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Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE) just launched new data on support networks for entrepreneurs! You can now explore research on the entrepreneurial ecosystems of Rwanda, Gauteng, Ibadan, and Port Harcourt on our interactive site – a data visualization tool for anyone interested in these markets: https://ecosystems.andeglobal.org. Special thanks to the DFID Impact Programme for their support.

Cellulant-owned Mula, a payments platform based in Kenya, has partnered with Facebook to integrate an Augmented Reality bot in Messenger that allows customers to discover and try products before they purchase. If a user were to buy lipstick, for example, the technology will allow the buyer to try different shades before making a choice and concluding the purchase through Mula. The startup is considering expanding the service to Nigeria, Tanzania and Rwanda in the coming months.

Rocket Internet-backed real estate startup, Lamudi (branded as Jumia House in Africa), has raised strategic investment from Axel Springer and Swiss-based Ringier AG, TechMoran reports. Both firms will take a seat on Lamudi’s advisory board and Kian Moini, Co-Founder and CEO of Lamudi, will stay on as CEO.

The Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation, organized by the Royal Academy of Engineering, has shortlisted 16 startups from across Africa. These startups and the brains behind them will a stand a chance of winning up to £25,000, develop skills and network. This year’s shortlist cuts across six countries and five female engineers make the list.

Mobile network blackouts are on the way in nine Nigerian states, per Guardian Nigeria. According to the report, the outages will be a result of the Kogi State government closing down ~70 telecom sites over “excess taxes”.

Virgin Mobile Middle East & Africa is looking to selling all or part of itself, according to this Techcentral report. Back in May, the telco raised $30-million through the sale of Islamic bonds.

Got a health tech startup operating in Nigeria? We would like to hear from you. We are putting together a map and analysis of the health tech sector that highlights the solutions innovators are bringing to bear on the problems of access to quality and affordable healthcare in Nigeria as well as provide actionable insights for policy makers, investors and entrepreneurs. Sign up here so we can feature your startup and to help us better understand the sector.

Nigerian-American photographer, Chi Modu, is coming home. His photo exhibition & workshop, sponsored by BUDX, run from December 1– 2, 2018. Register here to enjoy panel talks, workshops, live performances and an after-party.

The Kenyan Blockchain Taskforce instituted by ICT cabinet secretary Joe Mucheru back in February 2018 has completed its report, per Kenyan Wall Street. The 192-page report looks at various fields where blockchain technology can be applied in line with the Kenyan government’s Big Four agenda and will be presented to the public at an unnamed time.

Online higher education platform UNICAF has announced that it has raised $28 million in Series B financing to meet the growing demand for high-quality university education across the continent. The funding round is led by Goldman Sachs with participation from existing investors, including the UK Government’s development finance institution CDC Group, higher education fund University Ventures, and EDEX, founder of the University of Nicosia.

From TechCabal

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