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💵 Mawingu raises $20m Series C, East-Africa connectivity

💵 Mawingu raises $20m Series C, East-Africa connectivity

Plus: 🛒 Leadership Transition at Chpter

Innovation Village
October 02, 2025

Good morning valued subscribers👋

Hope you enjoyed your Independence Day celebrations yesterday 🇳🇬. Now it’s Thursday, the weekend is peeking just around the corner, but before we get there, we’ve lined up something extra for you.

Today’s edition comes with volunteer opportunities you might want to check out. Whether you’re looking to give back, grow your skills, or just try something new, there could be a perfect fit waiting for you.

So grab your Thursday energy and let’s dive in👇

Today’s Menu ☕️

🛒 Leadership Transition at Chpter: Tesh Mbaabu and Mesongo Sibuti Step Down, Mark Kiarie Returns as CEO
📺 DStv Ghana Subscribers Get Major Upgrades After NCA Ruling
🧔🏽‍♂️Microsoft appoints Vukani Mngxati as CEO of South Africa operations
💵 Kenya’s Mawingu secures $20 million Series C to expand internet access across East Africa
🤖 Visa partners with Egypt’s intella to transform Arabic conversational AI across MENA’s financial sector

💵 FUNDING

Kenya’s Mawingu secures $20 million Series C to expand internet access across East Africa

Kenyan internet service provider Mawingu has raised $20 million in a Series C round led by Pembani Remgro Infrastructure Managers to expand affordable connectivity in underserved communities. The funding will support network growth across Kenya and advance its goal of connecting one million East Africans by 2028.

Mawingu, which currently serves 120,000 users, uses solar-powered wireless tech and a community-centric model to overcome infrastructure gaps. The company has also expanded regionally through acquisitions, including Tanzanian ISP Habari. The investment underscores Mawingu’s strategy of combining social impact with financial sustainability, positioning it as a key player in East Africa’s digital inclusion drive...........…continue reading

🛒 ECOMMERCE

Leadership Transition at Chpter: Tesh Mbaabu and Mesongo Sibuti Step Down, Mark Kiarie Returns as CEO

Chpter co-founders, L-R: Mark Kiarie (COO), Kelvin Kuria (CPO), Tesh Mbaabu (CEO) and Mesongo Sibuti (CTO)

Kenya’s social commerce startup Chpter says co-founders Tesh Mbaabu and Mesongo Sibuti left day-to-day roles on September 15, 2025, as original co-founder Mark Kiarie returned as CEO. Kiarie and Kuria Kevin founded Chpter in 2021; Mbaabu and Sibuti joined in early 2024 after MarketForce’s pivot. In an internal email, Mbaabu said it was right for Kiarie to lead as chief visionary. Under their stewardship, Chpter accelerated growth—securing capital, forging partnerships, and expanding to 14 African markets through a June 2025 collaboration with Flutterwave.

The team onboarded 3,500+ businesses, launched Pluto, a WhatsApp API subsidiary for AI-powered transactions, and built on a $1.2 million pre-seed round in September 2024 from Pani, Techstars, and Norrsken. Calling the move difficult but personal, the pair expressed confidence in Kiarie and hinted at a new venture. With leadership consolidated, Chpter now aims to scale its AI-driven infrastructure amid a tougher funding climate.…..…continue reading

📺 MEDIA

DStv Ghana Subscribers Get Major Upgrades After NCA Ruling

MultiChoice Ghana, operator of DStv, has rolled out major service upgrades after regulatory intervention by the National Communications Authority (NCA). The changes expand access to premium channels, improve affordability, and enhance the viewing experience through platforms like the DStv Stream app.

The NCA directed pay-TV providers to revise pricing and services to better reflect market realities and protect consumers. As a result, lower-tier DStv subscribers will now enjoy select premium content, more sports and entertainment options, and in some cases, reduced costs.…..…continue reading

Develop your leadership skills through a volunteering project contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals with the AIESEC Organization
Volunteer opportunities exist in Media and Communications, Fundraising and Virtual Trainer/Tech Support services at Pagus Africa Organization
Volunteer to solve hunger with Lagos Food Bank Initiative
Volunteering with NJO Foundation Africa to contribute to the well-being of underprivileged communities

🧔🏽‍♂️BUSINESS

Microsoft appoints Vukani Mngxati as CEO of South Africa operations

CEO of South Africa Operations, Vukani Mngxati

Microsoft has appointed Vukani Mngxati as the new CEO of Microsoft South Africa, effective 1 October 2025, succeeding Lillian Barnard, who now leads Enterprise Partners for Microsoft Middle East & Africa.

Mngxati, a seasoned leader with over 25 years of experience from Accenture and entrepreneurial ventures, will drive Microsoft’s strategy to expand cloud infrastructure, accelerate AI adoption, and strengthen partnerships aligned with South Africa’s development priorities.

His appointment follows Microsoft’s R5.4 billion investment in AI-optimized data centers and ongoing commitments to train 50,000 people in digital and AI skills. Microsoft sees his leadership as key to fostering inclusive growth, innovation, and economic progress in South Africa...........…continue reading

🤖ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Visa partners with Egypt’s intella to transform Arabic conversational AI across MENA’s financial sector

Egyptian Arabic speech intelligence startup intella has partnered with Visa to revolutionize conversational AI for financial institutions across the MENA region. The collaboration will deliver dialect-aware, localized AI solutions that address the challenge of interpreting 25+ Arabic dialects, enabling banks to transform customer interactions into actionable insights.

Founded in 2021, intella specializes in Arabic-first AI models such as dialectal speech recognition and its conversational AI agent, Ziila. Through the partnership, Visa’s network will access intella’s platforms like intellaCX, enhancing compliance, customer satisfaction, and product development.......…continue reading