TechSide Daily — August 18, 2026

TechSide Daily — your briefing on the companies, capital, and policy shaping African technology.

In this episode:

• Maia Capital Puts R150M Behind Nesa Power’s Bet on Corporate Solar
• Novastar and Google Open an AI Lab for the Problems That Actually Matter
• Vodacom Takes 55% of Safaricom, and East Africa’s Biggest Telecom Changes Hands
• RoboCare Raises From 216 Capital to Take Tunisian Farm AI Regional

Listen above, then read the full reporting on TechCocoon.

Transcript

Amara: This is TechSide Daily, the daily voice of TechCocoon.

Kwame: Your briefing on the companies, the capital, and the policy shaping African technology. Here is what matters on August 18, 2026.

Amara: Maia Capital Puts R150M Behind Nesa Power’s Bet on Corporate Solar. Maia Capital committed R150 million ($9.12M) in mezzanine debt to Nesa Power to expand commercial solar and PPAs in South Africa’s private power market.

Kwame: Novastar and Google Open an AI Lab for the Problems That Actually Matter. Novastar Ventures and Google launched an Applied AI Lab for African startups in healthcare, agriculture and education; 5-10 teams picked by September.

Amara: Vodacom Takes 55% of Safaricom, and East Africa’s Biggest Telecom Changes Hands. Vodacom completed its $2.1bn purchase of Kenya’s 15% Safaricom stake on June 30, taking majority control at 55% days after the Court of Appeal cleared the deal.

Kwame: RoboCare Raises From 216 Capital to Take Tunisian Farm AI Regional. Tunisia’s RoboCare secured a six-figure investment from 216 Capital to expand its AI precision-agriculture platform across Africa and the Middle East.

Kwame: That has been TechSide Daily from TechCocoon, mapping African innovation from market signal to execution and funding.

Amara: The full reporting is waiting for you at techcocoon dot org. From Amara and Kwame, we will see you tomorrow.

Kwame: TechSide Daily is a production of TechCocoon, founded by Doctor Victor Akaeze.