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How African tech startups can help you travel smarter in 2019

4Jan

By Africa Tech DigestNo Comments

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...

Meet Africa tech personalities of 2018

In this era of technology, it is exciting to see some of Africa’s sharpest minds go to work in search of life-saving solutions to myriads of problems facing the continent. In recent years, there have been local solutions to complex challenges in healthcare, finance and energy that could be relevant globally. Africa is rising and the proof is the growing number of creative digital developers and entrepreneurs who have placed technology and innovation at the forefront. Iddris Sandu Photo credit: The New York Times The 21-year-old tech guru has accomplished many incredible feats, including being responsible for algorithms that have made Uber, Instagram and Snapchat what they are today. From encouraging the study of STEM subjects in schools and at higher levels, Sandu, in 2017,...

The big tech and innovation trends in Africa for 2018

This year, as is the case almost every year, the availability of funding proved a major talking point among African tech founders and innovators. In 2018, however, there was reason to cheer as halfway through the year, startup funding had reached $168.6 million—surpassing last year’s total. Crucially, there was more venture capital closer to home for startups as Partech Ventures launched a $100 million pan-African fund. Indeed, much of that increased investment was largely thanks to the hot streak of fintech companies, including big-ticket investment deals like Cellulant’s $47.5 million Series C round. Fintech companies across the continent providing key services in loans, savings and payment, have been increasingly rewarded wit...