The seven African-focused companies which presented as part of Y Combinator’s 200 strong cohort of Winter 2019 class of 200 startups may seem like a small percentage for such a large class, but it represents the growing significance of African ventures in YC’s universe. Since 2016, the Silicon Valley accelerator—that provides seed funds and mentorship […]
View More Seven Africa-focused startups present at Y Combinator’s Demo DayCategory: economy
Visa policies threaten innovation but aren’t stopping hiring abroad
The growing intensity of the US visa approval process has made it more difficult for companies to attract, support and retain foreign talent. However, recruiters are still sourcing talent from abroad at an increasing clip. According to a recent, roughly 30-page, report published by Envoy – the corporate workforce immigration management platform – US corporate […]
View More Visa policies threaten innovation but aren’t stopping hiring abroadIn big tech’s future expansion plans, public good should be the corporate incentive
Yung Wu Contributor Yung Wu is the CEO of MaRS Discovery District, a Toronto-based innovation hub. More posts by this contributor To actually change the world, Big Tech needs to grow up The cancellation of Amazon’s planned expansion in New York exposes the truth about its HQ2 promises. In the end, the company seemed mainly […]
View More In big tech’s future expansion plans, public good should be the corporate incentiveSingapore fintech startup Instarem closes $41M Series C for global growth
Singapore’s Instarem, a fintech startup that helps banks and consumers send money overseas at lower cost, has closed a $41 million Series C financing round to go after global expansion opportunities. The four-year-old company announced a first close of $20 million last November, and it has now doubled that tally (and a little extra) thanks […]
View More Singapore fintech startup Instarem closes $41M Series C for global growthSouth Africa’s FlexClub raises $1.2M, partners with Uber Mexico
FlexClub, a South African startup that matches investors and drivers to cars for ride-hailing services, closed a $1.2 million seed round led by CRE Venture Capital. The company will use the financing to add team members and expand off the continent through a partnership with Uber Mexico. The move comes as Africa’s tech-transit space continues […]
View More South Africa’s FlexClub raises $1.2M, partners with Uber MexicoTargeting payday lenders, Branch adds pay on-demand features for hourly workers
Branch, the scheduling and pay management app for hourly workers, has added a new pay-on-demand service called Pay, which is now available to anyone who downloads the Branch app. It’s an attempt to provide a fee-based alternative to payday lending, where borrowers charge exorbitant rates to lenders on short term loans or cash advances. Borrowers […]
View More Targeting payday lenders, Branch adds pay on-demand features for hourly workersUber said to be raising $1B at a $10B valuation for its self-driving car unit
The SoftBank Vision Fund is in talks to invest directly in Uber’s autonomous vehicle business, reports The Wall Street Journal.
View More Uber said to be raising $1B at a $10B valuation for its self-driving car unitCXA, a health-focused digital insurance startup, raises $25M
CXA Group, a Singapore-based startup that helps make insurance more accessible and affordable, has raised $25 million for expansion in Asia and later into Europe and North America. The startup takes a unique route to insurance. Rather than going to consumers directly, it taps corporations to offer their employees health flexible options. That’s to say […]
View More CXA, a health-focused digital insurance startup, raises $25MAfrican e-commerce startup Jumia files for IPO on NYSE
Pan-African e-commerce company Jumia filed for an IPO on the New York Stock Exchange today per SEC documents and confirmation from CEO Sacha Poignonnec to TechCrunch. The valuation, share price, and timeline for public stock sales will be determined over the coming weeks for the Nigeria headquartered company. With a smooth filing process, Jumia will […]
View More African e-commerce startup Jumia files for IPO on NYSE137 Ventures raises $210M to give liquidity to startup employees
This is the Palantir, Airbnb and Flexport backer’s fourth growth-stage venture capital fund.
View More 137 Ventures raises $210M to give liquidity to startup employeesNigeria’s Gloo.ng drops consumer e-commerce, pivots to e-procurement
Nigerian startup Gloo.ng is dropping consumer online retail and pivoting to B2B e-procurement with Gloopro as its new name. The Lagos based venture has called it quits on e-commerce grocery services, shifting to a product that supplies large and medium corporates with everything from desks to toilet paper. Gloopro’s new platform will generate revenues on […]
View More Nigeria’s Gloo.ng drops consumer e-commerce, pivots to e-procurementCanvas Ventures hires former Social Capital GP Mike Ghaffary
Mike Ghaffary left Social Capital in August, shortly before the firm announced it would no longer raise outside capital.
View More Canvas Ventures hires former Social Capital GP Mike Ghaffary