In an African context where small businesses are struggling to adapt to the digital economy, this Moroccan entrepreneur has designed a solution to simplify their daily management. His innovation aims to provide merchants with the necessary tools to remain competitive.
Moncef Chlouchi, a Moroccan engineer and entrepreneur, is the founder and CEO of Inyad, a startup helping small merchants and self-employed workers in the Maghreb and the Middle East embrace digital transformation.
Founded in 2018, Inyad offers a unified digital platform for professionals in retail, hospitality, and services, enabling users to manage sales, payments, and operations from a single interface. The platform targets “those who keep the economy running every day,” the company says.
Its tools include invoicing and quotation management, payment processing, payroll tracking, and inventory control. Restaurant owners can use the system to handle orders, payments, and staff schedules, while retailers can digitize daily operations such as timekeeping and real-time stock monitoring.
Inyad also provides a digital credit ledger that allows small businesses to record customer debts, track repayments, and simplify collection. The company has developed a mobile point-of-sale terminal designed for flexible use. To date, Inyad has raised $14 million in funding.
Chlouchi holds a master’s degree in applied mathematics from École Polytechnique in France (2012) and a master’s in mining engineering from Mines Paris -PSL (2013). He began his career in 2013 as a supply and commercial strategy analyst at Total Oil Asia Pacific Marketing & Services in Singapore before joining McKinsey & Company as a project manager from 2014 to 2017.
Melchior Koba
Combining technological expertise with a strategic vision, he is exploring new ways to use artificial intelligence to address the real needs of businesses.
Omar Maher, an Egyptian artificial intelligence expert, entrepreneur, and technology executive, is the co-founder and CEO of Monta AI, a company focused on developing advanced enterprise AI solutions.
Founded in 2024, Monta AI builds tools designed to enhance business performance using large language models (LLMs) and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) systems to drive measurable growth for its clients.
The startup’s flagship product is an AI assistant capable of processing sensitive enterprise data in multilingual environments, including Arabic, while complying with strict local regulations. Monta AI also develops voice-based systems for digital assistants and contact centers, designed to understand complex contexts and interactions.
Another core offering is its Custom Agentic Solutions, intelligent agents that can reason, plan, and act autonomously to achieve defined business goals. These agents integrate with internal corporate systems to automate complex workflows and deliver quantifiable outcomes. The company also provides AI consulting services, guiding organizations from assessment and strategy through deployment and optimization.
Before launching Monta AI, Maher co-founded Trustious in 2012, a platform that helped consumers make purchasing decisions by aggregating reliable product reviews. In 2014, he founded Homna.com, an Egyptian online furniture marketplace.
Maher holds a bachelor’s degree in business informatics from the German University in Cairo (2009). He joined ITWORX in 2015, where he served as product director and later as head of global market development for advanced analytics and big data.
From 2016 to 2022, Maher worked at Esri, a global leader in geographic information systems, where he held successive roles including business development manager, head of AI and machine learning practice, and director of AI. Between 2022 and 2023, he served as director of product marketing at Parallel Domain, a company specializing in synthetic data generation for AI systems.
Melchior Koba
In June 2025, the startup raised $4 million to accelerate the development of its infrastructure and prepare for its international expansion.
Caantin, a Zambian fintech launched in 2025 by entrepreneur Njavwa Mutambo, is using artificial intelligence to automate debt collection through voice, SMS, and WhatsApp agents. The platform handles the entire recovery process, improving repayment rates by 18 to 22 percent while reducing collection costs by up to 60 percent, according to the company.
“Think of it as replacing human collection agents with AI that works 24/7, improves recovery rates, and reduces costs,” Mutambo told Disrupt Africa. “Traditional dialers are manual and expensive. Human agents are inconsistent and don’t scale.”
The system is built on an AI infrastructure capable of managing more than one million calls per day, effectively replacing conventional call centers staffed by human agents. The bots can communicate in multiple African languages, send reminders, propose payment plans, and integrate directly with payment systems.
By automating the process, Caantin aims not only to optimize debt recovery but also to improve the debtor experience through more personalized and respectful communication.
“We are expanding to the UK and South Africa in Q1 of next year, and also exploring strategic partnerships with larger fintechs,” Mutambo said.
As financial services across Africa become increasingly digital, Caantin’s model highlights how AI-driven automation could transform how lenders and financial institutions manage debt recovery on the continent.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
In Nigeria, Zest, the fintech arm of Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC launched in 2023, provides a “multi-rail” platform that integrates bank cards, transfers, USSD, QR codes, and mobile wallets, offering businesses a single dashboard to monitor cash flows.
Zest, a fintech solution developed by Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, is providing a "multi-rail" platform that aggregates various payment methods, including bank cards, transfers, USSD, QR codes, and mobile wallets, while offering businesses a single dashboard to track all cash flows. The Lagos-based startup was launched in 2023 by CEO Stanley Jacob.
"Today, businesses must not only accept payments, they must also offer an experience that is fast, fluid, and scalable," Jacob said.
Zest deploys customized solutions for businesses of all sizes. In the energy sector, for instance, a client operating over 100 gas stations can monitor transactions in real time, link them to inventory, and integrate a loyalty program. Within the port industry, the platform makes payment collection traceable and aligns it with high-volume logistics operations.
"For Africa’s SMEs and corporates, orchestrated payments are no longer a nice-to-have, they are survival infrastructure," said Ifeoluwa Adekunle-Yusuf, Vice President of Product and Engineering at Zest.
For individual consumers and small merchants, the company offers a free "storefront" that can be integrated into its platform, enabling seamless management of product catalogs, online sales, and payments without needing to rely on a specific bank.
In summary, Zest aims to enhance the accessibility, speed, and transparency of payments in Nigeria for both businesses and individuals, supporting the digital transformation of the rapidly expanding market.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
Anna Insam is reimagining how people track their health by putting digital technology at the center of the medical journey. Her project reflects a commitment to giving users greater control over their wellness.
Anna Insam is a South Africa-based technology entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Kleo Health, a startup launched in 2024 that develops digital tools for managing personal health.
Kleo Health’s companion app brings together all medical tracking information in one place, allowing users to organize visits, notes, tasks, and health reminders. It acts as a personal assistant, simplifying daily health management, whether for general wellbeing, chronic conditions, fertility, or pregnancy.
The app helps users keep track of tests and appointments, while offering tailored recommendations, personalized support, and a customized health plan based on the user’s age and health profile.
Before founding Kleo Health, Insam built a career spanning both media and technology. A graduate of the University of Cape Town, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in print journalism, media, and writing in 2015, she began her career in 2014 as Deputy Editor of the university’s Varsity Newspaper.
In 2017, she joined Inale Health, an American biotechnology company, as Social Media Manager. Between 2022 and 2024, she worked at The Delta, an organization dedicated to entrepreneurship, where she successively held roles including Senior Solutions Strategist, Head of Sales, Head of Partnerships and Business Development, and later Commercial Director and Account Lead.
Insam is also a founding member of OPUS, a community of entrepreneurs and innovators dedicated to creating value through new ventures.
Melchior Koba
- Draft law would require major platforms to open local offices and store data
- Firms must remove illegal content within 24 hours or face sanctions
- Plan aims to protect youth, uphold social values, and ensure digital sovereignty
Algeria’s government, through the National People’s Assembly (APN), is reviewing a draft law to impose strict regulation on major digital platforms. Introduced by lawmaker Bouhali Abdelbasset, the proposal targets services such as TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, placing them under direct legal supervision within Algeria.
The bill requires large platforms — those with more than one million users or above a certain revenue threshold — to establish a local office, appoint a legal representative, and store user data within the country or in certified centers. They would also be required to remove illegal content within 24 hours of notification and submit biannual compliance reports.
The initiative focuses on three main goals: preserving religious and social values, protecting children and adolescents from harmful content, and strengthening Algeria’s digital sovereignty. It also calls for the creation of a National Authority for Digital Space Regulation, attached to the Presidency, empowered to impose fines, block services, or initiate legal proceedings for violations.
The proposal comes as Algeria’s online presence expands rapidly. As of early 2025, the country counted 36.2 million internet users, representing a penetration rate of 76.9%. This surge has fueled the growth of social networks and influencers, along with rising concerns over extremist or socially inappropriate content.
If adopted, the law would significantly reshape Algeria’s digital landscape by holding major international platforms accountable, enhancing data protection and traceability, and promoting the emergence of locally adapted digital solutions.
- Burkina Faso launches national AI campaign to boost awareness
- Officials stress digital sovereignty, ethical and secure AI use
- AI integration seen as key to public service, development goals
Burkina Faso launched a national campaign on artificial intelligence (AI) with an inaugural conference in Ouagadougou on Tuesday, Oct. 28. The campaign aims to inform and train the public while raising awareness about the challenges and opportunities of AI, especially its potential to drive national development.
Speakers highlighted digital sovereignty as a key concern, stressing that the country must develop and control its own technologies to reduce dependence on foreign systems. They also emphasized the need for responsible AI integration in public administration, backed by strong ethical, legal, and security safeguards. Participants called for tighter institutional coordination to avoid fragmented initiatives and urged efforts to improve digital literacy among citizens and civil servants.
“Sovereignty is no longer just about defending our physical borders. It is also about guaranteeing our capacity to decide, innovate, and protect ourselves in the digital space , our ability to control our technological destiny,” said Aminata Zerbo/Sabane, Minister of Digital Transition, Posts, and Electronic Communications.
The minister said Burkina Faso aims to integrate AI across all sectors, adapting its use to local needs, drawing on national expertise, and harnessing innovation for socio-economic growth and the public good. Expanding AI adoption is among the government’s top digital transformation priorities.
The United Nations recognizes AI as a tool that can enhance public services by improving efficiency and productivity, but it also warns of potential risks. In its E-Government Survey 2024, the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) said AI can improve public-sector performance by automating administrative tasks and reducing delays and redundancies. It added that AI can be applied to tasks such as defect detection, data classification, and generating recommendations.
However, UNDESA cautioned that the risks of AI are as significant as its benefits, urging careful attention to ethical, security, and social implications. It cited data bias as a major concern: “AI algorithms rely heavily on accumulated datasets to produce results, and any bias in that data can lead to misrepresentation or exclusion of certain groups, a serious issue when governments use AI to shape public policies meant for everyone, including marginalized communities.”
Isaac K. Kassouwi
Madagascar has appointed a new minister to lead its ongoing national digital transformation strategy. The young expert is tasked with modernizing government administration and enhancing the country's overall connectivity.
Mahefa Andriamampiadana was appointed Madagascar’s Minister of Digital Development, Digital Transformation, Posts, and Telecommunications on Tuesday, Oct. 28. His appointment is part of the new 29-member “Re-foundation” government.
Andriamampiadana succeeds Tahina Razafindramalo, who held the post for several years and launched several key projects to modernize the country’s digital sector.
The new minister is relatively unknown to the public and has maintained a low national profile. Available information suggests he has solid experience in the private tech industry. He reportedly served as a senior IT strategy executive at Exo-S for three and a half years and previously held roles at Microsoft 365, Skyone Television and Radio Général, Compurweb, and Communication Network Corporation, covering operations management and executive leadership.
Andriamampiadana takes office as Madagascar seeks to strengthen its digital infrastructure and expand Internet access. Despite progress, connectivity remains costly and uneven: mobile Internet currently accounts for 15.5% of monthly GNI per capita, far above the 2% threshold recommended by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
The minister’s priorities include expanding the fiber-optic network, digitalizing public services, implementing a national digital identity system, and modernizing postal services. To meet these challenges, he will need to mobilize a dynamic ecosystem of private firms, telecom operators, startups, and international partners, collaboration on which Madagascar’s digital transformation depends.
Samira Njoya
- The HR tech startup leverages AI, SMS, and WhatsApp to match candidates and employers.
- Its platform automates job posting, shortlisting, and candidate tracking.
- eJoobi aims to cut job search costs by up to 70% and promote inclusion in Africa.
eJoobi is a digital solution developed by a South African startup that uses artificial intelligence to streamline connections between job seekers and recruiters. Founded in 2016 by Simangele Mphahlele, the company aims to reduce barriers in the job search process while providing businesses with an efficient recruitment tool.
“We are an HR Technology company with an AI-powered recruitment software that connects job-seekers and employers/recruiters/talent search teams. Our technology is based on SMS, WhatsApp, and USSD. Employers can publish jobs via job portal, SMS, and WhatsApp, and jobseekers are able to receive job alerts via SMS,” the company explains on LinkedIn.
eJoobi’s system is powered by an auto-matching engine that automatically compares job specifications with candidate profiles, quickly identifying the most suitable matches. For recruiters, the platform includes automated shortlisting, job offer distribution via SMS or WhatsApp, and an analytics dashboard to track applications.
For job seekers, the service enables users to apply or create a CV through WhatsApp or SMS, aiming to reduce job search costs by up to 70%. The approach reflects a commitment to inclusion, particularly relevant in Africa, where unemployment remains high in many countries.
By combining AI with mobile communication tools, eJoobi accelerates job matching and helps recruiters build stronger talent pools more efficiently.
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The 2026–2030 strategy aims to build an inclusive and competitive e-commerce sector.
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It targets women, youth, and small traders through digital integration and job creation.
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Implementation faces challenges including low Internet access and financial inclusion.
The Mauritanian government, through the Ministry of Digital Transformation, Innovation and Administrative Modernization and with support from German cooperation agency GIZ, officially approved its National E-commerce Strategy 2026–2030 on Tuesday, October 28. The plan marks a key milestone toward developing a more inclusive, sustainable, and competitive digital economy.
The roadmap seeks to improve access for women entrepreneurs to online markets, create jobs for young people through freelancing and digital platforms, integrate small traders into the formal economy via digitization, and enhance government tax revenues through better transaction traceability. These goals are built on an emerging market where Internet penetration reached 37.4% in 2025.
The strategy comes amid a period of rapid digital transformation, with Africa’s e-commerce market expected to grow by 105% by 2030—from $55 billion to $112.73 billion—according to TechCabal Insights. Mauritania aims to leverage this momentum to strengthen its competitiveness and position its economy within regional digital value chains.
Success will depend on the country’s ability to overcome key structural challenges, including uneven mobile and Internet coverage, reliance on cash payments, and low banking penetration. According to UNCTAD, financial inclusion in Mauritania remains limited to 20.9%, with notable disparities between women (15.5%) and youth (13.1%).
The strategy aims to create a favorable environment for the growth of national e-commerce by promoting digital inclusion, expanding access to online platforms for marginalized economic actors, improving financial transparency, and increasing public revenues through formalized trade. Ultimately, it seeks to build a structured and competitive e-commerce ecosystem capable of supporting sustainable growth.
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ChipChip connects farmers directly with urban consumers through group-buying technology.
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The company pays “group leaders” to organize collective orders and deliveries.
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Amir Redwan previously founded Tikus Delivery, a bicycle-based food-delivery service in Addis Ababa.
Ethiopian software engineer and entrepreneur Amir Redwan is using technology to connect rural farmers to urban consumers. He co-founded ChipChip to allow buyers to pool orders and cut distribution costs.
Founded in 2023 by Redwan and European entrepreneur Mateo Klemmayer, ChipChip operates a group-purchasing platform that links customers with agricultural producers outside traditional supply chains. The company aims to provide competitive prices while supporting farmer incomes.
ChipChip groups customers into buying clusters to reduce acquisition costs. Farmers benefit from direct access to the market. The company pays “group leaders” to form and manage purchasing groups and oversee coordination and delivery.
Before ChipChip, Redwan co-founded Tikus Delivery in 2020 and serves as its CEO. The service offers mobile food ordering and home delivery in Addis Ababa using electric and non-electric bicycles.
Redwan graduated in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in software engineering from Addis Ababa Science and Technology University. He completed an internship at Kifiya Financial Technology before becoming a software engineer in 2019. He worked for Modern Cyber Intel Consultancy and Med Innovation in Ethiopia’s technology sector.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum
- Fintech startup Katutu Pay, founded by Beninese entrepreneur Yaovi Ghislain Siate, simplifies financial operations for individuals and freelancers across Africa.
- The UK-based platform offers users unique prepaid virtual cards for secure online transactions and instant, fee-free user-to-user transfers.
- Siate maintains parallel roles as Principal IT Consultant for APEC Congo and as a full-stack developer, demonstrating broad technical engagement across the continent.
Katutu Pay, a UK-based company founded in 2022 by Yaovi Ghislain Siate, operates a platform that acts as an intermediary. The company partners with licensed banks and providers to offer payment services and prepaid cards. The application allows its users to generate a unique virtual prepaid card for every online transaction, enhancing security.
Katutu Pay also authorizes instant, fee-free transfers between platform users. Furthermore, it provides the ability to top up mobile credits for users or third parties across mobile operators. The platform manages payments for utility bills, including water, electricity, and Internet. For freelancers and small entrepreneurs, Katutu Pay offers a professional invoice creation tool based on customizable templates.
Siate previously founded Caddieverse, a pan-African marketplace dedicated solely to digital products. This decentralized social-commerce network enables creators, trainers, and digital entrepreneurs to sell, buy, and share content like e-books, software, training courses, or graphic templates.
He also developed Smart QR Link, an integrated solution for professionals to create, share, and manage their digital identity. The tool combines digital business cards, dynamic QR codes, and mini-showcase websites to strengthen users’ online visibility.
Siate maintains concurrent professional commitments alongside his entrepreneurial activities. He works as Principal IT Consultant for the Professional Association of Credit Institutions of Congo (APEC Congo). He also serves as a full-stack developer at Websoft-Enterprise Engineering, a Beninese digital services firm, and as an IT consultant for Banque Postale du Congo.
Siate graduated from the Haute École de Commerce et de Management (HECM) in Benin. He earned a professional license in IT system technology in 2014. Between 2014 and 2015, he worked as a web developer at Head Lines, a firm specializing in IT engineering and communication.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum
- Senegal launches 2025 Gov’athon to modernize public administration digitally
- Over 2,000 participants submitted 812 innovation projects for selection
- Hackathon supports national tech goals under 2025 “New Technological Deal”
The Senegalese government launched the second edition of Gov’athon, a national hackathon dedicated to digitally modernizing public administration, in Dakar on Friday, Oct. 24.
The initiative marks an important step in identifying and supporting practical solutions to improve public service efficiency and promote citizen-driven innovation.
The 2025 edition drew a strong response, with 812 projects submitted over 10 days by more than 2,000 participants from academic, entrepreneurial, and civic backgrounds. A total of 104 projects advanced to the final phase , 72 in the Student category, 11 in Startups, and 21 in Citizens.
The final round, scheduled for December, will follow an intensive mentoring and training program to help refine the shortlisted projects. A panel of experts will then select the winning teams in the Student and Startup categories. The winners will receive tailored support to transform their prototypes into operational tools for public administration.
Gov’athon is part of Senegal’s “New Technological Deal”, a national strategy launched in February 2025 to position the country as a leading player in Africa’s digital economy by 2034. The plan targets the creation of 500 certified startups, the training of 100,000 young people in digital professions, and a 95% connectivity rate.
The 2024 edition produced several high-impact projects, including AI Karangué, Firndé Bi, and Agri-Drone Vision, which received awards of 20, 10, and 5 million CFA francs, respectively. These projects highlighted Gov’athon’s key role in modernizing public administration and promoting local digital innovation in education, health, and agriculture.
With this new edition, the government aims to deepen the connection between citizen innovation and public governance while supporting homegrown tech entrepreneurship. The initiative is expected to make public services more efficient, accessible, and aligned with user needs.
Samira Njoya
- Morocco signs deal to boost inclusive digital entrepreneurship in Rabat-Salé-Kénitra
- Partnership supports startups via training, infrastructure, and strategic guidance
- Initiative aligns with “Digital Morocco 2030” goals of jobs, exports, and innovation
Morocco's Digital Development Agency (ADD) and the Management Association of the Center for Solidarity-Based Very Small Enterprises (CTPES) signed a partnership agreement on Monday, Oct. 27, in Salé to promote innovation and inclusive digital entrepreneurship.
The agreement focuses on the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra region and will be implemented through the Digital Solidarity Incubator (IDS).
Under the partnership, the two organizations plan to pool resources and expertise to support high-potential project leaders. They will ensure access to the IDS infrastructure, including its FabLab, provide technical and strategic support to digital startups, offer targeted training, and integrate supported projects into digital systems and platforms developed by the ADD.
The collaboration aligns with the "Digital Morocco 2030" strategy, the kingdom's roadmap for digital transformation. That plan aims to create 3,000 certified startups by 2030, mobilize 7 billion dirhams (about $758 million) in funding, and generate 240,000 direct jobs in the sector. It also targets raising digital exports to 40 billion dirhams by 2030, up from 13.4 billion dirhams recorded in the first quarter of the current year.
The partnership comes amid a dynamic entrepreneurial context. In the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra region, 6,399 companies were created during the first seven months of 2024, according to the Moroccan Office of Industrial and Commercial Property (OMPIC).
Nationally, Morocco's startup ecosystem is also progressing. The country ranks 88th globally and ninth in Africa in the Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2025 by U.S. consultancy StartupBlink, with growth estimated at 23% in 2025.
Beyond supporting entrepreneurship, the agreement marks a significant step in regionalizing the national digital policy. By connecting support mechanisms with young project leaders and local stakeholders, the initiative aims to boost digital inclusion, foster value creation, and encourage the emergence of a regional entrepreneurial base capable of contributing sustainably to Morocco's economic growth.
Samira Njoya