TechStream

Technology news around the ecosystem!

From Lagos to Nairobi

We give you summaries of happenings around tech, from developer stand-ups to the boardrooms.

  • Safaricom Launches Second Phase of Spark Accelerator for Kenyan Startups

    Safaricom, in collaboration with M-PESA Africa and Sumitomo Corporation, has opened applications for the second phase of the Spark Accelerator. This initiative aims to support early-stage startups in Kenya by providing mentorship, market access, and funding opportunities. Participants will benefit from product and technology support, AWS Activate credits worth up to $25,000, business development assistance,…

  • Zambian AI Startup Caantin Aims to Revolutionize Business Communications

    Caantin, a Zambian AI communications startup, is using AI-powered voice agents to help businesses cut the cost of phone calls while improving efficiency. By replacing traditional call centers with AI bots capable of handling conversations at scale, Caantin allows companies to engage customers in multiple African languages, including Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, and Swahili. CEO Njavwa…

  • 2024 Startup Graveyard Report: Governance Gaps Fuel High Failure Rates in African Startups

    A new report has shed light on the alarming failure rates of African startups, with 58% collapsing due to financial struggles, 27% due to operational inefficiencies, and 17% due to regulatory challenges. The 2024 Startup Graveyard Report highlights poor governance as a recurring factor behind these failures, emphasizing the need for structured leadership and compliance…

  • Lipa Later’s Downfall Highlights Risks in Africa’s BNPL Tech Sector

    Kenyan buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) fintech Lipa Later has been placed under administration, marking a dramatic collapse just months after securing $10 million in funding. On March 24, 2025, administrator Joy Vipinchandra Bhatt of Moore JVB Consulting took control of the company’s business and assets, officially placing it under Kenya’s Insolvency Act. Founded in 2018, Lipa Later…

  • Microsoft and Founderz Launch Free AI Training Program for Women

    Microsoft and Founderz have introduced AI Skills 4 Women, a new initiative aimed at addressing the gender gap in artificial intelligence by offering free AI training to women across EMEA, including Ukraine. The program is designed to increase female participation in the AI sector, where women currently represent only 22% of professionals, 12% of researchers,…

  • The Dangerous Power of Tech Billionaires

    A new memoir by Sarah Wynn-Williams, former global policy head at Meta, exposes how tech billionaires like Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk live in “reality distortion fields”, where unchecked power warps their decision-making. Zuckerberg, who has led Facebook (now Meta) for over 20 years, is described as a monarch in a hoodie, obsessed with global…