💵 IFC Invests $25M to Power Africa’s Green Transition

Plus: 🕊️Nestlé to Cut 16,000 Jobs

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Innovation Village
October 17, 2025

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TGIF☀️

We’ve finally made it to the end of the week. It is time to exhale, catch your breath, and maybe even treat yourself a little. As we wrap things up, today’s edition takes a closer look at some key financial reports making the rounds this week. Whether you’re into market insights or just curious about how the numbers are shaping up, we’ve got you covered.

 Let’s dive in👇

Today’s Menu ☕️

💰Bidvest Dives In: Agile Capital Exits Environmental Leader Aquatico
💵 IFC Bets Big on Africa’s Green Future with $25M Energy Transition Fund Investment
💵 Morocco’s Chari Just Leveled Up and It’s a Game-Changer for Local Merchants
💰Africa Lighthouse Capital Backs Bayport Botswana to Boost Financial Inclusion
💵 Tunisian Startup PAYDAY Raises $3M Valuation to Redefine Financial Wellness
🕊️ Nestlé to Cut 16,000 Jobs in Global Automation Drive

💰ACQUISITIONS

Bidvest Dives In: Agile Capital Exits Environmental Leader Aquatico

Tshego Sefolo, CEO of Agile Capital

Big moves in South Africa’s environmental scene! Agile Capital has officially wrapped up its decade-long investment in Aquatico, selling the environmental testing powerhouse to Bidvest.

If you haven’t heard of them, Aquatico is the go-to company for environmental monitoring—especially in the mining sector—handling everything from groundwater testing to compliance reporting. Basically, they help keep industries accountable for how they treat the planet.

Agile first backed Aquatico in 2012 alongside RMB Corvest, helping it grow into one of South Africa’s top players in the testing and compliance space. Now, with Bidvest stepping in, the next phase is all about scale and innovation......…..…continue reading

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💵INVESTMENTS

IFC Bets Big on Africa’s Green Future with $25M Energy Transition Fund Investment

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) — yes, the private-sector arm of the World Bank just announced plans to invest $25 million in something huge: the African Transition Acceleration Fund (ATAF). Think of it as a launchpad for Africa’s clean energy revolution.

So, what’s the big idea here? ATAF is designed to give early-stage funding to companies building the future of energy across the continent — from clean power plants to electric vehicles and even green hydrogen projects (yep, we’re talking next-level sustainability)..........…..…continue reading

💵 FUNDING

Morocco’s Chari Just Leveled Up and It’s a Game-Changer for Local Merchants

Big moves out of Morocco this week! 🇲🇦 Chari — the fintech and e-commerce startup that’s been quietly transforming how small shops do business — just bagged $12 million in Series A funding. But that’s not even the biggest news. The real headline? Chari just became the first VC-backed startup in Morocco to get a payment institution license from the country’s central bank, Bank Al-Maghrib. 🚀

Here’s why that’s a big deal:
With this license, Chari can now do way more than help merchants restock shelves. It can offer full-blown financial services — think debit cards, digital payments, money transfers, bill payments, and even micro-insurance. Basically, Chari is turning everyday corner shops into mini financial hubs......…..…continue reading

💰ACQUISITIONS

Africa Lighthouse Capital Backs Bayport Botswana to Boost Financial Inclusion

Bame Pule, CEO of Africa Lighthouse

Africa Lighthouse Capital is betting big on financial inclusion in Botswana! The Botswana-based private equity firm has just acquired a significant minority stake in Bayport Financial Services Botswana, one of the country’s leading microfinance institutions known for empowering everyday workers with access to credit.

If you’ve ever met a teacher, nurse, or police officer in Botswana who finally got the funds to build a home, further their education, or start a small business — there’s a good chance Bayport was behind it. The company has earned its reputation by focusing on responsible lending, ensuring that financial empowerment doesn’t come at the cost of financial strain......…continue reading

💵FUNDING

Tunisian Startup PAYDAY Raises $3M Valuation to Redefine Financial Wellness

PAYDAY is on a mission to make “payday” more flexible — and it’s getting major backing to do just that. The Tunisian fintech-insurtech startup has just closed its first-ever pre-seed funding round, led by UGFS North Africa, with support from TALYS Group and BioProtection SA. The deal pushes PAYDAY’s valuation to $3 million, a solid start for a company launched just last year.

So what’s all the buzz about? PAYDAY is tackling financial stress head-on through a model that blends salary-backed financing with micro-Takaful protection (that’s Sharia-compliant micro-insurance). In simple terms, the platform lets employees access part of their earned wages before payday — helping them handle unexpected bills — while also providing affordable micro-insurance to cushion against financial shocks.......…continue reading

OTHER STORIES

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Jessica .C. Adiele
Innovation Village