Obsidi®’s Post

In this week's #AliTalksTech Roundup of Tech News from across Africa, we witness a surge in transactions for the #eNaira, Nigeria's Central Bank Digital Currency, which has skyrocketed by an astonishing 302%, now reaching a remarkable N10.26 billion! Further fueling this momentum is the substantial boost to the African tech ecosystem, as global investment firm Partech secures an impressive $300 million for its second Africa-focused fund, Partech Africa II. This substantial raise demonstrates the increasing investor confidence in the continent's evolving tech sector. In other developments, Flutterwave temporarily suspends operations of Disha, a Nigerian-based platform supporting creators in marketing and payments which it acquired a couple of years ago. Meanwhile, South Africa's Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) market is on a rapid ascent, with Ken Research's "South Africa Buy Now, Pay Later Market" report forecasting a remarkable 14.8% CAGR. This trajectory is set to propel the market size to a substantial $5.7 billion by 2027. Exciting times lie ahead for African Tech! For a comprehensive discussion, tune in to our full episode on our YouTube channel: Imran Jomo, Peter Ndiang'ui, Harry Hare, Dr. Grace Githaiga, Isaac Awuondo

🚀 Our COO, Nkiru Uwaje had the honor of moderating the powerhouse panel at #ATSLDN! This distinguished panel featured industry leaders like Chinenye Agwu from Flutterwave, Frank Atube from SEAMFIX, Lewam Kefela from Partech, Babs Ogundeyi from Kuda and Stephen Oluwatobi from Kora 🌍 The panel delved into the State of #AfricanFintech, Trends, and Opportunities, providing invaluable insights into the current funding landscape for African #fintechs. Key discussions included: - The significant funding decrease in 2023 due to global economic downturns. - The critical need to further collaborate with regulators to enable adoption. - The impact of regulatory and compliance challenges on business growth. 🔍 The session highlighted both the challenges and the vast potential within the African fintech space. It was a dynamic discussion that underscored the resilience and innovation driving this sector forward. 🎥Watch the full panel session here: https://bit.ly/3xOfYY9

 "We are in business to ENGAGE and WIN with our stakeholders," stated Niyi Toluwalope during the company's debut appearance on Facts Behind Figures, organized by the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX Group). He highlighted our FY2023 growth trajectory to investors and the public. Catch the full presentation here:👉👉👉 https://lnkd.in/gn-kFYZK 📺 Media highlights also captured the insights! #webinar #onlineevent #NGXgroup #investorrelations #businessgrowth #FY2023 #thesuperfintechcompany #etranzactplc

"I define the year 2024 as a year of slow economic growth, both globally and in Bulgaria. There is a decrease in demand for labor and a conservative approach from companies investing globally in technology. We see active processes that try to find a balance between automation and costs. At the same time, it is crucial to monitor global conflicts, which have not only not decreased, but also show no signs of resolution on the horizon. The hi-tech business requires proper education, regulation, and frameworks to help us remain competitive in the global environment as it is." Ilia Krastev, Chairman of AIBEST, on the "Investor Club", Bloomberg TV 📖 Read the full interview here ---> https://bit.ly/3yxOcPE #AIBEST

Explore the diverse experiences shaping the future of digital payments in Africa through our 'Voices of Customers' series. In this episode, meet Nancy Kubasa, an inspiring entrepreneur from Sanje district, Malawi. Discover how mobile money transformed her business instantly. 🔗https://lnkd.in/dqcq_JcV #digitalpayments #financialinclusion

Customer-first mindset, sound familiar? Fintechs have revolutionized how they serve their customers. By staying agile, investing in their own technology, and forming strategic partnerships, today’s fintechs are best placed to prioritize their customers. I had a great conversation with Mounir Nakhla, Founder and CEO of MNT-Halan, on #AccessTomorrow to discuss financial inclusion, regulatory landscapes, tech innovation, and scaling strategies. Watch the full episode here: https://bit.ly/40pJJu0

Let’s talk about the 2024 Finovate Awards and how Omnisient made Africa shine on the global stage! 🌍✨ Remember Omnisient? The South African fintech that recently secured $7.5 million in Series A funding from Arise? Well, they’ve done it again! At the prestigious Finovate Awards, where the world’s top innovators in fintech are celebrated, Omnisient - Collaborative Consumer Intelligence made history by winning the Excellence in Financial Inclusion Award. They were the only African fintech recognized in this category—a huge moment for Africa in the global fintech scene! 🏆 Specializing in privacy-preserving data collaboration, Omnisient is refining how financial institutions can extend credit to the underbanked and unbanked populations. Their cutting-edge use of Privacy-Enhancing Technologies and AI allows banks to predict loan repayments for individuals with no credit history. 📊💡 As CEO Jon Jacobson put it, “Being the only African company recognized at Finovate this year speaks volumes about the world-class solutions Omnisient is delivering.” This win is not just about a company—it’s about creating financial access for millions of underserved people across Africa. And this isn’t their first accolade. In 2023, Omnisient was named a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum; recognized as one of Fast Company’s Next Big Things in Tech; and even represented Africa at TechCrunch’s Battlefield 200 competition in San Francisco. So let’s raise a glass 🥂 to Omnisient, a beacon of innovation and a true representation of Africa’s tech brilliance! Here’s to even bigger achievements in the future! 🎉 #FinovateAwards #Omnisient #FintechInnovation #FinancialInclusion #ProudlyAfrican #FintechAfrica #AI

Our CEO, Mariam Cassim joins the Africa Business Conference at the prestigious Harvard Business School as the only female on the Telecoms vs Fintech panel. Mariam will share insights of her journey in leading Vodacom Financial and Digital Lifestyle Services from a loss-making start-up to a sustainable multi-billion-rand profit making business. Watch this space as we share some of her invaluable lessons in driving financial and digital inclusion in Africa! #Fintech #VFS #FinancialServices #abc #hbs

🎺 I will be sharing insights on our work in advocating for Africa Capital in Africa Tech, this Thursday, as part of a panel on "Safeguarding the funding pipeline for fintech in Africa"

I had a lot of fun on a panel today hosted by Riyanat Shittu and turntabl at the Open Source in Finance event in London #OSinFinance  #OSFF2024 #Finos2024 Here are some points from the discussion:  - A global consultancy firm projects demand for skilled talent to increase (even with the rise of GenAI), and with that shortage comes enormous unrealised revenue. Africa can play a significant role in meeting talent demands in more developed countries. - Organisations need to prepare for skills-based hiring. For example role-based job descriptions with no detail on types of problems and datasets or skills are not enough. - Training for soft skills, communication, ability to work in a team and with business users is as important as technical skills - Communities play a crucial role not only in bringing practitioners together, but also allowing organisations from other regions to “plug in” Thanks to Riyanat Shittu and turntabl and the very awesome fellow panelists Sarah Sinclair, Eryn Peters, and Gideon Brefo!