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💰 Meta Awards $200K to 12 African AI Startups

💰 Meta Awards $200K to 12 African AI Startups

Plus: 🎵 Spotify Hits 713 Million Users

Innovation Village
November 05, 2025

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Good Morning Valued Subscribers👋

Let’s talk about music, or more specifically, the power of it. Spotify just crossed 713 million users, a number that says a lot more than just “growth.” It’s proof of how far streaming has come and how much people are willing to invest in personal soundtracks that match their moods, memories, and moments. From new Afrobeats stars climbing global charts to podcast creators finding their voice, it’s becoming clear that Spotify isn’t just where people listen, it’s where culture moves.

While Spotify celebrates its milestone, it’s also a reminder to creators, startups, and brands that consistency compounds. When you keep showing up, improving, and adapting to how your audience moves, the results start to speak for themselves.

So as you scroll through today’s stories, think of this as your midweek motivation, keep building, keep growing, and maybe one day, you’ll hit your own version of 713 million.

Let’s dive in👇

Today’s Menu ☕️

💰 Meta Awards $200K to 12 African AI Startups
💵 Nigerians Push Back Hard on Cash Upgrade Plan
🎵 Spotify Hits 713 Million Users
🏍️ Angola’s Anda Bags €3M to Turn “Kupapatas” into a Smarter, Safer Ride Economy
💰 EIB invests €20M in Amethis Fund
🫐 Dutch Investors Back Namibia’s Blueberry Boom with €15M Boost
💰How Standard Bank Helped Optasia Become a Fintech Giant

💰STARTUPS

Meta Champions African AI Innovation, Gifting $200,000 to 12 Startups from Nigeria, Kenya, Senegal, and South Africa

Meta has announced 12 startups from Nigeria, Kenya, Senegal, and South Africa as winners of the Llama Impact Accelerator 2025, sharing $200,000 in equity-free funding to advance AI-driven solutions across Africa.

The program, which drew over 1,400 applications, aimed to empower developers using Meta’s open-source Llama AI model to tackle regional challenges in healthcare, education, agriculture, and governance. Each country produced three winners, with first-place startups receiving $25,000, second-place $15,000, and third-place $10,000.

Notable winners include MARMAR (Nigeria), DPE (Kenya), Kajou (Senegal), and eFama (South Africa). These top innovators will represent Africa at the AI Summit 2025 in Dubai, competing for an additional $100,000. Meta will also provide ongoing technical and business support to all 40 accelerator participants to help scale their impact.…..…continue reading

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🎵MUSIC STREAMING

Spotify Hits 713 Million Users

Global music streaming giant Spotify has crossed a major milestone, reaching 713 million monthly active users in the third quarter of 2025 — an 11% year-on-year increase and slightly above projections of 710.6 million. The growth was largely driven by rising subscriptions despite recent price hikes across key markets.

In August, Spotify increased subscription prices by around 9% in multiple regions including South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific. Yet, subscriber growth remained strong, underscoring the platform’s deep global reach and customer loyalty.

Revenue rose 7% to €4.27 billion ($4.9 billion), while premium subscriber numbers remained roughly in line with estimates. The company’s operating income climbed 43% year-on-year to €582 million, and it reported a net profit of €899 million — a sharp turnaround from the €86 million loss in the same quarter of 2024..........…..…continue reading

💵 FINANCIAL REPORT

Nigerians Push Back Hard on Cash Upgrade Plan

A new report by Quartus Economics suggested the CBN should introduce N10,000 and N20,000 notes to “fix” Nigeria’s cash system. But the response from business owners and labour groups? 🔥 Total rejection.

The Organised Private Sector (OPS) and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) called the idea elitist, pointless, and risky. They argue it only helps the rich stash money — not the average Nigerian trying to buy garri and rice. One business leader even asked, “What sense does it make to have a N20,000 note when the minimum wage is N70,000?”

Others say it’ll just fuel inflation, not fight it. “You can carry N200,000 to the market in a small nylon and come back empty-handed,” one SME leader said. Printing higher bills, they insist, doesn’t solve the problem — it just confirms the naira’s weakness.........…..…continue reading

🛵TRANSPORTATION

Angola’s Anda Bags €3M to Turn “Kupapatas” into a Smarter, Safer Ride Economy

Big moves are happening in Angola’s transport scene! Mobility startup Anda just raised €3 million in seed funding to shake up the country’s informal motorcycle taxi market — the famous kupapatas.

Founded by Sergio Tati and Joerg Nuehrmann, Anda isn’t just about giving rides — it’s giving ownership. Through a clever drive-to-own model, riders can gradually buy their bikes, gain financial independence, and operate more safely and efficiently.

With backing from European VCs Breega and Speedinvest, Anda plans to expand its fleet, boost its app, and train more drivers across Angola. The startup also runs a ride-hailing platform and last-mile delivery service, connecting people and businesses in one digital ecosystem..........…continue reading

💰INVESTMENTS

EIB invests €20M in Amethis Fund

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is putting €20 million behind a new private equity fund — the Amethis Europe Expansion Fund — that’s all about helping small and medium European businesses spread their wings internationally, especially into Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.

The idea? Give growing European companies the capital and strategic support they need to expand beyond their home turf — think exports, cross-border deals, acquisitions, and partnerships in emerging markets.

EIB Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle said the move is about building stronger economic bridges between Europe and Africa, unlocking jobs, innovation, and shared prosperity........…continue reading

🫐 INVESTMENTS

Dutch Investors Back Namibia’s Blueberry Boom with €15M Boost

Big news for Namibia’s agribusiness scene — Invest International from the Netherlands has just handed Namibia Berries a juicy €15 million loan to grow its thriving blueberry farms along the Kavango River. 🍇

The funding will help the company expand production, boost exports, and strengthen its footprint in markets like Asia, the Middle East, and Europe — with many of those blueberries headed straight through the Port of Rotterdam.

This isn’t just about farming — it’s about trade, jobs, and sustainable growth. With support from Loxworth Capital and Gemüsering Stuttgart GmbH, the project is expected to create more jobs (especially for women and youth) and position Namibia as a key player in Africa’s export market..........…..…continue reading

💰ACQUISITIONS

How Standard Bank Helped Optasia Become a Fintech Giant

Talk about a glow-up! What started as a small airtime credit startup has now become Africa’s biggest fintech IPO — meet Optasia, the AI-powered platform changing how people access microloans and airtime across 38 countries.

Standard Bank — Africa’s largest financial institution — which has been in Optasia’s corner since day one. From early funding and private capital support to leading the charge as global coordinator and sponsor during the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) listing, Standard Bank played a starring role in Optasia’s rise...…continue reading