Author: Elan
The South African marketing landscape is witnessing a significant recalibration of digital budgets. Penquin, a leading brand and communications agency, has identified a decisive shift back toward creator-led content, as audiences increasingly reject high-gloss, brand-first campaigns in favour of relatability and cultural nuance. As digital noise reaches an all-time high, the “influence” of a creator is no longer being measured by the size of their following, but by the depth of their community connection. The Death of the “Polished” Ad According to Michelle Swart, Head of Digital and Social Media at Penquin, the move toward raw, unfiltered content is a direct…
Java House, the AAA Fund’s third investment, is an East African coffee-led casual dining chain.** For the best experience, download the free Africa Private Equity News app Android | iOS **Proparco, the French development finance institution, has committed $17.25 million to the Alterra Africa Accelerator Fund LP (AAA Fund), a pan-African growth equity fund managed by Alterra Capital Partners. The AAA Fund invests in profitable, growth-stage businesses across Africa, with a focus on East and Southern Africa. Alterra targets domestic-facing companies that serve basic consumer and vital business needs.The fund’s current portfolio includes Chill Beverages, a South Africa-based beverage company,…
Two South African technology startups—Loop and Vambo AI—have been selected to join the 10th cohort of the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa. Chosen from an exceptionally competitive pool of nearly 2,600 applications, these innovators are part of a final pan-African group of 15 companies. With an acceptance rate of less than 1%, their selection highlights the immense technical talent and resilience emerging from [Country]’s digital ecosystem. The selected South African startups are utilising Artificial Intelligence to address critical local and regional challenges: Loop: Digitises mobility and payments in Africa, helping people, businesses and communities access simpler, more connected transport and…
Image Credit: Pixabay 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 colleagues…
In brief The NSA is deploying Claude Mythos Preview despite the Pentagon—which oversees the agency—designating Anthropic a supply-chain risk in March, per a report. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei met with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on April 17, with both sides calling the discussions “productive.” An administration source told Axios that every federal agency except the Department of Defense wants access to Anthropic’s AI tools. The National Security Agency is running Anthropic’s Claude Mythos Preview inside its classified networks, according to two sources cited by Axios—a surprising development given that the NSA falls…
Flutterwave has said it has no knowledge of a reported $75 million investment by Nigeria’s federal government, pushing back against local media reports that suggested the deal had been approved as part of the company’s path toward a public listing. Earlier reports on Monday, including a now-deleted tweet from a special assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stated that the president had authorised an investment of $75 million in the payments company through the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MoFI). The reports also indicated that the startup was preparing to raise up to $250 million in an initial public offering. In…
Adam Birney / Android Authority Samsung’s Galaxy Glasses have shown up in a One UI 8.5 leak. The leak reveals how the device will show up on your phone once paired. It also reveals the icon that will represent the smart glasses. Samsung is currently toiling away on not one, but two pairs of smart glasses. There’s still a lot we don’t know about the company’s upcoming wearables. However, a new leak has shed some light on how they’ll appear when paired to your phone. Don’t want to miss the best from Android Authority? As we learned from Samsung exec…
Nnodim Eliot Wogu, founder of Trashcoin** For the best experience, download the free Africa Private Equity News app Android | iOS **Jambaar Capital has invested in Trashcoin, a digital waste management platform with operations in Nigeria that aims to help communities in Africa turn recyclable waste into economic value.Trashcoin’s model allows users to deposit recyclable waste and receive credit in a digital wallet. That credit can be withdrawn as cash or used to pay for utilities, health insurance, education fees, or mobile data.Jambaar Capital said it is backing the company because it tackles multiple challenges at once, including waste pollution,…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-West has praised Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State for his strong, steady push to keep Nigeria’s multi-party democracy alive and growing. Addressing a news conference in Ibadan on Monday, the Zonal Executives of the PDP said that Makinde had been consistent in making sure opposition parties have space to operate. The party’s zonal publicity secretary, Chief Sanya Atofarati, who spoke to journalists, said that the governor’s position has strengthened democracy in the country. Keep up with the latest headlines on WhatsApp | LinkedIn Atofarati said that the party in the zone “stands…
AI helps sort information and answer small questions before money moves. In a country with 109 million internet users and 38.7 million social media user identities as of October 2025, that kind of assistance can move from novelty to routine before you know it. A Nigerian casino player already does more before placing a bet than many operators once expected. The player checks a payment method, reads a bonus line, and decides whether a site feels trustworthy on a phone. AI fits into that process because it helps sort information and answer small questions before money moves. In a country…