Adrian JohnsonTLDR: Sony has invested in South African gaming startup Carry1st, marking the first investment from Sony’s venture capital fund that supports African tech and gaming companies. Carry1st specializes in creating mobile games for the African market and has raised over $60 million since its launch in 2018. In other news, Nigerian fintech Miden has been selected for Y Combinator’s Winter 2024 batch, allowing businesses to issue virtual cards to their customers through its API. Bolt, the Estonian ride-hailing giant, has launched a same-day parcel delivery service in South Africa, while the Electricity Company of Ghana has upgraded its mobile app to streamline electricity service requests. Telkom, South Africa’s largest fixed-line provider, has partnered with the South African Police Service to combat cable theft in the country.
Sony has invested in South African gaming startup Carry1st as part of its new venture capital fund that supports African tech and gaming companies. Carry1st specializes in creating mobile games tailored for the African market and has raised over $60 million since its inception in 2018. This investment from Sony highlights the potential of the African gaming industry, which is expected to generate $4.28 billion in revenue by 2024.
Nigerian fintech Miden has been selected for Y Combinator’s Winter 2024 batch, joining the ranks of other African startups such as Cleva. Miden offers businesses the ability to issue virtual cards to their customers through its API. The company specializes in virtual card services and corporate expense management solutions, and has issued over 100,000 cards to date. Its inclusion in Y Combinator’s batch is a testament to its innovation and potential to transform the way businesses manage their finances.
Estonian ride-hailing giant Bolt has launched a same-day parcel delivery service in South Africa, expanding its offerings beyond ride-hailing and food delivery. The new service allows users to order a Bolt driver to collect and deliver parcels within the same day, providing a convenient and affordable delivery solution for businesses and consumers. This move by Bolt reflects the growing demand for efficient delivery services in South Africa.
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has upgraded its mobile app to simplify and streamline the process of applying for electricity services. The upgraded app allows users to apply for new connections and meter installations, make bill payments, access real-time energy consumption monitoring, and report complaints or issues. This digital solution eliminates the need for customers to visit physical offices, making it more convenient and efficient.
To combat the problem of cable theft in South Africa, Telkom, the country’s largest fixed-line provider, has partnered with the South African Police Service (SAPS). The partnership has resulted in numerous successful apprehensions and convictions of cable thieves across the country. Cable theft has become a major issue in South Africa, with thieves targeting copper and fiber optic cables for their valuable metals. The collaboration between Telkom and SAPS is an important step in deterring and catching cable thieves.
