This Week in African Tech 🌍

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M-KOPA has quietly handed out $170 million in credit to over a million Nigerians, mostly through smartphone financing, mostly to people who'd never borrowed before.

Three-quarters of them are now using their financed phones to earn income. The company keeps defaults in single digits through daily micropayments and device-locking tech, and cash loans are growing even faster than the handsets.

Turns out a $20-a-month phone can be a business plan.

Let’s unpack the rest of this week’s news…

Tech Roundup

• Kenya’s BasiGo is test-driving fixed-route electric bus commuting in Nairobi. The same slice of the market Swvl once tried (and failed) to crack. The EV startup is partnering with matatu Saccos to offer direct, scheduled rides with digital payments and guaranteed seats, shaving up to 40 minutes off daily commutes. With an 80% occupancy rate already, BasiGo plans to add 10 more buses as it tries to bring order to the city’s chaotic transit scene.

• Nedbank has cleared a key hurdle in its plan to buy 66% of Kenya’s NCBA Group after winning a regulatory waiver that lets it avoid a full takeover bid. With 77.5% of NCBA shareholders already on board, the South African lender now has enough commitments to lock in its partial acquisition. If completed, the deal would deepen Nedbank’s footprint in a banking market already defined by cross-border land grabs.

• Nigeria’s Terra Industries is teaming up with the military-run Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) to build a joint venture for locally made drones, robotics, and cybersecurity systems. The move follows Terra’s recent $22 million raise and aims to plug gaps in the country’s strained security apparatus with homegrown tech.

• Kenya’s Central Bank is kicking off a major review of the laws that govern banking and digital finance, a move that could finally clear the regulatory fog holding back fintechs. The update aims to modernize rules around digital banking, consumer protection, and cybersecurity, and may open doors for firms like Chipper Cash that have been stuck in licensing limbo.

• The African Development Bank and UNDP have launched the AI 10 Billion Initiative, a moonshot plan to mobilize up to $10 billion for AI adoption across the continent. Their goal is to unlock 40 million jobs and add a cool $1 trillion to Africa’s GDP by 2035. A 10-month roadshow kicks off next, as the partners try to turn forum talk into infrastructure, skills, and real AI productivity.

• Yango is teaming up with Flutterwave to make cashless payments the default for its food delivery and ride-hailing users in Zambia. The integration lets riders and diners pay by card through Flutterwave’s rails, boosting security and reliability as digital commerce takes off. For Yango, it’s another step in stitching together a broader, stickier service ecosystem.
  

• Starlink is quietly flipping the switch back on in Nigeria’s most congested cities, but only for its Business (Priority) plan at ₦159,000 ($99) a month, hardware not included. Residential plans remain sold out in hotspots like VI and Abuja, pushing desperate users toward the pricey tier. With Amazon’s Project Kuiper eyeing the market, Starlink’s move keeps high-value customers tethered while capacity catches up.

• M-KOPA says it’s pumped ₦231 billion ($170 million) in credit to more than a million Nigerians since 2019, with smartphone financing now its breakout product. One-third of borrowers are women, over half are first-time credit users, and 77% use their financed phones to earn income. Cash loans are growing even faster, as the company leans on daily micropayments and device-locking tech to keep defaults in single digits.
  

Deal Roundup

• Morocco’s Charikaty snagged $150,000  after a pitch on local TV show Qui Veut Investir Dans Mon Projet?, giving its digital company-formation platform a boost. The reg-tech startup handles everything from registration to compliance, no paperwork or ministry marathons. With fresh backing from Ilan Benhaim and Karim Amor, Charikaty plans to upgrade its tech and scale nationwide for founders and the Moroccan diaspora.

• Fido Ghana secured $5.5 million in debt from Symbiotics to fuel its AI-powered lending engine for MSMEs. The fintech company leans on its proprietary “Fido Score,” using mobile and transaction data to approve instant, collateral-free loans via app. Operating in Ghana and Uganda, Fido now plans to expand and widen its product stack as competition in MSME credit heats up.

• Spiro has locked in a $50 million debt facility backed by Afreximbank, Nithio, and Africa Go Green, pushing its total haul past $200 million in two years. The e-mobility startup already runs 80,000+ electric bikes and 2,500 swapping stations across seven countries, offering riders a 30% cut in operating costs. With new assembly plants and expansions planned for Cameroon, Morocco, and Tanzania, Spiro is gunning for the top spot in Africa’s electric two-wheeler race.

Events

•  AfricArena is taking over Kinshasa this March with a three-day sprint built for founders, VCs, corporates, and ecosystem operators chasing Central Africa’s next wave of growth. The flagship summit packs in a founders’ bootcamp, investor expeditions, B2B matchmaking, and a full day of keynotes, panels, and pitch battles on March 4. Whether you’re fundraising, expanding into the DRC, or scouting deal flow, it’s one of AfricArena’s highest-signal gatherings of the year. Apply to attend here.
  

• RealCorp Capital is hosting the Diaspora Angel Playbook Workshop on 12 March 2026 in London, with a global livestream for those tuning in abroad. The event promises practical frameworks, live case studies, and a crash course in how early-stage investing really works. All aimed at helping diaspora professionals back African and diaspora-led startups. Secure your slot here.
  

• Techstars is bringing its Techstars Startup Week to Abuja. And it’ll run from March 30–April 3, bringing founders, devs, and investors together for five days of workshops, mentorship, pitch sessions, and networking. From idea sprints to demo day, participants get hands-on skills, capital access, and ecosystem connections, all spotlighting Abuja’s rising tech scene. Register to attend here.

Opportunities

• Google.org is back with $30 million for AI-powered science. The 2026 Impact Challenge invites nonprofits, social enterprises, and research institutions to apply for $500,000 – $3 million+ in funding,  plus six months of pro bono Google expertise and Cloud credits. Focus areas are AI for Health & Life Sciences or AI for Climate & Environmental Science. Applications close April 17, 2026.
  

• CcHUB is reopening its EdTech Fellowship in Nigeria, and Cohort 4 comes with $100,000 equity-free for 12 early-stage startups. Backed by the Mastercard Foundation, the program targets founders building for learners most edtech skips: rural communities, girls and young women, refugees, and students with disabilities. Winners get a year of incubation, mentorship, and deep ecosystem support. Applications for the next wave close March 30, secure your spot 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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