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    Ecosystem News

    French Bank’s African Fintech Arm YUP Leaves Investors with Over $8M Loss Post-Liquidation

    Originally launched in 2017 across seven African countries, including Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Ghana, Madagascar, and Cameroon, YUP was Société Générale’s attempt to penetrate Africa’s fast-growing mobile payments market.

    Kenya’s Mobius Motors Clears Short-Term Debts, Positions for Potential Resurgence

    The debt-free short-term position, combined with a recent acquisition bid, signals a potential turnaround year for Mobius as it seeks a path to long-term sustainability.

    Egypt Becomes Africa’s Top Patent Filer, Powered by a ‘Little-Known’ Deep-Tech Startup

    The 2024 report placed Cairo alongside global hubs like Silicon Valley, Munich, and Shenzhen, affirming Egypt’s growing presence in the global innovation landscape.

    The Ghanaian University Backing Janngo Capital’s Latest $78M Startup Fund

    The university was founded in 2002 by Patrick Awuah, a former Microsoft engineer.

    As Macron Exits Morocco, New $100M Fund Targets Moroccan Startups, Backed by Proparco

    The fund aims to enable Moroccan startups to scale domestically and position themselves within global markets
    Analysis & Opinion

    Africa’s Billion-Dollar Dream: Who Will Lead the Next Unicorn Wave?

    By the time they reach unicorn status, most African startups have extended beyond their home markets.

    Meet the Funder: Nobesuthu Ndlovu, Director SME, Old Mutual Corporate

    "Our focus is on sectors recovering well post-COVID, like manufacturing, trade, construction, technology, and retail services."

    Built in the Maghreb, Made in France: North African Startups Seek New Shores as French Support Grows

    For many, the move isn't simply a preference but a matter of business survival.

    Investor-Driven Growth or Founder Missteps? Decoding the Pattern of African ‘Big’ Startup Failures

    For many founders, the influx of capital brings with it a set of demands that can fundamentally alter the trajectory of their companies.

    A Directory of Active Investors in African Startups for Q3 2024

    In Q3 2024, African tech startups faced a significant setback, witnessing a roughly 40% decline in funding activity compared to the same period in 2023.

    Partner Content

    Aza Finance Targets Nigerian Payment Giants Flutterwave, Paystack with New PSSP License

    Founded in 2013 as BitPesa, Aza Finance has steadily expanded its reach across Africa and beyond, providing foreign exchange, payments, and treasury services to companies operating in emerging markets.

    InstaDeep’s Compute Power Surges 10x with Launch of New Supercomputer

    Karim Beguii and Zohra Slim founded Instadeep in 2014. The company was recently acquired by BioNTech in a $680M+ deal. Image credit: Instadeep

    Saudi Real Estate Leader Ayen Acquires Egyptian ConTech Elmawkaa to Strengthen MENA PropTech

    For Elmawkaa, the acquisition marks a significant success for its founders and early investors, who include entities such as Flat6Labs, TIEC, 500 Global, and Taqadam.

    Kenya’s Kotani Pay Makes Regional Push with $2M Boost, Enters Rwanda and Uganda for Digital Finance Growth

    As the first blockchain fintech company in South Africa to receive the Crypto Asset Service Provider (CASP) license from South Africa’s Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), Kotani Pay has also positioned itself as a trusted bridge between fiat and digital currencies.

    Estonian Tech Event Offers $1.2 Million Boost to African Startups: Applications Open

    “Since winning the competition, we have hit 200,000 registered users in Kenya and are now expanding our solution into Rwanda,” shared Samuel Njuguna, CEO and co-founder of Chumz.io.

    Governance, Policy & Regulations Forum

    Are African Startup Founders Replaceable? ‘Erratic’ CEO Transitions Raise Critical Questions

    African startups themselves also seem ignorant of what succession plans are and how to effectively implement them.

    End of Unchecked Fundraising? Nigeria’s SEC Clamps Down on Fintechs’ Freewheeling Commercial Paper Issuance

    Essentially, fintechs are being nudged back to traditional financial institutions, albeit in a supportive role rather than a direct lending one.

    Real-Life African Example: How to Structure Voting Rights in a Crowded Startup Cap Table

    Each round of investment brings new stakeholders, and each investor may want assurances on having a voice in crucial matters.

    Ethiopia’s ‘Endless’ Startup Act: Can New Council Finally Meet Deadlines?

    The logic here is simple: if the numbers go up, the policy is working.

    Egypt Tightens Grip on Fintech Firms Raising Funds through Securitization

    For fintech companies in Egypt already deep into securitization, this new circular means more paperwork — and fast.

    All the Latest Articles

    Moroccan Ticketing Startup Guichet.com Secures Fresh Investment as CDG Invest Exits

    The move marks a strategic ownership shift as the platform continues to gain traction in Morocco’s expanding digital economy and pursues ambitions for regional growth.

    Aza Finance Targets Nigerian Payment Giants Flutterwave, Paystack with New PSSP License

    Founded in 2013 as BitPesa, Aza Finance has steadily expanded its reach across Africa and beyond, providing foreign exchange, payments, and treasury services to companies operating in emerging markets.

    Ghana’s Tendo Expands into Offline Retail with Acquisition of Shopa, Rebrands as Tendo Retail

    Currently, FMCG products make up over 30% of Tendo's sales volume, and the company sees this figure growing as it capitalizes on Shopa's established network of FMCG distributors.

    Kenya’s Mobius Motors Clears Short-Term Debts, Positions for Potential Resurgence

    The debt-free short-term position, combined with a recent acquisition bid, signals a potential turnaround year for Mobius as it seeks a path to long-term sustainability.

    French Bank’s African Fintech Arm YUP Leaves Investors with Over $8M Loss Post-Liquidation

    Originally launched in 2017 across seven African countries, including Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Ghana, Madagascar, and Cameroon, YUP was Société Générale’s attempt to penetrate Africa’s fast-growing mobile payments market.

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