| | | | | Today's Menu ☕️
📚Nigerian tech entrepreneur Tade Oyerinde secures $46 million in Series B funding for Campus
🪴 Tony Elumelu Foundation launches $15 million grant to empower 3,000 young entrepreneurs across Africa
🛜 Google's Taara Lightbridge challenges Starlink with innovative laser-powered internet solutions
🔐 Nigeria Data Regulatory agency probes TikTok, Truecaller for alleged data privacy violations
🗞️ Yahoo Sells TechCrunch to Regent Amid Restructuring
💰VestedWorld raises $20 million for Rising Star Fund to support African startups |
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| | | | | 📚 EDUCATION | Nigerian tech entrepreneur Tade Oyerinde secures $46 million in Series B funding for Campus |  | Tade Oyerinde |
| Tade Oyerinde, a visionary entrepreneur originally from Nigeria, has successfully raised $46 million in Series B funding for his innovative for-profit community college startup, Campus. This initiative is designed to transform the landscape of higher education accessibility in the United States. The funding round, which was led by General Catalyst and announced on March 20, has propelled Campus' total funding to over $100 million, underscoring the growing interest and investment in alternative educational models. | Campus is dedicated to making higher education more accessible and affordable for a diverse range of students. The institution offers online associate degrees and certifications in various fields, including business administration, medical assisting, and applied artificial intelligence. This approach not only broadens access to education but also aligns with the evolving demands of the job market.......…continue reading |
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| | | | | 🪴 ENTREPRENEURSHIP | Tony Elumelu Foundation launches $15 million grant to empower 3,000 young entrepreneurs across Africa |  | Tony Elumelu |
| The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) has announced a significant initiative aimed at supporting young entrepreneurs across the African continent, unveiling a $15 million grant designed to benefit 3,000 aspiring business leaders from 52 African countries. This announcement was made by the foundation's founder, Tony Elumelu, during the launch of the 2025 cohort of the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme in Abuja on Sunday. | Each selected entrepreneur will receive a non-refundable seed grant of $5,000, which can be utilized to either launch new ventures or scale existing businesses. This initiative is part of TEF's broader mission to empower African entrepreneurs and stimulate economic transformation throughout the continent......…continue reading |
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| | | | | 🛜 INTERNET | Google's Taara Lightbridge challenges Starlink with innovative laser-powered internet solutions | | Alphabet, the parent company of the tech powerhouse Google, is embarking on a new venture that pits it against Elon Musk's Starlink in the competitive landscape of internet connectivity. The initiative, known as Taara Lightbridge, was initially conceived within Alphabet's innovative X division, often referred to as its "moonshot" factory. Now, Taara is transitioning into an independent entity, positioning itself as a formidable challenger to Starlink in the quest to deliver high-speed internet to underserved populations around the globe. | Taara's unique selling proposition lies in its utilization of Free Space Optical Communication (FSOC) technology, which enables the transmission of high-speed internet via light over extensive distances. This approach stands in stark contrast to traditional satellite broadband methods employed by Starlink. The announcement of this strategic move was made on Monday, March 17, marking a significant moment in Alphabet's renewed commitment to enhancing connectivity solutions, especially following the discontinuation of its Project Loon balloon initiative in 2021......…continue reading |
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| | | | | 🔐 DATA PROTECTION | Nigeria Data Regulatory agency probes TikTok, Truecaller for alleged data privacy violations |  | Michael Seibel |
| The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has launched an investigation into alleged data privacy violations by popular social media app TikTok and phone directory service Truecaller. The probe is aimed at determining whether the companies have complied with Nigeria's data protection regulations. | Vincent Olatunji, National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the NDPC, stated this at a Press Conference in Abuja, "As we speak, we have even gone to the extent of investigating multinationals. We are currently investigating TikTok and Truecaller in the area of data privacy," Olatunji stated. | Olatunji emphasized that if TikTok and Truecaller take corrective actions, the commission would be open to working with them rather than imposing immediate penalties..........continue reading |
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| | | | | 🗞️ NEWS | Yahoo Sells TechCrunch to Regent Amid Restructuring | | TechCrunch, one of the tech world's most influential news platforms, has officially been sold by Yahoo to investment firm Regent, marking the end of a long chapter and the beginning of a new era. The deal, announced jointly by Yahoo and Regent, sees TechCrunch joining a growing roster of tech-focused media assets under Regent's umbrella. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed, but Yahoo will retain a small minority stake. | TechCrunch, founded in 2005 and known for its deep coverage of startups, venture capital, and innovation, will now sit alongside Foundry publications like PCWorld, Macworld, CIO, and TechAdvisor, following Regent's recent acquisition of Foundry from International Data Group (IDG). The dual deal signals Regent's intention to become a key player in the tech media landscape, adding to its expanding portfolio, which already includes outlets like Sunset and Cheddar TV..........continue reading |
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| | | | | 💰VENTURE CAPITAL | VestedWorld raises $20 million for Rising Star Fund to support African startups | | VestedWorld, a Chicago-based venture capital firm, has announced the successful raising of $20 million for its Rising Star Fund, marking a significant milestone in its efforts to support early-stage ventures in Africa. This latest fundraising brings the fund closer to its target size of $35 million, reflecting a strong and growing investor interest in the rapidly expanding African startup ecosystem. | The Rising Star Fund is strategically focused on deploying capital into early-stage ventures across seven key African markets: Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. This targeted geographical approach highlights the increasing recognition of the diverse entrepreneurial potential across the continent, moving away from a one-dimensional view of the African market. By concentrating on these specific countries, VestedWorld aims to tap into the unique opportunities and challenges that each market presents.....…continue reading |
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| | | | | OTHER STORIES | Sixteen remarkable engineering innovators from seven African nations have been selected as finalists for the prestigious 2025 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation, organized by the Royal Academy of Engineering…..continue reading Nigeria sees 59% decline in cash transactions as digital payments surge, solidifying its position as Africa's fintech leader……continue reading Egypt's SWVL shifts to fintech amid financial challenges and market retreats…..continue reading Barack Obama Joins Bluesky: A Significant Milestone for the Emerging Social Network…..continue reading Flutterwave Expands Payment Solutions in Ghana with Pay With Bank Transfer Integration……continue reading
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