Lagos bans Single-Use Plastics ♻️ | SafeBoda back in Kenya 🏍️ | Shamba Pride $3.7m💰

In today’s menu

⚯ Lagos State forges strategic partnership with leading U.S. Tech Companies for Technology Exchange
💰Kenyan agritech startup, Shamba Pride, secures $3.7M for the expansion of its merchant network
🏍️ SafeBoda is coming back to Kenya
♻️ Lagos State bans Single-Use Plastics
👨🏻‍💻 Opportunities

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⚯ PARTNERSHIPS

Anambra State forges strategic partnership with leading U.S. Tech Companies for Technology Exchange

The Anambra state government has officially declared a strategic partnership with 26 distinguished high-tech companies in the United States. The companies involved in this collaboration include Google, Meta, Amazon Web Services, Dell, and several others.

The primary objective of the meeting was to explore avenues for collaboration, establish corporate alliances, and foster technological partnerships aimed at accelerating Anambra State’s growth. The meeting served as an opportunity to enhance strategic partnerships for economic development and the exchange of technologies, fostering shared prosperity between Anambra State, its tech companies, and their counterparts in the United States..….continue reading

🏍️ RIDE-HAILING

SafeBoda is coming back to Kenya

Motorcycle-taxi-hailing platform SafeBoda has announced its return to the Kenyan market, marking the resumption of operations after a three-year absence. The company is slated to recommence services on February 10th, 2024.

SafeBoda initially entered the Kenyan market in 2018, with a commitment to professionalising the local motorcycle taxi industry, known as boda bodas. However, the company exited the Kenyan market in November 2020, citing operational challenges and the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.….continue reading

💰 INVESTMENTS

Kenyan agritech startup, Shamba Pride, secures $3.7M for the expansion of its merchant network

Kenyan agritech startup, Shamba Pride has secured a $3.7 million pre-series A funding from the EU agriculture financing initiative, EDFI AgriFI, and Seedstars Africa Ventures (SAV). This new funding, which includes $1.7 million equity, builds on the $1.1 million capital they raised in 2021 from SAV and Gray Matters Capital

Shamba Pride uses digital technology to equip agro-dealers, empowering them to manage their businesses and order inventory efficiently. This ensures the constant availability of supplies such as seeds and fertilizers to millions of small-scale farmers in rural regions…

Shamba Pride intends to expand within Kenya and eventually extend to nearby markets such as Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia….read more

♻️ ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

Lagos State Takes Bold Step Towards Environmental Sustainability by Banning Single-Use Plastics

In a significant move towards environmental sustainability, the Lagos State Government has taken a decisive step by banning the use and distribution of single-use plastics, including Styrofoam. The announcement, made by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, reflects a growing global concern about the environmental impact of single-use plastics.

The decision to ban single-use plastics in Lagos State stems from the escalating environmental threat posed by these materials, especially non-biodegradable styrofoam.....….continue reading

OTHER STORIES

• Sam Altman wants to raise billions for network of AI Chip factories…read more.

• Japan becomes the fifth nation to land a spacecraft on the Moon….read more

• Microsoft falls victim to hackers seeking to uncover what information the company has on them…..read more

🚀 OPPORTUNITIES

• 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