GPT mentions 🤖 | Google new cloud region in South Africa ☁️ | Auto24 acquires Kupatana 🛒

In today’s menu 🥘

🤖 ChatGPT users can now invoke GPTs directly in chats
☁️ Google unveils its premier cloud region in South Africa, marking its first in Africa
💵 Ivorian startup Auto24 acquires Tanzanian online platform Kupatana
👨🏻‍💻 Opportunities

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🤖 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

ChatGPT users can now invoke GPTs directly in chats

OpenAI added a cool new feature to ChatGPT. Now, if you pay to use ChatGPT, you can easily bring in other AI applications and use them in your conversations. Just type “@” and select a GPT from a provided list. This makes your chats smarter and more interesting because you can use different GPTs for different things in the same conversation. It's a way to make ChatGPT even more useful for you.....….continue reading

🪙 DIGITAL CURRENCY

Africarare unveils $Ubuntu Token, Pioneering Africa’s first metaverse currency

Africarare, hailed as Africa’s inaugural metaverse, is on the verge of introducing its virtual currency, the $Ubuntu Token, poised to become the primary medium of exchange within the metaverse’s virtual marketplace.

Crafted by Mann Made, a Johannesburg-based innovation company, Africarare stands out as a 3D virtual reality immersive hub, driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and operating on the Web3 platform. This groundbreaking metaverse facilitates connection, collaboration, and e-commerce interactions among individuals, brands, and communities..⁠..….continue reading

☁️ CLOUD STORAGE

Google unveils its premier cloud region in South Africa, marking its first in Africa

Google’s new cloud region in South Africa is now operational. This development comes a year after the tech behemoth chose Johannesburg as its inaugural site on the African continent.

Cloud regions facilitate users in deploying cloud resources from particular geographic locations or nearer to the customers, offering them a range of services encompassing cloud storage, compute engine and key management systems..⁠..….continue reading

💰 INVESTMENTS

Sola Group collaborates with RMB to secure R2.8 billion funding

Rand Merchant Bank has teamed up with independent power producer, Sola Group to secure a R2.8 billion debt and equity package. According to a statement, the funds will be allocated to Sola Group’s 150MW multi-offtake solar PV project based near Virginia in the Free State.

This project is among the first multi-buyer programs in South Africa, and it’s expected to hit commercial operations under several power purchase agreements by mid-2025. Furthermore, the project aims to offer power to numerous independent clients. It also includes an unallotted portion that will be available for sale to several customers and electric power traders..⁠..….continue reading

Egyptian edtech startup, Edura, secures pre-seed funding round

Edura, an Egyptian ed-tech startup established in 2021, has successfully garnered an undisclosed pre-seed funding. The aim of the funding is to enhance the platform’s features, develop research and innovation, and expand operations.

Edura serves as an interactive platform connecting students and teachers for either live or recorded lessons. The platform offers various innovative services such as interactive learning sessions, online assessments, and evaluations of students’ progress during their studies…..continue reading

OTHER STORIES

• Digital Empowerment for Persons With Disabilities: eCitizen facilitates Self-Registration for Disability Certificates in Kenya……read more

• Layoffs: PayPal - 2,500; Block - 1,000

• Ivorian startup Auto24 acquires Tanzanian online platform Kupatana….read more

• Bolt enters Zimbabwe offering no driver commission for the first six months…..read more

🚀 OPPORTUNITIES

• The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) is calling on all aspiring African entrepreneurs seeking to turn their business dreams into reality to apply to the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme (TEF2024), for the opportunity to receive a non-returnable seed capital of $5,000. Application deadline: 1 March 2024 Click here to apply.

• The Federal Government through the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, has opened applications for Nigerian girls to participate in its new initiative called the National Girls in ICT Competition. Application deadline: 18 February 2024. Click here to apply.

• Safaricom, M-PESA Africa and Sumitomo Corporation calls for tech startups looking to join the Spark Accelerator program, which aims at accelerating early stage startups to grow and scale their businesses. Application deadline: 16 February 2024 . Click here to apply

• Norrsken22 invites African startups to apply for its $125k Accelerator Program. Interested entrepreneurs can apply here.

• Cohort 2 of the Visa Accelerator Program is now open for applications. Click here to apply. Application deadline: February 18, 2024

• CcHUB is currently accepting applications from EdTech companies interested in becoming members of its 2024 cohort. Click here to apply. Application Deadline: 17th February, 2024

• Application open for the MEST Training Program. The MEST Training Program is a one year, fully sponsored, graduate-level program in tech entrepreneurship. Click here to apply. Application Deadline: 18th March 2024