Author: Elan
US aid-for-data deals meet African resistance – African Business US aid-for-data deals meet African resistance – African Business
In brief Researchers got frontier AI models to generate cocaine synthesis instructions using a new prompt injection attack. The same technique manipulated an AI coding agent into uploading sensitive credentials. The study argues prompt injection stems from “role confusion,” not simply models failing to recognize malicious prompts. Forget clever prompts: AI researchers say they tricked leading AI models into generating cocaine synthesis instructions by convincing them the dangerous ideas were their own, while also manipulating an AI coding agent into leaking sensitive credentials.In the paper “Prompt Injection as Role Confusion,” presented at the International Conference on Machine Learning in June,…
Catalyst Fund, a pan-African venture fund investing in startups building climate adaptation and resilience solutions, has announced the completion of its second close, bringing total commitments to $30 million as it advances toward a $40 million target. Led by partners Maelis Carraro, Maxime Bayen, Olúwatóyìn Emmanuel-Olubake, and Amolo Ng’weno, Catalyst Fund noted that it expects to increase its portfolio to about 40 startups across Africa with its fund. The second close comes as investment in the African climate technology sector recovers after a 2024 slump. Climate tech funding fell to $754 million that year, according to TechCabal Insights’ funding tracker,…
I have a simple test for navigation apps now: what happens when my phone stops pretending mobile data is a human right? A lot of maps are brilliant until the signal drops, the road gets weird, or I’m trying to conserve data because data roaming is still something travelers have to think about, usually while pretending not to cry at the bill. That frustration is what led me to Organic Maps, an app that turned out to be refreshing precisely because it does something unglamorous extremely well. Download the map ahead of time, open it later, and it just works,…
By Cliff Bakashaba, Head of Investments at Jubilee Asset Management Limited The recent ceasefire framework in the Middle East has given markets something they badly wanted, a reason to breathe. Oil prices have eased from their highs. Investors have responded positively. And after months of conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States, it is understandable that many would like to believe the worst is behind us. But for investors, especially those responsible for long term savings and policyholder funds, relief is not the same thing as safety. The real effects of a conflict like this do not end when…
Wale Adeosun, CEO of Kuramo Capital Management (left), and Olasupo Olusi, MD/CEO of the Bank of Industry, during the contract signing of DICE Fund of Funds.** For the best experience, download the free Africa Private Equity News app Android | iOS **Nigeria’s Bank of Industry (BOI), the implementing agency for the Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) programme of the Federal Government, has appointed Kuramo Capital Management as fund manager of the DICE Fund of Funds.The DICE Fund of Funds is structured to achieve a minimum total capitalisation of $170.6 million, with the Federal Government contributing an anchor commitment…
Dr Anino Emuwa PARTNER CONTENT: Africa’s Business Heroes By Dr Anino Emuwa Over the past six years as a judge for Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH), I have witnessed first-hand one of the most important shifts taking place across the continent: the evolution of African entrepreneurship itself. The change is not simply in the number of founders emerging across Africa, although that has grown significantly. What is striking is the shift in mindset, ambition, and execution. Today’s entrepreneurs are building differently. They are solving deeply rooted challenges with greater sophistication, thinking about scale earlier, and increasingly creating businesses with both local…
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Bitcoin is entering the second half of the year with its support system, which powered its last rally, under pressure.Data from CryptoSlate shows that the largest digital asset has fallen about 33% this year and more than 50% from its October record high above $126,000, trading near its weakest level since September 2024 at around $58,600 as of press time.This price action has pushed Bitcoin below key long-term trend levels and made the first half of 2026 its worst start to a year since the 2022 crypto crisis.Bitcoin Price Performance in H1 2026 (Source: Tradingview)That makes July a test of whether the market…
Meta is adding built-in protections against impersonation as WhatsApp prepares to roll out its new username feature, aiming to prevent scammers from exploiting one of the messaging platform’s biggest updates in years. The company said high-profile usernames, including those belonging to public figures, celebrities and well-known brands, will only be available to their legitimate owners. The move is designed to reduce impersonation and fraud as users begin adopting usernames instead of phone numbers. The announcement comes days after WhatsApp opened username reservations for its more than three billion users globally. The usernames are expected to become fully functional later this…