🔋 Kofa Raises $8.1m to Expand AI-Powered Battery Swapping Across Africa

Today’s Menu ☕️

🔋 Kofa Raises $8.1m to Expand AI-Powered Battery Swapping Across Africa
💰 Here are the 7 startups in Investing in Innovation Africa’s third cohort
🤖 Tools for Humanity Unveils Orb Mini to distinguish between humans and AI agents
📱WhatsApp Hits 3 Billion Users as Meta Expands AI and Business Tools

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🔋 CLEAN ENERGY

Kofa Raises $8.1m to Expand AI-Powered Battery Swapping Across Africa

Ghanaian clean energy startup Kofa is taking a bold step toward transforming urban energy access in Africa with its recent $8.1 million pre-Series A funding round. With plans to expand its AI-driven battery-swapping network across Ghana and Kenya, the company is redefining how energy is delivered to motorcycles, households, and small businesses across the continent.

The funding round—led by E3 Capital and Injaro Investment Advisors, with participation from the Shell Foundation and top European angel investors—includes a combination of equity, debt, and grants. This infusion of capital will accelerate the deployment of new swap stations, strengthen Kofa’s battery inventory, and scale its proprietary AI energy management platform...…… continue reading

💰 STARTUPS

Here are the 7 startups in Investing in Innovation Africa’s third cohort

Seven high-growth startups from across the continent have been selected to join the third cohort of Investing in Innovation Africa (i3), a pan-African initiative supporting visionary companies reshaping access to pharmacy care. Backed by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and leading global health stakeholders, the program is channeling resources and partnerships to local innovators revolutionizing Africa’s pharmacy ecosystem.

With operations spanning 19 African countries, this latest cohort represents a new wave of healthtech solutions targeting Africa’s most pressing pharmaceutical challenges. From AI-powered prescription systems and cloud-based pharmacy tools to embedded financing and last-mile delivery, these startups are rethinking how essential medicines and health services reach the last mile.

The third i3 cohort includes Chefaa, Dawa Mkononi, Meditect, mPharma, myDawa, RxAll and Sproxil..……… continue reading

🤖 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Tools for Humanity Unveils Orb Mini to distinguish between humans and AI agents

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) and TLG Capital have raised $75 million in the first close of the TLG Africa Growth Impact Fund II (AGIF II), delivering a major boost to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Africa and helping to protect jobs on the continent.

Anchored by IFC’s Distressed Asset Recovery Program (DARP) with a commitment of up to $20 million, the fund also enjoys strong backing from Swedfund, Norfund, Bpifrance, and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) through its Manufacturing Africa program. The newly launched AGIF II fund is designed to offer a financial lifeline to up to 20 African SMEs facing challenges with existing loan options.

The financing will be delivered in partnership with African banks, ensuring SMEs can access the local capital they need to overcome macroeconomic shocks, operational hurdles, or industry-specific headwinds. AGIF II will support businesses operating in critical sectors including manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture, and telecoms — areas considered vital to economic resilience and inclusive growth..……… continue reading

📱 SOCIAL MEDIA

WhatsApp Hits 3 Billion Users as Meta Expands AI and Business Tools

WhatsApp has joined the ranks of the world’s most-used apps, surpassing 3 billion monthly users, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced during the company’s Q1 2025 earnings call. The achievement solidifies WhatsApp’s role as a cornerstone of Meta’s consumer engagement, AI strategy, and growing business services portfolio.

Founded in 2009 and acquired by Meta (then Facebook) for $19 billion in 2014, WhatsApp has grown exponentially without running ads or charging subscription fees. Having reached 2 billion monthly active users in 2020, the app has now added another billion in just four years—reinforcing its position as the dominant global messaging platform......…continue reading

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