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📱Vodacom Achieves 100% Renewable Electricity Across All Markets

📱Vodacom Achieves 100% Renewable Electricity Across All Markets

Plus: 🧑🏽‍🌾 Nile Secures $11.3m to Digitally Connect Africa’s Farmers

Innovation Village
June 11, 2025

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Today’s Menu ☕️

📱Vodacom Achieves 100% Renewable Electricity Across All Markets
🧑🏽‍🌾 Nile Secures $11.3m to Digitally Connect Africa’s Farmers with Buyers, Inputs, and Finance
🚀 Meta Launches Llama Impact Accelerator in Nigeria to Foster AI Innovation
🚙 MyNextCar Secures $10m to Accelerate Affordable Mobility and Employment in South Africa
📱iOS 26 vs. Android 16: The 2025 Smartphone OS Showdown

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📱 TELECOMS

Vodacom Achieves 100% Renewable Electricity Across All Markets

Vodacom has reached a major sustainability milestone: it now sources 100% of the electricity it purchases from renewable sources. This achievement makes Vodacom the first telecom provider in Africa to operate all of its markets entirely on renewable electricity—a landmark moment for the continent’s telecom and sustainability landscape.

Vodacom Group is also the first multinational telecom company in Africa to reach this target. The accomplishment underscores the company’s long-standing commitment to environmental responsibility and decarbonization. All electricity purchased by the company now comes from renewable sources, including certified Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), as well as wind and solar power.

To achieve this, Vodacom entered into several power purchase agreements (PPAs) and deployed on-site renewable energy installations. In the last fiscal year, the Group consumed 2,076 GWh of electricity, of which 906 GWh of grid power was covered through RECs. This included operations in countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Tanzania, Egypt, South Africa, and Lesotho.....……continue reading

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🧑🏽‍🌾 AGRITECH

Nile Secures $11.3m to Digitally Connect Africa’s Farmers with Buyers, Inputs, and Finance

Nile team

In a significant move toward transforming Africa’s agricultural trade, South African agri-tech company Nile has raised ZAR200 million (US$11.3 million) to deepen its digital infrastructure across Southern Africa. The investment underscores a rising wave of investor interest in platforms that promise to modernize food systems in emerging markets.

The round, led by Cathay AfricInvest Innovation Fund, alongside FMO, the Dutch development bank, and Platform Investment Partners, signals continued belief in Nile’s mission: to simplify and digitize how African farmers access markets, tools, and money. This latest injection brings Nile’s total funding to US$16.4 million, building on the $5.1 million it previously secured in 2022.

With the new funding, Nile plans to expand its services to reach more producers in underserved regions, broaden its logistics network, and enhance financial services such as working capital and input financing.........…continue reading

🚀 ACCELERATOR PROGRAM

Meta Launches Llama Impact Accelerator in Nigeria to Foster AI Innovation

Meta has teamed up with Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy (FMCIDE), the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to launch the Llama Impact Accelerator program.

This 8-month program aims to empower early-stage Nigerian startups to create impactful AI solutions using open-source Llama models. The focus areas are Agriculture, Security & Safety, and Healthcare, with a “wild card” category for other innovative AI applications.

The program emphasizes open innovation and includes a six-week incubation phase where selected teams will receive technical training and mentorship from AI experts. This is followed by six months of extended support, including access to additional technical resources.…...…continue reading

🚙 AUTOMOBILES

MyNextCar Secures $10m to Accelerate Affordable Mobility and Employment in South Africa

South African vehicle solutions company MyNextCar (MNC) has raised $10 million in a major funding round to scale up its affordable mobility offering for ride-hailing drivers, particularly on Bolt’s growing low-cost platform, Bolt Lite. The round was spearheaded by UK-based Emso Asset Management, with participation from E2 Investments and Assemble Capital, and marks MNC’s first external funding raise.

The fresh capital will enable MyNextCar to deploy 1,500 compact Bajaj Qute vehicles, which are earmarked specifically for Bolt Lite—a budget ride category aimed at cost-conscious commuters in South Africa’s urban hubs. The new fleet will provide more drivers with access to income-generating vehicles while helping Bolt serve more passengers at lower fares....…continue reading