Author: Broader
Spotify has introduced a lossless audio tier in South Africa, marking a significant change in the company’s local subscription offerings. The new Premium Platinum plan costs R179.99 per month and includes features such as lossless audio streaming, AI-assisted playlist creation, and multi-user access for up to three people living in the same household. The update comes alongside a broader restructuring of Spotify’s plans: Spotify has discontinued its Duo plan, previously offering discounted access for two users. The timing of the changes has drawn attention, as this marks the second price increase in four months. Critics note that the new pricing…
When Sundar Pichai announced Google’s latest partnership with Cassava Technologies, the focus wasn’t just on deploying AI, it was on unlocking opportunity. Africa, with the youngest population in the world, is a continent of creators, students, and entrepreneurs, yet the cost of data and access to advanced tools has long stood as a barrier. Google’s move signals a bet on Africa’s next generation of innovators. Through this collaboration, millions of users can now access Google’s Gemini AI without using their mobile data, a critical step for regions where connectivity costs can rival the monthly income of a student or young…
Photo Credit – Innovation Village
Ezra Olubi, a central figure in Paystack’s rise, was placed on leave following serious allegations of sexual misconduct involving a subordinate. The company confirmed publicly that it had initiated a formal investigation, describing the matter as “extremely serious. What reignited scrutiny, however, were years-old social media posts from Olubi, dating between 2009 and 2013, that resurfaced online. These tweets long before Paystack was founded contained disturbing references: explicit comments about co-workers, mentions of minors, and jokes about inappropriate behaviour. In response, Paystack’s board moved swiftly. An independent, third-party investigator is being appointed to lead a “fair, transparent, and structured” review…
In a landmark shift that could reshape the future for African entrepreneurs in the UK, international students will now be able to switch to the Innovator Founder visa without leaving the country. The update, confirmed by the UK Home Office, takes effect on 25 November 2025, allowing students who have completed their studies to apply in‑country to launch scalable, high-growth businesses. This change dismantles a major barrier: previously, students even with a validated business idea were required to return to their home countries to apply for the visa. The reform replaces the discontinued Start‑up visa route and signals a broader…
In the vibrant and rapidly evolving landscape of African venture capital, Nneka Eze stands as a formidable figure, seamlessly blending sharp business acumen with an unwavering commitment to societal impact. As the Managing Partner at VestedWorld, an Africa-focused venture capital firm, Eze is not just investing in companies; she’s investing in the future of a continent she deeply believes in. For Eze, the stakes are far greater than quarterly returns or portfolio performance metrics. Her vision stretches to the long-term transformation of African economies, unlocking potential in sectors often overlooked by traditional investors, fostering local innovation, and supporting entrepreneurs with…
On any given morning in Lagos, the roads tell a familiar story: horns blaring, buses crammed beyond limit, a thousand people late before 8 a.m. But quietly disrupting the chaos is a woman who, rather than accept this daily disorder, decided to rewrite the narrative. Damilola Olokesusi didn’t set out to become a tech founder. Trained as a chemical engineer, she knew how to solve problems methodically but nothing in her education quite prepared her for the mess of Lagos transportation. It was personal for her. Years ago, one of her sisters boarded what she thought was a public bus…
When Sangu Delle returned to Ghana after degrees from Harvard, Oxford, and Birmingham, he didn’t come back to simply lead, he came back to build. Two institutions, in fact: a venture investment firm and a pan-African healthcare network. That dual mission has made him one of the continent’s most consequential architects of systems change. In 2006, he founded Golden Palm Investments (GPI), a holding company with a mission to build world-class African tech companies. At the time, most capital came with foreign mandates and short timelines. GPI took the long view. Early bets on companies like Andela, Flutterwave, and mPharma…
Lennox Omondi didn’t just set out to build a startup – he set out to solve a problem that had been hiding in plain sight for years. As a university student in Kenya, Omondi was confronted with a heartbreaking reality. Nearly one-third of female students in the country regularly missed school because they could not afford sanitary products. For many, this meant falling behind in their studies, missing out on opportunities, and being forced into a cycle of disadvantage that was difficult to escape. For Omondi, this statistic wasn’t just another development challenge to read about in a report –…
Africa’s economic future hinges on its ability to move goods and people efficiently. For decades, the continent’s logistics and mobility sectors have been hampered by fragmentation, inefficiency, and a lack of reliable infrastructure. This has created massive friction, raising the cost of doing business and limiting economic opportunity for millions. Yet, where others see problems, a new generation of entrepreneurs sees possibility. These visionaries are harnessing technology to create smart, scalable solutions that are not just profitable but are fundamentally rebuilding the continent’s connective tissue. From digitizing long-haul trucking to electrifying public transport and building integrated super-apps, these three innovators…