While it’s not business as usual for tech start-ups, the coronavirus pandemic has presented a contrast of both opportunities and drawbacks.

SA’s pre-owned phones market is estimated to be four to five times bigger than the new cellphones market, says Flip Phone co-founder Conor Copas.

Lack of high-quality tech innovations and an overflow of unicorn replicas hamper venture capitalists’ ambitions of investing in local SMEs.

Local private healthcare facilities Netcare, Mediclinic and Life Healthcare turn to tech to improve efficiency as the coronavirus sweeps through SA.

Microsoft collaborates with GitHub Learning Lab and LinkedIn to help millions of people acquire skills needed for the coronavirus economy.

The big four bank reinforces its platform-business model, powered by Microsoft, Amazon Web Services and Salesforce technologies.

The online education company introduces a data science certification programme targeted at working professionals.

The opportunities presented by 5G will result in productivity gains and operational efficiency, boosting economic growth in the next decade, says ABI Research.

The company will permanently close its global retail chain of Microsoft Stores and take a related pre-tax asset impairment charge of $450 million.

IBM Research Africa develops cloud-based technology to help the Gauteng government monitor, track and predict coronavirus infections.

Fintech start-up Paymenow has been accepted into the Catalyst Fund accelerator programme and awarded R1.7m in grant capital.

The home-sharing firm expresses disappointment, saying it was overlooked in favour of licensed hotel chains in advanced level three announcements.