Online education platform Coursera will acquire rival Udemy in an all-stock deal, valuing the combined company at US$2.5-billion, as the industry consolidates after a post-pandemic slowdown and heightened investor scrutiny. Udemy shareholders will receive 0.8 shares of Coursera for each held, valuing the company at about $930-million. Coursera shares were up about 4%, while Udemy…
Gold has been on a tear this year, and now a Goldman Sachs survey shows many investors think the precious metal will hit a new all-time high of $5,000 by the end of 2026. Gold prices have rallied 58.6% year-to-date, and broke through the landmark $4,000 level for the first time on Oct. 8. In…
Ventures Platform, one of Africa’s most active early-stage venture capital firms, has raised $64 million so far for its second fund, with a final close target of $75 million, according to founding partner Kola Aina. The raise includes participation from the Nigerian government through its Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) program — marking…
United States-based investor Dr. Farzam Kalambadi, President of Future Trends Investments Group (USA), has called on African nations to end the practice of exporting raw materials and instead build industries that add value locally — warning that the continent’s wealth will continue to enrich others if it fails to industrialise. Speaking to journalists soon after…
Emerging markets fintech Optasia has confirmed it will list on the JSE at a valuation of R23.5-billion following the closing of its bookbuilding period on Thursday. The company – backed by former First National Bank CEO Michael Jordaan – confirmed that its share offer closed at the top end of the R15.50 to R19/share range…
Bitcoin hit a record high on Thursday as increasing expectations for easier monetary policy from the US Federal Reserve added to tailwinds from recently announced financial reforms. The world’s largest crypto-asset by market capitalisation climbed as much as 0.9% to US$124 002.49 in early Asia trading, surpassing its previous peak hit in July. On the day,…
Zuko Mdwaba, Jem strategic enterprise partner and investor. Jem, a local HR and financial platform for frontline workers, has appointed Zuko Mdwaba as strategic enterprise partner and investor. Mdwaba is best known for building Salesforce and Workday’s African businesses from the ground up, scaling both from relative unknowns on the continent, to household names generating…
Oracle chairman Larry Ellison Oracle investors find themselves at a pivotal crossroads. Either heed the warning from a growing list of indicators that suggest the stock has run up too far, too fast — or continue to chase another rally that’s been supercharged by lofty artificial intelligence expectations. Shares of the software maker, co-founded by…
