Ụtụtụ ọma,
Victoria from Techpoint here,
Here’s what I’ve got for you today
- Uber pulls out of Côte d’Ivoire after six years
- An app that turns any website into an AI platform.
- SunCulture secures $5M to scale solar irrigation in Africa
Uber pulls out of Côte d’Ivoire after six years
Uber, per Condia, has officially pulled out of Côte d’Ivoire after six years in Abidjan, making it the first African country where the ride-hailing giant has shut down completely. The exit came quietly on September 24, with no official reason given, but it’s clear that regulatory hurdles and driver frustrations played a big part.
Uber launched in Abidjan in December 2019, entering a city already buzzing with players like Bolt, Yango, and homegrown rival Moja Ride. Now, those competitors will carve up the market share Uber leaves behind.
This isn’t Uber’s first African stumble. In April 2022, it suspended operations in Tanzania over regulatory headaches. Still, the company remains in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa, though not without drama. In Nigeria alone, drivers staged at least two protests this year over commission rates and delayed payouts.
In Côte d’Ivoire, the model simply didn’t match local realities. Many drivers depend on daily access to earnings to pay for fuel, maintenance, and even groceries. Uber’s payout cycle and fee structure often left them strapped for cash. Riders, meanwhile, weren’t thrilled either, pointing to fare issues and unreliable availability.
The lesson? A global brand isn’t enough. To win in Africa, mobility companies must design for cash-sensitive economies, faster payout systems, and closer partnerships with local banks, insurers, and even regulators. Without that, growth is tough to sustain.
With Uber gone, Abidjan’s mobility scene is wide open for rivals. But for investors and founders, the bigger takeaway is clear: Africa rewards companies that build around local cash flows and realities, not just global templates.
An app that turns any website into an AI platform
If you’ve ever asked ChatGPT to book a flight, you know what happens: it politely tells you it can’t. But what if it actually could?
That’s the problem Obinna Chimdi, an 18-year-old university student in Port Harcourt, set out to solve with ChatATP — an AI layer that lets models like ChatGPT go beyond text and actually take action. Think of it as HTTP for AI agents: a universal protocol that connects large language models to the real world through purpose-built toolkits.
But while the idea is ambitious, the reality is tough. So far, ChatATP only has three users — his neighbour and two classmates — and it’s up against open-source giants like AutoGPT and well-funded startups like Lumio AI. Still, Chimdi’s Agents2 protocol could be the edge that makes his project stand out.
Can a lone student compete in one of the fastest-moving fields in tech? Read the full story to find out.
SunCulture secures $5M to scale solar irrigation in Africa
Kenyan climate-tech startup SunCulture has landed $5 million from WaterEquity to expand its solar-powered irrigation systems for smallholder farmers across Africa. The deal is the first under WaterEquity’s new Water & Climate Resilience Fund, aimed at financing solutions that tackle water scarcity and climate shocks in emerging markets.
For SunCulture, this isn’t just fresh capital; it’s validation. Since launching in 2013, the startup has built a reputation for making irrigation affordable with its solar-powered pumps and “pay-as-you-grow” model, helping farmers pay back gradually from increased harvest earnings. More than 45,000 farmers already use its systems, reporting better yields, year-round production, and less back-breaking manual labour.
The funding will help SunCulture scale beyond Kenya into new markets, including Uganda, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Zambia, and Togo. It also plans to ramp up manufacturing and distribution to deliver faster and provide stronger after-sales support. A big priority is tweaking financing models to reach low-income farmers often left out of traditional irrigation systems.
For smallholder farmers, the stakes are high. Over 33 million across Africa depend on rain-fed agriculture, and fewer than 6% of cultivated lands are irrigated. Unpredictable rainfall, rising temperatures, and patchy power supply have kept farmers vulnerable. By swapping costly diesel pumps for solar, SunCulture’s solution also reduces emissions, making it a win for food security and climate resilience.
WaterEquity, co-founded by actor Matt Damon and water expert Gary White, specialises in mobilising private capital for safe water and sanitation. Its new fund is betting on scalable technologies like SunCulture’s that can directly improve livelihoods while helping communities adapt to climate change.
The deal also reflects a bigger shift in African climate-tech. Startups once confined to pilot projects are now scaling across borders as impact investors show more confidence. For SunCulture, this round is about more than money; it’s a chance to reshape African farming in the face of climate pressures.
In case you missed it
- Why Trump’s $100,000 H-1B visa fee will barely touch African workers
What I’m watching
- Atheist vs Christian vs Spiritual Thinker: Is Not Believing In God Causing More Harm Than Good?!
- Author reveals Shocking Discoveries about Ancient Igboland
Opportunities
- Airtel is hiring Enterprise Key Account Manager. Apply here.
- Financial Times is recruiting a West African Correspondent. Apply here.
- Moove is hiring a Marketing Manager. Apply here.
- Standard Bank is looking for a Data Engineer. Apply here.
- Kuda Business and Techpoint Africa invite you to an exclusive webinar: Managing Payment Operations at Scale with APIs on October 2, 2025, at 12 p.m. WAT. Register here to attend.
- Food Court is looking for a Marketing Coordinator. Apply here.
- FairMoney is recruiting Head of Business Banking Product. Apply here.
- Max.ng is looking for a Platform Support Intern. Apply here.
- Businessfront, the parent company of Techpoint Africa, is hiring a Sales Associate. Apply here.
- Businessfront, the parent company of Techpoint Africa, is looking for a Managing Editor (FMCG). Apply here.
- Flutterwave is hiring for several roles. Apply here.
- Paystack is recruiting a performance marketing specialist in Nigeria. Apply here.
- Paga is recruiting for several positions. Apply here.
- Moniepoint is hiring for several positions. Apply here.
- Are you building a startup can feel isolating, but with Equity Merchants CommunityConnect, you can network with fellow founders, experts, and investors, gaining valuable insights and exclusive resources to help you grow your business. Click here to join.
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Have a lovely Tuesday!
Victoria Fakiya for Techpoint Africa
