Tech

1. Andela launches pan-African technology hub in Kigali for software developers across the continent

Partnership announced with Rwanda Development Board to catalyze tech talent in the region.

• Andela is partnering with the Government of Rwanda through the Rwanda Development Board, an organization responsible for transforming the country into a dynamic global hub for business, investment, and innovation.
• Kigali was chosen as a strategic location for Andela’s first pan-African hub due to its strong existing infrastructure and ease of access for developers across the continent.

Andela, the company building high-performing engineering teams with Africa’s most talented software developers, today announces the launch of a pan-African technology hub in its fourth African market: Kigali, Rwanda.

To fuel the expansion, Andela is partnering with the Government of Rwanda through the Rwanda Development Board, an organization responsible for transforming the country into a dynamic global hub for business, investment, and innovation.

A model of technological excellence on the African continent, Kigali was chosen as a strategic location for Andela’s first pan-African hub due to its strong existing infrastructure and ease of access for developers across the continent.

 Through the partnership, RDB will support Andela’s efforts to build a pan-African workforce and support the development of Rwandan and other African talent. This will catalyze Andela’s mission to invest in Africa’s most promising talent and build the continent’s future technology leaders, adding to the 700+ Andela developers based in the company’s existing locations in Lagos, Nairobi, and Kampala.

“We are thrilled to have found a partner in the Government of Rwanda whose mission is so closely aligned with our own: to grow and sustain a pan-African elite tech workforce. In Kigali, we have found a location that makes travel to-and-from other African countries seamless and also has the modern and connected infrastructure we require to collaborate with a global workforce,” says Andela co-founder and CEO Jeremy Johnson.

Andela launched operations in Nigeria in 2014 to help global companies overcome the severe shortage of skilled software developers and invest in Africa’s top technical minds. Since then, the company has hired and developed more than 700 software engineers across the continent who collectively help power the technology teams of more than 150 global companies, including Viacom, Pluralsight and GitHub, while setting new standards for engineering culture. In 2018, Andela earned Best Place to Work awards for both its Lagos and Nairobi offices in recognition of its company-wide focus on diversity and inclusion, stellar office culture, dynamic working environment, and opportunities for career advancement.

Seni Sulyman, Andela VP, Global Operations, adds: “As the first fully 4G African city, Kigali continues to push towards ICT excellence and is fast becoming one of East Africa’s key tech hubs. Connecting talent with opportunity on a global scale is Andela’s ethos, and with the opening of our Kigali hub, we expect to extend opportunities to thousands of more software engineers from across the continent who will make their mark on the global tech scene via Kigali.”
Through Andela’s distributed model of work, developers gain global experience with the world’s top technology firms while working remotely from an Andela campus. This enables them to actively contribute to the growth of their local tech ecosystems by leading developer groups, mentoring junior technologists, and serving as an example of how local developers can compete on a global level.

Clare Akamanzi, RDB Chief Executive Officer noted, “We are delighted to partner with Andela to build the next generation of technology leaders who will lead innovation in Kigali and beyond. Through partnerships, such as the one we are announcing today, we are accelerating Kigali’s growth as a global technology hub while also advancing skills development and employment opportunities for young, talented Africans.”

Andela will open applications to candidates from any African country looking to jumpstart a global career in software development in August of 2018, and launch its Kigali tech campus in December of 2018. It will also open applications for the Andela Learning Community (ALC), which provides free resources and mentorship to aspiring technologists, in Rwanda and Tanzania in August of 2018.

2. These 15 startups have been shortlisted for the Nigeria-based Slush accelerator programme

The shortlisted startups will participate at Heartland Incubation Hub, in Owerri, southeast Nigeria from August 6- August 31, 2018.

Nigeria’s Heartland Hub, a centre for technovation and enterprise education, has shortlisted 15 startups at its 2018 local accelerator of Slush Global Impact Accelerator (GIA) Program.

The shortlisted startups will participate at Heartland Incubation Hub, in Owerri, southeast Nigeria from August 6- August 31, 2018.

The Owerri-based innovation hub partnered with Finnish tech event Slush said the selected applicants were assessed based on business Idea that has gained some traction, a solution that supports sustainable development goals, scalability, uniqueness, and team.

n a blog post on its website, the hub said the last week of the Accelerator Program will hold a pitch competition where the shortlisted startups will be narrowed down to 3 finalists who will have the opportunity to make the all-expense paid trip to attend a Bootcamp in Helsinki, Finland.

The Helsinki Bootcamp will hold from November 27 to December 6, 2018, which will culminate with Slush.

The 15 shortlisted startups are:

1. HOMEFORT (LAGOS)

With a combination of mobile technology and safety accentuation, HOMEFORT lowers barrier to switch from dirty fuels to cooking gas among Nigerians.

2. MAHAUTY HEALTH SOLUTIONS (ABUJA)

Mahauty Health Solutions is a Health Promotion company for infants and young children.

3. PHENDOK BIOENERGY (JOS)

Recycles garbage for a cleaner city, and producing affordable renewable energy for the agro-business cluster, to radically reduce poverty and significantly reducing pollutions, and global carbon emission

4. ECO-FUN (JIMETA, ADAMAWA)

Eco-Fun is a start-up that recycles paper into unique and quality products like, Chairs, Tables, Stools, Decorative Art works etc. for both Interior and Exterior uses.  95% of all products made are from waste paper.

5. DE  REHOBOTH THERAPEUTIC STUDIO (PORT HARCOURT)

DE REHOBOTH is a holistic healthcare solution for low-income families in Nigeria, working to promote preventive and restorative health solutions. It is achieving a unique blend of herbal and conventional healthcare.

6. RECYCLEPRO INNOVATIONS (AWKA)

Recyclepro is a web-based platform that connects working professionals and businesses to affordable & smarter waste collectors within 12hours to reduce hazardous waste disposal and increase environmental sustainability.

7. DATABANTER (AKURE)

DATABANTER is a digital food donation initiative that uses airtime and internet data bundle to donate food items thereby tackling food insecurity and malnutrition among the vulnerable in Nigeria.

8. AIRCELL ALLIED LTD (OWERRI)

Aircell Is a platform that directly connects farmers to their end users and efficiently delivering agriculture product using supply chain technology.

9. ARONE (ENUGU)

Provides fleet of Arones (drones) along with access to a network of solar-powered battery swap stations to businesses in industries such as medical product delivery, E-Commerce and Food delivery.

10. PEARL ERRAND SERVICES (ABA)

Pearl Errand Services is providing innovation in terms of delivery models.

11. VIDA ICT SOLUTIONS (OWERRI)

Provides Health institutions with Enterprise Resource Planning that allows an organization to use a system of integrated applications to manage the business and automate many back-office functions.

12. GEROCARE (ABUJA)

Provides regular doctor home visits to the elderly as a subscription-based service.

13. THE CHRONIC DOCTORS (ABA)

The Chronic Doctors is a digital and mobile health solution that uses technology and psychology to help people living with chronic diseases such as Hypertension, Arthritis, Asthma, Diabetes, and Cancer live a happier, healthier and more balanced life.

14. CRISPVISION VENTURES LTD (EKET)

Crispvision ends preventable blindness by providing quality, affordable and accessible eye care solutions, to increase self-reliance and reduce dependability in Nigeria.

15. TOPPYSKILLS (KADUNA)

TOPPYSKILLS is a Mobile ICT training that provides Computer, Internet-enabled phones, and Internet use skills training to rural smallholder female farmers cooperatives in rural Kaduna, Nigeria.

3. Nigerian fintech startup, Cowrywise, has been accepted into YCombinator Summer 2018

Ycombinator, Based in California, USA, provides seed funding for startups from around the world with access to investors and business growth mentorship.

Nigeria's fintech startup, CowryWise, has been accepted to participate at the YCombinator Summer 2018, a startup accelerator programme.

Razaq Ahmed, CowryWise CEO, said, “this acceptance into YC is a validation of our commitment to our customers while we focus on our goal of bringing wealth management services to young Africans irrespective of their income level.”

The Nigerian fintech startup helps people save and invest easily irrespective of their income level. Since 2017, the company has processed over $1.5 million in savings for its customers.

Cowrywise will be joining the Nigerian-based logistics startup Kobo360, which was recently accepted into the Y Combinator class of 2018.

Ycombinator, Based in California, USA, provides seed funding for startups from around the world, providing them with financing, access to investors and business growth mentorship.

Earlier in 2016, startups like Shypmate, Paystack, Tress, Kuhustle and Flutterwave were