Solutions (443)
To facilitate the organization of events and the acquisition of tickets by the public, an Ivorian tech entrepreneur has developed a technological solution.
SkanTicket is a technological solution developed by Ivorian startup Skan Technologies. On the one hand, it enables event promoters to create tailor-made events, offer tickets and/or invitations online, promote the event, and manage access control on the big day. On the other hand, it offers people the chance to purchase tickets for various events online. The startup was launched by Nancy Aphey Anicet Amani.
The solution has a mobile app for Android and iOS devices. Once downloaded, the app allows users to create an account by entering their e-mail address and a password. After that, they create events or buy tickets. For each event created, SkanTicket provides a minisite that the promoter customizes with the event logo, images, etc.
If the promoter already has a website or has one planned for the event, he/she can integrate the ticketing service from his organizer's space, by exporting the widget with a simple copy and paste. No special IT skill is needed to use the tool. Once the tickets have gone on sale, sellers can receive the proceeds of the sales on the 1st and 16th day of every month through bank transfer.
SkanTicket, which integrates mobile money payment systems from telecom operators MTN and Orange, collects 5% of all sales. It provides a USSD code to enable users with no smartphone to also buy tickets.
Since its launch, the Android version of its mobile application has already been downloaded more than 10,000 times. In 2023, the startup was among the ten winners of the AFD Digital Challenge.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
The food delivery app was developed by three tech entrepreneurs to help residents benefit from the ongoing tech revolution.
Capsa Food is a solution developed by a Tunisian startup. It enables users to order food online and have it delivered to the location of their choice, at home, at the office, or elsewhere.
Through its mobile application available for both Android and Huawei devices, users create accounts to access its services. The solution lists several restaurants in the city of Gafsa, from fast-food outlets to entities specializing in local dishes.
Once the food choice is made, a user needs to confirm the order and enter the delivery location. The app allows them to track the delivery in real-time and pay once they receive the order. Based on previous orders, it monitors users’ preferences and adapts the restaurants shown to users based on those preferences. It also suggests the nearest restaurants to optimize delivery time.
Capsa Food operates exclusively in Gafsa, a town of less than 100,000 inhabitants located 360 kilometers south of the Tunisian capital, Tunis. The startup's name comes from the town's former name, Capsa. Since its launch earlier this year, the Android version of its mobile application has been downloaded more than 5,000 times.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
The platform is a Moroccan version of the vide dressing concept its founder discovered during her studies in France.
Vesttys is an e-commerce platform developed by a Moroccan startup. On the one hand, it lets users sell old items and, on the other, buy new ones at attractive prices. The Tangier-based startup behind it was founded in 2020 by Mariam Ben Omar.
Defining itself as a vide-dressing platform, Vesttys aims to develop the second-hand market in the Cherifian kingdom.
"During my years of study in France, I realized at one point that I had a shopping addiction, I ended up with several items that I didn't use. Most of them were left with the label. [...] A friend told me about a platform where I could put my clothes up for sale: a sort of virtual dressing room. So I became a seller myself and created my own dressing room. A few years later, I returned to Morocco for good, and that's when I began to realize the importance of this platform in my daily life," explains Mariam Ben Omar.
Vesttys was born from that realization. Currently, it has no mobile app. Unregistered users can nevertheless visit its web platform and check the items available for sale, from traditional and modern clothing to beauty products, children's items, accessories, and more.
To post or buy an item, users need to create a free account with an email address and link a credit card to activate the account.
The platform does not charge commissions on user purchases or sales. It earns money through a feature called “Boost”. This feature allows users to make their dressing rooms or items appear at the forefront. This means that when users search from specific items, the listings of “Boost” subscribers will appear first.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
To facilitate financial and commercial transactions for local populations, African tech entrepreneurs are multiplying financial technology solutions, some more interesting than others.
Abela is a mobile application developed by a South African startup and launched in 2020. It enables access to online banking services via its mobile app.
"We live in an economy that is going cashless, and people are losing out because of it. The global pandemic has only accelerated this movement. [...] Today, 10.4 million South Africans have seen their monthly income decrease by up to 75 percent due to this digital transformation. Abela seeks to address this concern and provide customers, especially those who have been underserved within the informal sector and diaspora, with the financial autonomy and security they deserve. Traditional banking solutions have often overlooked this part of the population and we aim to bridge that gap," said Thomas David, founder and CEO of Abela, on the reasons that prompted the creation of the solution.
The mobile application is available for iOS and Android devices. Once downloaded, it allows users to create accounts by inputting their phone numbers, names, and passwords as well as uploading proof of identity. Once they upload their proof of identity, users are required to create a PIN code and take a selfie to validate the account. The tedious process was put in place because the startup wanted to avoid security risks.
Users who pass the validation stage can carry out various transactions like airtime purchases and bill payments. They can also top up their Abela accounts using credit cards, bank transfers, and QR code payments. In addition to these services, the solution also lets them send money outside South Africa in just a few clicks.
Since its launch, the Android version of the mobile application has been downloaded more than 10,000 times. Though only present in South Africa for the time being, the startup wants to expand outside. "In terms of expansion, we see a lot of opportunity for growth across the continent, specifically in Sub-Saharan Africa, in particular, our neighboring countries of Malawi, Botswana, and Namibia," Thomas David said in 2021.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
Distance learning platforms have become choice alternatives to traditional education. In Africa, there is a growing number of such platforms, which offer diversified courses adapted to learners’ needs.
Super Fny is an edtech platform developed by an Egyptian startup. It enables access to professional training videos. Basically, Super Fny aims to improve the technical skills of professionals and students to better prepare them for job market challenges.
Currently, it has no mobile app. So, to access its services, users need to visit its website, register for an account, and browse the training courses offered. Among other things, they can learn leather goods and leather manufacturing techniques, bag, and wallet making, the basics of entrepreneurship, and more. Some courses are available for free and others cost up to 150 Egyptian pounds (around $4.85).
In addition to training, the startup also connects companies with trained technicians. Doing so, it enables its learners to get work related to the courses they take on its platform.
Super Fny has over 35 partners, more than 34,000 trainees, over 200 trainers, and offers some sixty training courses. Present in 17 governorates of Egypt, it aims to expand throughout the Arab world. For that purpose, it completed a funding round in 2022. The amount of the deal was not disclosed but we learn that the proceeds will fund the development of its technology and accelerate the implementation of its growth plan.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
Africa has historically been the continent with one of the lowest banking penetration rates. Those rates have been growing over the past few years but, with the introduction of digital alternatives, the rise is poised to be faster.
PiggyVest is a fintech solution developed by a Lagos-based startup founded in 2016. It enables individuals and businesses to save towards goals like launching a business, buying a car, or furthering education. It was founded by five passionate entrepreneurs, who succeeded in raising around $1.2 million in funding to accelerate its growth.
"When we started, there were 22 banks in Nigeria. So there was quite a lot of option and yet, young people were storing their savings in wooden boxes under their beds. This showed us that people might have access to financial services but they weren’t developed to serve their needs," explained Odunayo Eweniyi, co-founder and chief operations officer of PiggyVest
To access the various services offered by the solution, users need to download its mobile app –Android or iOS version– and register for an account. Among other things, PiggyVest offers several ways to save, such as goal-oriented savings, savings in foreign currencies such as the dollar (flex dollar), or fixed savings, which involves blocking funds for a set period without having access to them until maturity. Its savings plans remunerate users with 5 to 15% interest.
"With PiggyVest, users can save as much as they want as frequently or infrequently as they want, be it every day, every week, or every month. [...] We offer quarterly free withdrawal days when users can take money out if they need to without any cost. Should a user want to withdraw their money early or outside of these days, they will be charged a fee to discourage them from doing so," indicated Odunayo Eweniyi. PiggyVest claims over 4 million users. In 2021, its users saved over $480 million.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
In recent years, on-demand transport applications have become genuine competitors to traditional cabs. In response, some cab associations have decided to enter this segment too.
Yo!Taxi is a mobile application developed by a South African startup launched by twelve meter cab associations to compete against giants like Uber and Bolt. It enables users to order cabs for their various journeys around town.
Through its Android and iOS apps, users can register for accounts, using their phone numbers and email addresses. To order a cab, they need to enter their destination and press the "Get my Yo!Taxi" button to send the request to drivers in the area. After this step, they have to click on "Pick me up from here" to choose a driver if several are proposed, then confirm the fare based on the app's estimate.
The driver's details can be accessed by clicking on his or her profile. It is worth noting that the startup collects and verifies the information of each of its drivers before their maiden trips. It also has security mechanisms like cameras, an emergency button, and a vehicle tracker to ensure the safety of cab occupants.
In addition to on-demand transportation, the South African company also offers delivery services. Whether it's food from a local restaurant or a parcel, drivers are available to carry out the errands. Since its launch, the Android version of the application has been downloaded more than 10,000 times.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
The solution was launched by two tech entrepreneurs, with the aim of giving people access to decent labor.
Saweblia is a digital platform developed by a Moroccan startup. It connects users with craftsmen such as electricians, plumbers, handymen, and painters. The Casablanca-based startup behind the solution was founded, in 2015, by Reda Lakhlifi and Mohammed Ait Addi. It aims to revolutionize the breakdown service market by combating dishonest service providers.
The startup is yet to launch a mobile application for its solution. So, users can access its services only through its web platform or its Whatsapp account. Whether it's repairing a door handle, an electrical fault, a water leak, or even a jammed lock, Saweblia has the manpower to deal with almost every problem.
"All our craftsmen have a legal status and their identity and criminal record are checked by our teams. Our craftsmen follow a multi-step process to ensure their expertise and know-how. They pass several levels of validation before arriving at your premises. Once they've been validated, we train them in our internal quality charter and monitor their progress to ensure continuous quality of service," explains the startup.
Currently, its services are accessible to users in Casablanca and Marrakech. There is no need to create an account to request the services. When needed, a user only has to click on the “I need a service” button on the web platform, choose his/her city, and select the type of service needed. For multiple services, users need to submit personalized requests. To do this, they need to describe their specific situations and add pictures to allow the customer relations managers to take over from there.
"We may need to arrange a visit with one of our works coordinators for complex requests. Once the requirement is clear, we send you a quote within 20 minutes to 48 hours (depending on the nature of the work to be carried out). As soon as you confirm the estimate, we schedule an intervention according to your availability," explains the platform.
Saweblia offers customers a range of payment options once the work has been completed. These include online payment by credit card on the website, cheque, bank transfer, or cash. In addition, if the cost of the order exceeds 1,000 Moroccan dirhams (around $97), the startup requires a deposit.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
Inspired by the Russian instant messaging platform Telegram, two Ethiopian entrepreneurs decided to set up a similar platform more suited for local users. The platform was almost an instant hit.
Hulugram is a mobile application developed by an Ethiopian startup. It enables users to access several services such as instant messaging, online payment solutions, online marketplaces, and even translation into over 20 languages.
Users can create their Hulugram accounts, through its Android-only app, with just their phone number. To create that account, a user needs to input his/her phone number, receive the verification code, and then configure the profile. Among other things, a user can share stories like on Instagram, and exchange messages with contacts and people near their location.
Thanks to its “People Nearby” feature, the platform allows users to discuss with nearby users. "To display details about the people, users can tap on the avatar icon. Users can enable or disable their profile visibility by tapping on the icon that is on the top right of the screen," the platform indicates.
Its "Marketplace" feature allows users to buy or sell online. When a user chooses to sell goods through Hulugram, he/she needs to create a store and add the item to be sold. On the other hand, when the user chooses to buy, he/she will be able to browse the online stores and the items they are selling.
Hulugram also allows its users to listen to music and get text translated. Since its launch, the application has been downloaded more than 500,000 times. In 2023, it was selected for the summer cohort of the Techstars Toronto accelerator.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
The startup behind the solution was primarily operational in the delivery sector. It later formed partnerships to facilitate the purchase and delivery of goods from certain retailers.
Quench is a mobile application developed by a South African startup. It enables users to buy goods from its partners and get them delivered. The said startup was founded in 2016. Its aim is to "create a convenient shopping experience, giving [users] more time at home and less time in stores."
The mobile app is available on iOS and Android. Through the app, a user can register for an account and buy groceries and essentials, alcoholic beverages as well as food.
To place an order, users must first enter their address by clicking on the "Account" button and then on "My Delivery Addresses". This first step is to determine whether there are delivery options for the addresses imputed by users. If there are no delivery options for the addresses imputed, users can not proceed further.
However, if there are delivery options, users can add items to their baskets, and checkout to validate orders. When ordered products run out of stock, Quench always contacts users to inquire whether it should replace them.
Since its launch, the Android version of its mobile application has been downloaded more than 50,000 times, according to Play Store data. It wants to become a super app, and in April 2021 it raised an undisclosed amount to kick-start this project by strengthening its partnerships and improving its technology.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
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In some regions, in Africa, access to medicines can prove challenging. Startups operating in the distribution of pharmaceuticals are interesting alternatives for people living in those regions.
Afia Pharma is a digital solution developed by Rwandan firm Afia Group Ltd. It enables users to purchase pharmaceutical products online from the comfort of their homes. The Kigali-based start-up was founded in 2020 by Biganza Papy.
We are “on a mission to make quality medications accessible, available, and affordable to billions of people across Africa, to ensure that everyone has access to medicine at any time and everywhere,” Afia Pharma stated on its website.
Through its mobile apps –Android and iOS apps–, users can create accounts and purchase pharmaceuticals, from antivirals, vitamins, and antimalarials to anti-inflammatories.
To order on Afia Pharma, users need to simply search for the products they are looking for, add them to their cart, select the delivery option, and confirm the order. Users can upload their prescriptions for products that require so.
Afia Pharma accepts most electronic payment methods, such as credit cards. To help users take their medications as prescribed, Afia’s mobile app includes a reminder option.
In 2023, the healthtech solution was selected to join the second cohort of the pan-African Investing in Innovation (i3) program, supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Microsoft, among others. This selection entitles it to $50,000 in funding to accelerate its growth across Africa.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
The solution was co-funded by a Nigerian-born entrepreneur who spent the bulk of his professional career working for international IT firms.
WallX is a fintech solution developed by a Nigerian startup of the same name. It enables users, both individuals and corporate entities, to send and receive money, receive payments, and settle online transactions. The startup, based in Lekki in Lagos State and New York in the USA, was founded in 2020 by Richmond Ogigai and Subomi Jegunmah.
"I had seen firsthand the experiences of small business owners when it comes to payments and how their businesses eventually die out because they don’t have the basic tools or knowledge to build out their businesses. [...] Things like smart digital payment tools, record keeping, hiring, and sales management, are still very much done in a very manual way, and they end up running your business down," says Richmond Ogigai.
The solution features a mobile application accessible for Android and iOS devices. Once downloaded, users must create an account to access the various services it offers. Both individuals and companies can generate payment links as well as PIN codes to easily collect merchant payments or gift vouchers, pay electricity bills, buy airtime, or make monetary contributions such as participatory financing.
Since its launch, the Android version of the mobile application has already been downloaded more than a thousand times. WallX has been selected for the Spring 2023 cohort of New York accelerator Starta. It is also one of the 12 startups selected for the second cohort (2023) of the Fast Accelerator program supported by Microsoft.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
In Africa, access to pharmacies and hospitals can prove challenging in some regions. To address the problem, e-health solutions have been introduced.
Zendawa is an e-health platform developed by a Kenyan startup. It enables access to pharmaceutical products and facilitates online appointments with doctors. The Nakuru-based start-up was founded in 2022 by Wilfred Chege. It aims to establish sustainable solutions in the health technology sector.
Currently, the solution has no mobile app. So, users have to visit its web platform to browse the various services it offers, without even having to create an account. Users need no account to even book an appointment. They just have to click on the "Make an appointment" button and fill in the required information, including the name, e-mail address, phone number, appointment date, and details about the medical condition.
Zendawa offers pharmacists a cash and inventory management service and access to working capital. "We leverage on Artificial Intelligence, based on data from our pharmacies' digital suite, to come up with credit scores which unlock access to capital for our pharmacies from our lending partners," it says on its web platform.
The platform also has a feature that allows doctors to share patients’ medical records. "We provide our medical practitioners with an integrated digital suite from which they can share patient's medical records and leverage on Artificial Intelligence to provide fully informed care decisions," Zendawa states.
Zendawa has launched a deferred payment service to facilitate supplies to pharmacies in the event of stock shortages. In 2023, it was selected as one of 29 African startups to take part in the second cohort of the Investing in Innovation (i3) program.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
With the acceleration of digital transformation across Africa, private and public companies and public administration are looking for digital skills. This startup offers a solution with its edtech platform.
Stutern is an edtech platform developed by a Nigerian startup. It enables access to IT courses online. Based in Lagos, the startup behind the edtech platform was founded in 2015 by Kehinde Ayanleye (photo, right) and Taiwo Ayanleye (photo, left).
On Stutern, users can choose from a range of courses, including UI/UX design, front-end and back-end web development, data science, and mobile development. As the solution has no mobile app, users have to visit its web platform, create their accounts, and register their interest in the said courses.
To register their interest, they need to fill out a form stating their interest and motivation and answer questions about their general skills in writing and video form. They will then answer specific and technical questions relating to the chosen program. Their suitability to the desired courses will be determined based on the various answers provided.
Training lasts between 16 and 24 weeks, with two sessions per week. It's worth noting that courses are held live online, and learners can ask questions for better understanding. The edtech startup allows learners to pay their fees in three different ways. These include full payment, payment in installments, and a revenue-sharing agreement. The latter means that the learner pays part of the tuition during the course and then repays the rest after finding a job, according to a revenue-sharing agreement.
Adoni Conrad Quenum