Author: Elan

Driving through the Egyptian desert along the Red Sea, hotspotting a MacBook while typing reports in the back seat because being offline for a three-hour flight is a luxury that a risk analyst cannot afford.  Other times, it’s realising that Kizomba, a dance you once learned in the vibrant streets of Dakar, Senegal, somehow exists in different forms across the continent and is a gateway to connecting with people in communities as you travel.  This is the life of Maya Hautefeuille.  In one decade, she’s a photojournalist in the Middle East, documenting the Syrian revolution and the aftermath of the…

Google is upgrading its AI-powered video and photo creation tools, including Google Vids. Previously limited to Pro plans and temporary promotions, three of the platform’s most useful features are now officially free for all users. This change applies to personal Google accounts as well as every Workspace tier, including Education and Business plans.When Google Vids first launched, it was announced as a premium storytelling solution aimed at corporate teams and enterprise workflows. Over time, however, demand grew among students, educators, and independent creators. With this update, Google is clearly repositioning Vids as a broadly accessible video tool rather than a…

Africa Private Equity News is pleased to present the January 2026 issue of our Dealmaker’s Log, which tracks the reported African private equity and venture capital transactions from last month (and extending back to an archive of transactions since May 2023).Subscribe here to receive the latest Dealmaker’s LogThis edition features over 38 new transactions from firms including: Development Partners International, Helios Investment Partners, Apis Partners, Inside Capital Partners, XSML Capital, Adenia Partners, Cygnum Capital, Admaius Capital Partners, CDG Invest, Alta Semper, Nedbank Private Equity, Amethis, RMB Ventures, Bopa Morou, Ata Capital, RMBV, Verdant Capital, Sahel Capital, Silverbacks Holdings, Beltone Venture…

** For the best experience, download the free Africa Private Equity News app Android | iOS **A MESSAGE FROM OUR SUPPORTERSStandard Bank closes $250m strategic financing for Aradel EnergyStandard Bank has successfully achieved financial close on a landmark $250 million financing facility for Aradel Energy. Read moreHere are summaries of the five most widely read stories the past week on Africa Private Equity News.1. South Africa: RMB Corvest backs Process AutomationRMB Corvest and Shalamuka Capital have acquired a minority stake in South Africa-based Process Automation, partnering with CEO Larry Smith, who retains his majority shareholding.The transaction follows the exit of Evolve…

African entrepreneurs are turning everyday problems into billion-dollar opportunities, and investors from around the world are taking notice.In 2025, African startups raised an estimated $3.93 billion in disclosed funding across 551 companies.10 startups accounted for $1.66 billion, over 42% of the total capital raised highlighting how a small group of founders is shaping the continent’s investment landscape.Growth, however, does not come without friction. Entrepreneurs navigate a maze of regulatory hurdles, inconsistent infrastructure, and limited local funding.Despite these challenges, African startups have shown remarkable resilience, often leapfrogging older technologies to deliver solutions uniquely suited to local realities.From fintech and health tech to logistics and energy, these founders orchestrated the…

Inage Credit: XSML Capital To read this article, you must be a paid subscription member. (Current members login here)   Reserve your digital subscription today Join now for $38 per month Join now for $435 per year for access to: Weekly newsletter with original and curated news, analysis, and perspective Africa’s private capital deals, fundraises, and the investment firms and executives involved Portfolio company news that impacts value and stakeholder participation Job moves and partnerships between leading market participants Exclusive access to Africa Capital Digest’s full content archive If you’d like more information on exceptional value group subscriptions for your…

The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has released a draft policy paper setting out how the country plans to regulate virtual assets and virtual asset service providers (VASPs), marking a pivotal step in bringing digital currencies and blockchain-based finance under formal oversight. The document, titled “Ghana’s Policy Position on Virtual Assets and Service Providers,” proposes a risk-based, principle-driven regulatory framework that seeks to balance innovation with monetary stability, consumer protection, and the fight against illicit financial flows. Ghana joins a growing list of African countries, including South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, and Mauritius, that have moved to legalise and regulate virtual assets…

Africa is rapidly becoming one of the world’s most enthusiastic adopters of artificial intelligence (AI), but according to David Adeoye Abodunrin, adoption alone is not enough.  Speaking during an exclusive media dialogue in Lagos, the AI Transformations Coach and Chief Futurism Officer warned that without strategic leadership, behavioural change, and governance frameworks rooted in African realities, AI could deepen systemic weaknesses rather than unlock prosperity.  Abodunrin is an Amazon 14-time international bestselling author and thought leader whose frameworks integrate behavioural psychology, foresight strategy and digital sovereignty to prepare leaders for future complexities. Through his organisations, including Cubed Integrated Consulting and…

Right now, I’m working from the driver’s seat of my car, using a setup that feels perfect for remote work. I use an M2 MacBook Air for when I need efficiency and long battery life, and sub in a Lenovo Yoga Book 9i with a dual-screen form factor for peak productivity. Theoretically, I’ve built out my car with the right gadgets to help me work from anywhere. There’s just one thing missing — none of the laptops I own offer cellular connectivity. As good as they are, they’re dependent on having a good Wi-Fi network nearby. So, despite these laptops…

This week marked exactly two years since the demise of former president Hage Geingob, a towering African political figure, a first among equals. As February approached, the memory of the 4 February 2024 returned with a heaviness that words still struggle to carry: ‘The sitting President is no more’. This week, Namibia paused to remember that fateful day in 2024 when the nation lost one of its own – not merely a sitting President, but a freedom fighter, a giant of democracy, a diplomat, a nation-builder – and above all, the President. It is never easy when death claims a…