Haspil himself requested a life sentence without the possibility of parole, acknowledging the gravity of his crime and expressing remorse. “Unlike my counsel, I don’t think anything less than life without parole would be appropriate,” he told the judge in a quiet voice.

The new maternal health initiative builds on Field’s broader capabilities. Since its inception in 2015, the company has facilitated over 800 million health interventions across more than 60 therapeutic areas.

Paymob’s growth trajectory has been impressive, with the company now supporting over 350,000 merchants, a dramatic increase from just over 100,000 in 2022.

Over the past three years, Launch Africa Ventures has emerged as a dominant player in Africa’s venture capital ecosystem, investing in more than 150 technology companies across 23 African countries.

The decision could have wider implications for how regulators approach competition issues, particularly in sectors dominated by multinational corporations.

Their investments demonstrate that established African tech firms can drive meaningful impact, not only by providing financial support but also by offering mentorship, market access, and strategic partnerships to startups.

First Circle Capital’s investment strategy is designed to go beyond payments, an area that has historically dominated fintech funding in Africa.

The program will offer funding through the “TECHSTART” product, a mechanism designed to help startups at a critical stage in their development.

This move marks the end of the freemium banking era for millions of Nigerians, who have long enjoyed cost-free electronic transactions from the country’s fast-growing financial technology sector.

Over 500 African female tech entrepreneurs have attended previous editions of the Summit with last year’s event in Lagos spotlighting Planet FWD’s Julia Collins, the first black woman to build a unicorn, as a headline speaker.

FlapKap’s goal is to scale its impact across the MENA region, providing essential capital to SMEs that often face barriers in accessing traditional financing.

Paga was one of the first in Nigeria to offer a mobile wallet solution at scale, allowing independent agents to help users deposit and withdraw money via their phones.