End of a 6-Year bet on Jumia
Twiga's Job Cuts & Latest Moves
Happy Monday!
We are here again with some updates on the African tech scene.
Twiga is restructuring as internal documents hint at over 300 job cuts and a possible new holding company. Jumia’s top investor exits after a 6-year bet, and Heroshe's customers are left in the dark with no updates. Plus, don’t miss our feature story, which explores Africa’s digital boom and the race to protect user data amid complex regulations.
Top stories from around Africa
Twiga's Latest Moves & Job Cuts: Twiga Foods is on our radar again. It's quietly set up a new holding company codenamed "newco" to streamline its operations following the recent acquisitions of Kenyan distributors. According to internal documents, over 300 jobs are being cut as the company pivots to an asset-light model.
From Chatbot to Logistics Ops: Lara.ng, the once-popular chatbot that helped Lagosians navigate the city, has gone quiet. While co-founder Samuel Odeloye says it’s currently under maintenance, he’s now repurposing its transit data to power his new startup, Motions Space, a logistics platform.
Ghosted by Heroshe: Heroshe has practically shut down. For months, customers haven’t received their packages, and worse, no proper updates. Despite raising funds in 2022, they were unable to make deliveries due to money issues and asked customers to pay extra fees to ship their packages.
Win back time as a founder: Is your startup really growing, or are you just doing everything yourself? This article dives deep into founders’ struggles to let go and how trusting their team can be the key to scaling their business and protecting their mental health.
End of a 6-Year bet on Jumia: Jumia has lost one of its largest investors, Baillie Gifford, which has dumped all its Jumia shares and is exiting after six years. The UK firm took an estimated 80-90% loss.
MTN shuts down 3G in SA: MTN South Africa is shutting down its 3G network by 2027 to focus on faster, more efficient 4G and 5G tech. The 2G network will stick around a bit longer for low-data-use devices like gate systems and PoS machines.
Featured Story
Data Governance and Privacy in Africa's Digital Economy: Africa’s digital economy is booming, but behind the scenes, startups face a huge challenge: who really protects the data driving this revolution? With conflicting regulations across the continent, many risk being caught in a complex mix of consumer mistrust and fines. Startups must navigate a complex landscape to innovate while respecting data privacy. Learn how countries and startups are navigating this evolving landscape.
In case you missed it, on our latest episode of Tech Tides Africa, we covered Lagos’ rise as the world’s fastest-growing tech city in 2025, highlighting how Nigeria’s commercial capital is cementing its place as Africa’s innovation powerhouse. We also tackled Tanzania’s controversial move to block X (formerly Twitter) after a police account was hacked and more stories.
If you haven’t listened yet, go catch up.
Did you know?
54Gene, A genomics startup raised $45 million in funding but shut down in July 2023 due to financial mismanagement.
People building cool stuff
The Nigerian trio, Lesley John Jumbo, Bright Sunday, and Blessed Pepple, are building Reforest AI, a tech-driven solution that uses AI and IoT to combat illegal deforestation. Reforest AI uses smart sensors and edge computing to detect unauthorised logging and promote sustainable forestry practices.
Job opportunities
Creative Strategist at Moniepoint (Remote, Nigeria)
Senior Product Designer, South Africa at Paystack
Brand Design Manager at Paystack
Senior mobile engineer (Founding Engineer) at Ant Africa (Remote, Lagos, Nigeria)
Junior Graphic Designer (Contract) at Startbutton
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Cheers to a productive and successful week ahead!
