Namaste,
Victoria from Techpoint here,
Here's what I've got for you today:
- Billboxx’s $1.6M pre-seed funding
- 10 things employees want in 2025
- Goodbye manual browsing, hello Gemini AI!
Billboxx’s $1.6M pre-seed funding
Billboxx, a Nigerian fintech startup, has raised $1.6 million in pre-seed funding to help small and medium businesses (SMEs) tackle cash flow challenges. The funding, a mix of debt and equity, came from investors like Norrsken Accelerator, Kaleo Ventures, 54 Collective, P2Vest, and Afrinovation Ventures.
With this boost, the company plans to expand its operations, grow its team, and roll out new features.
Founded in 2023 by Justus Obaoye and Abdulazeez Ogunjobi, Billboxx addresses the common problem of delayed payments that many SMEs face when dealing with larger enterprise clients.
Its invoice financing service allows SMEs to get early payments before their clients pay up — though this requires approval from the enterprise partner. Billboxx charges a financing fee of up to 5% and a 1.5% transaction fee for payments processed on its platform.
The startup claims to process ₦1 billion monthly without any defaults so far. It primarily serves SMEs by offering financial tools to simplify billing and manage cash flow, a lifesaver for businesses still stuck using manual methods like Excel.
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Billboxx also stands out for its approach to acquiring SMEs through partnerships with big enterprises. It’s already serving businesses like Monument Distillers and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). Unlike competitors that cater to larger mid-market businesses, Billboxx focuses on small and medium enterprises, tailoring solutions specifically for them.
Looking ahead, Billboxx plans to expand across Africa and introduce a new feature to help SMEs tap into corporate ecosystems. While details about this new feature remain under wraps, the company is clear on its vision: becoming the financial backbone for SMEs in Africa.
10 things employees want in 2025
If employers want to keep their workers around, they need to figure out why people are leaving.
Per the latest Intelpoint Nigerian Workplace Report, a big part of the issue comes down to salary — and it’s not surprising. With inflation soaring and the cost of living climbing, workers want to feel like their pay matches their hard work.
2024 has been a year of change in the workplace, especially as Gen Z and Millennials take over. For the first time in a long while, we’ve got four generations working together, each bringing their own expectations to the table. It’s no surprise that employees are now prioritising things like better pay.
A recent report from Worklife, a U.S.-based publication, showed that the most talked-about workplace buzzwords revolve around employees’ needs. Similarly, Intelpoint’s survey of over 2,000 Nigerian workers found that a lot of people are thinking about quitting because they feel underpaid.
And it’s not just a “nice to have” for workers. Competitive salaries are crucial if employers want to keep talent. The Intelpoint report revealed that 55.5% of respondents don’t feel their pay is aligned with the effort they put in. As a result, more and more employees are hopping from one job to another in search of better compensation.
Check out Oluwanifemi’s story for the other nine things employees are really looking for these days! You’ll want to know what’s shaping the future of the workplace.
Goodbye manual browsing, hello Gemini AI
Google just dropped something big: Project Mariner, its first AI that can use websites just like you do. Imagine an AI that can click around your browser, fill out forms, and even shop online for you. It's powered by Gemini and is currently being tested by a small group of users, but it’s already turning heads.
Here’s how it works: you install a Chrome extension, and a chat window pops up next to your browser. Say something like, “Plan a weekend trip for me and find hotel options,” and it’ll get to work. The AI navigates travel sites, compares options, and lists a few choices for you. It might pause to ask for preferences like “Do you need free Wi-Fi?” or “How close to the city centre?” Sure, it’s not super speedy, but it’s thorough and handles the heavy lifting.
The AI doesn’t do everything, though. It won’t enter your credit card info, accept cookies, or agree to terms of service. It also works only in the active browser tab, so you have to keep an eye on it while it does its thing.
Why does this matter? It’s a huge shift in how we interact with the internet. Instead of browsing yourself, you could eventually have an AI do it all. Cool, right? But it also raises questions for businesses—if people aren’t directly engaging with websites anymore, how will publishers and retailers adapt?
Google also showed off other AI tools, like Deep Research, which handles tricky questions by building detailed research plans, and Jules, an AI assistant for developers that works inside GitHub. There’s even an AI in the works to help navigate video games — think Clash of Clans — but that one’s still a prototype.
Project Mariner might take a while to roll out to everyone, but it’s a sign of where things are headed: a web designed not just for humans, but for AI too. What a wild time to be alive!
In case you missed it
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- Huawei advances its African strategy with Nigeria cloud launch
- How to create crypto tokens
What I'm watching
- Jordan Peterson: How to Educate Yourself Properly (Includes Book List)
- Debating God With The Archbishop of Canterbury, Philip Goff, and Elizabeth Oldfield
Opportunities
- Condia is looking for Sales and Partnership Associate. Apply here.
- Looking for jobs on X? Apply here.
- Pitch your big idea at the Entertainment Week Lagos Deal Room, happening from December 11–15, 2024, at Livespot Entertarium, Ikate, Lagos. Apply here.
- Join Opeyemi Olugbemiro at Pitch Friday on December 13, 2024, and discover the art of storytelling that wins customers. Apply here.
- Flutterwave is currently looking to fill several vacancies. Apply here.
- Moniepoint is hiring for several roles. Apply here.
- Learn about Sleeping Sickness and other NTDs! Dial 421 on your Airtel line now — you won't be charged. You get 10 CALLS every month at zero charge. Afterwards, each call costs ₦10 regardless of duration. Alternatively, call 07080601391 at your network's regular rate.
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Have a terrific Thursday!
Victoria Fakiya for Techpoint Africa.
