MoneyGram is leaning into crypto rails, without making users touch crypto. A new partnership with NALA introduces stablecoin-based settlement for cross-border transfers, using digital dollars behind the scenes while recipients still get paid in local currency. 

A tribunal ruling in Kenya could reshape how global income is taxed for companies and workers operating from Nairobi. Backing the Kenya Revenue Authority, the court said income from overseas projects can still be taxed locally if “management and control” sit in Kenya. That could hit remote teams, freelancers, and BPOs serving global clients, tightening oversight in an economy increasingly built on cross-border digital work.

Storipod has struck a deal with Narrative Landscape Press to distribute works from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and other African writers digitally. The platform lets users unlock books chapter by chapter, lowering upfront costs and aligning with mobile-first reading habits.

Cauridor is appointing ex-Flutterwave exec Awa Koné as COO as it gears up for expansion. Koné spent five years scaling Flutterwave’s cross-border infrastructure across multiple continents, and now lands at a Guinea-based startup already operating in 36 countries.

Nigeria is tightening the screws on big businesses, with a June deadline to adopt real-time e-invoicing, or risk sanctions. The new system gives tax authorities near-instant visibility into transactions, shifting compliance from after-the-fact audits to continuous monitoring. So far, only about 20% of eligible companies have plugged in.

Nigerian edtech platform aptLearn is shutting down its current product after four years and 200,000+ learners, but it’s not calling it quits. Users have until mid-July to wrap up courses and download certificates before the platform goes dark. The move is framed as a reset, with hints of an AI-powered comeback in the works.

Zuri Health is doubling down on mobile care, adding two new clinic buses in Nairobi after proving the model can pay for itself. The solar-powered units offer diagnostics, dental care, and screenings, parked where people actually are, markets, high-traffic zones, you name it. With consultations starting under $4, Zuri is betting convenience beats infrastructure. 

Nedbank and Mastercard are doubling down on digital payments with a 10-year deal spanning six Southern African markets. The partnership includes migrating Nedbank’s card portfolio onto Mastercard’s network, unlocking faster processing, tighter security, and more personalized financial products. They aim to sharpen Nedbank’s edge across retail, SMEs, and merchant services.

 Sama is laying off over 1,100 workers in Nairobi after Meta pulled a major data annotation contract, cutting deep into one of Africa’s most visible AI outsourcing firms. The move highlights a core risk in the sector where there's heavy reliance on a handful of global tech clients. Kenya has positioned itself as a hub for AI training labour, but this shake-up shows how quickly demand can vanish.

NectarFi raised a $170,000 pre-seed round, marking its shift from a hackathon project to a funded on-chain finance startup. The Nigeria-based platform is building savings and yield products tailored to local users, tapping into rising demand for crypto-native financial tools. While still early, the raise gives it room to push toward a broader public launch.

ZSystems raised $1.65 million in seed funding to modernise Morocco’s fragmented retail supply chain, a market still largely running offline. The B2B2C platform connects brands, wholesalers, and retailers into a single digital layer, targeting inefficiencies across a $40 billion value chain. The round brings in Azur Innovation Management alongside existing investors MNF Ventures and Witamax, plus Harambeans Prosperity Fund.

Refiant AI secured $5 million in seed funding to tackle one of AI’s growing problems: energy consumption. The South African startup builds model compression tech that shrinks and optimises AI systems so they can run on smaller, less power-hungry machines. Led by VoLo Earth Ventures, the round signals rising interest in “lean AI” infrastructure.

AI Diagnostics raised about $5 million to scale Ostium, its AI-powered digital stethoscope designed to detect tuberculosis in real time. The device analyses lung sounds to flag potential cases at the point of care, reducing reliance on specialist diagnostics. The round drew backing from The Steele Foundation for Hope and other global health investors.

Egypt’s Lucky raised $23 million in a Series B as it pivots from a cashback app into a full-fledged neobank. The company, which already offers credit lines and payment cards, is now chasing a PSP license and expanding across North Africa. It also reported 3x growth in 2025 and hit profitability, a combo that’s getting rarer.

Angola Rising Forum is bringing together leaders, founders, investors, and diaspora professionals in Luanda for two days of conversations on the country’s economic direction. Taking place July 15–16, 2026, the forum focuses on investment opportunities, entrepreneurship, and the industries shaping Angola’s next growth cycle. Get more details here.

Africa Fintech Summit returns as one of the continent’s largest convenings for fintech stakeholders, bringing together 4,000+ participants from 100+ countries. The event spans panels, startup showcases, and policy discussions, drawing founders, investors, and regulators shaping Africa’s financial infrastructure. Reserve your spot here. 

Grey is rolling out UpGreyed Her, a new initiative aimed at backing women-led startups across emerging markets, with $10,000 in equity-free grants on the table. The program will fund three founders, with $5,000 for the winner and smaller checks for runners-up, while also offering visibility and support beyond capital.

Google has opened applications for the 2026 Hustle Academy, a free training program helping African SMEs scale using digital tools and AI. The format has been streamlined into 60-minute expert webinars followed by 1-day bootcamps designed to be practical, fast, and easy to attend. Find out more here.

UNICEF is offering up to $100,000 in equity-free funding through its 2026 Venture Fund, targeting startups building climate-tech solutions that improve children’s health. The focus is on open-source, frontier technologies like AI and blockchain designed for low-resource and emergency settings. Get more details.

THRIVE is launching its 2026 Global Impact Challenge, offering up to $1 million in investment to agrifood startups tackling everything from regenerative agriculture to food security and AI-driven farming systems. Finalists will pitch live at the THRIVE Global Impact Summit in Silicon Valley. Register here.