In an era where data is king and its volume and complexity are exploding, Protecto aims to eliminate the long-standing dilemma businesses face between leveraging AI’s power while ensuring data privacy. As the adoption of generative AI tools like ChatGPT skyrockets, wayward data becomes easier to find, process and do naughty things with. Protecto’s APIs … Read more
Rather than grimly assembling data about cancer deaths to predict outcomes in treatment, the founders of Cure51 had another idea. They decided to turn the model around 180 degrees. Instead, the company assembles data about long term survivors of cancer, thus hoping to crack the code on what keeps people alive. It’s now raised a … Read more
African financial institutions typically scale their solutions using a mix of local and foreign tech. Appzone is one of the standout local fintech software providers for banks and fintechs, providing better pricing and flexibility. For over a decade, the Nigeria-based Appzone has functioned as an enabler (at payment rails and core infrastructure) within banking and … Read more
Dubai-based early-stage venture capital firm COTU Ventures is announcing that it has raised $54 million for its inaugural fund to support startups in the Middle East from pre-seed to seed stages. With a final close achieved last year, COTU Ventures, which identifies and backs founders from the inception to post-product launch, invests between $500,000 to … Read more
In the face of South Africa’s worsening energy crisis, marked by increasingly severe power shortages, implementing daily electricity rationing has become imperative to avert the risk of a nationwide grid collapse. According to the state-owned power generator Eskom, the country witnesses a significant power deficit, surpassing 6,000 megawatts on occasion. This situation is similar in … Read more
Partech has closed its second Africa fund, Partech Africa II, at €280 million ($300 million+), just one year after reaching its first close. At that size, Partech Africa, which originally targeted €230 million before its fundraising efforts started, solidifies its position as the largest fund dedicated to African startups. Amidst a backdrop of global VCs … Read more
If you’re looking at the current seed funding climate and thinking it’s rough out there, you’re not alone. The last few years have been a roller coaster for startups. First came the uncertainty in the early days of the pandemic, then came the exuberance mid to late in the pandemic when cash flowed freely to … Read more
The world’s electricity infrastructure is awash in transformers, the bits of equipment that change voltage as electricity courses through the grid. They’re present at nearly every point, from power plants to phone chargers. For the most part, they’ve been unchanged since they were first developed in the late 1800s. That longevity is a testament to … Read more
Coco Gauff is looking primed for the latter stages of the Australian Open after a comprehensive win over compatriot Alycia Parks in the third round on Friday. The American fourth seed barely put a foot wrong as she destroyed Parks 6-0 6-2 in an hour and one minute on Margaret Court Arena. Gauff will now … Read more
The residential solar industry has been a victim of its own success. People across the country have raced to install solar panels to take advantage of generous net metering rates, where utilities pay people a premium for their power. Meanwhile, big power producers have found themselves forced to shut off at what used to be … Read more