January 2019 – Page 2 – Africa Tech Digest

In Africa, tech-savvy entrepreneurs sow seeds of a farming revolution

6Jan

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Agri-tech

In Africa, tech-savvy entrepreneurs sow seeds of a farming revolution

From invaluable farming advice shared via text message to livestock vaccines delivered when and where they are needed thanks to a mobile phone service, agri-tech and precision farming are changing the face of agriculture across Africa. This transformation is an urgent imperative. With global warming threatening harvests, and the world’s population set to grow to around 10 billion by 2050, a sustainable agricultural revolution is needed to secure food supplies and protect the resources that sustain us. For Ndubuisi Ekekwe, Nigerian founder of precision farming startup Zenvus, African farming must change because traditional practices keep many farmers trapped in a cycle of poverty. “What we have been doing for generations has not worked so now there needs to be a paradigm shif...

Meet the 21-year-old tech whiz who’s coded for Instagram and Snapchat

5Jan

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Africans in Tech, Apps, Social Networks

Meet the 21-year-old tech whiz who’s coded for Instagram and Snapchat

Iddris Sandu has done a lot in his 21 years.Besides creating algorithms for Instagram and Snapchat and consulting for Twitter, he's now working with Kanye West and Jaden Smith to create augmented-reality experiences around music and politics for the tech festival ComplexCon next year in Chicago. "With Jaden, we are getting more young people to vote and creating experiences around that," Sandu told CNN about his work with the musician and actor who is the son of Hollywood stars Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith.Born in Accra, Ghana, Sandu's parents came to the United States when he was 3. He learned to code when he was just 13, during a work experience at Google eight months after the tech giant moved into Frank Gehry's "Binoculars Building" in Venice, California.For Sandu, it was a l...

Africa Tech Summit Kigali to provide unrivaled insight, networking and business opportunities

5Jan

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East Africa, Events

Africa Tech Summit Kigali to provide unrivaled insight, networking and business opportunities

Africa Tech Summit Kigali on February 13 – 15, will once again provide unrivaled insight, networking and business opportunities for African and international tech leaders and investors who want to business in Africa. The three-day African Tech Summit will feature three tracks – The Future Summit, The Africa Start-up Summit and The Creative Summit. Each will explore the latest trends, connect 400+ digital leaders, tech corporates, MNO’s, banks, investors, regulators, start-ups, creatives media, and leading tech ventures from across Africa over an action-packed three days of insight, networking and entertainment. The Future Summit will deliver a cross-sectional view of new technologies, solutions and opportunities across the African mobile, digital and tech landscapes. An array o...

Zimbabwe Aims to become Africa’s Tech hub

4Jan

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Southern Africa

Zimbabwe Aims to become Africa’s Tech hub

Zimbabwe aims to follow Ethiopia, Ghana and Rwanda in its dream to become one of Africa’s tech hubs ( a community informal or otherwise that fosters innovation for technology startup companies). The economy of Zimbabwe has long been engineered by mining and agricultural activities, with a lead role for tobacco and cotton. Quartz conducted a report weighing Zimbabwe’s chances to succeed on its mission. The role of telecom companies is considered as critical to the country’s bid to establish itself as a tech hub. It identifies a number of investments in tech, done by large telecom, in an effort to enhance Zimbabwe’s data capacity and capability. Continue reading

How African tech startups can help you travel smarter in 2019

4Jan

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Start-ups, West Africa

How African tech startups can help you travel smarter in 2019

Alongside the likes of Travelstart and Jovago (now Jumia), Hotels.ng is a pioneer in the African travel tech space. Yet the sector is swiftly moving beyond simple booking platforms. Now, Hotels.ng is a well-established player, and one that is expanding across Africa. At the time of its launch, however, it was almost revolutionary. “A few years ago finding and making hotel reservations was an offline process. You would have to ask someone who already knew of a hotel, or drive around looking for hotel signs,” said the company’s chief executive officer (CEO) Mark Essien. “These days, consumers have moved their searches to the internet. What we have done is provide the means for these hotels, many of which have no digital savvy staff, to thrive in a space that is increasingly em...

DR Congo election: Internet shut down after presidential vote

2Jan

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Central Africa

DR Congo election: Internet shut down after presidential vote

The internet has been shut down in key cities in the Democratic Republic of Congo a day after the much-delayed presidential election. Opposition candidate Martin Fayulu's campaign team accused the government of ordering the shut down to avoid broadcasting his "overwhelming victory" in Sunday's poll. Telecoms minister Emery Okundji said he was unaware of the situation. Observers have complained of widespread irregularities during the poll. Counting is under way, but provisional results are not expected until 6 January. President Joseph Kabila is stepping down after 17 years in office. He has promised DR Congo's first orderly transfer of power since it gained independence from Belgium in 1960. Mr Kabila is backing his former interior minister Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, who...