Venture capital firm Propeller is launching Kernel Camp, an eight-week program to be held in May 2026 in Silicon Valley, bringing together five deep-tech startups from Tunisia, Morocco, Jordan and Egypt. Founders will gain access to mentorship, workshops, and sessions with leading engineers, investors and operators. The program aims to help them establish a lasting foothold in the global AI ecosystem and accelerate their growth.
From April 22 to April 24, Google Cloud Next will take place in Las Vegas, bringing together developers, IT leaders and business decision-makers. The event will focus on recent developments in cloud computing, data and artificial intelligence. The program includes keynote sessions, technical workshops and product demonstrations covering security, analytics and application development.
From April 28 to 30, the Women in Tech Global Summit will bring together executives, founders, investors, and public officials at the Cape Town Convention Center to promote women in technology. The agenda includes keynote talks, workshops, and networking sessions focused on innovation, leadership, and STEAM skills, with delegations from more than 60 countries.
- AI Diagnostics developed a digital stethoscope and AI-based tool to detect tuberculosis without heavy imaging equipment.
- The Cape Town-based start-up raised 85 million rand ($5.2 million) to expand across Africa and Asia.
- The solution targets frontline healthcare workers to improve early detection in low-infrastructure settings.
South African start-up AI Diagnostics has introduced an artificial intelligence-based screening solution for tuberculosis, as early detection remains a major challenge in regions with limited medical infrastructure and specialist access. The company developed the e-health solution around a digital stethoscope combined with an AI algorithm. The system analyzes lung sounds to identify patterns associated with tuberculosis, while avoiding reliance on heavy equipment such as radiography.
AI Diagnostics, which is based in Cape Town, launched operations in 2020. Chief Executive Officer Braden van Breda leads the company. The tool captures respiratory sounds through a digital stethoscope and processes the data in real time using an AI model trained on thousands of recordings. The system then flags potential tuberculosis indicators and directs patients toward further testing when necessary.
The company stated: “Our objective is to expand nurses’ diagnostic capabilities, reduce analysis time and improve accuracy, while transferring final diagnosis and treatment to primary healthcare facilities.”
The company added: “Our wireless digital stethoscope, our AI model for tuberculosis detection and our intuitive data capture application combine to form a complete tuberculosis screening solution.”
The company designed the device for frontline healthcare workers. It enables broader screening coverage in areas with limited medical infrastructure. The portable system operates offline and significantly reduces diagnostic costs.
AI Diagnostics secured backing from investors and recently raised 85 million rand (approximately $5.2 million). The company will use the funding to accelerate deployment across Africa and Asia.
The company plans to expand its technology to cover additional pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases over time.
- Algeria launched its first national start-up cluster focused on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity on April 18 in Algiers.
- Authorities aim to expand the country’s start-up base to 20,000 by 2029 under a broader knowledge-economy strategy.
- The cluster integrates universities, research centers and businesses to accelerate innovation and commercialization.
Algeria launched its first national start-up cluster dedicated to artificial intelligence and cybersecurity on April 18 in Algiers, as the government intensifies efforts to build a technology-driven economy by 2028.
The government hosted the launch at the Sidi Abdellah science and technology hub. Authorities positioned the initiative as a new step in structuring the national innovation ecosystem. Officials aim to strengthen the competitiveness of technology start-ups and increase their contribution to the domestic economy.
The cluster brings together start-ups, universities, research centers and private-sector players within a single framework. It supports collaboration on joint projects and promotes the emergence of innovative solutions in strategic sectors, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and smart digital services.
The program accepts start-ups from both academic institutions and the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem. Authorities designed this approach to stimulate synergies and accelerate the conversion of innovative projects into commercially viable applications.
The ministries of Higher Education, Knowledge Economy and Telecommunications jointly support the initiative. The cluster forms part of a broader government strategy to scale up the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has set a target of reaching 20,000 start-ups in Algeria by 2029. Authorities plan to rely on universities as a primary source of innovation and skilled talent to meet this goal.
Authorities reported in June that Algeria had registered 1,600 micro-enterprises, 130 start-ups and 1,175 projects labeled as “innovative.” They also recorded more than 2,800 patents filed with relevant institutions.
Algeria is leveraging structures such as clusters to accelerate its transition toward a knowledge-based economy. The government views technological innovation as a key growth driver.
Globally, clusters act as catalysts for competitiveness. They stimulate technological development, enhance regional attractiveness and support the emergence of high-potential companies.
Samira Njoya
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LifeBank uses data and logistics to deliver blood, oxygen, and medical supplies directly to hospitals.
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Founder Temie Giwa-Tubosun launched the startup in 2015 to streamline fragmented medical supply chains.
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The platform acts as a one-stop shop, centralizing procurement and reducing delivery delays.
Nigerian-American entrepreneur Temie Giwa-Tubosun has developed a technology-driven solution to address persistent gaps in access to critical medical resources, as healthcare systems face ongoing supply chain constraints.
She has targeted a major challenge affecting many health systems. Consequently, her solution aims to improve rapid access to life-saving resources.
LifeBank, which she founded in 2015, uses data and technology to locate and deliver essential medical products. The company enables hospitals to access vital resources, including blood, oxygen, consumables, and certain medical equipment, through direct on-site delivery.
LifeBank positions itself as a one-stop platform for healthcare providers. It allows hospitals to centralize orders without relying on multiple intermediaries. As a result, the company simplifies procurement processes and improves operational efficiency.
The company relies on a streamlined operating model. Hospitals place orders through the platform, while LifeBank identifies the most suitable suppliers and manages the entire logistics chain through to delivery. The company sources products from a network of carefully selected partners, which ensures quality standards, timely delivery, and optimal storage conditions.
Giwa-Tubosun earned a bachelor’s degree in political science in 2007 from Minnesota State University. She later obtained a master’s degree in public administration in 2010 from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, where she specialized in international management, health systems, and health financing.
She began her career as a health analyst at Fairview Health Services in the United States. In 2011, she joined the Millennium Villages Project in Uganda as a health systems quality improvement coordinator. The program aimed to help rural African communities exit extreme poverty.
Between 2013 and 2014, she served as director of operations at the Lagos State Office of Facility Management and Maintenance, where she oversaw operational management functions.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
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OrgaAfrica offers a centralized digital system to manage orders, payments, and queues in small businesses.
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Founder Bassim-swé Hugues Bamassi launched the company in 2024 to streamline retail and restaurant operations.
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The entrepreneur combines roles across fintech and tech firms, including Semoa Group and Finkira.
Togolese entrepreneur Bassim-swé Hugues Bamassi has developed a digital platform aimed at improving operational efficiency in restaurants and neighborhood retail stores, as he targets persistent service bottlenecks in the sector.
He has focused his efforts on reducing daily friction points in small businesses. Consequently, his solution redesigns service organization and customer flow management.
Bamamassi founded OrgaAfrica in 2024 and leads the company as chief executive officer. The company develops digital services tailored to restaurants and proximity retail businesses.
OrgaAfrica has built a centralized system that optimizes business operations. The platform enables operators to manage orders, payments, and queues more efficiently. It also helps professionals organize workflows, streamline service delivery, and reduce customer waiting times.
Moreover, the company aims to simplify interactions between businesses and customers. It seeks to make purchasing and ordering processes more intuitive while improving the overall in-store experience. By integrating multiple digital tools into a single platform, OrgaAfrica delivers a unified solution designed to meet the operational needs of the sector.
In parallel with his entrepreneurial activities, Bamassi works as a business analyst at Semoa Group, a firm specializing in financial technology.
He graduated with a degree in physics from the University of Kara in 2023. In the same year, he became chief executive officer of DouGou, a real estate platform.
In 2025, he joined Finkira, where he successively held the roles of head of business development and head of operations. In addition, he collaborated with HOTSHI FR, a social network that connects professionals and experts engaged in the development of Africa and its diasporas, where he worked as an application developer.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
Kredete, a participant in the Visa Africa accelerator, is launching a credit card backed by U.S. dollar-denominated stablecoins for Africans and the African diaspora. Accepted in 50 countries by 150 million merchants, it enables international spending without high foreign-exchange fees or currency volatility. The initiative is now expanding to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
Tulupay is launching a preview of its pan-African financial operating system, a platform that connects banks, mobile money services, and blockchain networks. Built to streamline cross-border payments and reduce costs, it aims to make intra-African transactions more efficient. With integrated digital identity and compliance features, Tulupay is positioning itself as a secure, unified financial infrastructure for the continent.
African startups have until April 30 to register for the 5th cycle of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award. The competition rewards innovative solutions powered by clean energy for water production, distribution, storage, desalination and purification. With a $1 million prize pool, the award is open to projects, research, individual initiatives and crisis-response solutions in the water sector.
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The University of Botswana launched its first local virtual reality (VR) program in partnership with MDiHub.
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The solution enables remote, immersive access to UniPod laboratories without physical presence.
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The global VR market could reach $69.6 billion by 2028, highlighting strong growth potential.
The University of Botswana, through UniPod in collaboration with the Mafikeng Digital Innovation Hub (MDiHub), officially launched its first local virtual reality (VR) program on Thursday, April 16. The institution designed this immersive technology to allow users to visit and interact virtually with the center’s laboratories without physical presence. The program introduces a new approach to learning and access to research infrastructure.
According to UniPod Director Richie Moalosi, virtual reality represents one of the key technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, as it enables computers to simulate real-world environments. He emphasized the project’s novelty and described it as a first local VR experience accessible remotely. He added that the solution allows users to explore infrastructure without the need for physical travel.
The solution digitally replicates UniPod’s facilities, including its laboratories, and allows users to navigate them virtually. It creates opportunities across several sectors. In education, it facilitates interactive learning. In tourism and mining, it supports immersive simulations.
Moreover, the technology could support the emergence of new economic models. It enables opportunities in digital content creation and experience-based services, which could drive additional revenue streams.
The University of Botswana developed the project through collaboration with the Mafikeng Digital Innovation Hub, whose expertise structured the solution’s development. At the same time, global virtual and augmented reality markets generate billions of dollars annually and continue to expand rapidly.
A report by Grand View Research published in March 2022 estimates that the virtual reality market could reach $69.6 billion by 2028, up from $15.81 billion in 2020, representing a compound annual growth rate of 18%.
In this environment, Botswana aims to position itself in emerging technologies to strengthen local capabilities, support innovation, and improve youth employability. The country sees virtual reality as a lever to diversify its economy and accelerate its transition toward higher value-added sectors.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
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Timart offers an all-in-one, offline-capable management platform tailored to African SMEs.
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The app has surpassed 100,000 downloads on the Play Store since its 2021 launch.
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The company plans pan-African expansion and integrated financial services rollout.
Timart delivers a digital solution developed by a Nigerian start-up that enables companies to manage operations through a single interface. The platform integrates key features, including inventory management, sales tracking, accounting, invoicing, accounts receivable management, and expense monitoring.
The company launched the platform in 2021 and based its operations in Minna, while founder Muhammad Ndako leads the initiative.
Timart differentiates its offering through an “offline-first” approach, which reflects African market realities. The application operates without an Internet connection and synchronizes data automatically when connectivity resumes.
The platform has recorded more than 100,000 downloads, according to Play Store data, which underscores growing adoption among SMEs. Ndako highlighted structural inefficiencies affecting the sector and explained the rationale behind the product. “Many SMEs operate with inefficient inventory management and unreliable Internet connectivity, which leads to stock losses, fraud, and revenue leakage,” he told Disrupt Africa.
He added: “We observed that many African SMEs still rely on traditional methods such as pen and paper or informal practices to manage operations, which makes it difficult to track inventory, detect losses, or assess performance.”
Timart integrates payment tools through connected point-of-sale terminals, which allow businesses to secure transactions and reduce fraud risks, particularly those linked to fake payment receipts.
Moreover, the platform leverages data analytics to improve business oversight. Users access real-time reports, track performance metrics, and make more informed decisions.
Timart plans to expand into additional African markets while enhancing its offering with integrated financial services. This strategy aligns with a broader structural trend, as African SMEs increasingly adopt digital tools and position themselves as a key driver of economic growth across the continent.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
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Mozambique’s parliament adopted new cybersecurity and cybercrime laws to strengthen legal protection of digital space.
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The legislation introduces enforcement tools, criminal provisions, and international cooperation mechanisms.
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Mozambique ranks mid-tier in global cybersecurity readiness, highlighting both progress and remaining gaps.
The Assembly of the Republic adopted laws on cybersecurity and cybercrime on Thursday, April 16. The move reflects the government’s push to secure digital infrastructure and regulate online activities more effectively.
In a statement, the National Institute of ICT (INTIC) said the cybersecurity law aims to equip the state with effective tools to address the challenges of the information society. The law will ensure the protection of the state, institutions, and citizens, while also defending information systems and critical infrastructure.
Furthermore, the law will help prevent risks, coordinate responses to cyber incidents, and improve the resilience of public and private entities that rely on digital platforms.
Meanwhile, the cybercrime law establishes substantive and procedural criminal provisions, including mechanisms for international cooperation. The law regulates investigations into cyber offenses and governs the collection of electronic evidence.
The legislation applies to all individuals and legal entities, whether public or private, that use data communication networks and information systems.
“The adoption of these two texts marks a decisive step in consolidating the country’s digital transformation and strengthens the confidence of citizens, businesses, and institutions in the use of information and communication technologies,” INTIC said in a statement published on Facebook.
The adoption follows a recent partnership announcement with the European Union aimed at developing national cybersecurity capabilities. Mozambique has also strengthened cooperation with the United States and Togo in the same area.
In parallel, the country participates in several international instruments, including the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, the African Union Convention on Cybersecurity and Personal Data Protection (Malabo, 2014), and the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime (2001).
Authorities view these efforts as part of a broader strategy to position ICT as a driver of socio-economic development. The government is currently drafting a national digital transformation strategy.
However, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) said countries must strengthen cybersecurity levels to fully leverage ICT opportunities.
Mozambique currently ranks at the third level out of five in the ITU’s 2024 Global Cybersecurity Index, with a score of 66.05 out of 100. The ITU considers the country’s performance relatively strong in organizational measures and cooperation. Nevertheless, challenges persist in legal, technical, and capacity-building areas.
This article was initially published in French by Isaac K. Kassouwi
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
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Ilias El Makhfi develops AI-driven tools to streamline recruitment processes in Morocco.
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Linkopus Consulting offers platforms that automate sourcing, evaluation, and hiring workflows.
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The company expands into agritech with a connected irrigation solution based on real-time data.
Ilias El Makhfi is a Moroccan entrepreneur and engineer. He co-founded Linkopus Consulting and serves as chief executive in charge of strategy and partnerships. The company specializes in designing and developing digital solutions for professionals.
Founded in 2023, Linkopus Consulting supports companies in developing digital products. The firm delivers services that include website and web application development, digital transformation, and the implementation of tailored online solutions for business needs.
Among its innovations, LinkoJob stands out as an artificial intelligence-assisted recruitment platform. The platform simplifies the hiring process from candidate sourcing to onboarding. It allows companies to save time, reduce bias, and strengthen collaboration within teams.
In addition, the company offers LinkoPilot, a Chrome extension that optimizes the use of LinkoJob. The tool conducts automated searches across platforms such as LinkedIn and Indeed, thereby expanding access to top talent.
Moreover, the firm provides LinkoSkill, an assessment platform that enables recruiters to measure candidates’ skills in depth through customizable tests.
At the same time, Linkopus Consulting has developed Farm Connect, a connected irrigation solution focused on precision, automation, and sustainable agriculture. The system uses real-time data and smart controls to deliver the optimal amount of water at the right time.
Ilias El Makhfi earned an engineering degree in computer science in 2015 from the National School of Applied Sciences in Fez. After graduation, he worked from 2015 to 2022 at SY by Cegedim, a French digital company, where he held roles as consultant and project manager.
Subsequently, he worked as a consultant at LexisNexis from 2022 to 2025, where he focused on artificial intelligence solutions applied to the legal sector.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum