Starlink Battles African Regulators
Starlink, the satellite internet service owned by Elon Musk, has been in the news lately across Africa as it continues its expansion efforts on the continent.
Happy Monday!
Here’s what’s in the lineup today:
Sendy Shutdown: A Tale of Africa’s Logistics Challenges
Starlink Battles African Regulators
Flutterwave has a New CFO
Sendy Shutdown: A Tale of Africa’s Logistics Challenges
Sendy, the Kenyan-based startup founded by Meshack Alloys, Evanson Biwott, and Don Okoth, revolutionized logistics with its on-demand delivery platform. Launched in May 2014, Sendy promised to close the logistics gap for instant, affordable deliveries using motorcycles, vans, and autorickshaws. Their clientele included major names like Unilever, DHL, and Jumia, and they secured funding from multiple investors.
In a while, Sendy had over 300 staff and had become a key player in Africa’s logistics sector. However, by the third quarter of 2023, Sendy announced it was shutting down, with approximately 200 employees affected.
👉 Read the full story on our blog
Starlink Battles African Regulators as it Continues Expansion on the Continent
Starlink, the satellite internet service owned by Elon Musk, has been in the news lately across Africa as it continues its expansion efforts on the continent.
In Kenya, Safaricom has asked the Communications Authority (CA) to block foreign satellite providers like Starlink unless they establish agreements with local licences, which could impact Starlink's operations there. The memo from Safaricom, seen by TechCabal, expressed concerns about the lack of control and accountability.
Meanwhile, in South Africa, Starlink’s journey has encountered similar obstacles. The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) requires that historically disadvantaged groups hold 30% of the ownership of foreign telecom companies. Starlink’s inability to meet this requirement led to “creative” workarounds by users who acquired Starlink kits through third-party resellers in other African countries where the service is legally available.
After issuing warnings in February and April 2024, the company has now disconnected over 12,700 users who were found violating the service terms.
On a positive note, Starlink successfully launched in Botswana after a year of negotiations with the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA), overcoming an initial rejection of their application. Starlink successfully obtained its license in May 2024.
As Starlink continues to expand its reach across Africa, its ability to adapt to diverse regulatory environments will be crucial to its success on the continent.
Flutterwave has a New CFO
Flutterwave has appointed Mitesh Popat as its new CFO. Mitesh has 2 decades of experience in financial services, serving in different continents like North America, the Middle East, Europe and Africa.
This comes nine months after the previous CFO, Oneal Bhambani, left the company. Mitesh would lead Flutterwave’s finance functions and its next phase of growth and financial sustainability.
Mitesh recently worked as CFO of Citi, overseeing financial operations in 29 countries. This hiring comes months after several high-profile exits have halted talks of an IPO.
Flutterwave hopes this addition will leverage Mitesh’s expertise to support and guide their global operations. He’ll also be key in ensuring efficient resource allocation and deploying meaningful strategies to take the company to greater heights.
Did you know?
The number of startups in Nigeria was estimated to have exceeded 3,360 in 2022, the highest number in Africa. To follow, Kenya and South Africa counted approximately 1,000 and over 660 startups in the same year, respectively.
Recommended resources for founders.
These companies are hiring:
Automattic is looking for seasoned Product Designers, apply here
Perspective also has an opening for a Senior Product Designer
OneLand Africa is seeking a dynamic and results-driven Growth Manager to join their team
Flutterwave is hiring for several roles in many countries, including South Africa, Nigeria, India, and Egypt.
Join Cowrywise as a finance analyst
Helium Health is hiring a Quality Assurance Engineer
Cheers to a productive and successful week ahead!
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