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💵NjiaPay Raises $2.1M to Simplify African Payments

💵NjiaPay Raises $2.1M to Simplify African Payments

Plus:🌐 Starlink Satellites to Deliver Internet to Smartphones

Innovation Village
March 10, 2026

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Good Morning Valued Subscribers👋

Starlink has launched its next-generation Direct-to-Phone Mobile V2 satellites, marking a major step toward enabling smartphones to connect directly to satellites without the need for traditional cellular towers. The development is part of the company’s broader effort to expand global connectivity, particularly in remote and underserved regions where terrestrial mobile infrastructure remains limited.

By allowing standard mobile phones to communicate directly with satellites in orbit, the initiative could reshape how mobile networks operate, potentially providing emergency messaging, voice services, and basic internet access in areas beyond the reach of conventional telecom networks. The rollout signals an important milestone in satellite-to-mobile technology and highlights the growing competition to redefine global connectivity infrastructure.

Let’s dive in👇

Today’s Menu ☕️

💵 NjiaPay Raises $2.1M to Simplify African Payments
🔋Jos DisCo Introduces Electricity Debt Repayment Plan
🌐 Starlink Satellites Could Bring Fast Internet Directly to Smartphones
💰Orca Fraud Raises $2.35M
🤖 Otinga.io Launches AI Innovation Platform for Enterprises

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💵FUNDING

NjiaPay Raises $2.1M to Simplify African Payments

NjiaPay has raised $2.1 million in seed funding in a round led by Newion to expand its payments orchestration platform across Africa. The startup plans to use the investment to grow its engineering and commercial teams, strengthen integrations, and accelerate market expansion.

Founded in 2024 by Jonatan Allback and Roderick Simons, NjiaPay was created after the team encountered challenges managing multiple payment service providers while scaling the international calling platform Talk360. The company offers a single API that allows merchants to connect to and manage multiple payment providers through one platform.....….continue reading

🔋ELECTRICITY

Jos DisCo Introduces Electricity Debt Repayment Plan

Jos Electricity Distribution Company has introduced a repayment plan allowing customers to clear outstanding electricity debts through monthly instalments. The initiative aims to help households and businesses manage accumulated bills while improving revenue collection for the utility.

Under the plan, customers owing up to ₦1 million will pay small monthly instalments, while those with higher debts must make larger payments or provide a 30% upfront deposit before spreading the remaining balance over several months. The company will also allow debts from estimated billing periods to be transferred to newly installed prepaid meters, improving transparency and billing accuracy.........….continue reading

🌐INTERNET

Starlink Satellites Could Bring Fast Internet Directly to Smartphones

SpaceX is expanding its satellite internet service Starlink satellite internet service with a new generation of “Mobile V2” or Direct-to-Cell satellites designed to connect directly to smartphones. The satellites will function like cell towers in space, delivering LTE-based connectivity without requiring satellite dishes or special hardware.

The new system is expected to deliver speeds of up to 150 Mbps and provide significantly higher data capacity than earlier satellites. SpaceX plans to deploy up to 15,000 Mobile V2 satellites in low-Earth orbit and is partnering with telecom operators such as T-Mobile so phones can switch seamlessly between terrestrial cell towers and satellite coverage......….continue reading

💰FUNDING

Orca Fraud Raises $2.35M

Orca Fraud, a Cape Town–based startup, has raised $2.35 million in an oversubscribed seed round led by Norrsken22, with participation from OneDayYes, Enza Capital, and CV VC. The funding will support the expansion of its fraud-prevention technology designed specifically for emerging markets.

Founded by Thalia Pillay and Carla Wilby, the company builds machine-learning systems that detect fraud in real time across mobile money, card payments, and bank transfers. Its platform is designed to handle the complexities of emerging markets, where fragmented financial systems and inconsistent data often limit the effectiveness of traditional fraud tools........….continue reading

🤖ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Otinga.io Launches AI Innovation Platform for Enterprises

Otinga.io has launched an AI-powered innovation platform designed to help large enterprises turn creative ideas into structured, measurable business outcomes. The platform aims to replace “innovation theatre”—superficial innovation initiatives—with strategic programs that align with company goals and deliver real results.

Founded by Francois van der Merwe, the company promotes a concept called “innovation with intention,” combining human creativity with structured processes and AI tools. Its framework helps organizations manage the entire innovation lifecycle, from identifying problems and generating ideas to developing and implementing solutions..................….continue reading