Ventureburn

Exclusive: WeChat launches R50m fund for mobile startups

Napsers-backed instant messaging platform WeChat on Wednesday announced the launch of a R50-million seed fund specifically for startups working in the mobile space. The…

Beyond insurance: How TopCheck aims to transform Nigeria’s financial services industry

In a country where online sale of services is still arguably unpopular compared to retail and other services, TopCheck is attempting to achieve profitability…

How Flickswitch is enabling Africa to become a continent of connected things

The Internet of Things (IoT) — or the concept of connected devices — is becoming more prominent by the day. It’s estimated that there…

CEO of Supermart.ng Raphael Afaedor on the state of Nigeria’s ecommerce

The last time I spoke to Raphael Afaedor in person, he was still the co-founder of Jumia, his face and that of Tunde Kehinde’s…

20 successful years of backing independent news — Q&A with MDIF’s Mohamed Nanabhay

The media world has seen major disruptions since the advent of the web, especially when it comes to social media and mobile. While there…

Governance and startups — the Ethiopia experience

Last month, Seedstars World held its first challenge in Ethiopia’s capital city of Addis Ababa and the event featured eleven of the country’s best…

How to keep the excitement going in your startup

Whenever a company embarks on a process to create a culture that delights customers and creates loyalty, we usually recognise four very distinct phases…

Does the future of instant messaging apps lie in bulk?

The instant messaging space is a tough nut to crack. Add a couple feature and it becomes cluttered and the users become uncomfortable. Remove…

5 simple ways to create an online business map for your startup

You’ve got a great business model. You’re offering the kind of product or service people will absolutely love and, more importantly, pay money to…

Why Automattic’s WooThemes acquisition is so important to South African startup space

The acquisition of WordPress theme developer WooThemes, along with its signature ecommerce product WooCommerce, by WordPress.com holding company Automattic is massively important to the…

Q&A with MoboFree CEO on Africa’s fast-growing mobile marketplace

MoboFree is an African-based mobile marketplace with a social twist that allows people to buy, sell and swap products with each other. The goal…

Ventureburn presents: the beginner’s guide to growth hacking

The term growth hacking has been thrown around for a while now. Well, pretty much since 2010 when it was coined by Sean Ellis…

Raru director Waine Smith weighs in on South Africa’s ecommerce industry

Since its launch last year, Raru has become a go-to name in the South African ecommerce market. Headed up by ex-founders of Take2, they have…

InstaLens: How SA’s Instagram acolyte is capturing global success

Instagram is well known for its dedicated communities. Especially in cities such as Cape Town where designers, both local and tourists, take advantage of…

Dentsu Aegis’ John Brown buyout shows how the digital agency model is changing

Global advertising mega-conglomerate Dentsu Aegis has acquired content marketing specialist John Brown Media for an undisclosed sum of money. John Brown Media was established…

4 ways aspiring millennial entrepreneurs can break down barriers

The entrepreneurial leap looks a lot different for today’s young professionals. While most baby boomers don’t see entrepreneurship as a way to make a…

Is South Africa ready for its Instacart moment?

Getting home after a long day, you put your keys and bag down, kick your feet up, get comfortable and ease into you couch….

Ventureburn speaks to entrepreneurial maestro Adii Pienaar on Receiptful’s $500k Angel round

South African serial entrepreneur and investor Adii Pienaar’s new startup called Receiptful is making some noise. The co-founder of the popular website theme builder,…

4 tips startups can take from the traditional blueprint of disruption

Saul Alinsky published a somewhat controversial book back in 1971, called Rules for Radicals. It details the structure and organisation employed in revolutions. A…

The thin line between catchy and ridiculous startup names

The tight competition in the startup market requires taking a strategic approach to every aspect of branding, including the choice of a company name….

StudySearch connects African students with quality universities abroad

Even though there is no official data on the number of Africans that are travelling abroad annually for postgraduate studies, it’s expected to be…

Can online boutique startup &Threads follow-up on YDE’s success?

In 1995, Paul Simon (age 21) started the very popular Young Designers Emporium (YDE). The retail store for fashion designers soon grew to 13…

6 marketing hacks all entrepreneurs should have in their pockets

Marketing — and more to the point — digital marketing budgets still frighten a lot of people. Especially entrepreneurs who are grappling with how…

High End Devices Unlock Superior Mobile Experiences in South Africa

South Africa Sees 77% Surge in Demand for AI Skills

Samsung Launches the Galaxy A07 Built for Every Challenge

Innovate47 Launches Global Food & Agri Accelerator to Back Climate-Smart Startups

Simbi Wabote’s 10-Year Roadmap: How Nigeria Achieved 54% Local Content Growth

Records Tumble In Best Year Yet For South Africa’s Hedge Fund Industry

Acer Unleashes Beastly New Predator BiFrost and Nitro GPUs with AMD Radeon RX 9000 Series

Philips Evnia Drops Jaw-Dropping QD OLED Monitors: 240Hz, Ambiglow, and All the Good Stuff

Omoda C5 X review

TDK enhances IMUs for extreme temps

Data centres and defence are reviving diesel