Përshëndetje,
Victoria from Techpoint here,
Here’s what I’ve got for you today:
- Sierra Leone gets first digital banking super app
- Aproko Doctor is in your pocket now
- Rwanda launches first electric coaster bus
Global firm launches Sierra Leone’s first digital banking super app
Global banking tech firm Velmie has teamed up with Sierra Leone’s Metro Cable to launch Vult, the country’s first digital banking super app and it’s already making waves. The app, now live, aims to boost financial inclusion by combining multiple financial services into one easy-to-use platform.
Vult lets users do everything from mobile money transfers and card payments to managing bank accounts and paying bills all from one app. Velmie says it only took six months to go from idea to launch, thanks to its flexible, API-first tech infrastructure.
This launch couldn’t have come at a better time. While mobile money has helped increase financial access across sub-Saharan Africa, the World Bank notes there’s still a gap in usage and equality, especially across income levels, age, gender, and education.
Velmie’s CEO, Slava Ivashkin, called the launch more than just a technical win. “It’s about delivering real, inclusive financial impact,” he said, adding that their work with Metro Cable shows how smart partnerships can drive local innovation and help financial services scale fast.
Velmie’s CMO, Paul Shumsky, also weighed in, calling Africa “one of the most dynamic frontiers” for digital finance. He said Vult isn’t just another app, but a foundation for financial empowerment in Sierra Leone.
Aminata Bangura, head of product at Vult, said the tech behind the app gave them room to grow and adapt to local needs. “We’re proud to bring world-class financial tools to Sierra Leoneans and we’re just getting started.”
Aproko Doctor is in your pocket now
If you’re a Nigerian but don’t know who Aproko Doctor is, you’ve probably been living under a rock. For almost ten years, Chinonso Egemba, the man behind the viral health tips and skits, has used social media to break down medical jargon for millions of Nigerians. Now, with nearly six million followers in his corner, he’s taking things up a notch with AwaDoc, a healthtech startup he co-founded.
The idea for all this started back in med school, after Egemba witnessed a patient die because they didn’t follow medical instructions. That moment stuck with him. So he went digital, creating hilarious and relatable characters like Emeka and Nkechi to educate people about their health. But after years of pushing health content online, he realised information alone isn’t enough.
The doctor-patient ratio in Nigeria is wild, just four doctors per 10,000 people, way below what the WHO recommends. And with the ongoing brain drain, the few doctors left are overworked, underpaid, and struggling to keep up. Egemba’s new venture with Jesse Benedict, AwaDoc, is his way of helping fix this broken system; but no, it’s not just another telemedicine app.
While telemedicine has been pitched as a solution, it hasn’t really taken off in Nigeria. Only about 3% of Nigerians have health insurance, and most people work informal jobs that don’t come with health benefits. So even with virtual doctor visits, the majority still resort to self-diagnosis and self-medication.
That’s exactly the behaviour AwaDoc is trying to address. It’s a chatbot that lives right inside WhatsApp; no extra apps or websites. Just type in your symptoms, and it’ll walk you through your next steps. Egemba says that keeping it simple was key because “enthusiasm doesn’t scale, fatigue does.” And let’s face it, no one wants to download yet another app.
Want to see how it all works? Check out how AwaDoc is changing the game in Chimgozirim’s latest for Techpoint.
Rwanda’s IZI Electric launches first electric coaster bus
IZI Electric, a Rwandan e-mobility startup, has just dropped something big. Meet the Impala E30, a 30-seater electric coach that’s been built from the ground up with African roads and conditions in mind.
This isn’t your average electric bus. It’s the first on the continent to pack CATL’s high-performance BC5 battery, and it comes with a whopping 10-year/1-million-kilometre warranty, game-changer for public transport.
Most electric buses in Africa come with just a 4-year battery warranty, which has made investors and operators wary. But IZI’s bold 10-year offer is turning heads and wallets. It gives operators the peace of mind to ditch diesel and embrace electric without worrying the batteries will crap out halfway through the journey.
The Impala E30 isn’t just about flashy specs, it makes financial sense too. A diesel bus doing 200km daily in Africa would burn through about $64 in fuel. The Impala? Just $8 worth of electricity. Over 10 years, that adds up to over $204,000 in savings per bus. That’s nearly a 90% cut in fuel costs, which could be a lifeline for transport operators.
IZI also thought about the little things that matter on rough African roads. This bus isn’t a Chinese or European model being retrofitted; it’s got waterproofing for tropical rains, anti-corrosion for coastal areas, and a suspension system that can handle everything from potholes to unpaved roads. It’s electric, but it’s rugged.
Plus, every Impala E30 comes with IZI Connect, a smart fleet management platform. Operators can track buses in real time, get maintenance alerts before things break down, and even monitor driver behaviour. That means fewer surprises and smoother operations, something every transport company needs.
With over 50 units already ordered and plans to launch operations in June, IZI is going hard. And with a price tag 10–40% cheaper than European or Chinese EVs, the Impala E30 is targeting the thousands of diesel Coasters already dominating Africa’s transport sector.
In case you missed it
- Kenya partners with Canadian companies to create a blockchain-powered digital exchange
- Zone wants to create an Ethereum blockchain where government-backed regulators have oversight
What I’m watching
- Your Time Machine Broke – At The Worst Time In History
- Something Strange Happens When You Trust Quantum Mechanics
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Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Victoria Fakiya for Techpoint Africa.
