Here are this week’s top headlines on startups, entrepreneurship, innovation and tech around Africa.
Re: Next billion users: Google is not relenting on its bid to capture the next billion internet users. The internet giant has just launched an app targeted primarily at emerging markets. “Datally”, they call it and what it does is very simple — prevent other apps from wasting your precious mobile data. Read more on Techpoint.
Even more African unicorns. According to MyBroadband, “three of Africa’s largest telecommunication tower companies plan to pursue share sales in either London or New York early next year, taking advantage of high industry valuations to fund expansion”. Read more on MyBroadband.
Naspers’ financial health. Naspers is the South African-based multinational internet and media group behind well-known companies like MultiChoice (DStv), SimilarWeb and Konga. Over the past six months leading up to September 30, Naspers recorded a 39% revenue growth year on year, with 82% of that coming from business outside South Africa. Read more on Innovation Village.
DStv and GOtv subscribers on the rise. Still based on the Naspers report, MultiChoice saw an increase in DStv subscriber base to 6.6m South Africa and 2.6m in the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa. But no other platform saw more growth than GOtv, which grew to 3m subscribers. Read more on TechCentral.
Kenya launches new country-level domain. Kenya has introduce the .ke country-level domain which brings to life the possibility of custom domains such as ni.ke, mi.ke and bi.ke. Read more on Techweez.
“Branding and marketing for small businesses” is the theme for the 2nd edition of our SME Clinic. Find out how you can participate here.
Love to write? Looking to build a career in tech journalism? Techpoint is organising a Writer Bootcamp; you could land a 6-month paid internship with us. Find out more here.
Nigerian startups raised $17.6m in Q1 2019, 8.5% higher than they did in Q1 2018. Find out more in the latest quarterly edition of the Nigerian Startup Funding Report here.
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