A serial entrepreneur, he stands out for his innovative technological solutions. To date, he has founded three companies specializing in various tech sectors.
Julius Mbungo (photo) is a Tanzanian tech entrepreneur. In 2023, along with Ebenezery Kimaro and John Mwapinga, he founded a company aimed at revolutionizing automotive maintenance services. Their goal is to address the challenges faced by vehicle owners and mechanics.
Their venture, Spana, offers a network of certified mechanics, spare parts suppliers, and an app that simplifies booking, payment, and connecting with mechanics. Through the app, users can request various automotive services, whether for repairs or regular maintenance, and order affordable spare parts.
In addition to Spana, Julius Mbungo is the founder and CEO of Toolboksi, a digital platform launched in 2019. Toolboksi provides informal sector workers with stable job opportunities, access to continuous training, and career advancement. The startup's mission is to formalize the recruitment process, enabling disadvantaged individuals to secure jobs or at least aspire to better employment prospects.
Prior to these initiatives, in 2016, Julius co-founded Click n’ Cart, where he served as Chief Operating Officer. The company provided an online grocery ordering and delivery platform, offering users the convenience of having their favorite products delivered in under an hour.
The serial entrepreneur holds a degree in Business Administration with a focus on innovation management and supply chain management, obtained in 2015 from the School of Business at Mzumbe University. In July and August 2024, he also completed an entrepreneurship training program at Clark Atlanta University in the USA.
Melchior Koba
He aims to help Rwandan businesses improve their performance and, in turn, increase their revenue. A trained IT specialist, he leverages his technological expertise to support them in this effort.
Crepin Kayisire (photo) is a Rwandan IT specialist and entrepreneur. He is the founder of Kayko, a startup that provides solutions to help businesses increase their value by effectively linking data to action.
Founded in 2021, Kayko offers a platform that helps users analyze cash flow, identify trends, and make informed decisions to ensure success. It automates processes such as billing and expense tracking, allowing companies to focus on growth. All essential financial information, from invoices to expenses and inventory, is centralized for optimal organization.
Depending on user needs, the Kayko platform is accessible via a mobile app or website. The startup also offers a point-of-sale (POS) software specifically designed for kiosks. To date, over 3,000 businesses are using that platform to support their development.
Crepin Kayisire graduated from the African Leadership University in 2021 with a degree in computer science and mathematics. Before founding Kayko, he worked for Imagine We Rwanda, a publishing house, where he held various roles between 2017 and 2018, including book seller, creative associate, and later, creative director.
In 2018, he joined HeHe, a Rwandan technology company, as a product designer and then marketing manager. Simultaneously, between 2017 and 2021, he was a design consultant for The Global School for Social Leaders, an organization dedicated to creating, promoting, and organizing international educational programs and events.
Melchior Koba
Companies in Africa, including banks and other financial institutions, host their data outside the country due to limited local infrastructure. This reliance on foreign data hosting exposes sensitive information to security risks and limits the government’s ability to protect and control its digital data. A local data center is important to manage data internally, enhancing data sovereignty and security.
South Sudan’s Telecommunications Undersecretary Lado Wani Kenyi announced the country’s plans to construct its first Resilient Data Center. This was during the Pan African E-Government Summit in Lusaka, held from October 2 – 4, the Ministry of Information, Communication Technology, and Postal Services announced on October 3.
Kenyi revealed that the project is aimed at improving the country’s data management capabilities while highlighting that funding from the World Bank has been secured, paving the way for the project’s implementation. The data center will provide South Sudan with full control over its digital information, including data from companies operating within the country. It will also support the government’s digital strategy and enhance data resilience.
The Data Center Market in Africa - Industry Outlook and Forecast 2020-2025 report anticipates that African data center revenue will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 12% from 2019 to 2025. South Sudan’s investment in a new data center positions the country to benefit from this robust market growth, leveraging enhanced data infrastructure to support its digital and economic development goals.
Hikmatu Bilali
As part of its digital transformation ambitions, Ghana is ramping up initiatives to digitize services and make them more accessible to the public. In September, the country launched a digital platform specifically designed for rent control.
On Monday, October 7, Ghana’s Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia launched a new unified mobile digital services platform. Baptized CitizenApp, the application allows Ghanaian citizens to access various government services, report issues, and receive real-time updates on public matters.
“What Ghana has done many advanced countries have not yet done it. So we are moving in a direction that has major opportunities…Once the system comes in doing business in Ghana will be very easy and smooth, paying taxes will be very easy, getting your passport, will be very easy, registering a business is very easy,” Bawumia stated.
The initiative is part of the Ghanaian government's broader strategy to accelerate the digitization of public services and improve their accessibility. In September, a digital platform dedicated to rent control was introduced. In July, the Ministry of Roads and Highways launched a mobile app enabling citizens to report road issues, enhancing safety and infrastructure development. Earlier, in February, another app was launched to formalize and harmonize the informal transport sector. Additionally, the digitization of the national population census process is currently in preparation.
These efforts have positioned Ghana as a leader in e-government implementation. According to the “E-Government Survey 2024: Accelerating Digital Transformation for Sustainable Development,” published in September 2024 by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), Ghana ranks first in West Africa and seventh on the African continent.
However, the adoption of the new platform and the use of digital services will largely depend on Ghanaians' access to smartphones and the internet. While specific data for Ghana is not provided, the GSM Association (GSMA) reports that smartphone penetration in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is at 51%. In Ghana, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), 69.8% of the population owns a mobile phone, and 68.6% uses the internet.
Isaac K. Kassouwi
With a score of 24.4 on the ICT adoption index of the International Telecommunication Union, Burundi seeks solutions to keep pace with the ongoing digital transformation across the continent. It has turned to Zambia for assistance regarding Internet access.
Burundi and Zambia are set to connect via a fiber optic submarine cable. A memorandum of understanding was signed on the sidelines of the Digital Government Africa summit, held in early October in Lusaka, Zambia. The infrastructure will link the Mpulungu district in Zambia’s Northern Province to Makamba Province in southern Burundi, crossing Lake Tanganyika.
This initiative aligns with both countries’ aim to improve Internet quality. Since 2021, Zambia has invested $58 million in digital infrastructure, which has led to a modest increase in Internet penetration—from 29.4% in January 2021 to 31.2% in January 2024, according to DataReportal. Zambian authorities plan to continue investing to meet the goals outlined in the "National Digital Transformation Strategy 2023–2027."
DataReportal figures show that Internet penetration in Burundi was 10.2% in early 2023. Last September, Burundian authorities launched a project to bridge the digital divide by 2028. Called the Digital Economy Foundations Support Project (PAFEN), it is financed by a $92 million grant from the World Bank.
Moreover, Burundi's connection to Zambia will enable it to join a network of countries already interconnected via fiber optic cables, including Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
This investment included, Equator’s inaugural fund has now reached $54 million. The company has already invested in six climate technology startups across the continent.
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) announced on Thursday, October 3, an investment of $5 million in Equator Fund Africa I, a venture capital fund supporting climate technology startups operating in sub-Saharan Africa. The goal is to help the African continent benefit from the sustainable solutions these startups are developing to combat climate change.
“Climate tech is an exciting area of innovation and impact in Africa, where businesses are helping economies grow while reducing emissions and resource use. IFC’s investment in Equator Africa reflects our commitment to supporting those businesses to deliver solutions, from renewable energy to electric vehicles,” said Farid Fezoua, IFC’s Global Director for Disruptive Technologies and Funds.
This investment comes at a time when the continent urgently needs funding to address the impacts of climate change. African start-ups in the climate tech sector are increasingly attracting financing. According to Africa: The Big Deal, these companies raised $340 million in 2019, $344 million in 2020, $613 million in 2021, $959 million in 2022, and $1.1 billion in 2023. In 2024, between January and May alone, climate tech start-ups attracted $325 million, representing 45% of the total funds raised by African start-ups during this period.
Climate change remains a significant challenge for the continent. According to Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), “Africa will need $277 billion annually to address climate change, yet it currently only receives $30 billion per year.”
Adoni Conrad Quenum
Smartphone adoption remains relatively low in Uganda. According to the latest official statistics, the country has 16.7 million smartphones for 38.5 million active mobile subscribers.
The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has launched an initiative in partnership with the Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises (FSME) to equip owners of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with smartphones. The initiative aims to reach 2,720 beneficiaries by the end of the year, with a target of distributing 60,000 devices over three years.
“The government covers 50% of the cost of each phone, while the FSME covers the remaining balance. The sh50,000 contribution by recipients is to ensure a sense of ownership. We don’t want them to sell off the phones,” explained John Walugembe, Executive Director of FSME.
This initiative comes at a time when Ugandan MSMEs are struggling to access smartphones and lack digital skills, despite the fact that, according to Mr. Walugembe, “digital technology has the potential to transform businesses.” Smartphone adoption remains low across the general population. According to the latest UCC data, Uganda has 16.7 million smartphones for 38.5 million active mobile subscribers.
The program is expected to boost the productivity of MSMEs in Uganda. For example, Aisha Nalule, a hairdresser benefiting from the initiative, believes her smartphone will help her promote her services on platforms like Facebook, X, and TikTok.
t Uganda has 1.1 million MSMEs, according to data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). These businesses account for 80% of the country’s GDP and 90% of its private sector, according to the same source.
Isaac K. Kassouwi
E-commerce is flourishing in Africa, driven by its youthful, tech-savvy population and ongoing efforts to integrate economies across the continent.
In 2017, only 13% of Africans shopped online. However, according to a July 2024 report by cross-border payments company Nikulipe, this figure could soar to 40% by the end of 2025. This growth positions e-commerce as a key driver for strengthening intra-African trade.
Nikulipe's report, "Payments and E-commerce in Africa 2024," forecasts the African online commerce market to increase by $15 billion by 2028, representing a nearly 49% growth over four years. Data from Statista supports this trend, predicting an average annual growth rate of 11.7% between 2024 and 2028. This implies that the market size could double compared to 2023, when revenues stood at $16.1 billion.
Driving this expansion is a young, digitally connected population. With a median age of 19.7 years and over 1.4 billion people, Africa has significant demographic potential. Furthermore, internet usage has increased dramatically over the past decade, rising from 16% in 2013 to 37% in 2023, according to the International Telecommunication Union.
Despite this potential, intra-African e-commerce faces several challenges. According to a Trade Organization (WTO) report, inadequate infrastructure complicates cross-border trade. Additionally, the lack of harmonized e-commerce regulations between African countries adds to the complexity of cross-border transactions.
Toward Continental Trade Integration
Several initiatives are underway to facilitate intra-African trade. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has introduced a digital trade protocol aimed at harmonizing regulations and simplifying online exchanges between African countries. Regional projects, such as the COMESA Digital Free Trade Area, also encourage e-commerce and digital integration among member states.
More African e-commerce players are expanding their reach across the continent. Jumia, a pan-African online retail company, operates in 11 countries and attracts 5.7 million active consumers worldwide. Anka Africa, based in Côte d'Ivoire, hosts over 20,000 online stores across 46 African countries, drawing more than one million visitors per month.
These platforms facilitate trade between African countries by providing a digital showcase for local producers and simplifying cross-border logistics.
Melchior Koba
Entrepreneur en série, il se distingue par ses solutions technologiques innovantes. A ce jour, il a fondé trois entreprises spécialisées dans des secteurs variés de la technologie.
Julius Mbungo (photo) est un entrepreneur technologique tanzanien. En 2023, avec Ebenezery Kimaro et John Mwapinga, il a fondé une entreprise visant à révolutionner les services de maintenance automobile. Leur objectif est de résoudre les défis auxquels sont confrontés les propriétaires de véhicules et les mécaniciens.
Spana propose un réseau de mécaniciens agréés, de fournisseurs de pièces détachées, ainsi qu’une application qui facilite la réservation, le paiement et la mise en relation avec des mécaniciens. Grâce à cette application, les utilisateurs peuvent demander divers services automobiles, que ce soit pour des réparations ou de l’entretien régulier, ainsi que des pièces de rechange à des prix abordables.
En parallèle, Julius Mbungo est également le fondateur et président-directeur général de Toolboksi, une plateforme numérique lancée en 2019. Toolboksi offre aux travailleurs du secteur informel des opportunités de travail stable, ainsi qu’un accès à une formation continue et à une évolution professionnelle. La start-up a pour mission de formaliser le processus de recrutement afin de permettre aux personnes défavorisées d’accéder à des emplois ou, au minimum, de nourrir l’espoir d’en obtenir.
Avant ces initiatives, en 2016, Julius avait cofondé la start-up Click n’ Cart, où il occupait le poste de directeur des opérations. Cette entreprise offrait une plateforme de commande et de livraison d’épicerie en ligne, permettant aux utilisateurs de se faire livrer leurs produits préférés en moins d’une heure.
Julius Mbungo est titulaire d’un diplôme d’administration des affaires option innovation commerciale et gestion de chaîne d’approvisionnement obtenu en 2015 à la School Business de la Mzumbe University. En juillet et août 2024, il a également suivi une formation en entrepreneuriat à la Clark Atlanta University, aux Etats-Unis.
Melchior Koba
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A trained computer scientist, he specialized in developing fintech solutions. His goal is to make everyday life easier for Africans.
Ayo Akinola (photo) is a Nigerian business developer with a background in computer science, business intelligence, project management, and sales. He is the co-founder and CEO of Pocket, a financial app.
Founded in 2019, Pocket simplifies sending, receiving, and managing money for Africans. The app offers three types of wallets, called "pockets." The personal pocket allows users to transfer, spend, buy, and pay bills quickly. The business pocket helps users create an online store and manage professional payments. The group pocket allows users to manage funds with friends, colleagues, or family members.
Pocket is developed by Piggyvest, a startup Ayo Akinola also co-founded and where he serves as Chief Operating Officer. Established in 2016, Piggyvest helps individuals and businesses manage their finances, save, and invest easily.
Prior to Piggyvest, Akinola co-founded PuchCV in 2014, where he led business development until 2019. PuchCV connects talents with recruiters through a dedicated platform.
Ayo Akinola graduated from Covenant University in Nigeria, earning a bachelor's degree in computer science in 2012. In 2008, he interned with the IT department at Meyer PLC, a Nigerian paint manufacturer and distributor. In 2011, he served as assistant to the Chief Technology Officer at Fasyl Technology Group, a company specializing in IT services for financial operations.
Melchior Koba
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As digital technology becomes essential in public service, many civil servants lack the necessary skills. This limits the government's ability to deliver efficient, tech-driven services. Addressing this skills gap will enhance productivity and service quality in sectors.
Kenya is set to launch a Centre of Excellence to train public servants in digital skills. Announced by the Ministry of Information, Communications & The Digital Economy on October 3, the center is hosted at the Kenya School of Government (KSG). It is part of a joint initiative with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The Centre will offer training in technology adoption and digital infrastructure to improve service delivery and promote job creation, officials said. Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary, Margaret Ndung’u, met with UNDP and KSG officials to discuss the Centre’s governance and operational framework.
The project will incorporate a multi-sectoral approach for curriculum development and is expected to provide training to both local and international public sector professionals.
In an increasingly digital world, developing skills -particularly digital skills- is vital for economic growth and reducing unemployment, especially in emerging economies. In Kenya, this effort aligns with Vision 2030, which seeks to make the country industrialized and middle-income by 2030. The digitization of the civil service is an essential component of this vision. It aims to enhance the speed and efficiency of government services for users.
Hikmatu Bilali
Zepz, formerly WorldRemit, has secured $267 million to expand across Africa and other key markets. The funding round was led by Accel with participation from Leapfrog, TCV, Coller Capital, and a $20 million investment from the International Financial Corporation (IFC).
Since rebranding in August 2021 after acquiring Sendwave, Zepz has retained both the WorldRemit and Sendwave brands.
The investment will enhance Zepz’s position in Africa’s fintech market, supporting financial inclusion and the growing demand for cross-border transfers.
The ongoing digital transformation in Africa is impacting all sectors, including public administration, which plays a central role in the daily lives of citizens. By integrating modern technologies, the goal is to enhance efficiency and reduce bureaucracy, making government services more accessible and streamlined.
Liberian Minister of Commerce and Industry, Amin Modad (photo), recently announced the imminent launch of new online services as part of a broader strategy to modernize administrative services.
During a statement on Thursday, October 3, at the Ministry of Information, Modad outlined several services set to be digitized, including the Liberian Business Registry, the issuance of online import and export permits, and the introduction of a new business registration certificate with anti-fraud security features. He highlighted that the business registration process, which previously took one to two weeks, has already been shortened to three to five days, with the aim of further reducing this timeframe through a digital platform designed to eliminate corruption and simplify procedures.
This initiative is part of a modernization strategy to tackle bureaucratic bottlenecks and corruption, long-standing issues that have hindered the business environment in Liberia. Minister Modad has also secured funding to fully digitize the ministry's services, marking a critical step in the country's digital transformation.
The launch of these new services is expected to bolster the government's efforts to digitize public administration, though Liberia continues to lag in this area. The country currently ranks 182nd in the UN's 2024 e-government report, down from 177th in 2022, reflecting a decline in modernization efforts.
The digitization strategy led by the Ministry of Commerce is set to improve administrative efficiency, increase revenue from business registrations and permits, reduce processing times, enhance transparency, and improve Liberia’s international competitiveness.
Samira Njoya
He has over 10 years of experience in technology, data, and artificial intelligence. He is regarded as one of the most promising young tech entrepreneurs in Benin.
Luc Alapini (photo) is a serial entrepreneur and a prominent tech leader from Benin. He serves as the CEO of Bivariant, an inclusive platform that enables organizations and governments to accelerate the deployment of sovereign artificial intelligence (AI) across the entire supply chain.
Bivariant is an AI-focused platform designed for modern enterprises. The startup offers a variety of services, including AI strategies and data collection. It currently provides three main products. The first, Bivariant Studio, is an AI application development platform that allows businesses to seamlessly connect their AI applications to their data and create AI agents without any coding.
The second product, Bivariant Forge, is a platform for deploying and managing AI models, enabling businesses to implement large language models (LLMs) on their own infrastructure. Lastly, Bivariant Orbit serves as a centralized repository for storing, managing, and sharing AI resources, ensuring that teams have access to the latest AI innovations.
From Thursday, October 3 to Friday, October 4, Luc Alapini presented Bivariant at the FrancoTech exhibition in Paris, through the Benin Innov booth, an initiative of the Beninese government. The event, held at the Station F incubator, brought together 10 Beninese companies.
In addition to his role at Bivariant, Alapini is an advisor to Vocads, a startup that helps professionals in customer relations, marketing, and market research gather and analyze detailed feedback through voice surveys.
A seasoned entrepreneur, Alapini co-founded Tuniar in 2014, an inclusive mobile service for international money transfers and online payments. In the same year, he launched Enccore, a company specializing in modern cloud solutions and data intelligence. In 2020, he founded Oblic, a data engineering company.
Alapini holds a degree in statistical engineering from Benin's National School of Applied Economics and Management (ENEAM), which he earned in 2013. He also has a master's degree in applied mathematics from the University of South Brittany in France.
His career began in 2013 at Benin's Ministry of Health, where he worked as a data scientist. In 2014, he became the technical director of KYMA Ventures in Benin, a company specializing in innovation strategy and digital solutions. From 2020 to 2023, he served as technical director at Datexis Digital in France, a startup focused on data management and collection for businesses.
Melchior Koba