Author: Akin Naphtal

Japanese technology company, Canon Inc., has been ranked fifth in the number of US patents awarded in 2023, which according to IFI CLAIMS Patent Services, makes Canon the only company to be ranked continuously in the top five for 38 years. Canon also reigns supreme in the Japanese market, maintaining the first position among Japanese companies for 19 consecutive years. The company’s commitment to globalising its business is evident in its strategic approach to obtaining patents overseas. Canon places significant emphasis on a patent-filing strategy that aligns with its business strategies and considers technology and product trends specific to each…

Taking stock of fintech in the broader African context while looking forward to opportunities in the year ahead. At this time of the year there is usually a flurry of articles attempting to lay out trends to look out for in various industries over the coming months. This is a good exercise as it gets one thinking about industries broadly and technology specifically. However, it would be remiss to embark on this exercise without first taking stock of where we are now. The fintech ecosystem is currently in a period of stress, less so for incumbents but noticeably for newcomers.…

Invest Africa, a prominent business platform promoting trade and investment in Africa, has partnered with global corporate intelligence and cybersecurity consultancy, S-RM, as both companies seek to help build resilient businesses across Africa. The partnership will see Invest Africa combining S-RM’s expertise in intelligence and strategic support with its own well-established network to empower business leaders and investors in critical decision-making processes. The increasing reliance on digital technologies in Africa, coupled with the evolving regulatory, business, political, ESG, and cyber threat landscapes, shows the need for cyber resilience in fostering sustainable economic growth. As the trusted entry point to business…

US-based mobility and urban services platform, inDrive, has secured its position as the world’s second most downloaded ride-hailing app for the second consecutive year, according to research firm, data.ai. The ride-hailing platform, operating across 46 countries globally, including 9 in Africa, also ranked as the fourth most downloaded application worldwide in the Travel category. Data.ai reported that in 2023, inDrive’s app recorded a staggering 66.6 million downloads on Google Play and the App Store, with China contributing through the iOS platform exclusively. In addition to being the second most downloaded ride-hailing app globally, inDrive also secured the top spot in…

“A Minister of Artificial Intelligence who is the age of my son, appointed to regulate a hypothetical technology, proves to me that your government has too much time and resources on its hands.” Those were the words of a senior government official during a bilateral meeting in 2017, soon after I was appointed as the world’s first Minister for Artificial Intelligence. Upon hearing that remark, I distinctly recall feeling a pang of indignation by their equating youth with incompetence, but even more so by their clear disregard and trivialization of AI. Six years into my role of leading the UAE’s…

Empire Partner Foundation’s (EPF) multi-million rand tech fund is exploring investment opportunities in Africa, while simultaneously developing strategic connections with companies and foundations across the continent to co-invest and amplify impact. Jacqueline Govender, CEO, EPF Tech Fund was quoted to the media, said: “We’re actively engaging with our portfolio firms and possible investors, focusing on high-growth digital startups addressing difficulties in areas such as accommodation, education, financial inclusion, rural and community development. She added: “We’re now also expanding our geographic reach beyond South Africa.” According to Govender, the fund is seeking to invest in young, high-potential, innovative entrepreneurs to drive…

Netstar announced a strategic partnership with Microsoft. The collaboration aims to utilise the extensive data from over 1.9 million connected devices, to improve safety and efficiency in mobility, while also providing custom solutions for individuals and businesses. As part of this partnership, the Altron-owned telematics and vehicle tracking company is integrating with Microsoft’s Connected Fleets Architecture, with all services hosted on the secure and scalable Microsoft cloud. “Netstar recognises the critical nature of data in shaping the future of mobility. Our integration with Microsoft and other key collaborators is dedicated to setting standards for connected fleet architecture,” says Cliff de…

Alviere, a leading embedded finance platform provider, has announced that it has been chosen by Onafriq, Africa’s largest digital payments network, to enable payments and remittances from the United States to Africa. Onafriq connects various payment schemes with more than 500 million mobile wallets, over 200 million bank accounts, and 400,000 small-to-medium businesses in its network across Africa’s fast-growing yet fragmented payments ecosystem. Cross-border payments are critical for many African families and merchants: according to the World Bank, remittance flows to sub-Saharan Africa alone reached US$53 billion in 2022, Onafriq has made enabling financial access across borders a core part…

After joining forces with Comcast NBCUniversal and Sky to revamp its app and service, Showmax is now focusing on African markets. At a press parley to announce its upcoming launch, the streaming service said it will be present in 44 African countries, against seven countries it had operating units in when it initially launched. The shift in the market comes as more global streaming giants eye the continent’s over one billion population, even though the streaming era is yet to catch up on the continent. And with over 450 million smartphone users on the continent, Showmax is positioning itself as…

TowerCo of Africa (TOA), a subsidiary of AXIAN Telecom, proudly announces the immediate appointment of Kash Pandya as a Non-Executive Director. With a distinguished leadership background in telecommunications and engineering, Mr. Pandya’s expertise will play a crucial role as TOA endeavors to enhance mobile communications accessibility across Africa. Mr. Pandya, currently Vice Chairman on the Supervisory Board of Vantage Towers AG and a Non-Executive Director on the Board of James Fisher & Son Plc, brings vast experience in managing large-scale operations and strategic planning. His notable tenure as Chairman of Climate Impact Partners and CEO of Helios Towers Plc reflects…