This Week in African Tech 🌍

Africa's AI race is heating up 🏁

Author

Maryann Kabiru
July 27, 2025

Hey, Maryann here 👋🏽 

Africa’s AI race is heating up. Google is dropping $37M into food security and local language tools, Visa’s going big with a new data centre, and Itana is launching a full-stack AI zone.

Meanwhile, the shakeups are getting louder. 54 Collective is closing its venture studio after a legal clash with the Mastercard Foundation, while an M-KOPA ex-manager is taking aim at equity gaps in Kenyan startups.

But before we get to the roundup…

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Tech Roundup

  • Google is backing Africa’s AI push with a $37 million initiative aimed at food security and local language access. The fund will support researchers and nonprofits building tools to fight hunger, climate-driven crop threats, and farming inefficiencies.

  • Itana has launched Africa’s first full-stack AI and data zone to support startups and researchers building locally grounded AI tools. The initiative is part of its digital free zone strategy to attract frontier tech talent.

  • Visa has opened its first African data centre in South Africa and committed $56.9 million to support digital growth initiatives across the continent.

  • 54 Collective has shut down its venture studio after a fallout with the Mastercard Foundation led to legal action. Court filings show the firm used restricted grant funds for a rebrand, prompting the MasterCard’s objection.

  • A former manager at M-KOPA Kenya Limited has sued the company, claiming its shareholding structure excluded Kenyan staff in favor of white expatriates and foreign investors. M-KOPA denies the claims and wants the petition struck out.

  • Kenyan electric mobility startup BasiGo has launched the country’s first pilot program for electric matatus on inter-city routes. The new vehicles can travel up to 300km on a single charge and take just 90 minutes to recharge.

Deal Roundup

  • Egyptian SME lending startup Flend has raised $3 million in seed funding through a blended equity and debt round led by Egypt Ventures. The capital will help Flend expand operations, grow its team, and deepen partnerships.

  • Meta has acquired Egyptian voice AI startup PlayAI as it ramps up efforts to rival OpenAI and Google in the generative AI space. The full PlayAI team will join Meta and report to its AI leadership.

  • Moroccan superapp ORA Technologies has raised $7.5 million in a Series A round led by Azur Innovation Fund. The funding will go towards accelerating its last-mile business and boosting digital cash collection capabilities.

Talent Safari - Jobs of the Week

Talent Safari is Tech Safari’s trusted hiring partner. We connect innovative companies and rising professionals through our trusted, quality-first hiring. Here’s who we’re looking for this week:

  1. Talent Safari - Talent Associate - Nairobi preferred

  2. Pezesha - Chief Operating Officer (COO) - Nairobi preferred

  3. Advance Insight - Senior Odoo Engineer - Nairobi preferred

  4. Peach Payments - Senior Software Engineer, Fullstack (Commerce Pod) - Nairobi (preferred)

  5. Surge Financial - Country Lead - Kenya

  6. Power Financial Wellness - HR Officer - Nairobi

  7. Mogo - Business & Financial Controller - Nairobi

  8. PawaPay - Strategic Account Executive - Remote

  9. PowWater - Sales Leads x5 - Nairobi

  10. Okoa Rescue - Business Development Lead - Nairobi

  11. Upendo Honey - General Manager - Tanzania

  12. Shega - Chief Technology Officer (CTO) - AI & Intelligence - Addis Ababa or Nairobi (preferred)

  13. Shega - Commercial & Strategic Partnerships Lead - Addis Ababa (preferred)

  14. Auto Audit Group - Operations Manager - Nairobi

Other Events and Opportunities

  • Reckitt Catalyst is now accepting applications for its global program supporting health and hygiene startups led by women and underrepresented founders. Backed by Reckitt, the Health Innovation Exchange, and Yunus Social Innovation, the initiative offers funding, mentorship, and global exposure—with Serena Williams joining as Entrepreneur-in-Residence. Applications are open here until August 10, 2025.

  • Visa has opened applications for the fifth edition of its Africa Fintech Accelerator. The program offers startups access to tools, mentorship, and industry connections to help scale their solutions. Applications are open here until August 15.

  • MEST has opened applications for its newly revamped AI Startup Program, aimed at preparing Africa’s top tech talent to build and scale AI-driven ventures. The updated program positions African entrepreneurs to lead in the global AI wave. Applications for the 2026 intake are now open.

  • Visa has opened applications for its She’s Next programme to women-led businesses in South Africa. The initiative offers grant funding, training, mentorship, and networking to support female founders. Applications are open here until July 30.

  • The Africa Money & DeFi Summit returns to Accra on September 24–25, bringing together 500+ fintech and Web3 leaders. Applications are open for its Investment Showcase, where selected African startups will pitch to investors for funding and partnerships

  • Servercore is researching the IT infrastructure needs of Kenyan businesses and would appreciate your support in sharing their survey. The insights will help shape better, locally-informed cloud solutions — with findings to be published in the coming months. Share your insights here.

And that's a wrap!

That’s it for this week. See you on Wednesday 😃 

Cheers,

The Tech Safari Team

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