Annie Njanja
TechCrunch
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Past articles by Annie:
UK’s early-stage media tech VC GMG Ventures rebrands to Mercuri, closes £50M fund
Mercuri will continue to back startups using artificial intelligence to reinvent traditional media models. → Read More
Kenya’s MyDawa aims to be an all-in-one health platform backed by $20 million funding
MyDawa, which launched in 2016, has diversified from an e-pharmacy to include online and in-person consultations, and laboratory services. → Read More
Techstars raising $150 million for new accelerator fund
The accelerator is seeking new capital ahead of the end of the deployment period of its third institutionally-backed fund, Techstars Accelerator 2021, late this year. → Read More
ShopZetu raises pre-seed funding to fuel growth of its fashion marketplace beyond Kenya
Fashion e-commerce startup ShopZetu has raised $1 million pre-seed funding led by Chui Ventures, to grow its portfolio, and scale regionally. → Read More
Plastic upcycling startup Kubik closes $3.34M seed to scale production in Ethiopia
The amount of plastic waste produced globally is on track to triple to over 1,000 million tonnes by 2060. The OECD report predicts that developed countries will continue to produce the most plastic waste per person, although emerging regions like Africa and Asia are expected to experience the fastest growth owing to rapid population growth, and […] → Read More
PayGo solar startup Yellow raises $14 million to scale in africa
Yellow plans to use the funding to deepen its reach in its current markets, and launch digital and financial products. → Read More
Seedstars, Fondation Botnar launch new fund to back African startups focused on youth wellbeing
Seedstars Youth Wellbeing Ventures, $20 evergreen fund, targets early-stage startups that are focused on improving youth wellbeing. → Read More
Meta to appeal court ruling declaring content moderators as its employees
Meta is set to appeal Kenya’s court decision declaring it as the primary employer of the moderators that review content on its platforms in sub-Saharan Africa. Meta has filed a notice of appeal against the ruling made last week on orders issued in March. This comes after 184 moderators sued it, and its content review […] → Read More
Meta found liable as court blocks firing of moderators
Meta has severally sought to distance itself from the petition saying that it is not the moderators’ employer. → Read More
MarketForce forced to tighten its belt as tough times hit
MarketForce didn't get $8 million of the $20 million equity it raised. Mbaabu says this cut its runway short by over 18 months. → Read More
E3 Capital and Lion’s Head climate fund hits first close at $48M to back African startups
The fund targets to close at $100 million, joining the growing list of funds backing startups in Africa’s climate tech sector. → Read More
Jia, a blockchain-based lender of small businesses in emerging markets, raises $4.3 million seed
Jia plans to grow its operations in Kenya, and the Philippines, before exploring new markets in West Africa, Latin America and Asia. → Read More
Cold-chain startup Figorr raises $1.5M, backs the roll out of data-driven perishables insurance
Nigeria's Figorr is set to launch a risk management platform to provide insurers with data needed to introduce tailored products. → Read More
Meta content review partner Sama told by court to pay moderators
Meta’s content moderation partner in Africa, Sama, was earlier today compelled by a Kenyan court to pay April salaries to a section of moderators it had left out. The direction comes days after moderators picketed at Sama headquarters in Kenya demanding April pay. The court gave the orders following an urgent application filed on April […] → Read More
Kenya plans special startups’ employee-equity tax regime
Taxable benefit will be based on the startup's fair market value, and where unavailable, it'll be determined based on financial statements. → Read More
Confusion sets in as Meta content moderators go without pay
Content moderators under Sama, Meta’s content review sub-contractor in Africa, earlier today picketed at the company’s headquarters in Kenya demanding April salary, while urging it to observe the court orders that barred it from conducting mass layoffs. The demonstrations came after Sama, in an email, instructed moderators to clear with the company by May 11, […] → Read More
Crypto, influencers targeted in Kenya’s new tax bid
Kenya plans to charge a 3% tax on the transfer or exchange value of digital assets, while content creators will pay 15% on online earnings. → Read More
Kenyan court paves way for lawsuit alleging Facebook played role in fueling Ethiopia’s Tigray conflict
Petitioners seek to compel Meta to stop viral hate on Facebook, ramp up content review, and to create a $1.6 billion compensation fund. → Read More
African climate startups set to gain ground as VC funding shifts their way
There are signs that funding for climate tech startups will persist in the near-term as new funds emerge. → Read More
Meta’s content review in Africa in limbo as moderation partners decry court restrictions
Moderators’ contracts expired on March 31st, and Sama claims it could not vary the employment terms as per the interim orders. → Read More