Nguema Etoh Ibrahim, a Franco-Gabonese entrepreneur trained in France, has launched a bold mission: transform the shared housing experience through digital innovation. Based in the Lille region, he now leads EKNA, a start-up he co-founded in 2020 with Florine Dufour.
EKNA operates through a dual-function system: a mobile app for flatmates and a platform for landlords. The mobile app allows users to find and book shared accommodation easily—regardless of their rental history. Using an algorithm-driven matching system, EKNA suggests compatible flatmates based on users' lifestyles and preferences.
For landlords, EKNA provides a dashboard to post listings, review detailed tenant profiles, and assess compatibility with current flatmates. Each application includes a rental score and a personality match indicator, streamlining the selection process.
“EKNA has been developed and now consists of a mobile application for people looking for a flat share, and a platform for landlords (private individuals or professionals) to manage their accommodation adverts and choice of flatmates! But that's just the beginning, and we promise you plenty more great features to come,” said the start-up.
Landlords can publish listings across multiple channels and reach EKNA’s entire user base. The platform also simplifies tenant rotation and communication within shared flats, making management smoother and less time-consuming.
Nguema Etoh Ibrahim holds a degree in computer-aided design and drafting from Lille’s University Institute of Technology (IUT). He started his career in 2017 as an electrical draughtsman at Société Nouvelle d'Installations Électroniques (SNIE) in France.
In 2018, he joined Inéo Infracom as a GSM design technician. He later worked at the Vincent Delsinne architecture studio as an assistant architect. In 2019, he became a works supervisor at CRITES, a firm focused on electrical engineering and communication systems.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum
