Hi, welcome to Tech This Evening, an After-Work Tech Newsletter from Techparley Africa. Sure, there is a lot to unpack right now. Sit back, while I walk you through.
Top Story: Ethiopian Startup, Dodai Raises $13m to Scale Battery-Swapping Electric Motorbike Network Across Africa
Dodai, an Ethiopia-focused electric mobility start-up, has raised $13 million in a Series A funding round to expand its electric motorbike fleet and battery-swapping infrastructure across Addis Ababa.
The round comprises $8 million in equity and $5 million in debt, with backing from a mix of international investors including Value Chain Innovation Fund, UTokyo Innovation Platform Co., Nagase, Persistent Energy, For Seasons, CBC Co., Ltd, Inclusion Japan (ICJ), and debt financing from British International Investment (BII).
The capital injection comes at a pivotal moment for Ethiopia’s transport sector, where aggressive government policy is reshaping the automotive landscape and accelerating the shift away from fossil fuels.
“This funding will help take us from early traction to real scale,” said Yuma Sasaki, CEO and Founder of Dodai. “We’ve proven the model in Addis Ababa—now we’re building the network and infrastructure needed to make electric mobility the default.”
Other Tech News Stories You Should Read:
Business Corner: How to start a profitable e-commerce business in Africa’s growing digital market. Read now.
Mashreq and Cashew Combines Regulated Banking With Fintech to Launch Pay-later Financing for Consumers. Read now.
Omnicom and Google Launch AI System to Evaluate and Optimise Ads Before They Go Live. Read now.
On Startup Spotlight:
Kenya’s WapiPay Expands Remittance Network Into Jamaica to Strengthen Diaspora Payment for Africans
WapiPay, a Nairobi-based cross-border payments company, has secured regulatory approval to launch operations in Jamaica, marking its first entry into the Caribbean and a strategic expansion into one of the world’s most remittance-dependent regions.
The approval, granted by the Bank of Jamaica, will enable WapiPay to operate in partnership with JN Money Services Limited (JNMS), a local payments provider.
Through this collaboration, the company aims to facilitate cross-border transfers between Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean, targeting both diaspora remittances and trade-related payments.
Founded in 2019 by twin brothers Eddie and Paul Ndichu, WapiPay initially focused on facilitating payments between Africa and Asia, particularly for traders and small businesses engaged in cross-border commerce.
“Our entry into the Jamaican market reinforces our commitment to regulatory excellence and building a robust financial infrastructure that connects the Global South,” WapiPay co-founder Paul Ndichu said.
Quadri Adejumo brings you all the details. Read here.
Also Read:
South Africa’s Secha Capital Nears $40M Milestone to Power High-Growth Businesses Across Key Sectors. Yakub Abdulrasheed brings us the details, here.
Quote of the Day:
“Any sufficiently advanced technology is equivalent to magic.” – Arthur C. Clarke.
Thank you for joining me yet again this evening. Stay safe, and see you tomorrow for the next tech newsletter.
Best, Quadri
