How to build a bn African investment firm

How to build a $1bn African investment firm

Richard Okello Our new book, How we made it in Africa II: Real stories of entrepreneurs turning opportunity into profit, is available here. Interview with Richard OkelloFOUNDER, SANGO CAPITAL Lives in: Johannesburg, South Africa Africa-focused investor Richard Okello compares investing on the continent to riding a speedboat through rough seas while trying to drink a glass of wine…

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SA firm raises R85m to scale AI stethoscope for TB screening

SA firm raises R85m to scale AI stethoscope for TB screening

South Africa carries one of the highest TB burdens in the world. (Image source: 123RF) South African medtech company AI Diagnostics has raised R85 million in a pre-Series A funding round to accelerate deployment of its AI-powered Ostium digital stethoscope. The device enables early tuberculosis (TB) screening without specialist equipment or infrastructure. In a statement,…

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SA firm opens Africa’s largest space hardware factory

SA firm opens Africa’s largest space hardware factory

Image: NewSpace Systems Somerset West-based spacecraft component maker NewSpace Systems has opened a 5 200sq m manufacturing facility that it claims is the largest commercial space hardware manufacturing plant in Africa. The purpose-built facility includes a 1 260sq m cleanroom and a 120sq m engineering lab, both designed from the ground up for space manufacturing. Capabilities include…

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Africa: Firm Spotlights Collaboration As Catalyst for Africa’s Payments Evolution

Africa: Firm Spotlights Collaboration As Catalyst for Africa’s Payments Evolution

Verve International, a subsidiary of Interswitch Group, has reiterated that stronger collaboration among industry players will be critical to shaping the future of Africa’s payments landscape. The firm in a statement noted that the event convened issuer banks, fintech collaborators, merchants and other critical ecosystem stakeholders for strategic engagement, meaningful industry dialogue, and deeper ecosystem…

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SA techpreneur launches integrated drone services firm

SA techpreneur launches integrated drone services firm

Lindiwe Matlali, founder and CEO of Swerfvalk. South African technology entrepreneur Lindiwe Matlali has established Swerfvalk, a Johannesburg-based deep-tech company focused on developing and deploying mission-ready drone, artificial intelligence (AI) and counter-drone systems for complex operational environments. Swerfvalk enters a local drone market that has matured rapidly over the past decade, with growing demand from…

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