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Pascal Bokari Dicko launched ZeroName in February 2026 to use artificial intelligence in job matching and professional coaching.
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The platform helps users optimize CVs and cover letters, identify suitable vacancies and prepare for interviews through a virtual recruiter.
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Dicko also co-founded AI agency Dicken AI and previously worked as an AI and automation specialist at Mstudio in Côte d’Ivoire.
Malian serial entrepreneur Pascal Bokari Dicko founded ZeroName, a digital platform that launched in February 2026. The platform uses artificial intelligence (AI) to reshape the job market and transform professional support services.
The startup’s platform enables users to identify job opportunities that closely match their profiles. In addition, the tool adapts and optimizes CVs and cover letters to meet recruiters’ specific requirements and improve candidates’ chances of success.
Beyond document optimization, ZeroName integrates an immersive interview simulation system. The platform uses a virtual recruiter that allows candidates to practice in real time and experience conditions that mirror actual recruitment processes.
As a result, applicants can refine their communication skills and strengthen their interview performance before meeting employers. The platform also provides ongoing professional support. It offers permanent career coaching and assistance that guides users through job searches and career development efforts.
Furthermore, users access the platform’s features through a paid credit system that activates the various services available on the platform.
Dicko also serves as co-founder and chief executive officer of Dicken AI, an agency established in 2023 that specializes in the development of artificial intelligence solutions. Previously, he worked as an artificial intelligence and automation specialist at Mstudio in 2025. Mstudio operates as a mobile startup studio focused on Francophone West Africa and is based in Côte d’Ivoire.
Melchior Koba
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Guinea launched work on a National Data Governance Strategy on June 19 to establish rules for data collection, sharing, security and value creation.
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The government aims to improve public-sector data quality, strengthen interoperability and support artificial intelligence, innovation and the data economy.
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The initiative aligns with Guinea’s Simandou 2040 development program, which places digital transformation among the country's strategic priorities.
Guinea continues to structure its digital economy. The government launched work on a National Data Governance Strategy on Friday, June 19. The strategy will establish rules for the collection, sharing, protection and valorization of data generated by government agencies, businesses and citizens.
The National Directorate of Information Technologies and the Digital Economy (DNTIEN) is leading the initiative. The strategy seeks to provide Guinea with a reference framework that improves the quality of public data, strengthens interoperability and promotes the use of data in digital services.
In addition, authorities aim to create conditions that support new applications in artificial intelligence, innovation and the data economy. At the same time, authorities intend to protect sensitive information and preserve national digital sovereignty.
The initiative comes as Guinea increases investment in digital infrastructure and places digital transformation among the priorities of its Simandou 2040 development program. The long-term national plan includes the modernization of technological infrastructure and the development of an economy that relies more heavily on knowledge, innovation and digital services. Consequently, the data governance strategy forms part of a broader effort to strengthen the foundations of the country's digital transformation agenda.
Beyond infrastructure development, several experts view effective data utilization as a critical factor in improving public services, strengthening economic planning and attracting investment.
As a result, many African countries have accelerated the adoption of data governance frameworks. Countries including Rwanda, South Africa, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Lesotho, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Mozambique have already strengthened or implemented national policies dedicated to data governance.
For Guinea, the stakes extend beyond administrative reform. Effective data governance could facilitate the secure exchange of information among government agencies, improve public-sector decision-making and support the development of artificial intelligence applications in sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture and financial services.
Furthermore, authorities expect the initiative to lay the foundation for a digital ecosystem capable of supporting the country's economic ambitions through 2040.
Samira Njoya
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Ethiopia launched the MESOB digital platform on June 20 to centralize access to more than 185 public services through a single government application.
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The platform uses the national digital identity system Fayda and connects multiple government databases to streamline administrative processes.
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The government positions MESOB as a cornerstone of its 2025-2030 digitalization strategy and plans to expand the platform across all ministries and public agencies.
Ethiopia officially launched the unified digital platform MESOB on Saturday, June 20. The government designed the initiative to centralize access to public services and accelerate administrative modernization. Officials unveiled the application during the “Digital for Excellence” summit. The platform seeks to simplify administrative procedures for citizens and accelerate the digital transformation of the public sector.
The Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute developed MESOB as a government super app. The platform allows users to access more than 185 public services through a single account linked to the national digital identity system, Fayda. Users can obtain identification documents, complete tax procedures, apply for business licenses, secure work permits and carry out investment-related formalities through the platform.
Moreover, the platform connects databases across multiple government agencies. This integration eliminates the need for citizens to submit the same information repeatedly and reduces physical visits to public offices. According to government authorities, the integrated system will shorten processing times, improve administrative transparency and reduce opportunities for corruption associated with manual procedures.
The launch of MESOB aligns with a broader global push to develop Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). Governments typically build these systems around three pillars: digital identity, data-sharing platforms between public institutions and online service delivery.
Across Africa, several countries, including Rwanda, Kenya and Morocco, continue to invest in digital public infrastructure. These investments aim to improve access to public services and support the digital transformation of national economies.
MESOB represents one of the pillars of Ethiopia’s 2025-2030 government digitalization strategy. The platform relies heavily on Fayda, Ethiopia’s national digital identity system. Fayda had registered more than 20 million users as of July 2025 and had already connected 55 institutions.
During its pilot phase, which began in April 2025, MESOB brought together 12 federal institutions and 41 public services. The government now plans to expand the platform progressively across all ministries and public agencies in the country.
Samira Njoya
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Tosin Eniolorunda co-founded Moniepoint in 2015 to provide integrated financial services for businesses and consumers across Africa.
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The fintech offers payments, banking, bill payments, financial management tools and credit products tailored to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
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Eniolorunda built Moniepoint after gaining technical and operational experience at Interswitch, one of Africa’s leading payments companies.
Nigerian engineer Tosin Eniolorunda, a mechanical engineer by training and a prominent figure in Nigeria’s technology sector, serves as co-founder and chief executive officer of Moniepoint. The fintech, which launched in 2015, has established itself as a key player in Africa’s financial technology ecosystem by providing an integrated financial services platform for businesses and individuals.
Moniepoint has developed a robust infrastructure that simplifies day-to-day money management. Through a suite of intuitive digital tools, the platform enables users to make payments, manage bank accounts and settle bills. The fintech primarily targets small and medium-sized enterprises, which serve as major drivers of local economic activity. At the same time, the platform remains accessible to individuals for routine financial transactions.
Moreover, Moniepoint offers financing solutions designed to support SME growth. The company provides credit products that help businesses replenish inventory and fund commercial expansion.
In addition to transaction services, Moniepoint integrates advanced financial management tools into its platform. These features allow business owners to monitor expenses closely and improve the organization of their day-to-day finances. Consequently, users can manage both operational and financial activities through a single platform.
To support this volume of activity, the startup relies on advanced technology infrastructure capable of processing transactions at scale while maintaining reliability. By combining payments, banking services and operational tools, Moniepoint continues to pursue its mission of democratizing access to financial services and supporting economic activity among its users.
Eniolorunda built his entrepreneurial success on a strong academic foundation. He graduated from Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in 2007. He began his professional career in 2005 through an internship at Schlumberger. That experience paved the way for his move to Interswitch in 2009.
Eniolorunda spent six years at Interswitch before launching Moniepoint in 2015. During that period, he held positions including software engineer and operations manager. These roles enabled him to acquire the technical expertise and operational experience that later supported the creation and growth of Moniepoint.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange J. A de Berry Quenum
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Johannesburg-based startup Handal connects businesses with pre-vetted freelance creative professionals through a curated digital marketplace.
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Founder Riyana Randall launched the platform in 2026 to replace fragmented hiring processes that rely on referrals, emails and messaging applications.
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The platform combines talent sourcing, project management and secure payments within a single interface, reducing operational friction for both clients and freelancers.
Handal is a digital solution developed by a South African startup. The company operates a specialized marketplace that connects businesses with pre-screened freelance professionals, including writers, designers, art directors, photographers and marketing specialists.
The Johannesburg-based startup launched in 2026 under the leadership of Riyana Randall. Unlike open freelance marketplaces, Handal requires every professional to complete a validation process before joining its network.
Randall highlighted the inefficiencies of traditional hiring methods in comments to Disrupt Africa.
“At the moment, a company looking for a senior copywriter or an art director sends a WhatsApp message, waits for someone to recommend a name, makes contact by email, negotiates a rate, shares a brief through WeTransfer, tracks feedback through a chain of replies, follows up for an invoice and crosses its fingers,” Randall said.
She added:
“Handal replaces that entire process. You see who is available. You book them. You work within a structured system. There are no quotes, no negotiations, no uncertainty and no follow-ups.”
The platform allows businesses to search for talent using several criteria, including specialization, rates, location and availability. Clients can then publish project briefs, select service providers and manage entire assignments through a single workspace. The platform centralizes communications, deliverables, revision requests and task tracking within the same environment. As a result, businesses can manage freelance engagements more efficiently while reducing administrative complexity.
Handal also integrates a secure payment mechanism. The platform holds client funds in escrow until clients approve completed deliverables. The platform then transfers the funds to freelancers.
This mechanism aims to reduce payment-default risks, a challenge that many independent professionals continue to face across freelance markets. During its pre-launch phase, Handal attracted more than 100 registered creatives, primarily through word-of-mouth referrals. The company now plans to expand its talent pool before accelerating customer acquisition efforts.
By integrating recruitment, project management and payments into a single platform, the South African startup seeks to professionalize a rapidly growing freelance economy segment that remains highly fragmented across the continent.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
Senegalese startup Nixacom has launched Auto Apply, a digital platform that automates customer onboarding and identity verification. The solution enables financial institutions to replace lengthy paper-based procedures with a streamlined digital workflow. By centralizing data collection and contract generation, Auto Apply reduces processing times from several days to just a few minutes.
NerdzFactory and Meta are launching the seventh edition of the SafeOnline program to help young Nigerians stay safe online. In response to the growing use of artificial intelligence, the initiative will train more than 8,900 students, parents, and teachers by November 2026. The program aims to promote online safety best practices, raise awareness of emerging digital risks, and encourage responsible online behavior.
The StartCraft program is now accepting applications from Nigerian entrepreneurs, helping them transform promising ideas into sustainable businesses. This intensive training program offers personalized mentoring, practical business tools, and access to funding opportunities. Designed for startup founders looking to build strong foundations and scale their ventures, the program is accepting applications through its official portal until Tuesday, June 30.
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Tunisian entrepreneur Mohamed Khoueja co-founded ExpyAI in 2023 to help organizations deploy artificial intelligence tools without requiring technical expertise.
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ExpyAI uses a no-code approach that enables companies to automate tasks, build AI-powered applications and improve workflow efficiency.
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Khoueja also co-founded Kidin in 2026, an AI-powered educational platform that generates personalized stories for children.
Tunisian entrepreneur Mohamed Khoueja serves as co-founder and chief executive officer of ExpyAI, a technology platform launched in 2023. The company enables businesses to harness artificial intelligence and internal data without requiring specialized technical skills.
ExpyAI adopts a no-code approach that allows organizations to design intelligent applications, automate routine tasks and optimize operational processes. The startup aims to democratize access to artificial intelligence by addressing practical business needs, including time savings, operational efficiency and improved information management.
At the core of the platform, ExpyAI deploys intelligent agents that assist teams with a range of day-to-day functions. Organizations can customize these virtual assistants to process data, answer specific requests and reduce repetitive manual work.
In addition, ExpyAI positions itself as a tool for unlocking the value of corporate data. The platform transforms internal information flows into strategic assets, streamlines workflows and supports faster decision-making.
Khoueja launched ExpyAI as enterprises increasingly seek affordable ways to integrate artificial intelligence into their operations. By eliminating the need for advanced coding expertise, the company lowers barriers to AI adoption for organizations that lack dedicated technical teams or large development budgets. The platform reflects a broader trend in the technology sector, where businesses increasingly favor low-code and no-code solutions to accelerate digital transformation initiatives.
Alongside his work at ExpyAI, Khoueja co-founded Kidin in February 2026. Kidin operates as an educational and entertainment platform that also relies on artificial intelligence technologies. The platform generates personalized content and allows children to become the central characters in their own stories.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
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Chadian fintech Konoom offers a digital wallet that enables money transfers, merchant payments, bill payments and other financial services through mobile, web, USSD and WhatsApp channels.
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The company targets financial inclusion by serving both smartphone users and customers with basic mobile phones in areas with limited internet connectivity.
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Konoom aims to bridge traditional financial services and digital finance in a market where cash remains dominant.
Chadian fintech Konoom is expanding access to digital financial services through a multi-channel platform that combines mobile applications, web services, USSD technology and WhatsApp integration. The company offers an electronic wallet that allows individuals and businesses to perform money transfers, merchant payments, bill payments and other financial transactions from mobile phones or computers.
Konoom launched operations in 2025 and operates from N'Djamena. Brahim Moussa Hassan leads the company as chief executive officer. The startup describes itself as a payment institution licensed by Chad’s financial authorities and the Central African Banking Commission (COBAC).
One of the platform’s distinguishing features lies in its accessibility strategy. Konoom provides services through mobile applications available on iOS and Android, a web portal, USSD codes that function without internet access and WhatsApp-based services.
The company designed this approach to reach both smartphone users and consumers who rely on basic mobile phones, particularly in regions where internet connectivity remains limited.
In addition, Konoom enables transfers between electronic wallets, bank accounts and agent networks. The platform also offers business-oriented services, including bulk payments, supplier settlements and digital payment acceptance through QR codes.
Konoom says it seeks to address financial exclusion, which continues to affect a significant share of Chad’s population. The company aims to create stronger links between traditional financial services and emerging digital financial practices.
“We want to build a modern, transparent and reliable financial ecosystem capable of supporting the needs of individuals, merchants, businesses and public institutions,” Brahim Moussa Hassan, Chief Executive Officer of Konoom, said during the platform’s launch.
The company enters a market where digital financial services continue to expand but where cash remains the dominant means of payment.
Konoom’s long-term success will depend on several operational factors. The company must expand its agent network, encourage merchants to accept digital payments and build trust among users. These challenges affect most fintech companies operating across Africa as they compete to increase adoption of digital financial services.
This article was initially published in French by Adoni Conrad Quenum
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
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Algeria has launched a pilot version of a National Certification and Qualification Framework (CNC) to standardize and digitize the recognition of university degrees and skills.
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Authorities aim to improve graduate employability and better align higher education outcomes with labor market demands amid youth unemployment approaching 30% in 2025.
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The framework adopts internationally recognized competency-based standards and follows models already implemented in nearly 150 countries.
The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research announced on June 17 the rollout of the National Certification and Qualification Framework (CNC), a digital system that structures and harmonizes the recognition of university degrees.
The platform, available at cnc.mesrs.dz, aims to improve the transparency of academic programs and facilitate the recognition of qualifications at both national and international levels.
The initiative comes as Algeria seeks solutions to youth unemployment, which approached 30% in 2025, according to government figures cited by local authorities.
“This pilot version constitutes a fundamental step in establishing a transparent and reliable higher education system and aligning university training outcomes with the real needs of the national economy,” the ministry said. The ministry added that the framework should also strengthen the professional mobility of graduates.
The CNC adopts a competency-based methodology that classifies degrees according to clearly defined qualification levels. The framework evaluates academic credentials through a combination of knowledge, practical skills and behavioral competencies. The system also incorporates criteria such as autonomy, responsibility and communication abilities.
Authorities aim to provide a clearer interpretation of qualifications while creating stronger links between academic pathways and employment opportunities. More specifically, the platform describes and classifies certifications awarded by higher education institutions while establishing benchmarks that remain comparable with international standards.
The system targets students, universities and employers. It aims to simplify the interpretation of academic qualifications and improve the identification of relevant skills during recruitment processes.
The government has positioned the CNC as part of a broader effort to modernize Algeria’s higher education system. Authorities expect the framework to increase transparency, strengthen the credibility of Algerian qualifications and improve the responsiveness of educational programs to economic needs.
The ministry stated that the framework draws on methodologies already adopted in nearly 150 countries that have implemented similar systems to standardize qualifications and facilitate academic and professional mobility.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
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Kamal El Hardouzi co-founded Woliz in 2025 to help neighborhood retailers access digital tools and financial services.
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The platform connects merchants, consumers, consumer goods companies, banks, insurers, telecom operators, public institutions and service providers through a single ecosystem.
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Woliz aims to modernize traditional retail operations while preserving the customer relationships that underpin local commerce.
Moroccan serial entrepreneur Kamal El Hardouzi serves as co-founder and chief executive officer of Woliz, a startup that aims to fully integrate neighborhood merchants into the digital economy.
Founded in 2025 alongside Ismail Amri, Othman Jabrane and Karim Hamri, Woliz combines a range of business management tools within a single platform. The company aims to help small retailers compete more effectively with large retail chains while preserving the trust-based relationships that distinguish local commerce.
The platform operates as an integrated marketplace that connects merchants, consumers, consumer goods companies, banks, insurance firms, telecom operators, public institutions and service providers.
For shop owners, Woliz simplifies daily operations by enabling sales tracking, inventory optimization and access to financial services through strategic partners.
Meanwhile, consumers gain access to promotions and loyalty programs offered by their regular neighborhood stores.
Consumer goods companies also benefit from the platform. Woliz provides greater market visibility and deeper insights into traditional retail networks. In addition, the platform enables brands to engage more efficiently with local points of sale without increasing field operations.
An International Profile Shaped by Marketing and Consumer Goods
El Hardouzi has built several ventures before launching Woliz. He also founded and leads FMCGapps, a startup that uses technology to increase sales, optimize costs and strengthen brand visibility for fast-moving consumer goods companies across traditional distribution networks. His entrepreneurial profile reflects a strong academic background.
He earned a bachelor's degree in exchange studies, market research, international marketing and consumer behavior from the University of San Diego in the United States in 2011. He also graduated from Al Akhawayn University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in finance and marketing in 2013 and a master's degree in international business in 2016.
El Hardouzi began his professional career in 2013 as business development and sales manager at Derichebourg Multiservices, a company specializing in outsourcing services. He took his first major step into entrepreneurship in 2017 when he founded Fenris Agency, a company specializing in marketing, events and public relations.
In parallel, Samsung Electronics recruited him between 2016 and 2017 to lead online business development and sales activities across Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. That combination of experience in consumer goods, technology, marketing and distribution ultimately led him to design digital solutions tailored to African market realities.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
The fifth annual Insurance Meets Tech conference will take place on September 18, 2026, in Lagos, Nigeria. This flagship event will bring together leaders from West Africa's insurance and technology industries. This year's conference will explore how artificial intelligence and digital innovation can help create more accessible insurance products, strengthen consumer confidence, and expand financial inclusion across the region.
The final presentation for the HealthX Catalyst incubation program will be held on Wednesday, June 24, showcasing twelve African healthcare startups. Launched by Evon Labs in partnership with the United Nations, this twelve-week initiative helps young entrepreneurs transform innovative ideas into viable businesses. Participants receive funding and mentorship to scale solutions that address pressing healthcare challenges across Africa.