Street Wallet, a fintech startup based in Cape Town, has successfully raised USD 350,000 in new funding, bringing its valuation to USD 2 million. This investment aims to fuel the company's expansion, particularly in reaching more underserved communities within South Africa's informal economy.

• Raised USD 350,000 in funding, valuing the company at USD 2 million.
• Street Wallet was founded in 2021 to address the challenge of limited access to formal banking for approximately 1 million street vendors and small traders in South Africa.
• The solution provides traders with a lanyard card featuring a QR code, enabling customers to pay via various digital options like Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, and SnapScan.

Safaricom has launched B-LIVE, a new time-based data option for its customers in Kenya, allowing them to purchase internet access by the hour instead of by data volume. This initiative aims to provide more predictable internet usage, especially for tasks sensitive to data consumption like streaming or online classes.

• Headline offers include 1 hour for KES 20, 3 hours for KES 50, and 6 hours for KES 150.
• Chief Consumer Business Officer, Fawzia Ali-Kimanthi, stated this option gives customers more control over their internet usage.
• The service is accessible via *544# or *555# and targets users such as students, creators, and gig workers who benefit from short, focused internet sessions.

Visa has partnered with PEMANDU Associates to help governments, including those in Africa, accelerate digitization and improve financial inclusion and public services. This strategic alliance aims to implement digital payment and identity solutions using innovative methodologies.

• The partnership leverages PEMANDU’s Big Fast Results (BFR) methodology, which has been successful in over 30 countries, including 14 across Africa.
• Key figures involved are Vice President and Head of Visa Government Solutions – CEMEA, Mr. Svyatoslav Senyuta, and Joint Managing Director and Partner at PEMANDU Associates, Ms. Aida Azmi.
• The collaboration will provide advanced technology on digital payments, data, and digital identity to streamline government processes, improve revenue collection, and enhance service delivery.

Breadfast, a leading Egyptian online grocery delivery platform, has secured $10 million in Series B2 funding from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Novastar Ventures. This investment boosts Breadfast’s valuation to $382–400 million and will fuel the expansion of its fulfillment network and entry into new markets.

• Breadfast handles nearly 1 million orders per month for over 300,000 active users, with revenues exceeding $150 million in 2024.
• The funding aims to accelerate the extension of Breadfast’s fulfillment network, increasing capacity in core cities such as Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, and Mansoura, and expanding into new markets.
• Breadfast operates a vertically integrated model, managing its operations from quality control in baking to last-mile delivery, contributing to rapid and reliable service, and is also developing as a fintech player with its Breadfast Pay offering.