Author: Akin Naphtal

Shuttlers, a Nigerian tech-enabled, scheduled mass transit firm, has raised an additional $4 million in equity funding to expand its transportation solution. Founded in 2016, Shuttlers provides affordable and comfortable transportation along selected routes and users can book rides in advance over an extended period using its subscription feature. READ ALSO:South African earned wage access platform Paymenow secures ZAR250 million debt facility to fuel growth Saudi Arabian cities rank high in IMD Smart City Index 2023 Indian startups call for antitrust inquiry into Google’s in-app payment fees Following its $1.6 million seed round in November 2021, Shuttlers has raised a…

South African earned wage access platform, Paymenow, has secured a ZAR250m ($14m) debt facility through Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) to help finance its expansion plans. The platform, which allows workers to access a percentage of their earned wages before their payroll cycle ends, aims to offer affordable real-time cash access and build savings while improving financial wellness. Paymenow currently has over 200,000 employees on its books across industries including retail, mining, cleaning, security and facilities management and projects to double that figure in the next year. READ ALSO:Saudi Arabian cities rank high in IMD Smart City Index 2023 Indian startups…

Four cities in Saudi Arabia have been listed in the IMD Smart City Index for 2023, with Riyadh maintaining its position as the third smartest Arab city. The index is released by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) and assesses how residents perceive the efforts to make their cities smart. Riyadh was ranked 30th globally, Makkah 52nd, Jeddah 56th and Madinah 85th out of a total of 141 cities worldwide. Efforts from all sides, including the use of advanced technologies, have helped to improve the ranking of Saudi cities. One significant effort is the national platform for smart cities…

Top startups in India have urged the country’s competition watchdog, the Competition Commission of India (CCI), to investigate Google for allegedly sidestepping an antitrust directive by imposing a high service fee for in-app payments, according to a filing from the Alliance of Digital India Foundation (ADIF). Google’s move to charge a service fee on third-party payment processor transactions has “detrimental consequences for users and app developers”, ADIF said in the 15-page complaint from March. Google, which declined to comment, has previously said the service fee funds investments in Google Play and Android. READ ALSO:Sudhir Hasbe appointed as Chief Product Officer…

Neo4j, a US-based graph database and analytics company, has named Sudhir Hasbe as its Chief Product Officer (CPO). In this role, Hasbe will manage Neo4j’s software portfolio, which includes its native graph database and data science offerings. He will report to Emil Eifrem, CEO and co-founder. READ ALSO:Uganda Adopts New Regulations to Promote Efficient Spectrum Utilization and Facilitate 5G Deployment World Bank approves $390 million financing for Kenya’s Digital Economy Acceleration Project Astra Tech launches first-ever Arabic Chat GPT in MEA with support from MBZUAI Hasbe was previously at Google, where he led product management for the tech giant’s data…

The Ugandan Parliament has passed new regulations proposed by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) to promote efficient, economical and optimal spectrum utilization. The regulations aim to improve mobile broadband coverage and facilitate the deployment of new technologies, including 5G, which is expected to enhance technology with faster download and upload speeds. READ ALSO:World Bank approves $390 million financing for Kenya’s Digital Economy Acceleration Project Astra Tech launches first-ever Arabic Chat GPT in MEA with support from MBZUAI AVEVA partners with Petrofac to drive digital transformation and support net-zero targets in the energy industry Hon. Nathan Igeme Nabeta, the Vice-chairperson of…

The World Bank has approved a first-phase financing of $390 million to the Kenya Digital Economy Acceleration Project, aimed at bridging the digital divide in Kenya by expanding access to high-speed internet, enhancing the quality of education and selected government services and building skills for the digital economy. This project will run in two phases with the first from 2023 to 2028 and the second from 2026 to 2030, using a Multi-phase Programmatic Approach (MPA). READ ALSO:Astra Tech launches first-ever Arabic Chat GPT in MEA with support from MBZUAI AVEVA partners with Petrofac to drive digital transformation and support net-zero…

Astra Tech, a prominent consumer technology holding group in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, has launched the first-ever Arabic Chat GPT. The new platform leverages expertise from the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) and has the potential to transform access to services through conversational commerce. Integrated into the BOTIM app, the AI-powered Arabic Chat GPT will cater to all BOTIM services and continuously source the latest information from local markets to provide current and accurate information to users. BOTIM GPT has the potential to revolutionize access to services in the region, including international money…

Industrial software leader AVEVA has signed an MoU with energy industry provider Petrofac to support the latter’s digital transformation, as well as its net-zero goals. Under the agreement, AVEVA will work with Petrofac to digitally transform the entire end-to-end supply chain system process, which includes engineering cataloguing, procurement, site material control and construction planning. Additionally, AVEVA’s sustainable engineering solutions will support the delivery of Petrofac’s net-zero targets. The plan includes a number of measures, including cooperation kick-off, design thinking sessions for new solutions and use cases, technical assessments and an execution strategy. READ ALSO:BBK and EWA Launch Self-Service Kiosks for…

BBK has partnered with the Electricity and Water Affairs Authority (EWA) to offer self-service kiosks for bill payments by cash or card. The four kiosks are located in Ramli Mall, LuLu Riffa branch, Dana Mall and Mazaya Mall in Zayed Town. The partnership between BBK and EWA aims to provide a convenient and hassle-free payment option for EWA clients. READ ALSO:Ghana- Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation holds retreat Align Technology launches podcast series for orthodontists in the Middle East Moro Hub and BeyondTrust Partner to Offer Customized Privileged Access Management Solutions in the UAE The kiosks are operated in collaboration…