Chimgozirim Nwokoma

2 weeks ago | techpoint.africa | Chimgozirim Nwokoma

Umba, a credit-led digital bank, has secured a $5 million debt facility from Star Strong Capital to expand its loan book in Kenya. The four-year-old fintech saw a sixfold increase in revenue last year, driven by growing demand for vehicle financing and loans for small and medium-sized businesses in Kenya. Founded by Tiernan Kennedy and Barry O’Mahony, Umba officially launched in Kenya in 2022 following the acquisition of Daraja Microfinance Bank. Mahony exited the startup in 2023.

2 weeks ago | techpoint.africa | Chimgozirim Nwokoma

In March 2024, ByteDance shut down its messaging app, LetsChat, after just three years. The app, which aimed to capture Africa’s growing digital audience, failed to achieve mainstream adoption, with ByteDance citing a shift toward more profitable ventures in its parting message. With that, LetsChat became yet another social media casualty on the continent, joining the ranks of platforms like 2go, LagChat, and Mxit.

1 month ago | techpoint.africa | Chimgozirim Nwokoma

Adetunji ‘TeeJay’ Opayele, the Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Nigerian retail automation startup Bumpa, passed away on March 5, 2025, after being involved in a car accident. Opayele, a law graduate from Obafemi Awolowo University, played a crucial role in the founding of Bumpa in 2020 alongside co-founder Kelvin Umechukwu. Both co-founders met as students at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) and would go on to build a number of businesses together.

1 month ago | techpoint.africa | Chimgozirim Nwokoma

Before joining AllAccessFans, *Lola, a Nigeria-based adult content creator, had been creating content on platforms like Snapchat and OnlyFans for a few years. Despite some success, her experience was far from smooth. With OnlyFans, she had to use the personal details of a relative living in the United States to create an account and receive her earnings. This meant waiting for over a week to receive her money in Nigeria. Now, that is all in the past.

1 month ago | techpoint.africa | Chimgozirim Nwokoma

As Africa continues to draw increasing attention from global powers, experts believe the continent’s relationships with countries like China and Japan must evolve. Bernard Laurendeau, Managing Partner at Laurendeau & Associates, believes this growing interest presents a huge opportunity for the continent. A management consultant and former CEO of one of Ethiopia's first fintechs, Laurendeau now works with Japanese businesses considering setting up hubs in Africa.