Hello There!

Google just dropped WAXAL, an open-source language dataset covering 21 African languages, including Swahili, Yoruba, and Shona.

This groundbreaking development unlocks the door to AI tools that can finally understand and speak to millions in their native tongues.

Now let’s dive into the rest of this week’s top stories, insights, and opportunities.

Top Stories 📰

Story 1: Meet IShowSpeed, the 21-Year-Old Streamer Building a Global Livestream Machine

Story 2: From sold‑out tours to cultural influence that moves markets, Bad Bunny’s reach is now boosting Latino entrepreneurs and brands globally.

Story 3: After three years of development, Google, in partnership with African research institutes, has finally announced WAXAL.

Story 4: Investors are backing African startups in record numbers, but why do some land huge rounds while others struggle? Oui Capital’s Olu Oyinsan breaks down the data, trends, and what founders need to get funded.

Hot News 🔥

1. Alaffia Health has secured $55 million in Series B funding to accelerate the deployment of its agentic AI platform to tackle healthcare’s waste problem.

2. Usher & Big Sean gift Detroit’s entertainment incubator $1M for music creators

   Two of music’s biggest names are investing back into their city.

3. Ryan Coogler has been named Creative of the Year as Creative Collective NYC celebrates 83 Black Innovators.

4. Here’s BLK’s 7‑step guide to surviving Valentine’s Day without losing your chill, or your self‑worth.

5. How academic research shaped Reflekt Me—and a human-centric E-Commerce model.

6. Two Stanford graduates have raised $2 million for Breakthrough Ventures, an accelerator program that supports student- and recent-graduate startups nationwide.

7. Smart Bricks, a startup building agentic AI infrastructure for real estate investing, has announced a $5 million pre-seed funding round.

Opportunities - Accelerators/Funding, Events.

Grants💰

1. $500K Investment | MassChallenge Switzerland has been a leader in helping startups across the world grow their businesses.🗓️ February 4, 2026

2. $150K Investment | The Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation aims to identify social entrepreneurs with dynamic ideas and nurture them in their early stages with maximum leverage and total commitment.  🗓️ Application on a rolling basis:

3. $155K | The Da Vinci Fellowship offers an equity-free grant of €150 000 per fellow to young, contrarian Europeans. 🗓️ Application on a rolling basis

4. Up to $100K Investment | Catalyst is a program for ambitious early-stage social entrepreneurs using wireless or mobile technology to address challenges impacting marginalized communities. 📅 Apply by Feb. 24, 2026

5. $100K | The Thiel Fellowship is a two-year program for young people who want to build new things. Fellows receive a $100,000 grant and support from the Thiel Foundation’s network of founders, investors, and scientists. 🗓️ Application on a rolling basis:

6. $100k | Unity for Humanity empowers creators to make the world a better place by helping bring their visions to life and amplifying their impact. 🗓️ February 20, 2026

7. Up to $15K | The Catalyst Fund by The Roddenberry Foundation makes grants between $2.5k - $15k to anyone with an early-stage idea or project that addresses pressing global challenges 🗓️ Apply on a rolling basis:

8. Up to $10K | Each qualifying nonprofit has access to up to $10,000 per month in search ads shown on Google.com. Additional Google Ads may be purchased in a separate account. 🗓️ Apply on a rolling basis:

Accelerators 💼

1. Y Combinator is accepting applications for the Spring 2026 Batch funding cycle, which will occur from April to June in San Francisco.

2. Techstars Accelerator provides funding, mentorship, hands-on training, and access to Techstars' global network of VC investors, corporate partners, and alumni founders.

3. The Propellant Labs is a startup accelerator offering different programs to help entrepreneurs launch and scale their businesses.

4. Northwestern Mutual Black Founder Accelerator invests in up to ten companies per year (two cohorts of five) focused on fintech, insuretech, digital health, and data analytics.

5. Peachscore + Dealum hosts 12 cohorts annually, offering startup founders the flexibility to join immediately upon acceptance and receive up to $150k, regardless of when they apply.

6. The two-year Activate Fellowship provides early-stage science entrepreneurs with funding, technical resources, and unparalleled support from a network of scientists, engineers, investors, commercial partners, and fellow entrepreneurs. 

7. Forum Ventures' accelerator helps SaaS and AI startups grow with pre-seed funding, mentorship, and expert guidance.

Last Chance to Apply for The Square One’s 10-Week Pre-Accelerator

We are proud to support Square One Startup School, a virtual pre-accelerator program helping founders accelerate their startup journey through community, curriculum, and coaching. 

Learn from startup experts on how to build your first product, land your first customer, and secure your first investment. APPLY TODAY! https://squareoneschool.com/apply 

Submit your Application by Friday, February 13, 11:59 pm EST.

Events🎟️

We’re excited to share that UrbanGeekz is an official media partner for Lagos Tech Fest 2026, in collaboration with Africa Tech Series.

Lagos Tech Fest brings together founders, investors, innovators, and ecosystem leaders shaping the future of Nigeria’s tech industry. From high-impact conversations to powerful networking moments, this year’s event promises bold ideas and meaningful connections.

If you're building, investing, or simply curious about the direction of African innovation, this is one to have on your radar.

Date: 17–18 February 2026

Location: Lagos, Nigeria

DeveloperWeek 2026 connects software engineers, startup founders, product leaders, and tech innovators through hands-on workshops, technical deep dives, and startup showcases.

If you're shipping products, scaling platforms, or building the next big thing in tech, this is one to watch.

Date: 18–20 February 2026

Location: San Jose, California, USA

Curator Summit by Eventnoire brings together curators, digital creators, experiential marketers, and event producers looking to scale their businesses and build unforgettable cultural experiences. From expert panels and fireside chats to networking and actionable insights on brand partnerships, this summit helps creators maximize visibility, secure sponsorships, and grow within the experience economy.

Date: 28 February 2026

Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) 2026 brings together women, allies, employers, and industry leaders committed to advancing diversity in cybersecurity. Expect career fairs, mentorship opportunities, and conversations focused on retention and representation in tech.

If you're passionate about building a more inclusive cybersecurity workforce, this is a must-attend.

Date: 11–14 March 2026

Location: National Harbor, Maryland, USA

Thank you for joining us in this edition of Geekz Insider. We hope that our shared stories and opportunities will ignite your career goals and entrepreneurial spirit, fueling your drive to innovate. From dynamic founders to transformative AI programs and life-changing grants, there’s something here to inspire everyone.

Enjoy our newsletter? Share it with your network and sign up here to stay informed about the latest in tech, business, and innovation.  Until next time, keep hustling and making those geeky dreams come true!

If you're interested in sponsoring our newsletter, drop us a line at [email protected] with ‘Geekz Insider’ in the subject box!

Written by Stephen Oluwadara and produced by Gugu Nxumalo