Through the use of blockchain technology, Bitsoko has managed to emerge as one of the companies that has been able to successfully create products and services that help traders and buyers bridge the economic gap by coming up with new and innovative solutions to problems in the trade industry. The Nairobi Garage held a MEET session on the 12th of February, 2018, that saw the company’s COO, Frank Deya, expound on why Bitsoko is the next company to watch out for when it comes to blockchain technology.

Startups in Kenya were officially given the go ahead to apply for the second season of the science data competition, DataHack4FI innovation competition, on the 1st of February during the launch of the competition which took place at the Nairobi Garage. The team that emerges winner will get the opportunity to walk away with the grand prize of US$5,000, the ability to partake in the global finale which will be held in Kigali, Rwanda, in May as well as get 6 months coworking opportunity at Nairobi Garage.

To this day, many newsrooms are unable to step into the future as they are stuck in the news cycle and struggling with shrinking resources. This is where Startups for News steps in. Their competition helps to identify the young startups that will help news organisations step into the future. We dig into their latest report to review the current state of journalism and which up-and-coming startups will pave the way for newsrooms in 2018.

Africa’s premier tech hub Nairobi Garage has been appointed the official host for the Kenyan leg of multi-country financial inclusion innovation competition, DataHack4FI, and is inviting applications from finance, data and technology enthusiasts to join the hackathon and event series. Now in its second year, DataHack4FI is an innovation competition that brings together data enthusiasts, technologists, and financial service providers (FSPs) to develop data-driven solutions for delivering financial services to underserved communities in Africa.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) D-Lab will be supporting three summits this year and applications are now open! International Development Design Summits Kenya is July 8 - 22nd and will bring together 36 participants from all over the world to co-create innovative, viable financial products and services that expand access in the low-income space. Find out how to apply.

A lack of accurate and timely data on electricity use has caused consumers’ uproar on the over-charged bills and has prevented them from monitoring, managing and/or reducing their power consumption. Today, utilities are thus moving to smart meters and grids as part of long-range plans to ensure a reliable energy supply, incorporate distributed generation resources, develop innovative storage solutions, reduce the need to build new power plants and enable customers to have more control over their power use.

The Disrupt Africa African Tech Startups Funding Report 2017 was released today and the results are amazing! Over the course of 2017 investment into African tech startups hit the highest levels since records began, with 159 startups raising in excess of US$195 million. What’s more, the total funding of African tech ventures grew by 51% compared to 2016, while the number of funded startups also increased by 8.9%. We dug further into the nitty gritty of the report to bring you the inside scoop.

We’re happy to announce that Season 2 of DataHack4FI is now open for registrations! DataHack4FI is Africa’s only competition that encourages finance, tech and data enthusiasts to collaborate in using data and analytics to solve business challenges and extend financial services to underserved communities. So if you’re a tech innovator or simply love data then we reccommend you keep reading.

Just because you work for yourself, doesn’t necessarily mean you have to work by yourself.  Being an entrepreneur can be very stressful times, and sometimes all you need to someone to talk to clear any confusions you may be having.  Coworking provides opportunities for professionals to observe and learn from others who are going through or have gone through similar situations. Technology has made it easier for entrepreneurs to take their tools with them where ever they go, and this makes it possible for them to work with like-minded passionate individuals from virtually anywhere.  If you have played with the idea of moving your one-man office into a coworking atmosphere, have a look at these benefits to help your big decision.