Rensource, a distributed power provider, has just raised an additional US $3.5 million in funding. Among other uses, the new funds will help expand operations into Kano and Abuja and allow Rensource to launch its “Powered by Rensource” offering that enables businesses to leverage Rensource’s infrastructure with the goal of energy independence. 

This press release from Mastercard announces a collaboration with CRE portfolio company Yoco to roll out 15,000 mobile Point of Sale (mPOS) devices to small and medium-sized businesses by the end of 2017, while also educating these businesses on the benefits of going cashless.

In this post on Medium, CRE portfolio company Flutterwave welcomes its partner TransferWise to Nigeria and discusses how this partnership will enable customers in the UK and around the world to use their debit cards or online banking accounts (via the TransferWise website and mobile app) to send money to family and friends in Nigeria.

This article in Disrupt Africa provides an update on Yoco, who has just launched their free point of sale solution that integrates with their card readers and gives businesses a suite of tools to help them grow.

We are proud to have led Andela's Series C round, which raised $40 million and is one of the largest investments ever led by an African venture firm into an Africa-based technology company. We wish to thank DBL Partners, Amplo, Salesforce Ventures, and TLcom Capital for their participation in this round.

In a Refinery29 article titled "29 Powerful Women Reveal Their Success Secrets, Leadership Tips & The Awful Advice They Didn't Take," SweepSouth's co-founder, Aisha R. Pandor, reflects on her journey shaking up the domestic cleaning industry with technology. 

San Fransicso-based Flutterwave, which provides infrastructure for banks and businesses to make and accept payments across Africa, has raised over $10 million in a Series A funding round. Greycroft Partners and Green Visor Capital led the round, with participation from Y Combinator and Glynn Capital. The company’s current investors include Omidyar Network, Social Capital, CRE Venture Capital, HOF Capital, and others.

The World Economic Forum selected six "entrepreneurs who demonstrate the positive role women are playing in creating opportunities and preparing the region for the Fourth Industrial Revolution." Among these leaders is Aisha Pandor of SweepSouth.

This video on BBC features CRE portfolio company SweepSouth, and how its service, which offers a new way of hiring and paying domestic workers, creates much-needed jobs in South Africa.

Lynk, a company that connects people to experts, just raised $4 million from Hong Leong, Cyberport, Zhuhai Da Heng Qin (DHQ), and CRE. Lynk plans to use these new funds to continue developing its technology and to increase market coverage.

CRE portfolio company PrepClass, which prepares students for exams by connecting them to tutors, has been selected for the GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund. The fund provides grant funding, technical assistance, and the opportunity to partner with mobile operators to scale into sustainable, impactful businesses.

US-based Quona Capital's and Netherlands-based Velocity Capital's recent investments will help Yoco expand beyond South Africa, the latest step toward the company's goal of becoming the leading SME brand in Africa.

CRE's New York-based portfolio company, Hummingbill, was recently acquired by Sequoia-backed KredX to help it enhance its accounts receivable technology.

Fast Company has been ranking the world's most innovative companies for 10 years, sifting through thousands of enterprises to find those that tap heart- and purse strings and use commerce to positively impact the world. For 2017, CRE portfolio company Andela was listed number one for Africa.

In a city like New York, there is a lot to watch. If startups are your game, Built in NYC thinks you should be watching CRE portfolio company Andela. Built in NYC's watch list features fifty startups, all with some connection to NYC.

This article in Entrepreneur includes Iyin Aboyeji as one of eleven incredible entrepreneurs changing the business landscape in Africa. Iyin is a co-founder of Andela and is now at the helm of Flutterwave—both CRE portfolio companies.

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs awarded six companies the 2016 Secretary of State’s Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE). This award recognizes U.S. companies representing American values in their business practices while contributing to the growth and sustainable development of the local economies in which they work. CRE portfolio company Andela took home the award for Corporate Excellence in Small or Medium Enterprise.

In an article titled, "Beyond Safaris: The Creative Hubs to Visit in Africa Now," Vogue.com describes CRE portfolio company Tastemakers Africa as "shedding new light on the creative class in Africa."

Calling it "Africa's first elite engineering organization," Business Insider placed Andela on its list of 100 most exciting startups in New York City (Andela has offices in Lagos, Nairobi, and NYC).

This article in TechCrunch covers Flutterwave's Moneywave payments platform, launched today. Flutterwave wants to empower small businesses by enabling them to accept accept and receive payments in many forms.

If you're not watching the Nigerian startup scene, you should be, and two CRE portfolio companies, PrepClass and SureGifts, make this list of "The 15 Hottest Nigerian Startups to Watch in 2017" on InvoiceBerry Blog.