The Africa B2B Tech Report
Issue No. 116. Africa-Middle East B2B tech news & insights for 7 March 2026.
Sponsored Message
This edition of The Africa B2B Tech Report is sponsored by Dialog
Dialog provides B2B businesses with research, advice, and a collaborative community to help them navigate today’s complex and dynamic market.
Transform your business with deeper SaaS and AI insights.
Learn more about Dialog here, and contact them here.
Welcome to the Africa B2B Tech Report. We explore the business of African tech.
The Report is brought to you by Charles Laughlin, the Co-founder &Chief Content Officer of BigFive Digital, a media and events firm that hosts the annual BigFive Summit in Cape Town. Charles is an independent journalist, podcaster, and event producer.
The Business of African Tech Week in Review, 1-7 March 2026
This week, we curated a compelling collection of stories that we believe are worthy of your attention.
We have organized this week’s collection of stories into the following categories.
Financial Services & Cross-Border Payments
Nomba & Volume Partnership: Nigerian businesses can now receive British Pounds directly from UK accounts, simplifying international trade and lowering fees.
Congo’s Digital Shift: Solidaire Banque and Visa have teamed up to modernize payment infrastructure and drive financial inclusion in the DRC.
East African SME Funding: A $15 million joint investment from British International Investment and ILX Fund into Equity Bank Kenya will bolster financing for agribusinesses and climate projects.
And more…
Digital Infrastructure & E-commerce
Nigeria’s Digital Postcodes: The approval of a GIS-enabled postcode system is set to transform national logistics and provide a significant boost to the e-commerce sector.
Cassava Technologies’ AI Network: The launch of an autonomous network aims to reduce operational costs and stabilize telecom infrastructure across the continent.
Intron’s Healthcare Expansion: The “Sahara” speech-to-text platform now supports 57 languages, streamlining clinical documentation for medical professionals globally.
And more…
Education, Ethics & The Future of Tech
EdTech Funding Opportunity: Applications are open for the CcHUB and Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship, offering Nigerian startups $100,000 in equity-free funding.
Deepfake Risks in Africa: The rise of generative AI-driven deepfakes targeting minors has sparked urgent calls for better regulation and digital literacy to protect vulnerable populations.
And more…
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The following is a collection of stories that we have tracked over the past week that matter to the Business of African Tech. Click the headlines to view the original articles.
Solidaire Bank & Visa to launch digital payments in Congo
Solidaire Banque SA has partnered with Visa to launch digital payment solutions in Congo, aiming to boost financial inclusion and modernize the country's electronic transaction infrastructure.
Nomba, Volume partner to simplify international payments
The Nigerian fintech Nomba has partnered with UK-based Volume to enable Nigerian businesses to receive British Pounds directly from UK bank accounts, reducing cross-border fees and simplifying international payments.
BII, ILX invest $15M in East African SMEs
British International Investment and ILX Fund have invested $15 million in Equity Bank Kenya to expand financing for East African SMEs, agribusinesses, and climate-focused projects.
Nigeria’s new GIS-based postcode system promises to boost e-commerce
Nigeria has officially approved a GIS-enabled digital postcode system, aiming to modernize its national addressing infrastructure, enhance logistics efficiency, and significantly boost the country’s e-commerce sector.
GSMA secures commitment to produce $40 smartphones for Africa
Eighteen global phone manufacturers have committed to the GSMA’s initiative to produce $40 smartphones, aiming to accelerate digital inclusion and internet access across Africa.
Cassava launches AI-powered autonomous network
Cassava Technologies has launched an AI-powered autonomous network to modernize Africa’s telecom infrastructure, aiming to improve connectivity, reduce operational costs, and enhance digital services.
Massive AI project heading to South Africa
A massive $9.8 billion Asian-backed AI project is slated for South Africa, but faces potential hurdles regarding energy demands, infrastructure readiness, and local regulatory approvals.
AI startup Intron expands speech-to-text platform to 57 languages
Intron Voice AI has expanded its AI-driven “Sahara” speech-to-text platform to 57 languages, significantly enhancing clinical documentation and healthcare delivery for medical professionals across diverse global regions.
Africa must grapple with a growing deepfake threat
Africa faces rising deepfake threats as generative AI targets minors, prompting calls for stricter regulations, enhanced digital literacy, and robust child protection measures across the continent.
Nigerian edtech startups can vie for $100K in funding from CcHUB, Mastercard
Nigerian edtech startups can access $100,000 in funding as the Co-creation HUB (CcHUB) Limited (RC 918335) and Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship have opened applications to accelerate digital learning innovation in Nigeria.
Pawa Pay, Deriv partner to improve financial access for traders
PawaPay and Deriv partnered to enable seamless mobile money deposits across African markets, enhancing financial access for traders by integrating popular local payment methods into Deriv’s platform.
Hiayisani Capital raises $30M to invest in high-growth African innovation
Hlayisani Capital raised $30 million for its second venture fund, backed by PIC and SA SME Fund, to invest in high-growth African tech and innovation.
Sustainable startups in Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda win €100K each
Seven African startups in Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda each secured €100,000 in develoPPP Ventures funding to scale sustainable solutions in agriculture, health, and education.
Weego raises $1.1M to expand mobility app across Francophone Africa
Moroccan mobility startup Weego raised $1.1 million in seed funding to expand its transport app across French-speaking Africa, targeting improved urban commuting and fleet management.
Latest results expected to show signs of recovery for MTN
MTN Group’s stock shows recovery potential as stabilizing currencies in Nigeria and cooling inflation boost investor confidence, signaling a turnaround for the African telecommunications giant.
365 Digital, Truecaller partner to scale advertising in SA, Kenya
365 Digital and Truecaller partnered to scale advertising in Kenya and South Africa, leveraging Truecaller's massive user base to offer high-impact, brand-safe digital marketing solutions.
Vodafone, Vodacom partner with Amazon’s Leo for 4G, 5G expansion
Vodafone and Vodacom partnered with Amazon’s Leo satellite network to expand 4G and 5G connectivity to remote African regions, enhancing network resilience and digital inclusion.
AfDB investing big in West, Central African startups
The African Development Bank Group is investing €6.5 million in the Janngo Entrepreneurs Fund to support tech startups in West and Central Africa, focusing on women.
Nigeria’s Zap slashes staff to extend runway
Nigerian cryptocurrency startup Zap Africa laid off 20% of its staff to cut costs and extend its runway. Zap joins a growing list of startups navigating 2026's tighter funding environment.
Each issue of The Report features a chart or infographic that we believe tells an important story about the region’s B2B tech ecosystem.
The economic impact of remittances
If you ever wonder why so many tech entrepreneurs are building around African remittances, here’s why. The money that the African diaspora sends home has a massive impact on African economies. In some cases, the diaspora accounts for 20% of GDP. Or more.
We found a few versions of this infographic on LinkedIn over the past week. But we chose to rely on a reliable source, Axel Peyriere, who shared this stunning chart that drives home why the diaspora is such an economic engine for Africa.
The hard question that this chat reminds us of is, for a continent as large and populous as Africa, is such a heavy reliance on remittances a sign of underlying economic fragility? The obvious answer is, of course, yes. The more difficult question is, what is the roadmap to an Africa that creates all or at least most of its own wealth within its own borders?
Sponsored Message
Top Tech Leaders to Headline the
2026 BigFive Summit in Cape Town
BigFive Digital (24-26 March) has landed two top African B2B tech builders and thought leaders for the 2026 BigFive Summit in Cape Town, with more announcements coming next week.
We are very pleased to welcome Telkom strategy executive Lanyard Myakayaka as a Featured Speaker at the upcoming 2026 BigFive Summit in Cape Town.
At the Summit, Lanyard will address a vital topic for the Business of African Tech -- the continent's digital infrastructure.
In a talk titled, "The Plumbing of Prosperity: Building Africa’s Digital Public Infrastructure", Lanyard will talk about how "just as plumbing enables water to reach communities, digital infrastructure enables opportunity to reach people."
Rahul Jain, the Co-founder and CEO of Peach Payments, will join the Summit stage for an exclusive fireside chat to share his founder’s story and insights on African fintech.
Since co-founding Peach in 2012, Jain has helped transform the startup into a pan-African payments powerhouse. The company recently expanded into West Africa through the acquisition of Senegalese fintech PayDunya.
Jain is a leading voice on payment orchestration and scaling digital commerce in Africa. At the Summit, Rahul will share his insights on geographic expansion, building "100-year businesses" and navigating the continent’s evolving regulatory landscape. You won‘t want to miss this deep dive into the future of African fintech.
André de Wet, the co-founder and CEO of Flood, will take the stage at the 2026 BigFive Summit in Cape Town on March 25 to share why he believes 2026 will be "The Year of the Super App" in emerging markets.
At the Summit, de Wet will explore how super apps are unifying fragmented markets, bypassing device storage limits, and serving as the primary gateway for financial inclusion and informal trade across the continent.
Flood, founded in 2020, is on a mission to build the 'Shopify' for bricks-and-mortar retail.
The 2026 BigFive Summit in Cape Town is excited to welcome Featured Speaker Laura Thomas the founder of The Aligned Woman, an EdTech platform redefining how women learn, lead, and navigate work, life, health, and identity.
At the Summit, Laura will lead off a content block focused on women in leadership. Her talk will focus on "The Hidden Tax on Female Leadership".
"Research consistently shows that when women demonstrate the very traits associated with strong leadership - decisiveness, authority, ambition, and confidence, they are often perceived as less likeable," Laura told us in describing her talk.
"And unlike their male counterparts, likeability significantly influences how their competence is judged. This is the hidden tax."
Following Laura's talk will be a panel discussion among African women tech leaders.
Laura is also an award-winning brand strategist and is the founder and managing partner of Salt & Candy, a Cape Town-based brand communications agency.
The 2026 BigFive Summit also welcomes Imtiyaaz Riley, the founder and CEO of Cape Town-based mobility and payments company Loop, to our lineup of speakers.
Imtiyaaz will join a panel discussion on inclusive innovation in Africa. Imtiyaaz was born into a third-generation taxi family in Manenberg. He founded Loop in 2021 to tackle unsafe cash-based transport, unreliable scheduling, and financial exclusion.
Loop allows commuters to book via WhatsApp, pay using Chat-to-Pay or Tap-to-Phone, and even insure their belongings in transit.
Loop has garnered national and continental awards, including Social Enterprise of the Year (2024). Loop has also partnered with Visa to scale its digital payments ecosystem.
The Summit will also feature a masterclass on the dos and don'ts of business growth from Amanda Bester, the founder of Pragmattica Consulting and a Summit co-host.
In her talk, Amanda will share a practical diagnostic framework for founders and marketing leaders navigating complex digital ecosystems.
The session explores how to identify growth symptoms early, avoid expensive scaling mistakes, and design clarity before deploying tactics.
Brand your B2B business at the BigFive Summit
BigFive Summit sponsors receive a host of benefits, including branding, stage time (with shareable video content), exclusive event sponsorships within the Summit (dinners, giveaways, tea breaks, etc.), early and exclusive access to the Summit delegate list with contact details, curation of meetings, and much more.
Whatever your business stage or budget level, there is a sponsorship opportunity for you. Learn more in our sponsorship prospectus.
Want to get involved in this year’s event? Write to us at big5dtv@gmail.com.
Tickets are available for the 2026 BigFive Summit, 24-26 March at Innovation City Cape Town. This year’s theme is “The Business of African Tech”.
Generous early bird rates (25%+ savings) are in place through February, so it pays to make an early decision to join one of the Continent’s best business and technology events.