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Egypt’s Mazady Wins Africa’s mCommerce Award 2017

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Egypt’s Mazady Wins Africa’s mCommerce Award, appsAfrica award 2017, mazady egypt, Mcommerce

Ten African ventures were awarded for excellence in mobile and tech at the annual AppsAfrica Innovation Awards 2017 held in Cape Town, where Mazady, a TA Telecom product, won the mobile commerce category.

More than 300 entries were submitted for the awards this year with finalists judged by an independent panel of leading industry experts from across the ecosystem. Mazady was shortlisted for the mCommerce award with VConnect, Jumia, and DressMeOutlet from Nigeria as well as Farmart from Ghana.

“It is fantastic to see the growth each year, with entries from over 31 countries this year. Even more encouraging is how rapidly African start-ups are now scaling to compete with established corporates with winners from both,” said Andrew Fassnidge, Founder of AppsAfrica.

AppsAfrica 2017 award-winning tech ventures

  • Best Social and Messaging Award – Flare
  • Enterprise Solution Award – What3Words
  • News and Entertainment Award – Bounce News
  • Educational Award- Snapplify
  • Fintech Award- Flutterwave
  • Social Impact Award – Vodacom e-School
  • Disruptive Innovation Award –What3Words
  • Best African App – Boomplay Music 
  • mCommerce –  Mazady
  • Changing Africa – Jumo

Mazady is the first mobile-based auction service in the world that maximizes the m-commerce opportunity for mobile operators, retailers, and consumers, empowering users with an affordable and engaging tool that helps them beat inflation and buy products at hugely discounted prices for as little as 70 percent off the market value.

“Mazady empowers users with a Black Friday-like experience from the comfort of their mobile phones, giving them access to technology at affordable prices,” said Mohamed Ezz El-Din, Mazady’s Product Manager.

Mazady users bid through SMS in scheduled auctions to purchase a wide range of tech products, including smartphones, tablets, television screens, appliances, and more. Mobile users subscribe to Mazady’s service and once subscribed, they can start texting their bids to win the auctioned item at an average cost of around USD 1.

Currently running in Egypt, the UAE, and rolling out soon in Nigeria, Mazady succeeded in running more than 100 auctions for multiple tech products, including the iPhone 7 which was auctioned during its launch week in Egypt for EGP 1,500 at 88 percent off its EGP 13,000 market price.

Mazady also ran charitable auctions for celebrity products such as the famous heart-patterned tie of renowned heart surgeon Sir Magdi Yacoub, which raised EGP 27,000 in donations to the Aswan Heart Hospital.

“Innovative services like Mazady will significantly help expand the mobile value chain in Africa, contribute to mCommerce and grow the mobile economy on a Continent which has the world’s fastest mobile subscriber growth,” said Sherif Radi, TA Telecom’s Chief Operating Officer.

“This year produced a vast array of great entries from exciting new technologies utilizing AI, bots, and drones to mobile, health and education initiatives scaling across Africa,” said Fassnidge.

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Saudi Fintech Lendo Signs MOU with J.P. Morgan

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Saudi Startup Lendo Joins Forces with J.P. Morgan to Enhance SME Financing

Lendo, a Saudi Arabia-based Shariah-compliant crowdlending marketplace, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today with J.P. Morgan to improve access to financing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the country.

The MOU was signed during 24 Fintech, a premier fintech event that brings together industry leaders, innovators, and investors in Riyadh.

J.P. Morgan and Lendo are working together on potential opportunities to support the SME sector in Saudi Arabia in growing and sustaining the remarkable demand in this market.

“This strategic collaboration with J.P. Morgan, a pioneer in the financial industry, marks a significant milestone for Lendo,” said Osama Alraee, CEO and co-founder of Lendo. “By combining our strengths, we’ll deliver cutting-edge financial solutions to SMEs, supporting their growth and contributing directly to the realization of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.”

The SME financing landscape in MENA presents a substantial market opportunity as limited financial access continues to restrict the growth of the region’s businesses, with commercial banks hesitant to issue loans to SMEs at scale, resulting in a high percentage of declined financing requests annually.

The total SME financing gap in developing countries is estimated to be approximately $5.2 trillion, according to the International Finance Corporation (IFC).

Lendo’s debt crowdfunding platform aims to bridge the financing gap for SMEs, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030’s goal to significantly expand SME lending from 4% in 2018 to 20% by 2030.

According to the latest available report from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), the total value of debt crowdfunding in Saudi Arabia surged from SAR 1.4 million in 2019 to SAR 771 million in 2022, marking a remarkable growth.

Lendo raised SAR 132 million ($35.2 million) in total funding from leading investors, including the most recent Series B led by Sanabil Investments, a wholly-owned company by the Public Investment Fund (PIF).

Since its inception in December 2019, Saudi fintech Lendo has processed over 5,000 financing transactions on its platform, providing over SAR 2 billion ($600 million) in financing to SMEs and generating SAR 280 million ($74 million) in returns for investors.

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TA Telecom Introduces AnteThink: A New AI Decision Support Tool

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**TA Telecom Introduces AnteThink: A New AI Decision Support Tool for Enhanced Decision-Making**

TA Telecom, a prominent player in the Middle East’s tech sector, has unveiled AnteThink, an AI-driven tool designed to enhance decision-making processes for individuals and businesses alike.

With a history of influencing the tech landscape through various initiatives, including advanced mobile solutions, high-volume payment platforms, and ventures in e-commerce, fintech, and analytics, TA Telecom has carved a niche for itself. Serving a vast user base of 40 million and processing an impressive 15 billion transactions across its platforms, TA Telecom has cemented its position as a tech industry leader, with some of its ventures achieving the status of Y Combinator companies.

Established in 2000, TA Telecom has emerged as a prominent player in the technology sector. With over 40 million users and processing 15 billion transactions annually, TA Telecom has made a notable impact. Recognized for its contributions by the Financial Times and featured on Deloitte’s list of fastest-growing tech companies in EMEA, TA Telecom is known for its adaptability and forward-thinking approach in the ever-evolving global tech landscape.

Sameh Ibrahim, CEO of TA Telecom, highlights the potential of AnteThink: “AnteThink reflects our commitment to leverage technology for practical impact. It aims to provide clarity and confidence in decision-making, whether in the professional or personal sphere. AnteThink is a tool that can empower startup founders, executives, and individuals to make more informed choices, alleviating the stress and uncertainty often associated with critical decision-making.”

Mostafa Ashour, CEO of Y Combinator-backed startup NowPay, shared his perspective on AnteThink: “AnteThink transformed our strategic planning, allowing us to explore various scenarios and prepare for different outcomes. It has strengthened our decision-making process, helping us navigate the complexities of the business landscape.”

AnteThink embodies TA Telecom’s commitment to innovation, focusing on supporting the startup ecosystem. The tool is tailored to help leaders and executives navigate the complexities of business management and strategic development by providing a clear picture of potential outcomes.

Key Features of AnteThink include:

1. Second Order Mode: Offering a comprehensive analysis of broader impacts, fostering a strategic mindset for long-term success.

2. Optionality Mode: Enabling detailed evaluation and comparison of different choices to ensure decisions align with strategic objectives and values.

3. Inversion Mode: Focusing on identifying and mitigating potential risks, thereby strengthening risk management strategies.

TA Telecom Introduces AnteThink: A New AI Decision Support Tool for Enhanced Decision-Making

Credit: Antethink

AnteThink’s advanced AI technology aims to assist decision-makers with insightful analytics, offering guidance through the decision-making process.

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GoDaddy’s Global Markets VP Predicts Egypt’s E-commerce to Hit $9.88 Billion by 2028

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GoDaddy's Global Markets VP Predicts Egypt's E-commerce to Hit $9.88 Billion by 2028

Selina Bieber, the Senior Director of Global Markets at GoDaddy, has predicted a significant increase in Egypt’s e-commerce revenue. By 2028, it could reach $9.88 billion.

Godaddy is forming strategic partnerships and launching initiatives to help local entrepreneurs. These efforts align with Egypt’s digital transformation goals and its Vision 2030.

In an interview with the Arabic financial news “Amwal Al Ghad,” Bieber spoke about GoDaddy’s plans and how they match Egypt’s 2023 strategy. She highlighted the company’s aim to provide effective, easy-to-use digital tools and services. By 2024, GoDaddy wants to serve more customers in Egypt by making its digital tools more widespread.

The company is working closely with the Egyptian government, especially the Ministry of Planning. They are offering training programs to improve the digital skills of startups and existing businesses. GoDaddy’s services in Egypt include domain registration, web hosting, e-commerce solutions, and digital marketing tools.

Recent surveys support Bieber’s positive outlook for e-commerce in Egypt. They show a clear trend towards digital strategies among small businesses. Many are realizing the importance of having an online presence for their growth and success.

As GoDaddy continues its partnerships and supports government digital initiatives, its influence on Egypt’s digital landscape is growing. The company is committed to sustainability and reducing its carbon footprint. It aims not just for business growth but also to contribute to a sustainable and thriving digital economy in Egypt.

The 2028 projection indicates a vast potential for e-commerce, with GoDaddy playing a key role in this digital evolution.

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