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Showing posts from March, 2020

Africa Roundup: Africa’s tech ecosystem responds to COVID-19

In March, the virus gripping the world — COVID-19 — started to spread in Africa. In short order, actors across the continent’s tech ecosystem began to step up to stem the spread. Early in March Africa’s coronavirus cases by country were in the single digits, but by mid-month those numbers had spiked leading the World Health Organization to sound an alarm. “About 10 days ago we had 5 countries affected, now we’ve got 30,” WHO Regional Director  Dr Matshidiso Moeti said at a press conference on March 19. “It’s has been an extremely rapid…evolution.”  By the  World Health Organization’s stats Tuesday there were 3671 COVID-19 cases in Sub-Saharan Africa and 87 confirmed deaths related to the virus — up from 463 cases and 8 deaths on March 18. As the COVID-19 began to grow in major economies, governments and startups in Africa started measures to shift a greater volume of transactions toward digital payments and away from cash — which the World Health Organization flagg...

Investors tell Indian startups to ‘prepare for the worst’ as Covid-19 uncertainty continues

Just three months after capping what was the best year for Indian startups, having raised a record $14.5 billion in 2019 , they are beginning to struggle to raise new capital as prominent investors urge them to “prepare for the worst”, cut spending and warn that it could be challenging to secure additional money for the next few months. In an open letter to startup founders in India, ten global and local private equity and venture capitalist firms including Accel, Lightspeed, Sequoia Capital, and Matrix Partners cautioned that the current changes to the macro environment could make it difficult for a startup to close their next fundraising deal. The firms, which included Kalaari Capital, SAIF Partners, and Nexus Venture Partners — some of the prominent names in India to back early-stage startups — asked founders to be prepared to not see their startups’ jump in the coming rounds and have a 12-18 month runway with what they raise. “Assumptions from bull market financings or even ...

Investors tell Indian startups to ‘prepare for the worst’ as Covid-19 uncertainty continues

Just three months after capping what was the best year for Indian startups, having raised a record $14.5 billion in 2019 , they are beginning to struggle to raise new capital as prominent investors urge them to “prepare for the worst”, cut spending and warn that it could be challenging to secure additional money for the next few months. In an open letter to startup founders in India, ten global and local private equity and venture capitalist firms including Accel, Lightspeed, Sequoia Capital, and Matrix Partners cautioned that the current changes to the macro environment could make it difficult for a startup to close their next fundraising deal. The firms, which included Kalaari Capital, SAIF Partners, and Nexus Venture Partners — some of the prominent names in India to back early-stage startups — asked founders to be prepared to not see their startups’ jump in the coming rounds and have a 12-18 month runway with what they raise. “Assumptions from bull market financings or even ...

Tablighi Jamaat's defiance spreads concern

Tablighi Jamaat's defiance spreads concern from India Today | Latest Stories https://ift.tt/33Z4PjT via IFTTT

Govt cuts interest rate on PPF, other small savings schemes: What it means for you

Govt cuts interest rate on PPF, other small savings schemes: What it means for you from India Today | Latest Stories https://ift.tt/2UyBmKo via IFTTT

Brace for a hell of bad two weeks: Trump projects up to 2.4 lakh coronavirus deaths in US

Brace for a hell of bad two weeks: Trump projects up to 2.4 lakh coronavirus deaths in US from India Today | Latest Stories https://ift.tt/2Rhagph via IFTTT

Madhya Pradesh: 20 new coronavirus cases, tally jumps to 86

MP: 20 new coronavirus patients; children aged 3, 5, 8 infected from India Today | Latest Stories https://ift.tt/3azKPXu via IFTTT

Badshah on Genda Phool credit row: Could not find Ratan Kahar's name in records

Badshah says he could not find Ratan Kahar's name in records from India Today | Latest Stories https://ift.tt/3bDCTEL via IFTTT

Coronavirus Lockdown: Nabha residents shower flowers on sanitation worker in Punjab CM Amarinder Singh's video

Nabha residents shower flowers on sanitation worker in Amarinder Singh's video from India Today | Latest Stories https://ift.tt/39y3XUr via IFTTT

Coronavirus: Rattled global stocks spook D-Street, markets fall

Coronavirus: Rattled global stocks spook D-Street, markets fall from India Today | Latest Stories https://ift.tt/3bJioGu via IFTTT

Coronavirus: Should you wear mask in public if not sick?

Coronavirus: Should you wear mask in public if not sick? from India Today | Latest Stories https://ift.tt/2UwVU5Q via IFTTT

Jos Buttler to auction World Cup 2019 final shirt to raise funds for Covid-19 fight

Jos Buttler to donate World Cup final shirt to aid coronavirus fight from India Today | Latest Stories https://ift.tt/3aC67DG via IFTTT

UN chief says Covid-19 is worst crisis since World War II

UN chief says Covid-19 is worst crisis since World War II from India Today | Latest Stories https://ift.tt/2USfwQX via IFTTT

Coronavirus: Global stock markets under pressure after biggest quarterly drop since 2008

Coronavirus: Global stocks under pressure after biggest quarterly drop since 2008 from India Today | Latest Stories https://ift.tt/3bHzQLQ via IFTTT

Shahid Afridi thanks Yuvraj, Harbhajan Singh for supporting his foundation during Covid-19 crisis

Peace transgresses borders: Afridi thanks Yuvraj, Harbhajan for support from India Today | Latest Stories https://ift.tt/2UwSYWT via IFTTT

Coronavirus in India Live Updates: Hundreds across states quarantined after Tablighi event, global toll crosses 42,000

Coronavirus LIVE: Hundreds quarantined after Tablighi event, global toll crosses 42,000 from India Today | Latest Stories https://ift.tt/3bKUpGX via IFTTT

Anxiety, demonetisation images, WhatsApp messages: What led to exodus of migrants

Anxiety, demonetisation images, WhatsApp messages: What led to exodus of migrants from India Today | Latest Stories https://ift.tt/2JuFPHD via IFTTT

Coronavirus in India: Tablighi Jamaat meet turns Covid-19 super spreader

Coronavirus: Tablighi Jamaat meet turns Covid-19 super spreader from India Today | Latest Stories https://ift.tt/2QZ2DUf via IFTTT

Maharashtra Police books Mosque trustees for hiding foreign nationals who attended Tablighi Jamaat event

Maharashtra: Mosque trustees booked for hiding foreigners who visited Nizamuddin from India Today | Latest Stories https://ift.tt/3dTN3TI via IFTTT

Coronavirus in India: How Delhi Police and government inaction led thousands to spread Covid-19

Coronavirus: How Delhi Police and government inaction led thousands to spread Covid-19 from India Today | Latest Stories https://ift.tt/3azmTU6 via IFTTT

Who brought on coronavirus pandemic? China on prowl to deflect blame

Who brought on coronavirus pandemic? China on prowl to deflect blame from India Today | Latest Stories https://ift.tt/2WYpmDG via IFTTT

Efforts to vacate premises stopped by lockdown: Nizamuddin markaz to cops

Efforts to vacate premises stopped by lockdown: Nizamuddin markaz to cops from India Today | Latest Stories https://ift.tt/3bCxe1B via IFTTT

Kerala govt issues special passes for tipplers facing withdrawal symptoms amid coronavirus lockdown

Kerala govt issues special passes for tipplers amid Covid-19 lockdown from India Today | Latest Stories https://ift.tt/2UttD04 via IFTTT

Covid-19: Shortage of ventilators; IIT team pitches Bag Valve Mask as alternative

Covid-19: Shortage of ventilators; IIT team pitches Bag Valve Mask as alternative from India Today | Latest Stories https://ift.tt/39s5VWh via IFTTT

Coronavirus: 24 who were at Nizamuddin markaz test positive in Delhi

24 who were at Nizamuddin markaz test positive in Delhi: Health minister from India Today | Latest Stories https://ift.tt/2JpOGdw via IFTTT

Covid-19: Rohit Sharma donates INR 80 lakh to help India get "back on its feet"

Onus is on us: Rohit Sharma donates INR 80 lakh to help fight coronavirus from India Today | Latest Stories https://ift.tt/33ZD9uV via IFTTT

Coronavirus epidemic far from over in Asia, says WHO official

Coronavirus epidemic far from over in Asia, says WHO official from India Today | Latest Stories https://ift.tt/2WR94MO via IFTTT

Coronavirus in India: Confirmed cases rise to 1,330; Kerala, Bengal report more deaths

Coronavirus in India: Cases rise to 1,330; Kerala, Bengal report more deaths from India Today | Latest Stories https://ift.tt/3dR2Qme via IFTTT

Upbeat China factories boost D-Street sentiments, Sensex climbs 500 points

Upbeat China factories boost D-Street sentiments, Sensex climbs 500 points from India Today | Latest Stories https://ift.tt/2wP4FiO via IFTTT

Covid-19: Migrants kill resident in Bihar village for informing officials about their arrival

Covid-19: Migrants kill resident in Bihar village for informing officials about their arrival from India Today | Latest Stories https://ift.tt/2Uw2WIj via IFTTT