This Week in African Tech 🌍

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Hey and welcome to This Week in African Tech!

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Tech Roundup

• Kenya to become VISA-free starting January next year visitors worldwide won't need a visa! The government's new digital platform makes it easy for everyone to get an electronic travel authorization instead.

• African fintech unicorn, Chipper Cash, lays off 15 employees. It’s their fourth round of layoffs this year, and it mainly affected their US team.

• Copia teams up with Visa to bring a digital wallet to their customers. Users can shop, pay with Visa, and access extras like “Buy Now Pay Later” credit, savings plans, loyalty rewards, and remittance services, all on one platform.

• Twiga Foods CEO Peter Njonjo takes a 6-month break from his role to focus on personal matters. The news comes a week after a Kenyan court granted the company a four-month window to sort out its unpaid bills dispute with Incentro Africa.

• Jumia, the e-commerce platform in Africa is shutting down its food delivery service Jumia Food in seven markets, including Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, and Ivory Coast, by the end of December 2023.

• Techstars, in collaboration with ARM Labs, announces 12 companies selected for the second stage of its African-focused accelerator program. The companies will embark on a 14-week journey, receiving up to $120,000 in funding per company and gaining access to $400,000 in cash.

Deal Roundup

• South African parcel shipping platform TUNL raises $1 million in pre-seed funding. The round was led by Founders Factory Africa, Digital Africa Ventures, E4E Africa, and Jozi Angels.

• Kenyan e-commerce and fintech platform, Copia Global, raises $20 million in Series C extension. The round was led by Enza Capital, LGT, Goodwell Investments, DFC, DEG, Elea, Perivoli Foundation, and Sorenson Foundation.

• Susu, the French-African startup, raises $4.9 million (€4.5 million) in funding to expand to new African markets. The round was led by INCO Ventures, Al Mada Ventures, Janngo Capital, and Open CNP, with the participation of Health54 (CFAO Healthcare), Launch Africa Ventures, Five35 Ventures, Plug and Play Ventures, and several business angels.

• Maka, the Lagos-based fashion and beauty e-commerce platform, raises $2.65 million in pre-seed funding. The round was led by 4DX Ventures and Janngo, with participation from Palm Drive Capital, Jonathan Shipman, and executives Wolt.

• WIC Capital, a local capital provider supporting women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Senegal and Ivory Coast, receives a $1 million loan from FSDAi Nyala Facility BV to expand its impact.

Events and Opportunities

• Tech Safari has a feature on the Change of Africa Podcast and it's one to look out for. Check out the podcast here.

• Green entrepreneurs, are you ready? Anzisha Prize is seeking to increase job creation through dynamic entrepreneurs in Africa. Apply here before December 30th.

• Founders - want to know how to grow through M&A? Join us tomorrow as we team up with Olga Duka from Improve Ventures to learn more about this. Grab your spot here.

And that's a wrap for this week!

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