Author: Elan

Africa’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) ecosystem is producing more founders and companies, but a shrinking pool of early-stage capital is making it increasingly difficult for them to secure the first $100,000 needed to turn promising ideas into viable businesses. That is the central warning from Grégoire de Padirac, CEO of Digital Africa, whose analysis of the continent’s venture capital market shows that Africa’s problem is not a shortage of entrepreneurs but a shortage of financial buffers capable of supporting them through the riskiest stage of company building. Artificial intelligence has dramatically lowered the cost of developing prototypes and launching technology businesses.…

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Long before Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) arrived in Roysambu to arrest the two directors of Flexitech Group Limited, many customers were already expressing their frustrations. Back in July, one customer reached out to a Kenyan blogger, desperate for assistance after he had been waiting six weeks for a KES 13,000 ($100) refund from FlexPay, a platform run by Flexitech that allows customers to save up for purchases. He explained that although he had contacted the company repeatedly, he was continually met with promises that his refund was being processed, but without any clear timeline. By August, another customer…

For drivers who built their livelihoods around Uber, Wednesday’s announcement that the ride-hailing company would leave Nigeria landed as a personal shock. Mezie, a driver who has worked with the platform for several years, said he was surprised when the company’s email announcing its exit arrived. “I have been with Uber for many years,” he told TechCabal. “It is sad they have to go, and it will affect my line of business because they are one of the major apps I use.” Mezie said Uber’s reputation among customers, particularly Nigerians and other users living abroad, had made it an important…

TL;DR Google has launched Gemini 3.8 Flash, its third Flash model in just six weeks, with a focus on smarter agentic workflows. Gemini 3.8 Flash “works harder” on complex tasks, outperforming larger models on several benchmarks while remaining relatively inexpensive. Gemini 3.8 Flash Cyber brings specialized vulnerability detection and automated patching capabilities, but access is limited to Google’s Fairwind Program. Google’s previous smartest AI model, Gemini 3.6 Flash, was released in late July. The tech giant wasted no time iterating on it, with Gemini 3.7 Flash launching just weeks after. Now, just three weeks later, the company is already introducing…

Tanel co-founders Makhtar Diop (left) and Mouhamed Ndoye** For the best experience, download the free Africa Private Equity News app Android | iOS **Alan, the French health insurance company with footballer Kylian Mbappé as an investor, today announced the completion of its acquisition of Tanel, a digital health company founded in 2021 by Mouhamed Ndoye and Makhtar Diop.The transaction also provides an exit for Tanel’s founders and investors, including Ventures Platform, AAIC Investment, and angels such as Dr Mussaad M. Al-Razouki, Alyune-Blondin Diop, and Charles ‘Chuck’ Slaughter.Headquartered in Dakar and operating in Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire, Tanel helps companies manage…

“We did not vote for APC to arrest our leaders. Our votes this time will go to those who want our progress,” Mr Abubakar said The Fulani socio-cultural group, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, has said it will only support the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general election if its national president, Bello Bodejo, is released by the State Security Service (SSS). The group made its position known at a press conference held at Mr Bodejo’s residence in Uke, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, where Fulani leaders from across the country were in attendance. Speaking at the…

Tanel co-founders Makhtar Diop (left) and Mouhamed NdoyeAlan, the French health insurance company with footballer Kylian Mbappé as an investor, today announced the completion of its acquisition of Tanel, a Senegal-based digital health company founded in 2021 by Mouhamed Ndoye and Makhtar Diop.The transaction also provides an exit for Tanel’s founders and investors, including Ventures Platform and AAIC Investment.Tanel was launched in 2021 to address the challenge of managing employee health coverage through fragmented, largely paper-based systems. Today, Tanel provides businesses with digital tools to manage employee health coverage while giving employees and individuals simpler access to care and greater…

But the ride-hailing company said the decision to exit Nigeria is unrelated to the recent FAAN directive concerning e-hailing operations at Nigerian airports. Ride-hailing company Uber has announced plans to discontinue its operations in Nigeria and Uganda effective 2 September, citing a review of its evolving business priorities and investment focus across Africa. Uber disclosed its decision to exit Nigeria and Uganda in a statement made available to PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday, noting that this does not affect its operations in other African markets. Follow us on WhatsApp | LinkedIn for the latest headlines Uber’s departure came weeks after controversy…

Peer-to-peer (P2P) cryptocurrency traders and over-the-counter (OTC) dealers say Nigeria’s new virtual asset tax framework—which mandates a 1.5% stamp duty charge on digital assets—risks raising trading costs and potentially driving activity away from regulated exchanges and into less visible channels. Joshua Adedeji, a Nigerian OTC bulk trader who said he processes about $500,000 worth of USDT—a dollar-backed stablecoin—weekly on cryptocurrency exchange Bybit, said the tax cost is far higher than his existing operating costs. “Transfer charges were my biggest transaction costs before,” Adedeji said. “Now, stamp duty and other taxes [will account for] much higher costs, because the higher percentage…