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📶Standard Bank Funds Safaricom Ethiopia $138M

📶Standard Bank Funds Safaricom Ethiopia $138M

Plus: 🔋Africa Launches First EV Battery-Swap Network

Innovation Village
December 11, 2025

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Good Morning Valued Subscribers👋

Every year, the App Store crowns a new champion, a breakout app that defines how people learn, work, communicate, and solve problems. But 2025 has delivered something different: not just a hit app, but a cultural shift. ChatGPT didn’t just trend; it completely reshaped how millions of people use their phones.

This year, the AI assistant leapfrogged entertainment platforms, productivity suites, finance apps, and even Apple’s own ecosystem tools to become the most downloaded app in the United States. It wasn’t pushed by hype alone, but by everyday users turning to AI for everything, planning their lives, doing schoolwork, managing businesses, solving technical tasks, and even replacing old habits like search and note-taking.

Its rise tells a bigger story: people are no longer experimenting with AI; they’re depending on it. If 2024 was the year AI went mainstream, 2025 is the year it officially became the default.

Let’s dive in👇

Today’s Menu ☕️

📶Standard Bank Backs Safaricom Ethiopia with $138M
🔋Africa Gets First Open EV Battery Swap Network
💰Mr Price Buys Europe’s NKD in R9.6bn Expansion Move
🩺Boehringer Ingelheim Backs Zuri Health
💼FSCA Hits Banxso With Record Fine

📶 TELECOMS

Standard Bank Backs Safaricom Ethiopia with $138M

Standard Bank has provided $138 million in financing to support Safaricom’s expansion in Ethiopia, acting as sole arranger, lender, and facility agent for the deal. The funding aims to accelerate digital connectivity and inclusion in one of Africa’s fastest-growing telecom markets. Safaricom says the partnership will help empower youth, entrepreneurs, and underserved communities as it builds out Ethiopia’s digital economy. Since entering the market in 2021, Safaricom has grown to over 10 million active users, underscoring strong demand for its services. Standard Bank says the investment reflects its commitment to driving infrastructure development and digital inclusion across Africa.........…..…continue reading

Your competitors are already automating. Here's the data.

Retail and ecommerce teams using AI for customer service are resolving 40-60% more tickets without more staff, cutting cost-per-ticket by 30%+, and handling seasonal spikes 3x faster.

But here's what separates winners from everyone else: they started with the data, not the hype.

Gladly handles the predictable volume, FAQs, routing, returns, order status, while your team focuses on customers who need a human touch. The result? Better experiences. Lower costs. Real competitive advantage. Ready to see what's possible for your business?

See it in action

🔋ENERGY

Africa Gets First Open EV Battery Swap Network

Ampersand has launched Africa’s first open battery swap network, allowing third-party electric motorcycle manufacturers to use its energy infrastructure. The first partner, Wylex Mobility, will integrate its electric motorcycles into Ampersand’s fast-growing swap ecosystem across East Africa. The shift marks Ampersand’s evolution from an EV manufacturer to a continent-wide energy provider, enabling riders to access reliable, affordable battery swaps that cut fuel costs and boost income. With over 20,000 swaps completed daily and ambitions to scale across major African cities, Ampersand aims to accelerate the continent’s transition to electric mobility by focusing on shared energy systems rather than proprietary vehicles.......…..…continue reading

💰ACQUISITIONS

Mr Price Buys Europe’s NKD in R9.6bn Expansion Move

Mr Price Group is expanding globally with a R9.66 billion acquisition of NKD Group, a major European value apparel and homeware retailer operating over 2,100 stores across seven countries. The deal includes the full purchase of NKD’s parent company and shareholder loans, funded through internal resources and debt. Expected to close in Q2 2026, the acquisition will significantly boost Mr Price’s global footprint to more than 5,000 stores and raise projected revenue to R53 billion. The move positions Mr Price for long-term growth in Europe’s fast-growing value retail market............…..…continue reading

🩺HEALTHTECH

Boehringer Ingelheim Backs Zuri Health

Boehringer Ingelheim has made a strategic impact investment in Zuri Health to help expand its mobile clinic network across Africa. The funding—channeled through the Social Engagement Fund—will enable Zuri Health to deploy two additional mobile clinics, extending essential healthcare services to underserved rural communities.

Zuri Health, founded in 2020, operates a hybrid telemedicine and physical-care model, allowing patients to consult doctors via SMS or app while also offering medication delivery, lab tests, and home visits. Operating in nine African countries, the startup partners with local pharmacies, labs, and hospitals to lower costs and widen access..........…..…continue reading

Postdoctoral Fellowship for African Students (2026‑2027) — Funding opportunity for postdoctoral researchers from Africa.
NRF (South Africa) Honours Scholarships — Postgraduate scholarship for Honours students in South Africa.
AGNES Intra‑Africa Mobility Grant 2025 — Grant for young researchers from sub-Saharan Africa to support mobility (research visits, collaboration).
Salzburg Global Program Internship 2026— Opportunities to broaden your knowledge across their pillars(Peace and Justice, Education, Culture, Health and Finance).
Ilorin Innovation Hub Accelerator program 2025 — A programme created to support high-potential African startups building hardware, software and infrastructure that will shape the continent’s digital and industrial future.

💼BUSINESS

FSCA Hits Banxso With Record Fine

South Africa’s FSCA has issued over R2 billion in penalties against online trading platform Banxso after uncovering widespread misconduct, including misusing client funds, giving false information, and promising unrealistic returns. Additional fines target directors, who have also been debarred for up to 30 years. The probe found Banxso’s operations violated multiple financial laws and misled investors through deepfake marketing. The company is already under provisional liquidation, and the case has now been referred to the police for further action........…continue reading