{"id":337756,"date":"2017-04-06T12:30:24","date_gmt":"2017-04-06T04:30:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/techcrunch.com\/?p=1473065"},"modified":"2017-04-06T12:30:24","modified_gmt":"2017-04-06T04:30:24","slug":"africa-roundup-google-expands-500-startups-tours-brck-launches-supabrck","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/people.utm.my\/asmawisham\/africa-roundup-google-expands-500-startups-tours-brck-launches-supabrck\/","title":{"rendered":"Africa Roundup: Google expands, 500 Startups tours, BRCK launches SupaBRCK"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Jake Bright<\/span> Contributor<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Jake Bright<\/a> is a writer and author in New York City. He is co-author of The Next Africa<\/a>.<\/p>\n

More posts by this contributor:\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

March was a busy month across Africa\u2019s tech space.<\/p>\n

500 Startups\u2019<\/a>\u00a0frontier and emerging markets travel series \u2015 Geeks on a Plane \u2015 kicked off its first Africa tour. The 12-day trek packed in events, a startup pitch battle, and visits to tech hubs in Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa. Talking to TechCrunch<\/a> about the trip, 500 Startups CEO Dave McClure confirmed \u201cwe\u2019re not announcing a fund at the current time\u201d but said the Silicon Valley accelerator was \u201cplanning on doing more investment in Africa\u201d to add to the 10 investments already made in startups such as such as Nigerian HR platform\u00a0TalentBase<\/a>\u00a0and South Africa\u2019s\u00a0SweepSouth<\/a>. McClure, who kicked off the Geeks trip Monday<\/span> in Lagos, did not rule out a dedicated Africa micro-fund, noting a decision could be made within the next 12-24 months.<\/p>\n

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Alphabet expanded its Africa initiatives<\/a> in March, opening Google\u2019s\u00a0Launchpad Accelerator\u00a0to African startups and committing to train another 1 million students under its Digital Skills for Africa program in the next 12 months. Debuted in April 2016 with a goal of training 1 million within a year\u2015a goal Google attained\u2015Digital Skills for Africa<\/a>\u00a0offers online and face to face instruction to individuals and small businesses through\u00a014 partners\u00a0across 27 African countries. Anyone can register for free and set an individualized plan across three primary categories: business development, career advancement, or basic internet use. Users can choose from 89 courses across 23 topic areas and earn badges and certificates for successful completion.<\/p>\n

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Kenyan communications hardware company\u00a0BRCK\u00a0unveiled its SupaBRCK<\/a>\u2014a waterproof, solar-powered Wi-Fi box that operates as a 3G hotspot and off-grid server. The product is the sequel to BRCK\u2019s eponymous debut creation, launched in 2013 to tackle two common African IT challenges: reliable power and viable internet options. The new SupaBRCK \u2014 with its dual core processor and a 5 terabyte hard drive \u2014 can be plopped down in just about any environment to provide up to 100 internet connections, streaming video for 50 devices and enough server capacity to run a Linux stack.<\/p>\n

Accompanying BRCK\u2019s hardware product is the startup\u2019s new Moja service, which will provide ad-supported free public net access and a content delivery network (CDN) service through SupaBRCK devices. \u201cThe demand on internet in Africa is largely driven by the 10 to 15 percent who can afford it. The real massive opportunity is trying to connect the 70 to 80 percent of the people who can\u2019t,\u201d said BRCK CEO Erik Hersman on value proposition of the new device.<\/p>\n

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Kenya\u2019s leading mobile provider,\u00a0Safaricom<\/a>, teamed up with data collection startup\u00a0mSurvey<\/a>\u00a0to launch Consumer Wallet \u2015 an online platform using mobile and SMS to map Africa\u2019s cash-based economy. Consumer Wallet will be available on a subscription and license basis as early as August 2017. Safaricom and mSurvey are testing the app with potential clients and corporate partners, including McKinsey Consulting, mSurvey CEO Kenfield Griffith told TechCrunch<\/a>. Based in Kenya and operating since 2012, mSurvey harnesses Africa\u2019s shift to digital to better track consumer preferences. The startup employs mobile phone-based surveys to quantify spending habits and market trends on the continent, where more than 50 percent of economic activity and employment occurs in informal sectors, according to the African Development Bank.<\/p>\n

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And finally, Facebook issued an open call to Africa developers to enter its Bots for Messenger Challenge<\/a>\u2015a contest judging innovative new bots in categories of gaming and entertainment, productivity and utility, and social good. Contestants have until April 28<\/span> to apply and compete for prizes, including up to $40,000 in tools, services, and mentorship from FbStart<\/a>, FB\u2019s early stage mobile startup program.<\/p>\n

More Africa Related Stories @TechCrunch<\/strong><\/p>\n

African Tech Around the Net\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n