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.

  • Breaking Barriers: Addressing the VC Gender Gap in Africa

    Despite numerous initiatives aimed at increasing funding for women-led startups, female founders in Africa received just 1% of total VC funding in 2024, the lowest in five years. At the Accelerating Investment into Women-Led Businesses roundtable—organized by Spurt! and the UK-Nigeria Tech Hub—investors and entrepreneurs discussed why women continue to be sidelined in venture capital.…

  • Fintava Pay is Revolutionizing Financial Inclusion in Nigeria’s Underserved Markets

    Many Nigerian fintechs have promised to “bank the unbanked,” but few have truly reached beyond Lagos. Fintava Pay, co-founded by Tobi Arowolo, Samuel Ojerinde, and Isaiah Tokinbo, is taking a different approach. The Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) platform enables businesses—such as microfinance banks, cooperatives, and agent networks—to create tailored financial products for rural and underserved communities, particularly…

  • Chpter Attracts Investors as Kenya’s Social Commerce Market Booms

    Kenya’s social commerce market is growing rapidly, but many businesses have yet to fully tap into its potential. With millions of Kenyans active on platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook, social commerce is reshaping how micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) engage with customers. However, one of the biggest challenges has been cart abandonment when…

  • Starlink Becomes Nigeria’s Second-Largest ISP, Surpassing FiberOne

    Starlink, the satellite internet service from SpaceX, has officially become Nigeria’s second-largest internet service provider (ISP), overtaking FiberOne Broadband Limited in Q4 2024. According to data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Starlink’s user base surged from 23,897 in 2023 to 65,564 by the end of 2024, reflecting its growing popularity despite its premium pricing.…

  • Chpter’s Investors Bet Big on Kenya’s Growing Social Commerce Market

    Kenya’s social commerce market is rapidly expanding, and startups like Chpter are at the forefront of this transformation. While millions of Kenyans use social media to shop, many businesses struggle with cart abandonment when customers are redirected away from their favorite platforms. Chpter aims to solve this by enabling seamless transactions directly within social media…

  • Canal+ takeover in slow mo

    Canal+ has extended its deadline for completing the takeover of South Africa’s MultiChoice from April 8, 2025, to October 8, 2025. The delay allows more time to set up a licencing company (LicenceCo) that aligns with South Africa’s foreign ownership laws, a crucial step for regulatory approval. The French media giant has been increasing its…