💼 Salesforce Acquires Informatica for $8 Billion

Today’s Menu ☕️

📱Airtel Flags Over 9.6 Million Spam Messages with AI-Powered Alert System
📱WhatsApp Finally Lands on iPad with Full Tablet Support
💵 AFC Injects €100 Million into West Africa’s Gold Mining Boom with Mota-Engil Africa Deal
💼 Salesforce Acquires Informatica for $8 Billion to Boost AI Capabilities
💰 COREangels MEA Unveils $10m Fintech Fund for Africa and Middle East

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📱 TELECOMS

Airtel Flags Over 9.6 Million Spam Messages with AI-Powered Alert System

Airtel Nigeria has reported a major milestone in its fight against digital fraud, revealing that its recently launched AI-powered Spam Alert Service has identified more than 9.6 million spam messages within just two months of operation. Introduced on March 13, 2025, the system is part of the telecom giant’s broader initiative to integrate artificial intelligence into its customer protection strategy.

According to Airtel, the AI service scanned millions of SMS traffic patterns and flagged 9,667,008 messages as potential spam by May 20, 2025. Of these, 528,080 originated from Airtel’s own network, while the vast majority — 9,138,928 messages — came from other networks, highlighting the scale of off-net threats facing mobile users.

“This milestone demonstrates the strength of our AI-driven infrastructure in combating the growing menace of spam and scam calls,” said Dinesh Balsingh, CEO of Airtel Nigeria. “We understand that trust is the cornerstone of digital communication. That’s why we’ve invested heavily in intelligent systems that not only detect potential threats but also evolve with time.”...……continue reading

📱 SOCIAL MEDIA

WhatsApp Finally Lands on iPad with Full Tablet Support

After years of user requests and beta testing, Meta has officially released a dedicated WhatsApp app for iPad, marking a major milestone in the platform’s 16-year journey. The rollout—part of WhatsApp for iOS version 25.16.81—was confirmed on May 27, 2025, and is now available on the App Store.

Until now, iPad users had to rely on browser-based workarounds like WhatsApp Web, which lacked fluidity, device optimization, and offline usability. But that era has ended with the release of a fully native WhatsApp app, purpose-built for iPadOS.

Designed to fully harness the iPad’s capabilities, the new app introduces features tailored for tablets, including support for video and audio calls of up to 32 participants, screen sharing, and dual camera usage—leveraging both front and rear iPad cameras.......…continue reading

💵 MINERAL RESOURCES

AFC Injects €100 Million into West Africa’s Gold Mining Boom with Mota-Engil Africa Deal

Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), one of Africa’s premier infrastructure finance institutions, has announced a €100 million investment to support the expansion of Mota-Engil Africa’s mining operations in Côte d’Ivoire and Mali. The five-year facility is set to finance equipment acquisition, inventory, and site infrastructure for three new gold mining projects, reflecting AFC’s deepening commitment to unlocking Africa’s mineral wealth and advancing sustainable industrial growth across the continent.

This strategic funding marks another high point in the longstanding partnership between AFC and Mota-Engil Africa, the African subsidiary of global construction and engineering powerhouse, Mota-Engil Group. Since 2016, the two organisations have collaborated on multiple transformative projects across Africa, including aviation, rail infrastructure, and mining.

The newly announced financing targets West Africa’s growing gold mining sector—a critical revenue source for Côte d’Ivoire and Mali. Gold not only drives foreign exchange inflows but also supports job creation and value-chain development in both countries. With global gold prices remaining strong and demand for the precious metal steady, this initiative positions Mota-Engil to scale operations and meet regional mining needs more efficiently.....…..…continue reading

 💼 ACQUISITIONS

Salesforce Acquires Informatica for $8 Billion to Boost AI Capabilities

Salesforce is returning to high-stakes dealmaking with a bold move to acquire data management leader Informatica in a deal valued at approximately $8 billion, signaling its most significant acquisition since purchasing Slack in 2021. As the artificial intelligence (AI) arms race accelerates in the enterprise tech sector, this acquisition positions Salesforce to become a dominant force in AI-powered data infrastructure.

The transaction, expected to close early in Salesforce’s fiscal year 2027, marks a strategic turning point for the company, which had previously stepped back from major M&A activity following pressure from activist investors to focus on profitability. Now, Salesforce is doubling down on its vision of integrating agentic AI into every layer of business operations — and Informatica offers the robust data backbone needed to power that transformation.

Under the agreement, Informatica shareholders will receive $25 per share in cash, representing a 30% premium to the company’s pre-deal market value. The deal will be funded through a mix of cash on hand and new debt, and it is expected to begin boosting Salesforce’s operating margin and free cash flow starting in its second year post-close....…..…continue reading

💰 FUNDING

COREangels MEA Unveils $10m Fintech Fund for Africa and Middle East

COREangels MEA, in partnership with PTS Holdings and the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, has launched a $10 million investment fund to support early-stage innovation across the Middle East and Africa (MEA). At the centre of the initiative is a clear mission: to invest in purpose-driven tech startups aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those in the rapidly evolving fintech sector.

During its 5th Investment Committee forum held in Cairo, COREangels MEA selected five standout startups from a pool of over 1,000 applicants. Each selected startup will receive up to $150,000 in seed funding, along with access to tailored advisory and technical support. This year’s theme, “Fintech as the Foundation for Inclusive Growth,” underscores the fund’s strategic focus on expanding financial access and digital inclusion.

Among the chosen startups are:

• eMaisha Pay (Uganda): A platform providing farmers with access to microloans, crop insurance, and digital savings tools.

• RentBeta (East Africa): A rent payment solution streamlining landlord-tenant transactions through automation and flexible billing.

• Aqua Offers (Egypt): A loyalty and instant savings platform that uses performance-based customer engagement.

• Monak (MENA): A bundled service offering financial, health, and insurance support to migrant communities across the region.

• Reeple (Nigeria): A fintech service simplifying global payments for African freelancers and digital workers.

The selection process was spearheaded by Kemtix Ventures, the innovation and venture studio arm of PTS Holdings, which conducted rigorous evaluations to assess each startup’s scalability and alignment with impact objectives.…..…continue reading

OTHER STORIES

• How AI Agents Are Replacing Apps (and What to Build Instead)…….continue reading

• Xiaomi reports record first-quarter revenue as it launches new electric SUV…….continue reading

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