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It’s a Wrap for Cohort 2 of the Telecel Group Africa Startup Initiative Program (ASIP) Accelerator

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The event took place on 6 July 2022 at Hotel Terrou Bi in Dakar, Senegal, and representatives from key partners, investment funds, government officials and ecosystem supporters were in attendance

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, July 6, 2022/APO Group/ — 

In 2022, the global tech ecosystem has been plagued with uncertainties and what seems like a funding regression. The African ecosystem has grown against this tide and African startups raised more than double what they did last year. The success of earlier-stage businesses is unprecedented! According to Africa: The Big Deal’s (https://bit.ly/3IgZxUY) Max Cuvellier, startups in Africa are breaking new records every month so far in 2022!

This is one of the reasons why Demo Day for the Telecel Group (http://TelecelGroup.com) Africa Startup Initiative Program (ASIP) (http://ASIProgram.com), powered by leading tech accelerator, Startupbootcamp (SBC) AfriTech (https://bit.ly/2SxNwkd) was a resounding success. For the top eleven startups selected from a pool of over 2,500 applications, the day represented the culmination of three months of hard work, great effort, and the promise of a bigger future.

The event took place on 6 July 2022 at Hotel Terrou Bi in Dakar, Senegal, and representatives from key partners, investment funds, government officials and ecosystem supporters were in attendance. Speaking at the event, the Minister in charge of the General Delegation for the Rapid Entrepreneurship of Women and Youth (DER/FJ) (https://DER.sn/), Mama Aby Seye said,

“Senegal has the honor of hosting for 3 months 11 startups in acceleration on the Dhub innovation platform housed at DER/FJ. They are among the most promising of the continent. This is a strong signal for all African startups in search of an environment conducive to supporting their expansion. Telecel Group, Startupbootcamp, and DER/FJ are joining forces to create this environment through the ASIP program, to source and support the highest potential African startups to scale. I am delighted with the quality of the talented entrepreneurs accompanied on this cohort and I invite those interested in the program to apply for the 2 upcoming cohorts.”

DER/FJ’s (https://DER.sn) innovation space, which was commissioned by the President of Senegal, His Excellency Macky Sall, the DHub also acted as a campus for Cohort 2, and this led to collaboration and pilots facilitated by the government entity.

Speaking on a successful Cohort 2, The Startupbootcamp Program Manager Henry Ojuor had this to say; “This cohort was made up of a diverse group that was working in major developmental sectors that include Agriculture, Insurance, health, education, and sustainability. This demonstrates the dynamism of the African Tech Ecosystem as well as the increasing sophistication of solutions built by and for the African market. We’re immensely proud & honored to have been a part of the journey of our incredible startups and we also continue to stand proud in our methodology and process.”

Telecel Group also announced the launch of their pan-African customer-centric mobile application, “Telecel Play” at the event.

Speaking to this, Telecel Play Stephane Dine said, “Telecel Play is the only social marketplace where consumers also make money with their community. This super-app, which also includes a chat and a wallet, has been specially designed to allow you to sell and buy alone or in a group easily and quickly. This application will be launched in the B2B model by the end of the year, then will be open to consumers early next year in several African countries.”

Telecel Group reinforced its unwavering support for the development of startups in Africa and played a crucial role in assisting the top 11 in their proof of concepts and pilots.

ASIP Director Eleanor Azar had this to say:

Telecel Group reinforced its unwavering support for the development of startups in Africa and played a crucial role in assisting the top 11 in their proof of concepts and pilots

“Telecel Group Africa Startup Initiative Program is as proud of the graduates of Cohort 2 as the alumni of cohort 1, we seem to continuously find the best businesses who will help shape the future. Current developments in technology are changing the way we live, communicate, and do business, thus disrupting traditional industries and redefining work relationships; Startups coming out of the Telecel Group ASIP program powered by SBC AfriTech have been introduced to the forward-thinking methods which will equip them with the new skill sets required for the 21st Century”.

“Senegal has been a game-changer for eCampus (https://eCampus.camp),” says CEO Cecil Nutakor. With the assistance of Telecel Group, the AI-powered platform designed to monitor educational performance has managed to launch in Senegal and is thriving in Ghana.

Africa’s health care sector has been a cause for concern for decades and Neural Labs (https://bit.ly/3ynZDFO) spent the 12 weeks of the program in Dakar and Neural Labs managed to partner with the Ministry of Health to perform clinical trials in Senegal. The startup also received a $50,000 equity-free grant from UNICEF and was accepted into General Electric’s Eddison Program.

Agri-tech Agrodata received a donation for the fabrication and installation of 200 iSmarthives. “Telecel Group ASIP and Startupbootcamp AfriTech helped us to spread the word about our innovations and because of the publicity, we managed to get multiple partners to help us optimize farmlands with the iSmartHive to use honeybees as pollinators,” says CEO Olumide Ogubanjo.

Since joining the ASIP program, financial inclusion through investment startup Crowdyvest (www.Crowdyvest.com) managed to add an important feature to their value proposition. “With the help of ASIP, we will be able to add software as a service feature to our product offering, says CEO Tope Omotolani.” This means more people on the continent will have access to our products.

Ronald Mugaiga CEO at Ecomak Recyclers (www.EcomakRecyclers.com) cherishes the deep dives that the team took into his startup, and he believes fine-tuning his business model is the reason that they were selected to join the Africa Summit 2022.

For Senegalese transport startup Parcsmart (bit.ly/3In1I9p), the program illuminated the key factors in their unique selling proposition. The team won the GITEX North Star Dubai and was selected for the Google for Startups SDG program.

Rural Farmers Hub (https://RuralFarmersHub.com) managed to close a pre-seed round of $500,000. These funds will further advance the use of web and mobile-based technology to increase agricultural productivity in Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, and other countries that Segun Adegun, Gabriel Eze, and team intend to penetrate in the next few years.

Insure-tech startup Vooli (https://bit.ly/3NGJPDG) managed to get pre-qualified for 5 country government contracts and they also onboarded 30 underwriting companies. The app uses valuation API technology to evaluate premiums for insurance companies and uses information processing to create the most cost-effective and efficient insurance coverage.

Nigerian startup Powerstove (https://Powerstove.com.ng) won the GSMA Innovation Fund and has made progress with a 500,000 Accredited certification program which will soon make them the biggest Carbon Credit Buying player & one of the biggest sustainability players in Africa. The startup’s patented innovative IoT-enabled smokeless stove that reduces energy costs and CHG emissions received a much-needed boost, helping them scale.

With the help of Telecel Group ASIP and Startupbootcamp, AfriTech, Edtech startup Qataloog (https://Qataloog.com) has begun an ambitious entry into Francophone Africa, especially Senegal where students are able to access digital libraries and avoid the continuously rising costs of physical textbooks. They’ve secured major partnerships with regional universities and have become a reason for excitement amongst local researchers, authors & publishers who see the value in helping their books get massive visibility & patronage via digital libraries across Africa on the Qataloog Platform. The market-maker for academic literature for students at colleges and universities has 38 universities and colleges as paying customers and they have also onboarded more than 2,800 academic publishers.

B2B eCommerce platform Proxalys (www.Proxalys.net) has scaled into Congo in addition to Senegal. The startup won the first prize at the Free au Senegal #FixChallenge pitch event.

In his closing remarks, SBC AfriTech CEO and Co-Founder, Philip Kiracofe said: “We are incredibly proud of this cohort and how their products and services will improve our lives. These founders are delivering solutions in their local communities and scaling across Africa.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Startupbootcamp AfriTech.

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High-Level Minister Roundup to Headline African Energy Week 2026

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2 days ago

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March 20, 2026

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African Energy Chamber

African Energy Week 2026 will convene ministers from Algeria, Ghana, Senegal, Zambia and Niger to spotlight oil, gas expansion, reforms and investment opportunities continentwide

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, March 13, 2026/APO Group/ –A high-level ministerial roundup will take center stage at this year’s African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 – taking place in Cape Town from 12–16 October –, convening some of the continent’s most influential energy leaders at a defining moment for Africa’s oil, gas and power sectors. As hydrocarbon expansion converges with accelerating energy transition strategies, the gathering is set to spotlight real-time project execution, regulatory reform and cross-border infrastructure that are actively reshaping Africa’s energy future.

 

Confirmed ministers to date include Algeria’s Minister of Energy and Renewable Energies Mourad Adjal, Ghana’s Minister for Energy and Green Transition Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor, Senegal’s Minister of Energy, Petroleum and Mines Birame Soulèye Diop, Zambia’s Minister of Energy Makozo Chikote and Niger’s Minster of Petroleum Hamadou Tinni.

 

Fresh from a March OPEC+ decision to lift output to 977,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd), Algeria enters AEW 2026 amid a $60 billion sector transformation. The country is also advancing a 500-well exploration drive and accelerating its 1.48 GW “Project of the Century” solar rollout. Gas exports to Europe remains central to the country, supported by hydrogen corridor planning and refinery expansion aimed at boosting capacity to 50 million tons by 2029.

 

Following license extension for Jubilee and TEN to 2040 and the late-2025 restart of the Tema Oil Refinery, Ghana is pushing a $3.5 billion upstream reinvestment plan while settling $500 million in gas arrears. A 1,200 MW state thermal plant and expanded gas processing at Atuabo anchor its gas-to-power shift, alongside a renewed upstream push in the Voltaian Basin.

The participation of these distinguished ministers underscores the scale of opportunity unfolding across Africa’s energy landscape and the urgency of aligning policy with capital

 

Senegal’s delegation comes on the back of strong production momentum, with the Sangomar oil field delivering 36.1 million barrels in 2025, outperforming forecasts, while the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim LNG development ramped up to 2.9 million tons per annum following first gas. Dakar is now prioritizing domestic gas through refinery upgrades at the SAR refinery and preparations for Sangomar Phase 2 to push output beyond 100,000 bpd.

 

Zambia is redefining its power mix after drought-induced hydro shortfalls. New solar capacity – including the 200 MW Chisamba expansion and 136 MW Itimpi Phase 2 – is part of a broader 2,500 MW diversification drive. Cabinet has approved major regional fuel pipelines, while the Energy Single Licensing System fast-tracks approvals. Lusaka targets 10 GW generation by 2030, with solar and wind rising to one-third of supply.

Niger’s presence reflects its emergence as a serious oil exporter, with the fully operational 1,950-km Niger-Benin pipeline now moving up to 90,000 bpd to international markets. Alongside uranium expansion and renewed cooperation with Algeria on upstream assets, Niamey is advancing digital oversight reforms and reinforcing energy sovereignty amid evolving geopolitical dynamics.

 

“The participation of these distinguished ministers underscores the scale of opportunity unfolding across Africa’s energy landscape and the urgency of aligning policy with capital,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber. “Their leadership reflects a continent moving decisively from strategy to execution, creating a platform where investors can engage directly with the policymakers shaping Africa’s next wave of oil, gas and energy growth.”

 

At AEW 2026, this ministerial cohort will be well-positioned to offer investors direct insight into Africa’s most dynamic energy markets – where new barrels, new pipelines and new megawatts are reshaping regional growth trajectories in real time.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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Enlit Africa 2026 Programme: 280+ speakers, African nuclear 2.0, Bruce Whitfield Business Breakfast

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2 days ago

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March 20, 2026

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Enlit Africa

The event, taking place 19-21 May 2026 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, expects 7,200+ attendees and 250+ exhibitors, making it Africa’s largest gathering of energy and water professionals

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, March 12, 2026/APO Group/ –Enlit Africa (https://apo-opa.co/4cEX08g) has released its full 2026 conference programme, featuring 280+ speakers across 8 specialised tracks including a new African Nuclear 2.0 session covering Koeberg’s 20-year life extension and Ghana’s nuclear vendor selection process.

 

The event, taking place 19-21 May 2026 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, expects 7,200+ attendees and 250+ exhibitors, making it Africa’s largest gathering of energy and water professionals.

Award-winning business journalist and best-selling author Bruce Whitfield will deliver the opening address at the Project & Investment Network Business Breakfast on 19 May, kicking off three days of strategic sessions, deal-making platforms, and technical masterclasses.

New programme content includes:

African Nuclear 2.0 – A dedicated session examining the transition from planning to execution, featuring:

Koeberg Nuclear Power Station’s successful 20-year life extension (Units 1 and 2 now licensed until 2044/2045)

Ghana’s progression to Phase 3 of its nuclear programme, evaluating US, Chinese, and Russian technology bids

West African Power Pool‘s 10 GW regional nuclear capacity target

Small Modular Reactor (SMR) deployment readiness across African grids

Independent Transmission Projects (ITP) – A new session exploring how private investment is unlocking Africa’s transmission bottleneck, featuring global case studies from India’s PowerGrid and lessons for scaling grid capacity across the continent.

Generation Masterclasses – Five interactive roundtables on gas-to-power, nuclear, hydro power, clean coal, and hydrogen.

AI in Africa’s Power Grid – Examining practical deployment realities, real-time analytics, and predictive maintenance applications already in operation across African utilities.

Conference sessions and technical hub sessions on the expo floor are CPD-accredited by the South African Institute of Electrical Engineers (SAIEE) and the South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE).

Co-located platforms:

Water Security Africa features country playbooks from Namibia (55-year potable reuse programme), Uganda (NRW reduction from 42% to 32%), Cape Town (Day Zero recovery strategies), and sector-specific stewardship sessions with Harmony Gold, Heineken, Mediclinic, and Growthpoint Properties.

Project & Investment Network (P&IN), part of the new Level 2 Executive Experience, connects project developers, investors, African utility CEOs, and DFIs through structured matchmaking, ministerial dialogues, and project briefings. Over the past two years, P&IN has facilitated $3 billion in project pitches.

Utility CEO Forum brings together 35+ confirmed utility CEOs under Chatham House Rule for candid, off-the-record strategic discussions on unbundling, prosumer management, and financial sustainability.

Municipal Forum addresses South African municipalities’ distribution, metering, and revenue challenges, including sessions on NRW management, tariff reform, Cost of Supply studies, and electrifying informal settlements.

Technical Hub sessions on the exhibition floor offer free, CPD-accredited training across Power, Renewable Energy & Storage, and Water tracks, with confirmed speakers from Eskom, ENGIE SA, ACTOM, National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA), RenEnergy, and Matla Energy.

Site visits on 22 May include Koeberg Nuclear Power Station and the V&A Waterfront desalination plant.

Pass options:
Free expo pass registration: https://apo-opa.co/4bl2bYu

Free expo passes provide access to 250+ exhibitors and CPD-accredited Technical Hub sessions.

Delegate Pass:
Early bird registration closes 3 April 2026. Delegate passes start at R15,100 (Silver), with P&IN Executive passes at R32,000 including access to the Bruce Whitfield breakfast, Level 2 executive lounge, and investor matchmaking.

Download the full programme: https://apo-opa.co/3NwCble

Register: https://apo-opa.co/4cEX08g

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VUKA Group.

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Binance Secures Second Major Legal Victory in U.S. Court Under Anti-Terrorism Act in Two Weeks

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2 days ago

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March 20, 2026

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Binance

US Federal Court in Alabama Dismisses All Claims Against Binance in Latest Lawsuit Victory

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, March 12, 2026/APO Group/ –Binance (www.Binance.com), the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, announced today that a U.S. federal court in Alabama has dismissed all claims against the company in a lawsuit alleging violations of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). This marks Binance’s second major legal victory in an  ATA matter within one week, following their victory in the Southern District of New York.

A Full and Complete Legal Victory

In a detailed 19-page ruling, the Court found the plaintiffs’ complaint to be legally and factually deficient. The court’s decision to dismiss every claim across the board represents a decisive legal victory for Binance.

Sanctions compliance and terrorism financing are serious matters of law – they require evidence, legal rigour, and due process

The judge described the filing as a “shotgun pleading.” The complaint failed to clearly specify the claims and improperly grouped all defendants together without distinguishing individual conduct or liability. The ruling also emphasized that the plaintiffs did not meet the basic pleading standard to provide a “short and plain statement” of their claims.

Following the ruling, the court granted the plaintiffs until April 10, 2026, to file an amended complaint addressing the deficiencies identified. However, the judge warned that failure to adequately address these issues would result in dismissal of the entire case.

Building on Momentum and Upholding Legal Integrity

“This decision reinforces our unwavering commitment to protecting Binance and our community from unsubstantiated and bad-faith lawsuits,” shared Eleanor Hughes, General Counsel at Binance. “Sanctions compliance and terrorism financing are serious matters of law – they require evidence, legal rigour, and due process. Courts have now examined these claims on two separate occasions and found them to be without merit. These outcomes speak for themselves. We will not tolerate attempts to misuse the legal system to target our industry, and we remain as committed as ever to transparency, security, and lawful conduct in everything we do”.

This latest decision follows closely on the heels of Binance’s comprehensive victory in New York (https://apo-opa.co/46Xg0ev), where the Court similarly rejected allegations that the company assisted, participated in, or conspired with terrorists. Together, these rulings reflect Binance’s strong resolve to protect its platform and community.

Binance has consistently invested in industry-leading compliance infrastructure, regulatory engagement, and legal governance. The company will continue to vigorously defend itself against any attempts to bring unfounded claims or misrepresent its operations.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Binance.

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