AfDB and Algeria unite to scale startups and SMEs, fostering innovation, trade, and youth-driven growth in Africa

The African Development Bank (AfDB) and Algeria’s Ministry of Knowledge Economy, Startups, and Micro-Enterprises have agreed to deepen cooperation to accelerate the growth of startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Africa

The announcement came at the close of the fourth edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF 2025), hosted in Algiers from 4 to 10 September. Leading the Bank’s delegation, Ousmane Fall, Acting Director of the Industrial and Trade Development Department, highlighted the AfDB’s central role in unlocking finance for African businesses. “Supporting small and medium-sized enterprises and startups is one of the key pillars of our work, as defined in the Four Cardinal Points of the Bank group’s new president, Dr Sidi Ould Tah,” said Fall. He added, “The Bank will support SMEs through an innovative approach that combines new financing instruments, advisory services, and policy reforms to promote their emergence across the continent.”

Strengthening private sector engagement

Ahead of discussions with Minister Noureddine Ouadah, the Bank delegation met with Algeria Venture, the state-backed startup accelerator. Both sides agreed to enhance cooperation, particularly by linking Algerian startup funding mechanisms with leading private equity and venture capital funds. They also confirmed plans to jointly take part in the African Startup Conference, scheduled in Algiers from 6 to 9 December 2025, which aims to promote innovation, strengthen networks, and attract investment on a continental scale.

Closing IATF 2025, Minister Ouadah announced the launch of a new investment fund for African startups, an initiative championed by Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, underlining Algeria’s commitment to prioritising youth and innovation in shaping Africa’s economic future.

The AfDB’s Non-Sovereign Operations team also presented financing solutions for the private sector while pursuing new strategic collaborations. Engagements with firms such as Solewant Group, a Nigerian steel and coatings leader, illustrated the Bank’s interest in high-impact African companies.

Showcasing innovation and entrepreneurship

The AfDB further contributed to several IATF sessions, including one organised with UNDP’s Timbuktoo initiative and the African Union on “Building an Enabling Startup Ecosystem,” as well as a discussion hosted by Afreximbank’s African Research and Innovation Centre. These platforms enabled the Bank to highlight its Innovation and Entrepreneurship Lab and its flagship ENNOVA programme, which helps entrepreneurs expand their operations and access new opportunities.

The IATF Advisory Council, in which the Bank is an active participant, announced that Lagos, Nigeria, will host the fifth edition of the fair in 2027. Reaffirming its commitment, the AfDB stressed that trade, entrepreneurship, and innovation remain central to driving inclusive growth and industrial transformation across the continent.

CMC Networks names Mahesh Jaishankar as managing director. (Image source: CMC Networks)

CMC Networks, Africa’s premier networking provider and a subsidiary of center3, has appointed Mahesh Jaishankar as managing director

He will lead the company’s strategy to drive growth in AI-powered connectivity, combined with on-the-ground expertise across Africa and the Middle East. Jaishankar succeeds Marisa Trisolino, who served as CEO of CMC Networks until her departure in April 2025.

Jaishankar brings extensive leadership experience to the role after an advisory position at Arthur D Little and serving as Head of Strategic Negotiations, GNA at Google. He was also instrumental in the launch and growth of datamena as a global digital hub, while at du. Under his leadership, datamena was established as the premier regional connectivity ecosystem and a global destination for hyperscalers, OTT players, carriers and enterprises seeking seamless access to the Middle East and Africa.

“Mahesh brings over 25 years of experience in building and scaling advanced digital infrastructure businesses. His deep expertise with hyperscalers, carriers, and enterprises, coupled with a proven track record of establishing regional platforms with global relevance, makes him ideally suited to lead CMC Networks into its next phase of growth,” said Fahad Alhajeri, CEO of center3 and chairman of CMC Networks. “We are confident that under his leadership, CMC will strengthen its position as the leading provider of intelligent, AI-driven connectivity solutions across Africa and the Middle East.”

center3 completed the acquisition of CMC Networks in June 2024. Since the acquisition, CMC Networks has accelerated its adoption of Artificial Intelligence for IT Operations (AIOps), taking a leadership position in AIOps in African connectivity. Its innovation in AI is underpinned with 35 years of on-the-ground experience serving 62 markets across Africa and the Middle East.

“I’m honoured to take on the role of Managing Director at CMC Networks at such a pivotal moment for AI, innovation, and the growth of Africa’s digital economies,” remarked Jaishankar. “CMC has an incredible heritage, and proven track record of delivering industry-leading customer experience across the most complex markets in the world. Together with our customers and partners, we will accelerate growth, unlock new opportunities, and deliver the intelligent, scalable connectivity solutions that Africa and the Middle East need to thrive in the digital era.”

Jaishankar holds a degree in engineering and an MBA, and has combined technical expertise with commercial leadership throughout his career. Beyond his corporate roles, he has been active in supporting entrepreneurship and innovation across the region as a charter member of TiE Dubai. His appointment signals CMC Networks’ commitment to combining global perspective with regional insight to deliver the next generation of connectivity in Africa and the Middle East.

Liquid Intelligent Technologies has introduced BIA service to deliver reliable, high-speed, and secure internet for South African businesses. (Image source: Liquid Intelligent Technologies)

Liquid Intelligent Technologies, part of Cassava Technologies, has introduced a new Business Internet Access (BIA) service in South Africa, designed to meet the evolving connectivity needs of businesses, big and small

This latest offering brings fast, reliable internet without the high cost and complexity usually associated with Dedicated Internet Access (DIA).

What makes BIA stand out is its dedicated internet line for each customer. That means consistent speeds for important tasks without interruptions. And to give businesses even more peace of mind, the service comes with a solid Service Level Agreement (SLA), 24/7 support every single day of the year, and up to 99% guaranteed uptime.

“Reliable internet is no longer a nice-to-have, it’s essential for any business to function properly,” said Ziaad Suleman, CEO of Cassava Technologies in South Africa and Botswana. “With BIA, we’re not just launching another product, we’re making sure businesses across South Africa, regardless of their size, have the tools they need to grow and contribute to our economy. It’s about making sure no one is left behind.”

Cybersecurity is also top of mind with this launch. Every BIA connection includes real-time DDoS visibility reports, helping companies spot and respond to potential threats before they cause harm. This kind of insight allows businesses to stay a step ahead when it comes to digital security.

Backed by Liquid’s own network infrastructure, BIA is part of the company’s ongoing mission to support growth through smart, scalable, and affordable digital solutions. With this new offering, Liquid is reinforcing its role as a leading provider of technology services in South Africa, helping businesses run smoother, faster, and more securely.

Orange Money and JUMO partner to deliver AI-driven microloans and digital credit access across Francophone Africa

Orange Money Group has joined forces with JUMO, a leading banking-as-a-service fintech, to strengthen digital financial services and expand microcredit offerings across Africa

This strategic partnership aims to bring financial inclusion to underserved and unbanked populations, with an initial focus on Francophone Africa.

With a customer base of over 100 million across 16 countries in Africa and the Middle East, Orange Money Group processed more than EUR 160 billion (approx. US$174bn) in transactions in 2024. JUMO, which has already disbursed over US$8 billion to more than 31 million African users, brings its advanced AI-driven technology and deep experience in data analytics and credit risk management to the collaboration.

The partnership will enable Orange Money Group to enhance its value proposition by introducing tailored microcredit solutions via mobile platforms. JUMO’s AI tools, refined over a decade, optimise credit allocation and reduce lending risk to below 4%, supporting sustainable financial services at scale.

A multi-country rollout of diverse credit products will follow, facilitated by JUMO’s partnerships with pan-African banks and development finance institutions. Orange Money Group customers will be able to access these credit services directly from their mobile phones—without a bank account or the need for collateral.

The credit process is simple:

• Customers access the service through their Orange Money wallet

• Request a loan amount

• JUMO’s AI assesses their eligibility based on transactional data

• If approved, funds are credited instantly

• Repayment is automated according to the agreed schedule

Aminata Kane, CEO of Orange Money Group, stated, “After developing transfer and payment services used thousands of times every second, we now aim to support our customers in their personal projects, as well as help them manage everyday emergencies. In recent years, Orange Money has expanded its portfolio with highly accessible small loan offers. By partnering with JUMO, we aim to accelerate this momentum, roll out these services across a wide range of countries, and combine our expertise with their technology to deliver support that is even faster, more transparent, and better tailored to the needs of all our customers.”

Andrew Watkins-Ball, CEO and founder of JUMO, added, “We are proud to have been chosen to partner with Orange and we are excited to connect Orange customers with products from the market leading banks that run on our platform. This collaboration, built on top of Orange Money Group's mobile payments and money transfer platforms, will provide customers with great financial choices and allows our bank partners to grow in new markets.”

The first country to benefit from this rollout will be Burkina Faso, followed by Mali and Botswana.