Author: Akin Naphtal

Beta Lab, a venture capital firm and co-creation studio dedicated to supporting deep technology startups, has launched in Saudi Arabia with the backing of the Saudi Ministry of Investment, the Future Investment Initiative Institute (FII), KBW Ventures and several global partners. Beta Lab will offer a range of services to help entrepreneurs transform their innovative ideas into thriving businesses. These include product and business development, access to capital and other forms of support. The company’s team of experienced professionals will work closely with each startup to help them overcome the unique challenges associated with the startup lifecycle. READ ALSO:SpaceX and…

SpaceX and T-Mobile have teamed up to test a new service that will provide satellite connectivity to cell phones, according to a SpaceX executive. The partnership was announced last August, with the aim of creating a new network that leverages Starlink satellites and T-Mobile’s mid-band 5G spectrum to provide near-complete coverage in most places in the US. This development suggests that cellular “dead zones” could become a thing of the past, as multiple companies race to provide data to cell phones using satellites. Sat-to-cell connectivity is considered to be the next frontier for space-based connectivity services, with other companies also…

Telecom Egypt (TE) has teamed up with IBM to adopt IBM Cloud Pak for Watson Artificial Intelligence for IT Operations (AIOps), as per an emailed release on March 13th. Through this partnership, TE will implement IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA) solutions to enhance its IT environment’s overall view, increase the pace of innovation and reduce operational costs and troubleshooting time. IBM RPA, which is a part of IBM Cloud Pak for Business Automation, will enable TE’s engineers and IT operators to track the network’s operating capacity and service quality throughout the country. This technology will also empower them to monitor…

Visionize Technology, a leading tech-hospitality company, has announced its latest addition to its diverse portfolio with the signing of Bab Al Qasr hotel, a premium property located in one of Abu Dhabi’s prime locations on the Corniche. The aim of the partnership is to enhance the guest experience, lower overall business costs and generate more revenue by offering built-in smart marketing and upselling features, along with a seamless multilingual interface and a fantastic visual experience. The property is expected to witness an increase in the average spend per guest after the implementation of Visionize. READ ALSO:WeRide, Chinese Robotaxi Operator, Files…

Chinese autonomous driving company WeRide.ai has confidentially filed for an IPO in the US, with reports suggesting it could raise as much as $500m. The robotaxi operator’s nemesis, Pony.ai, was also looking to go public in the US in 2021 but put its plan on hold due to concerns that it would become the next target of a crackdown on Chinese tech firms by US regulators. WeRide’s latest valuation stands at $4.4bn following a funding round in March 2022. China’s autonomous driving firms have attracted hefty investment in recent years, but investors have not been able or willing to fund…

Dubai is rapidly becoming the center of technological innovation and it is on its way to becoming the Silicon Valley of the Middle East. To capitalize on this trend, Suffescom Solutions Inc., the top blockchain development company, has recently announced the opening of its new office in Dubai. With over 13 years of experience in the IT industry and serving more than 1500 global clients, Suffescom has established itself as the leading blockchain development company in Dubai. Mr. Gurpreet Singh Walia, Managing Director of Suffescom Solutions Inc., expressed his excitement about the opening of the new office, stating that “it…

Mashreq, a top financial institution in the MENA region, has announced the successful launch of its NEOBiz Connect API integration with strategic partner Virtuzone. This new integration allows free zone or trade license authorities to submit a full NEOBiz account application from their own platform, enabling a one-click SME account opening, subject to approval, for the first time in the region. Virtuzone customers can now open a bank account through API integration, which simplifies, speeds up and smoothens the process. Fernando Morillo, Group Head of Retail Banking at Mashreq, said, “APIs play a key role in transforming the global digital…

The Kenyan and Korean Governments have launched four Economic Innovation Partnership Program (EIPP) projects aimed at fast tracking the development of the Konza Technopolis project. The projects include the Intelligent Transport System (ITS) and Integrated Control Centre, Establishment of a Startup Ecosystem at Konza Technopolis, Development of Smart Logistics in Konza and the development of the Konza-Nairobi Corridor Transport Network. The launch follows the successful implementation of the first EIPP projects in March 2022. These projects included the Development of the Smart City Master Plan, Feasibility Study on the Integrated Control Centre and Establishment of a transportation network and smart…

General Motors (GM) is reportedly exploring the use of OpenAI’s ChatGPT to power virtual assistants in its vehicles, as part of a collaboration with Microsoft. Semafor reported last week that GM was using Microsoft’s Azure cloud service, which includes a ChatGPT API, to develop a virtual personal assistant. GM Vice President Scott Miller said in an interview that “ChatGPT is going to be in everything”. He suggested the chatbot could be used to provide drivers with information about their vehicle’s features, such as advising on what action to take when a diagnostic light appears on the dashboard or instructing on…

Bahrain is set to begin issuing its new e-Passports on March 20, as part of the country’s digital transformation efforts. The announcement was made by Sheikh Hisham bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa, the Undersecretary for Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs, at a press conference. According to Sheikh Hisham, the e-Passports will first be issued to those whose passports have expired or are near their expiry date. He added that the new passport design contains modern security technologies that have never been used before. READ ALSO:Banque Misr and Mastercard Sign Agreement to Boost Digital Payment Services in Egypt Ericsson’s Interference Sensing Software…