Startupinsight

 Top Ghanaian music legend and multiple award-winning artiste,  Samini , has officially announced the release of his eighth studio album titled  ORIGIN8A , scheduled to drop on February 12, 2026. The project represents a major milestone in the veteran musician’s career, symbolised by the  8-ball  featured on the album cover  a powerful metaphor reflecting destiny, alignment, completeness and a return to one’s true musical path. Speaking on the inspirati on behind the album, Samini described ORIGIN8A as a deeply personal body of work that reflects growth, reconciliation and purpose.  “This album represents my journey coming full circle. ORIGIN8A is about remembering where I come from, reconnecting with my roots and celebrating the people who shaped my story,” the artiste said. More than just a musical release, ORIGIN8A serves as a symbolic homecoming, reuniting Samini with several artistes he once mentored and supported early in their careers. The album...

    Notilian Joins FasterCapital EquityPilot to Scale Birthday Contest Platform Globally Notilian and FasterCapital today announced a strategic partnership through FasterCapital's EquityPilot program to accelerate Notilian's Birthday Challenge Contest App. Effective Dec. 21, 2025, the collaboration will target Nigeria and broader African markets first validating a high-growth digital celebrations niche with product development, go-to-market support, and funding access. Market opportunity & problem statement Birthdays and milestone celebrations are a global cultural constant more than 2 billion birthdays are celebrated annually yet mainstream social platforms lack monetized, contest-driven celebration experiences. The creator economy is projected to exceed $250B by 2027, and fans increasingly seek interactive ways to engage and financially support creators. Existing contest apps are fragmented, impersonal, and offer limited fan-driven monetization. Notilian targets this whi...

 Sineli Telecoms has launched a seasonal connectivity initiative aimed at easing mobile data challenges faced by travellers during the December peak travel period, widely referred to as Detty December. The initiative comes as international travel volumes surge during the festive season, a time when many travellers encounter connectivity difficulties immediately upon arrival. Common challenges include high roaming charges, unreliable public Wi-Fi, and delays associated with purchasing physical SIM cards. According to the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sineli Telecoms, Ayo Afonja, the initiative was designed to respond to a recurring pain point within the global travel ecosystem. “December is one of the busiest travel periods globally, and it consistently exposes how difficult it can be for travellers to stay connected immediately after landing,” Afonja said. “Reliable connectivity has become a basic travel expectation, yet it is still not guaranteed in many destinations.” As...

    Mustapha Rufai , a software engineer and open source community strategist, has been competitively selected as a featured speaker for FOSS Backstage 2026, a leading European conference on open source governance. His expert workshop on contributor growth was accepted via a rigorous peer-review process, marking significant professional recognition. Rufai Mustapha speaking at API Conf in 2024 FOSS Backstage is a premier international forum, renowned for its senior-level audience of project maintainers, foundation leaders, and technology executives. Speaking at this level signifies a demonstrable impact on the global open source ecosystem. Rufai will lead the workshop, “Docs, Demos, and Mentors: Growing Open Source,” on 17 March 2026 in Berlin. The session provides project leaders with actionable frameworks to solve the critical bottleneck of contributor scalability—a key challenge for open source sustainability. His methodology is informed by direct experience: training over 2...

           Jubril Arogundade , a former senior executive of  CIG Motors , has clarified the circumstances surrounding his departure from the company, following recent media reports and public commentary that inaccurately described his exit as a termination. Mr. Arogundade stated that he voluntarily resigned from his position on December 2, 2025, in full compliance with his contractual obligations and established internal procedures. He explained that his resignation was submitted in writing, formally acknowledged by management, and included an agreed notice period and structured exit timeline. He stressed that any public representation of his departure as a termination is false and does not reflect the actual sequence of events. “I resigned from my position at CIG Motors after careful consideration and in line with due process,” he said. “It is concerning that my voluntary exit has been mischaracterised. I believe strongly in transparency and professio...

 Siilvaar unveils his debut single “Stand Attention” featuring Niphkeys, marking a bold introduction to the sound and vision of Voltte Records. The unveiling of Stand Attention was more than a release; it was a declaration of intent. Created on November 4, 2025 coinciding with the birthday of Valentine Luiz—the single stands as both a tribute and a defining moment. In every sense, it marked the official arrival of Siilvaar as a commanding presence within the Voltte universe. Officially titled “Stand Attention” – Siilvaar feat. Niphkeys, the record positions Siilvaar not simply as a new artist, but as the symbolic Commander of the Voltte army. The role embodies leadership, discipline, and purpose—qualities reflected in the song’s confident, almost ceremonial energy. Authority meets melody as the track establishes the sonic identity and ambition of Voltte Records. The collaboration with Niphkeys extends beyond production. Appearing on the track, Niphkeys brings his signature polish a...

      The Infrastructure Powering Cross-Border Trade for African Small Businesses — Vant Is Building African small and medium-sized businesses produce goods that the global market wants. From fashion and food to manufactured and creative products, demand exists well beyond local borders. Yet for most African entrepreneurs, international trade remains out of reach, not because of quality or ambition, but because the infrastructure required to trade globally has never been built with them in mind. Vant, a Nigeria-founded technology company, is working to change that. Vant was co-founded by Paul Akolade (Chief Executive Officer), Raphael Abayomi (Chief Technology Officer), and Ayomikun Okorodile (Chief Operating Officer), a multidisciplinary founding team combining strengths across business strategy, engineering, and operations. Together, they are building a cross-border commerce platform that enables African small businesses to sell locally and globally through export-ready...

A research publication exploring the intersection of consciousness, environment, and human behaviour. What if everything you were taught about consciousness is incomplete? For decades, mainstream science held that consciousness is merely a by-product of brain activity: neurons firing, chemicals reacting, nothing more. But a growing body of research is challenging this assumption. Some physicists now propose that consciousness may be fundamental to the universe itself, not something the brain produces, but something it receives, like a radio tuning into a signal that already exists. The “Orchestrated Objective Reduction” theory by physicist Roger Penrose and anaesthesiologist Stuart Hameroff suggests quantum processes in brain microtubules connect human consciousness to the fundamental structure of spacetime. Meanwhile, the “Integrated Information Theory” by neuroscientist Giulio Tononi proposes that consciousness is a fundamental property of any system with sufficient complexity and in...

  Lagos-Based Software Developer Redefines Government Website Standards with Enterprise-Grade Technology and AI Solutions.  Gsoft Interactive Systems Ltd, a foremost technology solutions provider and artificial intelligence company operating from Lagos, has successfully deployed a transformative digital platform for the Rivers State House of Assembly at  https://hoa.rv.gov.ng/ , marking a significant milestone in government digital transformation across Nigeria. The newly launched website represents far more than a conventional government portal. Built on enterprise-grade architecture, the platform seamlessly integrates advanced web technologies with sophisticated backend systems, enabling the Rivers State House of Assembly to modernize citizen engagement, streamline legislative operations, and enhance transparency in governance. "We didn't just build a website—we engineered a digital governance ecosystem that empowers citizens, legislators, and administrative staff," say...

   Vic’Adex Reimagines Poetry Through Music at Abuja Live Performance In a bold departure from the conventional format of poetry readings and book signings, Abuja-based poet and cultural curator Adetimilehin “Vic’Adex” Inioluwa Victor on Friday night staged a genre-bending literary experience that merged poetry, music, and performance art, culminating in the sale of a poetry collection for a record-breaking ₦1 million. The event, held at Dunadura Restaurant in Abuja, marked the official launch of Vic’Adex’s twin poetry collections, Poetry Has All My Pain and Love Through the Eyes of a Village Boy. Rather than relying on static readings, the poet introduced what he described as “Sonic Architecture”, a live performance concept that deconstructs familiar music and rebuilds it through spoken word poetry. The intimate yet charged atmosphere drew members of Abuja’s creative, literary, and cultural community, many of whom described the evening as a redefinition of what a poetry launc...

          Datamellon targets growth in Sub-Saharan Africa moves office to Victoria Island, Lagos Datamellon, a top artificial intelligence (AI), cloud and data consulting company, is expanding its presence in Sub-Saharan Africa with a new office in Lagos, Nigeria, as part of its growth strategy in the region. Datamellon, which currently operates in 11 markets across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, opened a new office in Victoria Island, Lagos, on Wednesday and is keen to take a bigger share of Nigeria’s growing demand for AI, cloud, and data, said Adewale Adedeji, Chief Executive Officer. The company plans to help millions of businesses move from experimentation with AI to real, scalable outcomes that make them scale faster and operate more efficiently. “We have come a long way from our early beginnings in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, and later our global headquarters in London. It became clear to us that we needed to do something meaningful back home, both ...

  Anuju Emerges as a Nigerian-Built Travel Tech Platform Making Global Travel More Affordable As international travel rebounds and Nigerians increasingly look beyond borders for education, business, leisure, and relocation, access to affordable and transparent travel booking remains a major challenge. Rising airfare costs, foreign currency pressures, and platforms that are not fully tailored to local realities continue to limit options for many travelers. Addressing this gap is Anuju Ltd, a Nigerian-focused travel technology company launched in 2025 with a clear mission: to help Nigerians access low-priced flights and hotels worldwide through technology built around local needs. Operating via its web platform anuju.com and mobile applications available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, Anuju positions itself as a modern travel marketplace designed specifically for Nigerian travelers. A Tech-Driven Platform with Global Reach Anuju partners with over 700 airlines and more...

    Nigeria’s Fintech App Yesa, Delivers Simplicity, Security, and Zero-Hassle Crypto Trading In Nigeria’s fast-evolving digital economy, Nigerian users expect more than transactions that simply “go through.” They want speed that never collapses under pressure, security that protects their assets, and a system they can trust every single day. This expectation is especially true across high-activity hubs like Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, where millions rely on digital payments for work, trade, mobility, and crypto trading. Purpose-Built for Nigerian Users This is where  Yesa , Nigeria’s fast, secure crypto and digital payments app, steps in, purpose-built from the ground up for Nigerian users who demand reliability, transparency, and high performance. With the official launch of the Yesa fintech app in Nigeria, the platform begins a broader roadmap for African expansion, establishing Yesa as a robust solution to the persistent challenges facing today’s digital economy....

    Teamsam Creator on the Beach: Where Africa’s Next Generation of Creators Met the Future of Content Lagos has evolved into the creative capital of Africa as Teamsam on the Beach brought together more than 200 digital creators, storytellers, and emerging influencers for a day that blended education, innovation, and pure oceanside energy. Hosted under the warm Lagos sun, the event delivered what many are calling one of the most refreshing creator gatherings of the year, a Masterclass + Beach Experience designed to spark collaboration, elevate skills, and redefine what it means to be a creator in 2026 and beyond. Video Recap of the Event:  https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSE8soliP-k/?igsh=ZTVhMjgyOGMyNHp1 A Playground for Ideas, Strategy, and Future-Focused Creativity From the first session to the final sunset, creators explored the fast-changing digital landscape: ● What content will look like in 2026 ● The tools creators must adopt now ● Growth strategies for both new an...

     Dispatch & Courier Services in Port Harcourt: How Peng Is Supporting Businesses Across Rivers State As online businesses and commerce continue to grow in Port Harcourt city, so does the need for structured last-mile delivery. This is where courier companies like Peng Logistics are playing an increasingly important role in shaping how businesses move goods across Port Harcourt. The Growing Demand for Reliable Delivery in Port Harcourt Over the past few years, Port Harcourt has seen a steady rise in Instagram vendors, Food and meal prep brands, Skincare and beauty businesses, Gadget and accessories sellers, Small e-commerce stores, etc. Bottom line is the city is growing and with this growth comes a clear change in customer expectations. Buyers now want Faster delivery, Clear communication, Safe handling of packages, Reliable Pay on Delivery options and more. For small businesses, this means delivery is now a vital  part of the customer experience. About Peng ...

    AfrileapLabs Unveil 2026 Accelerator to Support Africa’s High-Potential Founders In Africa’s startup scene, many founders have great ideas but face the same challenge, as they struggle to move from vision to real business growth. Building for African and global markets takes more than passion, because founders need guidance, structure, trusted networks, and access to funding. As it stand AfrileapLabs is stepping in to bridge this gap with its newly opened 2026 Accelerator Program, designed for early and growth-stage founders who have promising ideas or early traction but need support to refine their business models, validate their markets, strengthen operations, and become truly investment-ready.  Participants receive more than $20,000 worth of tools and business resources along with hands-on mentorship, access to a growing community of builders, and direct introductions to investors across Nigeria and international markets.  As founders progress through the prog...

  Just after recently dropping a masterpiece EP titled " Best Of Ruggedman Acoustic Session Vol 1 " with super guitarist  Fiokee , Nigeria's  Ruggedman  drops a fire reimagining of  Baraje ! Prepare for a rush of nostalgia and a blast of future-forward sound! The iconic rhythm that defined a generation is back, turbocharged and ready to dominate the dance floor. Ruggedman once again links up with  C-mion , and they have taken the legendary classic, "Baraje," and rebuilt it from the ground up, delivering an absolutely electrifying refix produced by  Dee Yasso . Whether you remember the original from the hazy nights of  the 2000s  or you’re discovering its magic for the first time, this version is guaranteed to be the soundtrack to your next unforgettable moment. You can stream it from all music platforms. Follow Ruggedman on:  TikTok: @iamruggedman  X: @Ruggedybaba  Instagram: @Ruggedybaba  Youtube: OfficialRuggedman P.S. R...

 Determined to show the vibrancy and warmth of her homeland, Ubani took her family on a lively tour of Lagos, stopping at the iconic Balogun Market to shop for traditional fabrics and caps. The video, shared on Instagram, captured the family's cheerful and relaxed demeanor as they explored the bustling market before traveling to the eastern region, Ubani's place of origin. In her post, Ubani urged caution but encouraged visitors to experience Nigeria firsthand: "Please don't let people scare you from Nigeria ooo. I'm not saying it's perfect, but it's not as scary-just be cautious. I took my in-laws to the east, to Lagos, we moved around without security most of the time and we were fine! This is your sign sha, but be careful." The post quickly went viral, receiving over 13,900 likes and 420 comments, with followers praising her bold effort to reshape perceptions. Mzkahdy commented, "This is really good, at least they got to see what living in Nige...