Uber leads $100M investment in African mobility fintech Moove as valuation hits $750M

Moove, an African mobility fintech that offers vehicle financing to ride-hailing and delivery app drivers, has raised $100 million in a funding round as it plots expansion into new markets. Moove did not say who is leading the round, but sources close to the deal confirmed to TechCrunch that Uber led the Series B round, … Read more

Here’s when the Fed may start cutting rates, investment strategists say

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell prepares to testify before the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee on March, 7 2024.  Kent Nishimura | Getty Images News | Getty Images WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The U.S. Federal Reserve is likely to start cutting interest rates by the end of the second quarter despite recent … Read more

Janet Yellen says Biden spurred electric vehicle investment boom

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen testifies before a House Financial Services Committee hearing on the “Annual Report of the Financial Stability Oversight Council” on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 6, 2024. Amanda Andrade-rhoades | Reuters Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Wednesday lauded President Joe Biden’s investment in electric vehicles for accelerating the sector, … Read more

Enterprise SaaS investment makes a comeback — but not where you’d expect

The global market for software is growing quickly. Gartner data indicates that software spend is the fastest-expanding segment of IT spend and that its pace of growth has accelerated in recent years. If Gartner’s forecasts bear out, the software portion of global IT spend could crest $1 trillion in 2024. Startups mostly build software. And … Read more

India signs a trade accord with 4 European nations for $100 billion investment over 15 years

NEW DELHI — India signed a trade agreement with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland on Sunday that includes a commitment of $100 billion investment and creating 1 million direct jobs in India in the next 15 years, officials said. India on its part committed to reducing import tariffs on industrial products from the four European … Read more

New report confirms Europe’s tech investment doldrums, but there are signs of life

Europe is suffering from a big hangover after the tech investment party of the 2020-2021 period. That said, compared to pre-pandemic levels, VC investment in European startups is up, historically speaking, and reached $60 billion, according to a new report. However, the anomaly of the surge in investment over the pandemic stands in marked contrast … Read more

China calls on foreign businesses to share their problems as investment slumps

The flags of China, U.S. and the Chinese Communist Party are displayed in a flag stall at the Yiwu Wholesale Market in Yiwu, Zhejiang province, China, May 10, 2019. Aly Song | Reuters BEIJING — China’s Ministry of Commerce met with foreign businesses in Beijing this week in an effort to address operating challenges, but … Read more

UK, Europe real estate to surge as buyers eye investment opportunities

Aerial view of the roof gardens at Gasholder Park in Kings Cross, London. Richard Newstead | Moment | Getty Images The U.K. looks poised to lead a European real estate resurgence this year as international investors return capital to the region’s strained property market. An anticipated fall in interest rates and modest economic revival will … Read more

Techstars CEO defends changes, says physical presence in a city is not necessary for investment

Earlier this week, accelerator group Techstars announced changes to its operations. But what was planned internally to be an exciting new chapter for the organization ended up being somewhat of a PR nightmare.  Techstars found itself facing criticism for some of its decisions and execution after announcing it would shut down its Boulder and Seattle … Read more

Singapore’s AI ambitions get a boost with $740 million investment plan

The Singapore River and Merlion Park in the evening Photography By Bobi | Moment Open | Getty Images SINGAPORE — Singapore’s plan to invest more than $743 million into artificial intelligence over the next five years could strengthen its position as a global business and innovation hub, tech executives said. In his Budget speech on … Read more