”https://twitter.com/pomerdoge/status/1698241117207093432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>September 3, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>
There are 7,777 NFT collections exclusively for presale buyers of POMD tokens. Also, the revenue generated from Pomerdoge’s gaming platform (Pomergame) will be shared with presale investors based on the percentage of POMD tokens each investor owns.
To become a presale investor, you will need to buy the POMD token that is currently sold for $0.01. Experienced investors will not want to miss a chance to join the project which has been projected to grow by 17x before the end of the year.
As safety measures, the liquidity of the Pomerdoge token will be locked for life. It is also worth noting that Pomerdoge has undergone audits from Cyberscope and SolidProof. Pomerdoge is a golden opportunity for investors to boost their crypto portfolios.
Find out more about the Pomerdoge (POMD) Presale Today
Meta Title: Google Bard Picked ApeCoin, Immutable, and Everlodge, but Which Altcoin Will Climb the Furthest?
Meta Description: Learn about the future surrounding ApeCoin, Immutable and Everlodge and see which altcoin can climb the furthest in value according to Google Bard.
The process of tokenizing real-world assets is the next sector of crypto that’s going to grow, and Everlodge (ELDG) is one of the first projects that can take profits from this growth, based on data from Google Bard. The AI-driven trading bot also generated data on how ApeCoin (APE) and Immutable (IMX) can also surge in value. Today, we will analyze all of these altcoins to see which one can climb the furthest.
The ApeCoin (APE) cryptocurrency has seen a short-term bullish structure. However, the bulls could face a rejection close to the $1.6 value point. Google Bard noted how the ApeCoin price needs to breach past $1.63 in order to grab the attention of new investors and traders.
However, this is a solid possibility for the ApeCoin crypto to achieve. The higher timeframe market structure was in the favor of the sellers.
But the $1.5 resistance can be beaten by the ApeCoin cryptocurrency as the bearish pressure resolves, and bulls overtake the market. Based on the results from the AI, the ApeCoin price prediction is that it will reach a maximum point of $2.32.
Immutable (IMX) to Surge According to Google Bard
Then there’s Immutable (IMX), another competing cryptocurrency that’s recommended by Google Bard. The price behind the Immutable crypto has passed above the 9-day moving average. In addition, according to projections made by the AI, the Immutable price can move above the upper boundary of the channel.
However, the results also revealed that it has crossed above the 21-day average, and there are bulls within the Immutable market. According to the RSI, it is at the 40 level, and if immutable beats the resistance levels at $0.85 and above, it can surge by the end of the year.
In fact, according to the Immutable price prediction, it can reach $1.79 by the end of the year.
Everlodge (ELDG) Can CLimb by 30x. According to Google Bard
According to Google Bard, Everlodge is in a position where it can democratize access to property investments. Specifically, the platform mints properties as NFTs. These can then benefit from the rising property prices, and people will be able to generate passive income from renting.
However, unlike the traditional ways of getting properties, investors will not be required to invest $2,000,000, for example, up front. Instead, through the process of fractionalization, they can invest as little as $100 and get all of the benefits. ELDG is the native crypto used to power the ecosystem.
Holders can stake it for passive income, and it can be used for governance. During the Beta Presale Stage, it traded at $0.010. At Stage 1, it surged by 20% to $0.012, and at Stage 2, it will spike by 33%. According to Google Bard, it can climb 30x by the time it launches.
It seems like every day there is a new banking innovation and these innovations seem to come with their own set of problems. It shouldn’t take more than 48 hours to get a POS machine, but some businesses have been waiting for months for a response from their banks even after spending essential capital to get the device. A customer has a simple ₦2,500 payment but their bank card is suddenly not working. You, the shop owner, decide to accept a bank transfer and the customer makes the payment but you don’t receive the payment even though they show you a debit receipt. Now a simple ₦2,500 payment turns into an argument that loses you a customer; they won’t leave without their goods and you cannot let them leave without getting a bank alert. Left and right businesses are losing money and customers due to fake alerts, slow notifications, and limited payment options. Even with multiple payment options, businesses experience difficulty reconciling their business transactions because they have collected payments on multiple platforms from bank transfers, to cash, to POS, etc. Wouldn’t it be nice to have all your business transactions from bank transfers to card transactions in one place? To be able to know how much comes in and leaves your business in one glance? Wouldn’t it be even nicer just to tap your card and make a payment like a lot of other countries do and just magically have your account debited? Swwipe is offering these solutions and more all in one platform.
Birthed in 2023 as the financial child of Parkway Holdings, Swwipe is a mobile-first payment platform for businesses. Swwipe simplifies transactions for businesses by enabling them to receive payment from their customers in person or online. All business owners need is a phone and they can receive payment via tap-to-pay, USSD, bank transfer, and card all in one activation with Swwipe.
What Swwipe offers
The platform offers a couple of mobile payment options and the ability to also integrate a personalised payment gateway on your business website to accept online payment via bank transfers, USSD, and card. To use Swwipe all you need to do is download the app on your phone, register, and link your bank account in 3 minutes and you can start receiving payments. When you register, you get a Swwipe wallet where payments you receive through the platform can be sent. Swwipe’s payment services include;
Tap-to-pay: This is the crown jewel of Swwipe. It is one of the easiest payment methods available in the market and it promises to revolutionise the way people receive payments in Nigeria. How this works is that you need a near-field communication (NFC) enabled device, an NFC-enabled card, and the Swwipe app. Once the tap-to-pay payment option is selected on the app, the customer taps their NFC-enabled card at the back of your NFC-enabled phone and holds until a prompt to input a PIN pops up. The customer then inputs their PIN and just like that, the payment goes through to your Swwipe wallet. The inverted Wi-Fi icon you see on most bank cards indicates that a card is NFC enabled. To confirm if your phone is NFC enabled, you have to check your phone settings.
Is your device not NFC-enabled? Not to worry. You can explore other payment options like bank transfer. For bank transfers, Swwipe offers two methods; either you use a fixed/static bank account or you generate a one-time/dynamic bank account for payment. Every merchant has a fixed bank account when they onboard on the Swwipe platform, so merchants can share this account number with their customers. The dynamic account number on the other hand is a unique account number generated every time the business owner requests on the app. This one-time bank transfer number changes every time you request it and expires after a few minutes. Both can be used interchangeably depending on the preference of the merchant.
If a merchant chooses the USSD option to receive payments, the Swwipe app generates a unique USSD string for the customer to use on their device. When the customer inputs the USSD code string in their phone, they’re automatically debited of the payment amount. This option can be used both in-store and online and it is a smooth and easy system with zero contact required. Let’s say you have a store on Instagram, this offers you an easy way to receive payments directly by just DMing an interested customer a USSD code.
If you are used to receiving money the traditional way, there is another option to receive payment with a customer’s card. Card payment with Pinpad can also be used to receive payments and this is done with a device called a PIN pad. A PIN pad is a small, pocket-friendly card reader that allows merchants to receive card payments by just slotting the card into the device.
Pinpad image
To use this device, it has to be linked first to your phone via Bluetooth (the app shows instructions on how to do this when a merchant chooses this option). Once linked, the payment amount to be received will automatically display on the PIN pad, the merchant is then required to swipe the customer’s card in the PIN pad and the device asks for the customer’s PIN. The customer inputs their PIN, the payment goes through successfully, and the merchant receives an alert in seconds. Merchants can request a PIN pad at a small cost if they want this option and it’s shipped to them in 24 hours.
Swwipe also offers a Web Payment Gateway product that allows merchants or anyone else to receive payments via an e-commerce store, app, or website. Swwipe can integrate a personalised payment gateway on your business website or app to accept online payments via Bank transfers, USSD, and Card. This feature allows customers to pay on a merchant’s website or e-commerce stores with a Swwipe checkout page. This page can be customised to the merchant’s taste and payment on this page can be made via USSD, bank transfer, and card using the same procedures as stated before.
Swwipe offers a lot of value to customers through its numerous payment products that can be accessed from one dashboard. The aim of the platform is to make business payments and records easier to handle. Swwipe recognises the importance of recording cash inflows and outflows to a business and so they’ve made a dashboard that records all the counts and amounts of transactions merchants receive and shows them all this information in one glance. The dashboard on the Swwipe app includes an infographic that gives merchants quick insights into their transactions and also details of every transaction, from PIN pad, to tap-to-pay, and other methods.
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Swwipe also boasts of an impressive dispute resolution system with a clear dispute reconciliation and resolution path. In cases where a merchant has an issue with a transaction, all they have to do is go to their transaction history and click on “dispute” on that particular transaction. When this is done, a log code is created and sent to the backend and the merchant is promised a response from Swwipe within 24 hours.
Swwipe Financial Services Limited is licensed by the CBN and they are also PCI DSS certified. The company charges a subsidised fee for payments made through its platform and offers one of the best rates in the market. Wallet-to-bank transfers are free and they charge a 1% fee on USSD transactions and a 0.4% fee (capped at ₦80) for tap-to-pay, bank transfers, and PIN pad payments.
Register on Swwipe today and say goodbye to POS and payment issues and hello to contactless mobile payments, all in one place.
The Ibadan Tech Expo, held on September 9, 2023, at the International Conference Centre, Ibadan, witnessed an extraordinary convergence of tech enthusiasts, professionals, and stakeholders who share a profound passion for the dynamic world of technology. The event has not only been a triumph for the organisers but also a proof of the vibrant and evolving tech landscape in Ibadan.
In his welcome address, Hon. Balogun Danjuma, the Convener of Ibadan Tech Expo, shared his journey of determination, highlighting the overwhelming support with over 1,000 volunteers and an impressive sponsorship count of 72. He outlined a visionary 10-year plan for the Ibadan Tech Expo, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to the growth of the local tech ecosystem.
“The Ibadan Tech Expo is not just an event; it’s a movement that will propel our city into the tech spotlight. We have a decade-long commitment to nurturing local talent, fostering innovation, and establishing Ibadan as a thriving tech hub,” remarked Hon. Danjuma.
The first keynote speaker at the event, Seun Onigbinde, Director of BudgIT, inspired the audience with his insightful address. Onigbinde emphasised the need for disruptive innovation, shared his own entrepreneurial journey with BudgIT, and encouraged attendees to aspire beyond local standards, aiming for global excellence in fintech.
“You don’t need to leave Ibadan to think big or work at a global level. To succeed in tech, you must possess poise, intelligence, expertise, and soft skills. Take courses on management and leadership, push yourself out of your comfort zone, and build the smallest version of your idea that delivers value,” advised Onigbinde.
Akin Alabi, the Keynote Speaker, delivered an engaging speech on “How to Sell Tech to Nigerians”. He highlighted the distinction between having a tech job and owning a tech business, stressing that tech should empower and enhance traditional business models.
He underscored that tech businesses should prioritise sound business fundamentals over coding skills and the perils of relying on luck in entrepreneurship.
“Tech is a tool to enhance and scale your business. Your tech is only as valuable as the businesses it supports. Success in tech requires more than just technical skills; it demands a solid business foundation,” explained Akin Alabi.
In reflecting on this momentous event, Oyewole Fikayo, CEO of Punctuate Company, the PR firm in charge of the event, underlined Punctuate’s unwavering dedication to fostering collaboration, innovation and growth within the Ibadan tech ecosystem.
“The Ibadan Tech Expo showcased the immense potential and talent within our city. We are honoured to have played a part in this journey and remain committed to amplifying the voices and ideas of our local tech community,” stated Fikayo.
In his closing remarks, the convener, Hon. Danjuma, expressed gratitude to all who supported the event, including the executive governor of Oyo State, Eng. Seyi Makinde, Oyo State Government, Cardify Africa, Google Developer Student Clubs, LARVA Academy, MTN, SekiApp, Patchpay, along with esteemed media partners such as the Nigerian Tribune, NewsExtra24, Jamz FM, Beat FM, Naija FM, among others.
About Ibadan Tech Expo
The event is designed to bring together a diverse range of attendees, including software developers, graphic designers, web designers, product managers, data analysts, startup founders, business owners, angel investors, venture capitalists, tech content creators, YouTubers, Policy makers and more.
The goal of the Ibadan Tech Expo is to foster collaboration, innovation, and growth within the tech ecosystem in Ibadan. By bringing together a diverse range of professionals and stakeholders, we hope to create a platform for meaningful engagement and learning opportunities.
As tech continues to bloom globally many individuals have pivoted to tech careers and many more are seeking entry into tech roles. The tech boom has created both work and educational opportunities for a lot of Africans and this has made the international community open to hiring more African talents. Five years ago, within the confines of a shared office space, Tech Studio Academy was born to provide high quality comprehensive and accessible tech education to Africans. Now, after five years of providing high-quality services, the academy is unveiling a scholarship giveaway worth ₦5 million. The giveaway is aimed at supporting 13 passionate and deserving tech enthusiasts in their tech education journey.
Images of the academy
Tech Studio Academy is a technology learning institute that is dedicated to providing high-quality education in tech through accessible and affordable means. The institute’s vision is to impact the future of tech in Africa through education, innovation, and community building. They provide a great learning environment with both physical and virtual classes, highly skilled and experienced professional tutors, and career support both during and post enrolment. So far they’ve trained and positively impacted the lives of over 3,500 students with courses like fullstack website development, data science/analysis, front-end engineering and product design (UI/UX). These students have gone on to excel in diverse industries. These accomplished alumni, scattered around the world, are a testament to the quality of education imparted at Tech Studio Academy.
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This groundbreaking scholarship initiative will aid and encourage budding tech enthusiasts to further their educational and career plans in tech. It will also further Tech Studio Academy’s dedication to providing affordable and accessible world-class educational opportunities for students.