NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Nigeria’s Hello Tractor in AI, blockchain partnership with IBM Research

Nigerian agri-tech startup Hello Tractor has partnered IBM Research to pilot an agriculture digital wallet and decision-making tool that provides demand and supply visibility for farmers, tractor fleet providers and banks.

Source

Disrupt Africa (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Agriculture, Technology

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

agribusiness, agriculture, agtech, artificial intelligence, blockchain, digital payments, fintech, mobile applications, smallholder farmers, startups, technology

As regulators turn sights on fintech, a Nigerian startup is first to secure credit rating

Indeed, payment startups facilitating online transactions in key African economies are increasingly getting validation with global payment giants including Mastercard, Stripe and Visa paying closer attention and investing in Nigerian fintech companies.

Source

Quartz Africa (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Finance

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

financial services, fintech, mobile finance, mobile lending, startups

Kenyan Government Plans Interoperable Mobile Money Wallet Amid M-Pesa Crisis

“It is becoming clearer that interoperability of mobile money will have to be seamless,” said CA Director-General Francis Wangusi in an interview with The Standard.

Source

The Standard Digital (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Finance, Technology

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

digital finance, digital payments, financial services, fintech, mobile money, telecommunications

East Africa region slips in financial inclusion

Globally, Uganda and Kenya have dropped sharply among the 55 surveyed countries, the report shows.

Source

The Citizen Tanzania (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Finance

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

digital revolution, financial access, financial inclusion, financial services, fintech

12 social enterprises share $2m Google Impact Challenge prize

Google has announced winners of the maiden edition of its Google Impact Challenge in Nigeria, where 12 non-profits and social enterprises shared $2m in grant funding.

Source

Vanguard Newspapers (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Entrepreneurship, Technology

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

emerging economies, emerging markets, events and competitions, social business, social enterprise, social impact, technology

Rwanda, The Emerging Economy To Watch

The statistics explain why Rwanda has become Africa’s poster child for progress. The country has reduced reliance on donations and currently, domestically funds about 84% of the budget up from about 36% two decades ago.

Source

Forbes Africa (link opens in a new window)

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

emerging economies, emerging markets, LMICs

Airtel is banking on its 40 million subscribers to operate the largest and secure mobile money platform in Nigeria

Airtel says it is banking on it over 40 million customers and its retail footprint across major regions in Nigeria to drive financial inclusion.

Source

Pulse Nigeria (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Finance

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

financial inclusion, financial services, fintech, mobile money, telecommunications

Uber, JUMO partner to roll out vehicle finance platform

According to a statement released by JUMO, the product has been successfully piloted in Kenya, with the intention to expand the offering across Sub-Saharan Africa in 2019.

Source

ITWeb Africa (link opens in a new window)

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

digital finance, fintech, sharing economy, transportation, Uber