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🤝 SmartBuy Partners with Truecaller for Verified Calls

🤝 SmartBuy Partners with Truecaller for Verified Calls

Plus: 🌐 Google Launches Nano Banana Pro AI Model

Innovation Village
November 21, 2025

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TGIF☀️

It seems like the corporate world decided to flex its “reset” button all at once. Between last month and this one alone, we’ve seen big names like Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and now Verizon trim the sails and by trim, we mean thousands of jobs. It’s a stark reminder that no company, no matter how towering, is immune to strategy shifts, cost-cutting, or changing priorities.

For those watching from the outside, it can feel like a dizzying carousel, one day a tech giant is unveiling AI dreams, the next it’s laying off employees by the tens of thousands. But there’s a bigger picture here: these moves aren’t just about numbers. They signal industry recalibrations, market realities, and a relentless push toward efficiency in a world that refuses to wait.

For all of us, it’s a subtle nudge to stay nimble, anticipate change, and think about where opportunity sits in the middle of all this disruption. Because while companies pivot, the world keeps spinning and sometimes the shake-ups create new openings we didn’t even see coming.

Let’s dive in.👇

Today’s Menu ☕️

🤝 SmartBuy Turns Every Call Into a Verified Call With New Truecaller Deal
🏦Standard Bank Lets Africa Pay China Directly in RMB
💼 Ata Capital exits Novare Holdings
🚲 Roam Powers Kenya’s First Fast-Charging Hub for Electric Vehicles
📰Verizon to Cut 13,000 Jobs in Major Restructuring Move

🤝PARTNERSHIPS

SmartBuy Turns Every Call Into a Verified Call With New Truecaller Deal

SmartBuy, Jordan’s leading electronics megastore, has partnered with Truecaller to improve customer trust and communication. Through Truecaller’s Customer Experience Solution Suite, SmartBuy will now make verified, branded calls that display its name, logo, and purpose of the call before customers pick up. The move aims to reduce call confusion, improve service transparency, and strengthen SmartBuy’s customer experience. Both companies say the partnership sets a new standard for trusted communication in Jordan’s retail sector...........…continue reading

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🏦BANKING

Standard Bank Lets Africa Pay China Directly in RMB

Standard Bank just made Africa–China trade a whole lot smoother. The bank has become the first in Africa to plug directly into China’s Cross-Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS), meaning African businesses can finally pay Chinese suppliers in Renminbi (RMB)—no more routing everything through the US dollar.

For years, importers across Africa have had to deal with dollar delays, extra fees, and unpredictable exchange rates when buying goods from China. Now, payments can move faster, cost less, and skip the usual currency bottlenecks.

This shift comes as China’s trade influence in Africa keeps rising, especially in big import markets like Nigeria, South Africa, and Egypt. Standard Bank’s new integration lets businesses send and receive RMB in real or near-real time, reduces FX pressure, and helps companies that rely heavily on Chinese supply chains.…...continue reading

💼BUSINESS

Ata Capital exits Novare Holdings

South Africa’s Ata Capital has sold its 26% stake in Novare Holdings to the company’s management team, marking a major step in Novare’s growth journey (pending regulatory approval). Ata Capital praised Novare’s leadership for navigating tough economic cycles while achieving milestones like EDGE-certified offices in Zambia, top awards in finance, and recognition from IFC. The deal reflects a broader push for empowerment-led, sustainable investments across Africa..….continue reading

🚲TRANSPORTATION

Roam Powers Kenya’s First Fast-Charging Hub for Electric Vehicles

Kenya’s Roam has launched the country’s first universal fast-charging station for light electric vehicles, delivering 10–20 km of range in just five minutes. The Roam Point allows riders to combine home and fast charging for up to 160 km per day, with payments via SMS, M-Pesa, or the Roam App. This rollout is part of Roam’s mission to accelerate electric mobility in Africa, backed by $31.5 million in funding and a vision to make locally engineered EVs accessible, sustainable, and convenient for everyday riders................…continue reading

📰NEWS

Verizon to Cut 13,000 Jobs in Major Restructuring Move

Verizon is set to lay off over 13,000 employees—about 13% of its workforce—as part of a strategic overhaul under new CEO Dan Schulman. The restructuring aims to streamline operations, reduce costs, and refocus the company on customer-first growth. The telecom giant faces challenges like postpaid subscriber losses while pursuing expansion in broadband and internet services, including a $20 billion merger with Frontier and the Starry acquisition.

To support affected employees, Verizon is launching a $20 million Reskilling and Career Transition Fund to help with digital training, skill development, and job placement, especially as technology and AI reshape the workforce. Schulman emphasized the need for change to create a faster, more focused Verizon prepared for future growth..…..…continue reading