5 d. ago Botlhale AI Brings Speech Recognition to African Languages in Call Centers

Botlhale AI, a South African startup founded in 2019, is helping enterprises understand what’s said in the 70% of customer calls that aren’t in English. The company builds speech recognition and analytics tools in African languages – like isiZulu, Sesotho, and Setswana – designed for enterprise call centers. Its suite includes speech-to-text, text-to-speech, and natural [...]

Politics

5 d. ago SA Startup 4C Predictions Bets Big on Transparent AI for Global Markets

In the world of AI, forecasts aren’t just data – they’re belief. That’s the insight behind 4C Predictions, a South African startup building a transparent, AI-powered prediction marketplace with global ambitions. While much of the AI spotlight shines on Silicon Valley or Shenzhen, 4C is proving that deep tech can thrive in Cape Town too. [...]

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1 week ago Qualcomm Shortlists 10 African Startups for 2025 ‘Make in Africa’ Mentorship Program

Qualcomm has named 10 startups for its 2025 Make in Africa mentorship program, part of its Qualcomm Africa Innovation Platform. The equity-free program, now in its third year, supports early-stage deep-tech startups applying 5G, AI/ML, IoT, and edge technologies to build scalable solutions across sectors. This year, Qualcomm received 435 applications from 19 countries. The [...]

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3 w. ago From Spaza to Spotlight: Township Data Collectors Put South Africa’s Informal Economy on the Map

A new tech initiative is turning township residents into digital trailblazers – one corner shop at a time. Timbuk2, a South African AI startup, has launched a groundbreaking project that pays everyday people to map the informal businesses that fuel their communities. Armed with smartphones and purpose, participants – called “data agents” – roam their [...]

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4 w. ago Unlocking Capital: Funding and Investment Opportunities for African AI Startups

The AI ecosystem is buzzing with potential, but turning algorithms into impact requires cash—lots of it. From bootstrapping to billion-dollar venture rounds, navigating the funding landscape can feel like a high-stakes treasure hunt. For African AI startups, the challenge is amplified by a historically underfunded tech scene, yet the opportunities are growing. Let’s break down [...]

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4 w. ago Ready, Set, Scale: Google’s AI Accelerator Is Back to Supercharge African Startups

If you’re an early-stage startup in Africa using artificial intelligence to tackle big, bold problems – Google wants a word. Applications are officially open for the 2025 Google for Startups Accelerator: Africa, a three-month whirlwind of mentorship, resources, and growth support designed to help AI-first startups do what they do best: innovate their way out [...]

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