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Founder Fridays : Ascent Africa And Clarence AI
In many organisations, communication still sits on the surface, created around campaigns, messaging, and visibility. For Liat Madinane, that approach misses the real function of communication entirely. As the founder of Ascent Africa and co-founder of Clarence AI, her work is grounded in a different idea: communication is not a support layer around the business,
Angola’s New Cabinda Oil Refinery Begins Production for Local Supply and Exports
Angola’s Cabinda refinery has started exporting fuel while supplying the domestic market, marking the country’s first major refining project since independence and one of the few large-scale facilities developed in Africa in recent decades. The plant, built at a cost of more than $470 million, produces diesel for local use while exporting heavy fuel oil
Village Capital Deploys $350,000 Into Two Ghanaian Startups
Village Capital has invested $350,000 into two Ghanaian startups, marking the first deployment from its Africa Ecosystem Catalysts Facility, a fund designed to support early-stage companies building essential services across the continent. The capital comes from the $4 million facility launched in July 2025 in partnership with the Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank and the Netherlands
FlySafair Extends Fuel Surcharge as Jet Fuel Prices Surge
FlySafair has extended its ticket surcharge as rising fuel costs continue to pressure airline operations. The surcharge, first introduced in March, will remain in place until at least August, although its duration depends on how quickly geopolitical tensions ease. The cost pressure stems from the conflict in the Middle East, which has disrupted global oil
Eni Plans Sale of Final Stake in Nigerian Onshore Venture
Eni is preparing to sell its remaining 5% stake in the Renaissance Africa Energy joint venture in Nigeria, according to responses released ahead of its annual general meeting held on May 6 in Milan. The stake represents one of the company’s last onshore positions in the Niger Delta. The company has not disclosed the identity
Zimbabwe Begins Farm Restitution as Debt Talks Advance
Zimbabwe is moving to return 67 farms previously seized from foreign nationals, targeting properties covered under bilateral investment protection agreements with Denmark, Switzerland, Germany, and the Netherlands. The decision ties directly to ongoing debt relief negotiations with Western countries while advancing negotiations around debt relief. Agriculture Minister Anxious Masuka confirmed the government is in the
THE MINING WRAP
Financial startup Veridicor and Metalex Commodities are rolling out a “stakeholder prosperity bond” in Zambia to formalise artisanal mining and bring small miners into structured supply chains. In practice, the model links financing with guaranteed offtake, giving small-scale operators access to equipment and stable buyers while also improving traceability for larger mining operations. Huayou Moves
MainMoney Launches Palm-Based Payment System in DR Congo
MainMoney has introduced a palm-vein biometric payment system in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, allowing users to complete transactions without cards or mobile phones. The company launched the technology on April 29, presenting it as a solution to simplify payments and reduce reliance on cash.. The system uses palm-vein recognition to identify users. Instead
Kenya Pauses $1 Billion Microsoft Data Centre Over Power Constraints
Kenya has put on hold plans for a $1 billion Microsoft–G42 data centre after it became clear the country’s power supply cannot carry a project of that size. President William Ruto said the facility would have taken up too much of the national grid, pointing to a deeper issue that continues to shape how far
ExxonMobil Pushes to Prolong Output at Angola’s Block 15
Angola’s Block 15, one of the country’s key offshore oil assets, is entering another phase as ExxonMobil looks to keep production going for longer. ExxonMobil has awarded an engineering, procurement, construction, and installation (EPCI) contract to the Subsea Integration Alliance (SIA), with Subsea7 announcing the deal on April 30. The contract covers the Redevelopment 2.0
What Decides What Happens After a Mine Closes in Africa?
There’s a persistent assumption in mining policy that closure is a moment a final checklist where paperwork is filed, land is repurposed, and operations formally end. In practice, closure unfolds over decades, especially in communities built around a single mine. In towns like Obuasi or Chingola, the mine stops, but the town remains. The effects
NTT DATA Launches Multivendor Agentic Infrastructure Service
Global technology services provider NTT DATA has introduced a new capability aimed at changing how enterprises run their IT environments. The Software Defined Infrastructure (SDI) Services Agent signals a move away from slow, maintenance-heavy systems toward infrastructure that actively contributes to business performance. Announced in London on April 28, 2026, the SDI Services Agent is
Is Gradual Compliance Enough for Informal African Small Businesses?
Informal African markets make up a big part of how small startups begin, and one thing stands out business moves fast. The Norm is Most of it happens with no formal transaction. Goods do not stay idle around for long, and prices are worked out right there on the spot. There’s no time to slow
Nigerian Startup Cybervergent Releases New Version, Enters Three Markets
Nigeria’s Cybervergent has released an upgraded version of its platform while expanding its presence into Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa. The Lagos-based company operates an AI-native posture management platform focused on helping organisations manage what it calls “digital trust.” It brings together compliance, risk, audit, and data security into a single system, giving companies a
South Sudan Ends Oranto’s Block B3 Contract Over Missed Commitments
Oranto was awarded block B3 in 2017 as part of South Sudan’s broader push to increase domestic oil production. The block is one of the country’s largest and was seen as a major opportunity to attract investment and support economic recovery. Early assessments pointed to strong hydrocarbon potential, raising expectations for rapid development. However, those
Startup Mondays : Setting realistic startup goals
A critical mistake many founders make in the early stages is setting overly ambitious goals without first understanding what is realistically achievable. It’s easy to get excited and think big, but without clear benchmarks for progress, this drive can lead to burnout, disappointment, or wasted resources. Setting realistic goals isn’t just about aiming lower, it’s
Founder Fridays: MILLI
When you speak to Dario Eugenio, founder of MILLI, one thing becomes clear his work is driven by a focus on access and a belief that funding should not be limited to those who already understand the system. His approach is shaped by a simple observation: people have ideas and ambition, but many do not
THE MINING WRAP
Mining software startup AllWage is currently expanding into the mining and construction sectors, offering digital tools to manage wages, workforce data, and on-site operations. The platform is being developed for labour-intensive environments, supporting structured workforce management and improving visibility across distributed operations. Glencore Copper Output Rises 19% on Congo Performance Glencore has reported a 19%
What Inventory Decisions Mean for Early-Stage Startup Performance
Early-stage small business startups blame money shortfalls on slow sales, but that diagnosis is usually wrong. The real problem sits between procurement and delivery, where stock is purchased upfront, held too long, and sold too late. During that time, storage, handling, and discounting eat into margin, so by the time the product reaches the customer,
Botswana Tech Fund Launches to Back Regional Startups
The Botswana Tech Fund (BTF) has launched to support technology startups across Southern Africa, targeting US$64 million in total commitments. It will invest across multiple stages, from pre-seed to growth, with a focus on businesses that can scale within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Investment Structure and Focus In its first phase, BTF will