Tech Tides Africa

#30 Africans are being lured into foreign wars via fake online remote gigs

Is the internet quietly turning Africa into a recruitment ground for foreign wars? The internet promised African talents a gateway to global wealth, but a disturbing new trend shows it also facilitates recruitment for foreign combat. We discuss how digital platforms are being used to draft Africans into international wars as mercenaries under the guise of legitimate employment
Plus, we discuss why the partnership between Unilever and Google is dangerous for startups. As global giants tighten their grip through powerful alliances, it also creates a dangerous environment for smaller startups trying to compete. Will this consolidation of AI and data power make it nearly impossible for emerging brands to be discovered by consumers in the future?
Other interesting stories in this episode:
Alerzo Begins Asset Sale Amid ₦4.38bn Moniepoint Debt
Pesalink & PAPSS Unlock Cross-Border Payments in Kenya
Spiro Raises $50M to Expand Electric Motorcycle Network
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#29 Is the African B2C dream over? Inside Eden Life’s shift to B2B

Eden Life is pausing its consumer-facing operations to focus entirely on corporate clients. This move serves as a wake-up call for the African tech ecosystem, proving that even the most popular startups must adapt quickly to survive economic pressures. Are these signs of a maturing market or a continent in crisis?
Plus, Gabon’s sudden decision to suspend social media access has sparked a massive debate over the thin line between national security and digital censorship. The government claims the move is necessary to maintain stability, but the impact on the country's digital economy remains a major concern.
Other interesting stories in this episode:
NDPC launches investigation into Temu over alleged data privacy violations
Risevest secures its SEC license, ending a long period of regulatory uncertainty for the investment platform.
Terra reaches a $100 million valuation after extending its funding to $34 million.
 
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#28 Safaricom launches stocks trading app "Ziidi Trader" for M-PESA users

Safaricom is no longer just a digital wallet; it’s becoming a wealth engine. This week, we discuss the launch of Ziidi Trader, a move that allows millions of Kenyans to trade stocks directly via M-PESA. Is this the ultimate democratization of wealth, or a systemic risk waiting to happen?
Plus... the robot cop has arrived. Ethiopia just unveiled Africa’s first unmanned smart police station to digitize law enforcement. From AI-powered reporting to automated governance, we explore whether this is the future of public safety or a new frontier for digital surveillance.
Other interesting stories in this episode:
Chowdeck's price transparency suit could set a precedent for Nigeria’s food delivery industry
Jumia ends Algeria operations in latest profitability drive
Sun King Expands Beyond Solar into Smartphones, Cooling, and Clean Cooking
Skoot Technology Launches Smart Electric Tuk-Tuk In Kenya
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#27 From Green Promise to Administration: What Happened to Koko Networks?

Is the dream of socially-driven tech in Africa under threat? In this episode, we discuss PwC’s takeover of Koko Networks after the Kenyan government’s refusal to sign a critical carbon credit "Letter of Authorization," sent the $300M startup into a tailspin. Is this a regulatory failure, or a necessary evolution for African CleanTech?
We also cover the Kenya Revenue Authority’s (KRA) new AI-driven validation system. The taxman is no longer just waiting for your filing—they are now cross-referencing iTax data with your bank and mobile money records to catch "side-hustle" income hiding behind "nil" returns.
Other interesting stories in this episode:
CinetPay customers owed over $1 million months after alleged cyberattack
Google pushes to localise AI for African languages with speech database
Namibia calls for increased 4G device adoption amid infrastructure expansion
🤝 Connect with Us!
Twitter/X: https://x.com/techtidesafrica
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tech-tides-africa
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/techtidesafrica/
Support our work: https://selar.com/showlove/stgr-africa
Kelvin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelvingobo
Karen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-maina-84154937/
Joyce (Producer): https://www.linkedin.com/in/joycejohnaliche/
Signup to our Newsletter:  https://startupgraveyardafrica.substack.com
 
 
 

#26 PayPal returns to Nigeria after 20 years: Opportunity or Exploitation?

Is PayPal’s return to Nigeria a little too late? In this episode, we discuss PayPal’s return to Nigeria after two decades, a comeback that has been met with more scepticism than celebration due to PayPal’s sour history with many Nigerians, especially freelancers and digital entrepreneurs. 
Plus, Kenya’s central bank is sounding the alarm that the nation’s financial stability now rests on a single mobile money platform, M-Pesa. What risks does this level of dependence create, and how prepared is the system for disruption?
Other interesting stories in this episode:
- Paystack buys a microfinance bank to move beyond payments.
- Flutterwave acquires Mono in a rumoured $40M deal.
- Nigerian mobility startup MAX secures $24M after achieving profitability
- Andela acquires Woven to scale AI-fluent engineering
 
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stgrafrica/
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Kelvin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelvingobo
Karen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-maina-84154937/
Joyce (Producer): https://www.linkedin.com/in/joycejohnaliche/
Visit our website: https://startupgraveyard.africa
Support our work: https://selar.com/showlove/stgr-africa
Signup to our Newsletter: https://startupgraveyardafrica.substack.com

#25 Google invests $37M into Africa’s Agriculture and lost languages

We discuss Google’s $37M AI investment across Africa, aimed at transforming farms and preserving forgotten African languages through cutting-edge machine learning. Is this the foundation of a truly inclusive AI revolution on the continent or just another big tech experiment?
We also talked about Nigeria’s FIRS move to mandate banks and fintechs to share transaction data for VAT monitoring. Is this the beginning of tighter regulation in the country’s fast-growing digital economy? And how are stakeholders reacting?
Also in this episode:
- Ghana moves to license crypto exchanges starting September 2025
- BasiGo launches Kenya’s first electric matatu pilot for intercity travel
- Uganda offers tax breaks to local electric motorcycle manufacturers in green push
- ArthurAI to power AI learning hubs across Africa
- Kava enters Africa’s streaming market with a Nollywood-first platform
 
📢 Connect with Us!
Twitter/X: @stgr_africa
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stgrafrica/
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/startupgraveyard.africa
Kelvin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelvingobo
Karen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-maina-84154937/
Joyce (Producer): https://www.linkedin.com/in/joycejohnaliche/
Visit our website: https://startupgraveyard.africa
Support our work: https://selar.com/showlove/stgr-africa
Signup to our Newsletter: https://startupgraveyardafrica.substack.com

#24 Meta may face contempt charges in South Africa over WhatsApp scandal

In this episode of the Tech Tides Africa podcast, Kelvin and Karen discuss the intensifying legal drama between Meta and South African regulators, as the tech giant could face contempt charges over the WhatsApp privacy scandal. Is this a defining moment for digital rights and accountability on the continent?
They also spotlight a major milestone for African innovation, as Moniepoint, PiggyVest, M-KOPA, and Interswitch are recognized among CNBC’s top 300 global fintechs. What does this say about the future of Africa’s fintech scene on the world stage?
Also in this episode:
- South African PE fund to acquire 35% stake in Kenya’s Mawingu Networks
- Kenyan BNPL startup Wabeh halts operations due to rising defaults and cash crunch.
- LemFi wants into Egypt’s $20 billion remittance
- Rally Cap partially exits South Africa's Stitch
 
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Twitter/X: @stgr_africa
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stgrafrica/
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Kelvin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelvingobo
Karen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-maina-84154937/
Joyce (Producer): https://www.linkedin.com/in/joycejohnaliche/
Visit our website: https://startupgraveyard.africa
Support our work: https://selar.com/showlove/stgr-africa
Signup to our Newsletter: https://startupgraveyardafrica.substack.com

#23 Kenya recorded 2.54 billion cyber threats in Q1 2025

In this episode of the Tech Tides Africa podcast, Kelvin and Karen discuss Kenya’s alarming surge in cyber threat incidents, which spiked to 2.54 billion cases in Q1 2025, raising serious concerns about digital infrastructure and cybersecurity preparedness across the region. Is East Africa prepared for this scale of digital risk, or are we heading toward a full-blown cybersecurity crisis?
They also highlight a new report by BrighterMonday, which reveals a critical AI and digital skills gap across key African markets. As AI adoption accelerates, are we doing enough to build the human capital necessary to power the continent’s tech revolution?
Also in this episode:
- Temu launches a new warehouse in South Africa
- Kenyan logistics startup Leta expands to Ghana following its $5M seed round
- Egypt completes two subsea cable landings, boosting internet capacity with 126 Tbps infrastructure
- Eskom explores Bitcoin mining as a potential revenue model amid South Africa’s ongoing energy transition
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stgrafrica/
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Kelvin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelvingobo
Karen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-maina-84154937/
Joyce (Producer): https://www.linkedin.com/in/joycejohnaliche/
Visit our website: https://startupgraveyard.africa
Support our work: https://selar.com/showlove/stgr-africa
Signup to our Newsletter: https://startupgraveyardafrica.substack.com

#22 Ethiopia allows foreign banks for the first time in 50 years

In this episode of the Tech Tides Africa podcast, we discuss Ethiopia’s historic decision to allow foreign banks into its financial sector for the first time in 50 years, a move set to reshape banking access and investment in the country.
We also cover Africa’s latest fintech milestone, the launch of a pan-African payment card aimed at easing cross-border transactions and fueling continental trade. Could this finally be the solution to Africa’s fragmented payments landscape?
Also in this episode:
- MTN Nigeria completes first phase of $235M data centre, entering the African cloud race
- Nigeria to link citizens’ borrowing history to NIN in new data policy push
- Rwanda leverages AI dataset to expand healthcare access
- AfricInvest exits $6B AFG Holding after doubling banking assets
- Stanbic Kenya launches $100M startup fund in rare VC-style move by a legacy bank
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stgrafrica/
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Kelvin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelvingobo
Karen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-maina-84154937/
Joyce (Producer): https://www.linkedin.com/in/joycejohnaliche/
Visit our website: https://startupgraveyard.africa
Support our work: https://selar.com/showlove/stgr-africa
Signup to our Newsletter: https://startupgraveyardafrica.substack.com 

#21 This founder is building the credit OS of Africa using AI

In this episode of the Tech Tides Africa podcast, Kelvin and Karen are joined by Olufemi Olanipekun, the co-founder and CEO of Veend, a Lagos-based fintech startup transforming how Africans access credit.
Olufemi walks us through his entrepreneurial journey, the challenges of building a tech startup in Nigeria, and the inspiration behind launching Veend. He introduces Vida, Veend’s proprietary AI-powered credit decision engine, and explains how it’s helping lenders make smarter, fairer, and faster credit decisions even in informal and underserved markets.
From navigating Nigeria’s tough regulatory landscape to using AI to boost Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) adoption, this episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in fintech in Africa, AI in financial services, and the future of financial inclusion.
Meet our Guest: 
Olufemi Olanipekun: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iolufemi/  
Learn more about Veend: https://www.veendhq.com
 
📢 Connect with Us!
Twitter/X: @stgr_africa
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stgrafrica/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stgr_africa/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/startupgraveyard.africa
Kelvin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelvingobo 
Karen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-maina-84154937/
Joyce (Producer): https://www.linkedin.com/in/joycejohnaliche/
Visit our website: https://startupgraveyard.africa
Support our work: https://selar.com/showlove/stgr-africa
Signup to our Newsletter: https://startupgraveyardafrica.substack.com