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Chery Opens South African Manufacturing Plant at Former Nissan Facility in Rosslyn
Chinese automotive manufacturer Chery has officially launched its first South African manufacturing facility at the former Nissan plant in Rosslyn, Pretoria, marking a major milestone in the company's expansion strategy on the continent. The launch follows an agreement announced in January under which Chery acquired Nissan South Africa's manufacturing assets. The investment transforms Chery from
Founder Fridays: SmartMine X
Long before founding SmartMine X, Pardon Chindito had built a career developing enterprise software, point of sale systems, pc.ai and school management platforms and artificial intelligence solutions across Southern Africa. It was only after returning to Zimbabwe to help manage his family's small-scale mining operation that he encountered an industry where many day to day
Kenyan AI Startup Fikra Launches Platform to Lower the Cost of AI Development
Kenyan artificial intelligence startup Fikra has launched an OpenAI-compatible inference API designed to make AI development more accessible to developers and startups across Africa. Founded earlier this year by James Miano, the startup enables developers to access large language models through a single API while paying in local markets using mobile money rather than international
LemFi Acquires Wealth8 to Expand into Wealth Management
Nigerian-founded fintech startup LemFi has received approval from the UK's Financial Conduct Authority to acquire investment platform Wealth8, opening the door for the startup to expand beyond cross-border payments into wealth management. The acquisition adds investment services to LemFi's existing portfolio of international money transfers, savings and credit products, broadening its offering for customers living
The Mining Wrap
Mining technology, startups, strategic investment, exploration and critical minerals continue to drive activity across Africa's mining sector. Recent developments include AI innovation, corporate restructuring, new exploration projects and downstream investments aimed at improving productivity and expanding mineral value addition. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has opened applications for the timbuktoo Pan-African MineTech Startup Incubation
Craydel Enters Ghana's Student Recruitment Market
Pan-African education technology startup Craydel has entered the Ghanaian market, adding another destination to its growing presence across the continent as more African students pursue higher education abroad. The expansion gives the startup operations in eight African countries Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Burundi, Tanzania and Ghana. It is also Craydel's fifth market launch since
GoTyme Bank’s SME Outlook for Q3 2026
South African SMEs enter the third quarter with a little more macro stability, but no easy growth story. There’s very little room for complacency. Yes, the country avoided a stall and the economy is still growing, but slowly. Inflation has moved back up, fuel is biting again, interest rates remain tough, and consumers are still
What Made Africa's Most Successful Start-ups Different
The narrative of the African tech ecosystem is usually told through a lens of raw potential. But the true story of its most successful startups is far more pragmatic. It is a story of building core infrastructure where none existed. In Western markets, tech startups typically build layers of software on top of decades-old infrastructure.
Stellantis Reviews South African Factory Plans
Stellantis is reassessing plans for its proposed vehicle manufacturing plant in Gqeberha, and a decision on the project's future is expected within the next few months. The global carmaker first announced the investment in 2023, outlining plans to build its first South African manufacturing facility to produce the Peugeot Landtrek pickup. Construction was expected to
Ford Rehires Its Engineers After AI Falls Short on Vehicle Quality
Ford has rehired hundreds of experienced engineers after concluding that artificial intelligence alone could not deliver the level of quality required in vehicle production. The automaker said it has brought back more than 300 veteran quality engineers in recent years after discovering that its AI-powered inspection systems lacked the practical knowledge needed to identify manufacturing
Open Startup Launches Platform for African Research Startups
Pan-African entrepreneurship organisation Open Startup has launched The Science Road, a platform that connects researchers, entrepreneurs, investors and industry partners to help turn African scientific research into commercial businesses. The programme, announced on 29 June 2026 during the organisation's tenth anniversary celebrations, focuses on research in artificial intelligence, health technology, climate technology and advanced manufacturing.
Wetech Launches Investment Programme for Nigerian Women Startups
The Wetech Women Foundation (Wetech), in partnership with the UK-Nigeria Tech Hub under the UK Government's Digital Access Programme (DAP), has launched PitchHer, an eight-week investment readiness programme for women-led startups in Nigeria. The initiative will support 25 early-stage founders by helping them prepare to raise funding from angel investors, venture capital firms and other
Village Capital Concludes Climate Startup Programme With US$500K in Grants
Village Capital has concluded its three-year Empowering Sustainable Entrepreneurship Africa (ESEA) programme, awarding US$500,000 in grant funding to 32 African climate startups. The initiative also strengthened local startup support organisations and expanded access to funding across Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania. The Organisation delivered the programme in partnership with Norad, the Norwegian Agency for
Microsoft and EBRD Bet on AI to Help African Startups Expand
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Microsoft have launched a partnership to help African startups and small businesses use artificial intelligence to grow their businesses. The organisations signed a memorandum of understanding during the EBRD Annual Meeting in Amsterdam. The agreement establishes a pilot programme for high-potential startups and small and medium-sized
Venture Debt Explained for African Founders
Venture capital has dominated startup funding Conversations for years, but every funding round comes at a cost. Raising equity gives businesses the capital to grow, but it also reduces founder ownership with each new investment. As fundraising becomes more competitive, venture debt offers eligible startups another way to finance growth without giving up additional equity.
Malawian Startup SpaceAI Brings Practical AI Solutions to the Market
Malawian entrepreneur Tapiwa Kandiado has launched SpaceAI, a technology startup helping businesses, development organisations and local communities integrate artificial intelligence into their operations. Established in 2024, the company develops customised AI platforms, applications and supporting infrastructure while providing training and advisory services organisations need to adopt and manage AI effectively. SpaceAI integrates artificial intelligence into
Startup Mondays: Building a Lean Technology Stack for Startups
Choosing software has become one of the easiest ways for startups to overspend without realising it. Founders are presented with an endless list of platforms promising to improve productivity, automate workflows, manage customers, track finances and accelerate growth. The temptation is to build an impressive technology stack from day one. In reality, most early stage
AI Beverage Startup Palé Joins Grindstone Ventures Female Founder Initiative
South African beverage technology startup Palé has become the third company selected for the female founder funding-readiness programme established by Grindstone Ventures and the Mineworkers Investment Company (MIC), an initiative designed to help black female-led startups prepare for investment and commercial growth. The programme combines venture-building support from Grindstone Ventures with capital committed by MIC
Founder fridays: Silomotion
Many entrepreneurs start businesses to earn a living. Mpongiseni Sangweni believes they should instead be building businesses capable of transforming communities, creating sustainable employment and competing on a global stage. As the founder of Silomotion, he has spent the past decade helping township and rural entrepreneurs move beyond simply registering businesses by equipping them with
The Mining Wrap
AI, automation, connectivity and critical minerals remained at the forefront of Africa's mining industry this week, with companies advancing digital technologies and governments strengthening investment and beneficiation strategies. South African mining robotics startup Afrobotics is deploying autonomous underground drones that use artificial intelligence to perform mine mapping, infrastructure inspections and hazardous-area monitoring. The drones reduce