TECH STARS (684)
He has over 20 years of experience in information technology and payments. He applies his skills to the development of fintech and technology in Africa.
Martin Warioba, a Tanzanian entrepreneur and investor, established Warioba Ventures, a consulting and investment firm based in Dar es Salaam, in 2022. The firm’s primary objective is to foster an environment that encourages fintech and startups to address Africa’s significant challenges through technology. Its offerings include investment, fintech and startup development, corporate strategy, payments, and technology consulting.
Warioba Ventures concentrates on East Africa, providing not only financial support to entrepreneurs but also technical expertise, advanced market understanding, and assistance. The firm primarily focuses on early-stage and seed-phase startups with innovative business models, increasing revenues, a robust economic base, and the potential for expansion throughout Africa.
In addition to his role at Warioba Ventures, Martin Warioba is a non-executive director at Dawa Mkononi, a pharmaceutical company committed to enhancing access to medicines in Tanzania and across Africa. He also presides over the board of the CRDB Bank Foundation.
Martin Warioba earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science and mathematics from Louisiana State University in 2003 and a Master’s in Information Management from the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University in 2007. Before launching Warioba Ventures, he co-founded WS Technology Consulting, a technology and consulting firm, in 2011.
Warioba began his professional journey in 2004 at the Central Bank of Tanzania as an IT analyst and programmer. In 2006, he advanced to the role of project manager at CVS Health, a company specializing in health solutions. He joined Deloitte as a technology integration consultant in 2007. From 2009 to 2013, he worked as a technology analyst and project manager at the Central Bank of Tanzania.
Melchior Koba
Driven by the vision of a prosperous digital future for African businesses, he develops customized technological tools that cater to the specific needs of small and medium-sized enterprises.
Tanzanian native John Haule is the founder and CEO of Swahiliesm a startup that develops digital payment solutions for businesses across Africa. Established in 2020, Swahilies provides digital tools designed to empower African businesses by offering sophisticated financial and operational resources. Its mission is to streamline accounting processes, facilitate digital payments, and provide access to banking solutions. The company offers a suite of solutions aimed at helping businesses maintain organization and operate efficiently.
Swahilies has developed a platform that enables businesses to track sales and expenses in real-time, providing them with an accurate understanding of their performance at any given moment. It offers a real-time inventory management system and has created tools to assist businesses in recovering unpaid debts from their customers. Swahilies’ solutions are currently used by over 10,000 businesses in Tanzania.
In addition to his role at Swahilies, Haule is a founding member of the Tanzania Fintech Association (TAFINA), a platform dedicated to bolstering the fintech ecosystem to advance financial and economic inclusion in Tanzania. As the editor-in-chief of the media outlet This Week in Fintech in Africa, he also contributes to the reporting on sector developments.
Prior to Swahilies, Haule founded several other companies. In 2015, he established Positivity Clothing Brand, a clothing brand aimed at inspiring the new generation. The company offered a range of products, including customized t-shirts and caps. In 2016, he co-founded Swahili Inspiration, a digital media platform that uses the Swahili language to inform Tanzanians about global opportunities.
Haule earned a bachelor’s degree in social protection in 2020 from the Institute of Finance Management. From 2021 to 2022, he served as a VC scout, seeking investment opportunities in startups for the investment firm shl.vc.
Melchior Koba
With several years of experience gained from Senegalese and European companies, he has ventured into the education sector, using technology to assist schoolchildren.
Senegalese Entrpreneur Mafal Lô Absa is the co-founder of Génimi, a startup that streamlines tutoring to aid students in Francophone Africa. Established in 2022, Génimi is a mobile platform that makes learning an enjoyable experience for children, parents, and tutors alike. Its mission is to nurture each child’s potential by teaching them how to learn and instilling a lifelong passion for learning.
Génimi is designed to support elementary students who are struggling with mathematics and reading by identifying their challenges and connecting them with local coaches to help them excel. Besides facilitating diagnosis, the app provides a program to address children’s learning gaps, guides coaches, and generates engaging exercises that children can tackle independently. To date, the app, in collaboration with three schools, has served 1,488 students and trained 38 coaches.
Mafal Lô Absa also serves as the president of CJD Senegal, the national chapter of an international non-profit organization of young leaders and business executives dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship and enhancing the overall performance of businesses and entrepreneurs.
In 2015, he founded FIREFLY Media Senegal, a platform that enables businesses and brands to better understand and engage their target audiences. In 2019, he co-founded PitchPalabre, a company focused on enhancing the capacities of young entrepreneurs.
Mafal Lô Absa earned a degree in systems, networks, and telecommunications engineering in 2004 from Ingésup, a computer engineering school. He also holds a master’s degree in market finance, which he received in 2007 from the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers.
With a diverse professional background, he has worked as a business and IT analyst at SIX Telekurs, a Swiss company providing services in the securities, financial information, and payments sectors. He has also held positions as a business analyst at BNP Paribas and Dexia Asset Management, a European asset management company.
Melchior Koba
He is a dedicated entrepreneur who devotes his life to creating technological solutions aimed at improving the efficiency of small and medium-sized enterprises in Africa. His commitment to entrepreneurship and his innovative spirit have earned him several awards.
Ivorian tech entrepreneur Alex Degny (photo) is the co-founder and CEO of Tajiri, a startup established in 2023 to transform the restaurant management landscape in Côte d'Ivoire and throughout Africa. The company offers a mobile app, compatible with Android and iOS, that simplifies the lives of restaurateurs by providing a platform to log sales, monitor business data, and even secure financing. Its app streamlines order taking and tracking, and facilitates the monitoring and management of inventory for optimal planning.
In addition, Tajiri provides analytical reports that enable performance assessment and data-driven decision-making. It enhances operational efficiency in restaurants by improving communication between the dining area and the kitchen.
As of April 12, 2024, Alex Degny took on the role of president of #Ci20 (Côte d’Ivoire Innovation 20), a coalition of tech companies, succeeding Steven Bedi.
Prior to launching Tajiri, In 2017, Degny founded Innoving, a startup that offers management software to small and medium-sized enterprises. Then, in January 2018, he established RIZE’S, a French startup specializing in digital services.
Degny is a graduate of the Catholic University of West Africa, where he earned a master’s degree in banking, business, finance, and real estate law in 2008. He also holds a certificate in business administration and management from HEC Paris.
Degny embarked on his professional journey in 2011 at FIAO Côte d'Ivoire (West African Investment Finance), serving as the head of the executive office. In 2014, he transitioned to the role of sales manager at WABCO COTIA, a company that specializes in the production and marketing of compound fertilizers. In 2015, he served as an administrative consultant for the rice company GAN Logis. By 2016, he had become the general manager of Agri Hope, a consortium of several companies specializing in agribusiness.
In recognition of his contributions to the fields of technology and entrepreneurship in Africa, Degny was awarded the innovation prize at season 5 of Orange Fab Côte d'Ivoire in 2019.
Melchior Koba
A computer scientist by training, he believes in the potential of e-commerce in Africa. He develops technological solutions to help e-merchants grow their businesses.
Youssef Akalal (photo), a Moroccan computer scientist and entrepreneur, is the co-founder and CEO of Dropify, a platform that empowers e-merchants to establish online stores and sell their products. Founded in 2022, Dropify offers a seamless and free process for creating virtual shops and sales funnels. The platform's intuitive tools and variety of templates aim to provide an optimal user experience, ultimately assisting merchants in achieving their growth objectives. The created stores are equipped with a comprehensive dashboard to manage their content efficiently.
In addition to his role at Dropify, Akalal is also the co-founder and CEO of COD Partner, a company launched in 2022. COD Partner collaborates with online vendors by providing a complete logistics platform, thereby facilitating their access to multiple international markets.
Akalal's educational background includes a master's degree in Systems Architecture from the National School of Electricity and Mechanics (ENSEM), which he earned in 2010. He also holds a master's degree in Information Science and Technology from the University of Quebec in Outaouais, obtained in 2019.
His professional career began in 2007 at BNP Paribas, where he worked as an IT operations pilot. In 2008, he joined Akka Technologies as a quality assurance team leader and was promoted to technical team leader in 2009. Between 2016 and 2022, he worked for IFS North America, a company specializing in enterprise software. During his tenure, he held the positions of Business Intelligence (BI) Analyst and Data & BI Architect successively.
Melchior Koba
He champions agent independence by providing them with resources that free up their time and boost their bottom line. Thousands of agents have already benefited from his approach.
Ahmed Nassef (photo), an Egyptian entrepreneur, co-founded and currently serves as the CEO of LeadsMart. This startup, which targets real estate sales employees, brokerage firms, and developers, facilitates advertising campaigns on social platforms.
Established in 2019, LeadsMart is on a mission to transform the real estate sector through AI-assisted lead generation. The platform empowers real estate professionals to swiftly launch advertising campaigns on social networks, thereby streamlining lead generation. With a diverse range of visuals and content customized for each project, users can execute effective campaigns.
LeadsMart distinguishes itself by offering clients real-time campaign statistics, allowing them to monitor costs and modify strategies as needed. Furthermore, the startup provides users with access to a network of real estate professionals, investors, and industry leaders. Since its inception, LeadsMart has developed over 600 projects, generated more than 20,000 leads, and supported over 1,300 sales agents.
In addition to his role at LeadsMart, Nassef is a mentor at the Founder Institute accelerator in Egypt and a partner at Joud Investment, a group of experts specializing in delivering integrated commercial real estate services to investors, buyers, and tenants.
In 2013, Nassef co-founded Fabrica Creative Studio, a startup that offers comprehensive and professional marketing services to industries aiming to attract specific clients and generate more leads. He served as its CTO from 2013 to 2019.
Nassef earned a degree in business administration from Ain Shams University in 2013. Prior to embarking on his entrepreneurial journey, he worked as a system engineer at Unilever Foodsolutions from 2009 to 2010.
Melchior Koba
He has over 12 years of experience in software development. He has created and developed several technological solutions aimed at supporting the workforce in Africa.
Steve Ndende (photo), a Congolese entrepreneur and computer scientist, is the founder and CEO of Agri Zoom, a platform launched to provide farmers with access to loans and a marketplace for selling their products.
Launched in 2018, Agri Zoom offers a crowdfunding system for farmers, fishers, and processors of agricultural products. Its online marketplace simplifies the sale of crops, allowing farmers to concentrate on production.
In addition to Agri Zoom, Ndende is the founder and CEO of MboteShop, an e-commerce platform that operates in the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, and Cameroon. Launched in 2021, MboteShop is one of Ndende’s many entrepreneurial ventures.
Ndende is also the founder and a web developer at Essengo Solutions, a digital communication and software development agency. Established in 2023, Essengo Solutions supports companies and individuals in their digital transformation.
The entrepreneur has a robust professional background. He earned a degree in software engineering from Ecole africaine de développement in Brazzaville in 2015 and a professional diploma in entrepreneurial studies from the University of Iowa in 2019. Before founding his own companies, he served as the technical director at Eyano until 2022 and co-founded Ndende Lab in 2017, where he worked as a developer until 2022.
In addition to his entrepreneurial activities, Ndende was an active contributor to the Fongwama open-source development community from 2015 to 2018. He also served as a trainer and speaker at JCertif International, a non-profit organization that organizes training and events in IT and communication technology, from 2015 to 2022.
Ndende’s commitment and professional achievements have been recognized on multiple occasions. In 2018, he won first prize in the FAO’s global challenge “My Food My Future.” In 2019, his start-up Agri Zoom was selected as one of the Top 1000 Entrepreneurs by the Tony Elumelu Foundation.
Melchior Koba
A robotics and artificial intelligence expert, he's made a name for himself by designing drones and AI solutions. Now, he's a major player in both continental and global technological advancements.
William Elong (photo) is a Cameroonian entrepreneur and business leader. As the founder and CEO of Faraday, he applies his expertise and knowledge in artificial intelligence to serve everyone, developing open-source AI and cybersecurity solutions.
Faraday, a startup based in France and Belgium, specializes in AI, fintech, and cybersecurity solutions. Its flagship product, Ares Chat, is a collaborative platform that allows users to share files, communicate with their team, and interact with AI within a secure ecosystem.
Faraday's solution offers a unique ecosystem that includes a browser, a chat model connected to the user's banking services, and a web search feature. Another product from the startup, Ares Creative, enables image generation to stimulate users' creativity.
In addition to Faraday, William Elong has been the founder and CEO of Will & Brothers Consulting since 2014, providing IT innovation and consulting services worldwide. In 2018, he founded Algo Drone Holding, focused on developing drone and AI solutions, where he also serves as CEO.
As a serial entrepreneur, he founded Cameroon Flying Lab in 2018. Affiliated with We Robotics Organization, the Cameroon Flying Lab is an initiative promoting drones, robotics, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) for youth empowerment.
In 2019, William also established the Developers Institute Center, a training center for young developers in Cameroon. He holds a master's degree in Strategy and Competitive Intelligence from the School of Economic Warfare in France, obtained in 2013. Before embarking on entrepreneurship, he gained experience working in various companies.
He worked for Thales Information Systems as an IT specialist and IT project manager from 2011 to 2012. Between 2013 and 2014, he was a sales engineer at Oracle.
Recognized for his achievements, William Elong was ranked among Forbes Africa's 30 Most Promising Young Entrepreneurs Under 30 in 2016.
Melchior Koba
Her goal is to simplify the lives of business leaders in Tanzania. Her dedication has been recognized and celebrated by Forbes Africa.
Tanzanian native Prisca Magori (photo) is the co-founder and CEO of Smart EFD, a startup that empowers businesses and corporations to create tax invoices that adhere to local laws and regulations.
Established in 2022, Smart EFD provides a tech-based solution for generating tax receipts from a variety of devices, including smartphones, laptops, point-of-sale terminals, and desktop computers. These receipts can be verified using QR codes, in line with the regulations of the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA).
Smart EFD is a service offered by the Tanzanian firm, Evas Autotravel Company Ltd. The solution was developed by TenTen Inc Ltd, a company that Prisca Magori co-founded in 2021. TenTen Inc Ltd, where Magori served as CEO until 2022, operates in the tourism industry, providing an innovative platform for booking immersive travel experiences with flexible payment options.
The CEO earned her petroleum engineering degree from the China University of Petroleum in 2018. She also holds a master's degree in project management from the University of Dar es Salaam, which she received in 2022.
She started her professional journey as an intern at Shengli Oilfield Services Co. in 2017. The following year, she joined the Engineers Registration Board Tanzania as a junior engineer. In 2019, she took on the role of coordinator for the Construction Sector Skills Council at the Tanzania Private Sector Foundation.
In April 2024, Prisca Magori was recognized on the Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 list, an honor given to young entrepreneurs under 30 who are making significant contributions to the development of the continent.
Melchior Koba
A serial entrepreneur, he is the creator of several technological solutions that particularly assist businesses. His goal is to help companies better manage their activities and increase their profits.
Kenyan entrepreneur Stephen Nyumba (photo) is the co-founder and CEO of PokeaPay, a company that offers a comprehensive customer management and payment processing solution. This platform acts as a payment gateway for East Africa, simplifying financial transactions.
Established in 2020, PokeaPay is dedicated to providing customized and innovative solutions to support its clients’ growth. Besides facilitating payments, it assists businesses in enhancing customer interactions and improving the quality of sales. It also equips them with valuable data for making more informed strategic decisions.
PokeaPay supports its clients throughout every stage, from customer acquisition to payment completion, including conversion and sales. It accepts a variety of payment methods, including VISA, MasterCard, M-Pesa, Airtel Money, and Pokea Wallet.
Stephen Nyumba’s contributions extend beyond PokeaPay. The tech entrepreneur has a wealth of experience in technology. In 2004, he co-founded Intrepid Data Systems, a company that specializes in productivity solutions for businesses. He also established the Local Development Research Institute in 2015, an action-oriented think tank aimed at eradicating poverty, hunger, and inequality in Africa.
In 2010, he co-founded iPay Limited, a startup that offers real-time payment processing and billing services, licensed by the Central Bank of Kenya.
Stephen Nyumba earned his Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in 2007. He embarked on his professional career in 2002 as an IT Administrator at Centurion Systems, a center for training and technology transfer.
Melchior Koba
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She is a digital transformation consultant, a trainer, and a coach in digital skills. Her goal is to help businesses operating in Africa stay informed and grow their operations.
Jemila Abdulai (photo) is a Ghanaian blogger and entrepreneur. As the founder of Circumspecte, a digital platform and consultancy firm, she provides a wealth of information, inspiring experiences, and creativity-focused services.
Founded in 2007, Circumspecte is more than just a development consultancy. It supports digital transformation and skill development in Ghana and beyond. Within Circumspecte, Jemila Abdulai not only serves as the founder but also as a digital transformation consultant and trainer in digital skills. Her goal is to inspire creative and meaningful actions across the African continent.
Since its inception, Circumspecte has trained over 1,000 Africans in digital skills and also offers communication services. Moreover, the company organizes and covers digital events, contributing to the vibrancy of the digital landscape in Ghana and across Africa.
Mrs Jemila also serves as Head of Digital and E-commerce at Stanbic Bank Ghana. In this role, she engages stakeholders throughout the digital platform value chain to ensure optimal functionality for all clients, whether consumers or high-net-worth individuals.
The Ghanaian entrepreneur holds a bachelor's degree in economics, earned in 2008 at Paul Valéry University in Montpellier, France, and a master's in international economics and business from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington, D.C., in 2013.
Her professional career began in 2009 at Devex, where she was a correspondent covering international development. In 2010, she was appointed Regional Program Coordinator at the African Women's Millennium Initiative. In 2011, she worked as a Partner Support Associate at Esoko, a tech company that provides mobile and web-based solutions.
In 2012, she joined the African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET) as a communications consultant. In 2013, she became a research consultant at the World Faiths Development Dialogue, an organization that fosters dialogue among global organizations. From 2013 to 2015, she worked as an Operations and Communications Assistant for the African Community of Practice (AfCoP) project at the African Development Bank.
Her influence and dedication have been recognized repeatedly. In 2018, she was named one of the 50 Most Influential Young Ghanaians by Avance Media, and in 2020, she received the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Digital Media in Ghana. In 2021, she was named a Digital Skills Champion by the Coalition for Digital Equality.
Melchior Koba
His primary goal is to help all types of businesses, whether small or large, thrive in Africa. To achieve this, he leverages his digital expertise to create innovative solutions tailored to every user’s needs.
Brice Gboyou (photo) is a Beninese developer, designer, AI specialist, and entrepreneur. As the founder and CEO of All Web Service, he provides digital services to businesses.
All Web Service, a digital production agency founded in 2015, aims to be a catalyst for business digital transformation. Over nine years of operation, it has successfully completed several projects, including Afriyo, Artiweb, Aginap, Kloo, WaChap, and Agodjié, benefiting over 200,000 clients.
Afriyo is an app that offers one-click access to a variety of services, products, companies, and people using artificial intelligence, simplifying e-commerce across Africa. Artiweb, on the other hand, serves as a community and social network for web professionals in Francophone Africa, providing tools, resources, training, and professional opportunities.
Aginap is an application that simplifies marketing, sales, and customer relationship management via a multichannel chatbot powered by AI, present on platforms like WhatsApp, Messenger, Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, Viber, SMS, Voice, and websites. Kloo is a platform that facilitates information sharing and online sales. It allows the creation of links and pages in various formats and generates dynamic QR codes to share information and access statistics.
WaChap is a web application that automates WhatsApp marketing, helping e-merchants optimize sales and manage conversations and customer relationships efficiently while saving time through chatbot features. “With WaChap, you can set up a chatbot or robot to automatically respond to incoming messages, improving customer service efficiency and maintaining consistent engagement with your customers. Nobody likes to wait,” Brice Gboyou said in 2023.
Agodjié is a virtual personal assistant. Using AI and accessible via WhatsApp, Messenger, Telegram, and Instagram, it answers questions across various fields.
All these solutions, offered as software services (SaaS) and developed by Brice Gboyou and his team, aim to help businesses increase their visibility and revenue through the opportunities provided by the digital world.
Melchior Koba
A computer scientist by training, he's passionate about building tech solutions that empower businesses. His expertise has fueled the design of hundreds of digital projects.
Wassel Berrayana (photo) is a Tunisian entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Proxym Group, which provides digital services across various sectors in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Established in 2006, Proxym Group is a digital services company focusing on connectivity and information systems in the financial (banks, microfinance, and insurance) and governmental sectors. Its primary mission is to assist financial and governmental institutions in their digital transition.
Proxym Group is also recognized as a digital solutions integrator. Through its subsidiary, Bankerise, it offers ready-to-use applications designed to help banks increase their conversion rates, retain customers, and reduce financial expenditures. The goal of this digital banking engagement platform is to ease the transition of retail and corporate banks into the digital era.
To date, Proxym Group operates in over 20 countries, employing more than 250 digital consultants across five centers of excellence worldwide. The company claims to have completed more than 400 digital projects.
Wassel Berrayana graduated from Grenoble INP – Ensimag in 1996 with a master's degree in computer science. He also holds a master's degree in management and international business. He began his professional career in 1996 at TELNET as a computer engineer and joined Hewlett-Packard (HP) in 1998 as a telecom engineer.
From 1999 to 2003, he worked at Sun Microsystems, a subsidiary of Oracle Corporation, where he held positions as a telecom and network engineer, as well as a Java software developer. From 2003 to 2006, he worked as a pre-sales engineer and sales support at the French technology company specializing in customer relations, Eloquant.
Melchior Koba
His mission is to transform how Africans learn practical skills. He aims to equip them with the knowledge they desire in their chosen fields.
Dahou Meziane (photo), an Algerian computer scientist and entrepreneur, is the founder and CEO of BrainerX, a startup launched in 2023. His mission is to empower Africans with the tools to broaden their knowledge and excel in their areas of interest. BrainerX, through its mobile app, provides a wide array of hands-on courses. These include cybersecurity, programming, data science, e-commerce, graphic design, UI/UX, robotics, and artificial intelligence. The company also offers training in digital marketing and entrepreneurship.
BrainerX goes beyond merely offering courses by organizing events such as hackathons, workshops, and networking sessions. These initiatives aim to foster collaboration among entrepreneurs and professionals. Furthermore, competitions are organized to allow community members to excel, compete with their peers, and be rewarded for their achievements.
In addition to his involvement with BrainerX, Dahou Meziane is also the founder and general manager of Oktobit, an online store specializing in the sale of laptops and computer accessories. Oktobit offers a range of products suited to different customer profiles, whether they are students, programmers, graphic designers, or gamers.
A graduate of the National Higher School of Computer Science (ESI) in Algeria, where he obtained a master's degree in computer science in 2022, Dahou Meziane began his professional career in 2013 as a mobile application developer at Cible Vision training center. In September 2020, he joined the Algerian Insurance Company (SAA) as a mobile developer intern, before working as an Android engineer at SoBiapi in 2022.
Melchior Koba