Novastar Ventures has successfully closed its Africa People and Planet Fund III (NVIII) at $147 million, making it one of the largest venture capital funds dedicated to Africa.

• The fund raised $147 million to invest in climate-focused African startups.
• Key organizations involved include Novastar Ventures and investors like Proparco.
• The fund will invest between $1 million and $8 million in startups from seed to growth stages, focusing on businesses with *measurable environmental impact* and economic growth potential.

Spotify and ONErpm recently held a two-day Fresh Finds workshop in Nairobi, aimed at nurturing emerging artists from East Africa.

• The workshop provided artist development, focusing on collaborative recording, media training, and music business insights.
• Key participants included artists like We Are Nubia and Zaituni, producers such as SoFresh, and mentors like Watendawili.
• A significant takeaway was Spotify's warning against playlist scams, emphasizing zero tolerance for pay-for-play schemes.

Searches for used items on Kenya's Jiji platform surged by 70% in the first quarter of 2026, indicating a booming pre-loved economy driven by affordability and digital access.

• Over 14.7 million unique searches for used items were recorded on Jiji Kenya in just three months.
• The trend is attributed to Kenya's inflation rate and constrained household incomes, making pre-owned goods a "smarter financial decision."
• Electronics, vehicles, and household goods are the top-selling categories, with Jiji investing in ecosystem growth and seller training.