Sony invests in SA gaming startup Carry1st — plus other top stories

Here are some of the top stories in Africa you might have missed.

• Nigerian fintech Miden selected for YC 2024 winter batch
• Sony invests in SA gaming startup Carry1st
• Bolt launches same-day delivery service in South Africa
• Electricity Company of Ghana upgrades its mobile app
• Telkom's partnership with the South African police aids cable theft crackdown

Nigerian fintech Miden selected for YC 2024 winter batch

Y Combinator has chosen Nigerian API-fintech startup Miden as its latest African pick for its Winter 2024 batch. This selection follows on the heels of Cleva, another Nigerian cross-border payment service, joining the same batch.

Miden allows businesses to issue virtual cards to their customers through its API. Founded in 2023 by Okiemute Avworhokai and Ini Udoh, Miden provides both USD and Naira virtual cards for businesses and has issued over 100,000 cards so far.

Miden specializes in virtual card services and corporate expense management solutions. Miden's selection for Y Combinator is a testament to the company's innovation and its potential to transform the way businesses manage their finances.

Sony invests in SA gaming startup Carry1st 

In a move to support the growth of entertainment businesses in Africa, gaming giant Sony has invested in a South African gaming startup called Carry1st.

This investment marks the first from Sony's new venture capital fund, which supports African tech and gaming companies. According to Statista, Africa's video game market is expected to generate $4.28 billion in revenue by 2024.

Carry1st is a South African gaming startup that specializes in creating mobile games tailored for the African market. Carry1st has raised over $60 million since its inception in 2018.

Bolt launches same-day delivery service in South Africa

Bolt, the Estonian ride-hailing giant, has launched a same-day parcel delivery service in South Africa. This news came a month after it shut down its food delivery service in the country.

Bolt seeks to diversify its offerings beyond ride-hailing and food delivery, with a focus on providing a convenient and affordable delivery service for South African businesses and consumers.

Bolt's new service will allow users to order a Bolt driver to collect and deliver parcels within the same day, making it an ideal solution for businesses that need to deliver goods quickly and efficiently.

Electricity Company of Ghana upgrades its mobile app

Ghanaians are set to experience a significant upgrade in the way they apply for electricity services starting 1st of February, 2024. The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has upgraded its mobile application to simplify and streamline the process.

The ECG Mobile App will now allow users to apply for new connections, and meter installations, make bill payments, use a USSD code, and access real-time energy consumption monitoring. Also included in the app is a reporting desk in case of complaints or issues. This app eliminates the need to visit a physical office.

Telkom's partnership with the South African police aids cable theft crackdown

To combat the growing problem of cable theft in South Africa, Telkom, the country's largest fixed-line provider, partnered with the South African Police Service (SAPS) to deter and catch cable thieves.

The partnership has been in place for several years and has already yielded significant results. Telkom's Security and Investigation Team has worked with SAPS to secure hundreds of convictions for cable theft and infrastructure vandalism across the country.

From July 2017 to December 2023, a total of 3, 003 suspects were successfully apprehended. This led to the successful conviction of 523 accused individuals so far. Cable theft has become a major problem in South Africa, with thieves targeting copper and fibre optic cables for the valuable metals they contain.

Follow all of Techloy's coverage of the technology news happening locally and globally and get up to date with what's happening in the key markets within the region.