A software engineer, he leverages technology to support the agricultural sector in Ethiopia. His work includes assisting beekeepers by providing them with the essential information they need to make informed decisions.
Abiye Tadeos (photo) is an Ethiopian entrepreneur and embedded systems engineer, known for his innovative work in the agricultural sector. He is the founder and CEO of Anabi Agritech Solutions, a company dedicated to integrating IoT (Internet of Things) solutions for beekeeping in Africa and globally.
Founded in 2020, Anabi Agritech Solutions is a tech-driven agricultural company specializing in apiculture. The company utilizes sensors installed inside beehives to collect and analyze data, making decision-making easier for beekeepers. The collected data includes temperature, humidity, weight, and sounds, all of which are transmitted directly to the beekeepers' mobile devices.
"Our sensor units send hive information to any mobile device creating a transparent monitoring system between small beekeepers and their contractors, simultaneously alerting and notifying hive operators to guarantee zero loss in production," the startup’s founder explained in 2021.
Anabi Agritech Solutions also connects monofloral honey beekeepers to the global market through its online platform, helping them expand their customer base and boost sales.
Abiye Tadeos holds a bachelor's degree in computer engineering, which he earned in 2017 from the Addis Ababa Science and Technology University. After his studies, he interned at iCog Labs, a company specializing in artificial intelligence, before becoming a junior software developer there in 2018. He left the company in 2019 to focus on developing his startup.
Melchior Koba
Designed to help business leaders expand into African countries, it facilitates the obtention of various licenses, tax management, and recruitment.
Sidebrief is a digital solution developed by a Nigerian startup that enables users to establish businesses online in 16 countries across Africa. The Lagos-based startup was founded in 2021 by Eunice Olopade (photo, center), Usman Sotunde, and Abdulwaheed Yusuf (photo, left).
“There was no single platform where you could get information about access into the African market. If you wanted to get into the African market today and you had the intention to enter five countries, you’ll have to interface with multiple lawyers, multiple advisors, multiple regulatory bodies to be able to set up across these different markets,” explained Eunice Olopade.
Sidebrief does not have a mobile app; instead, users access the platform through its website. After creating an account and entering their personal information, they can begin using the startup's services. With just a few clicks, users select the country where their business will be based, fill out the necessary forms, upload the required documents, and pay the associated fees.
The fees vary by country. For example, it costs $800 with a 7-day processing time to establish a business in Rwanda, while in Ghana, the fees are $5,000 for a 14-day processing period. In addition to business registration, Sidebrief assists with obtaining licenses, recruiting employees, managing taxes, and protecting assets.
Since its launch, the startup claims to register over a thousand businesses each month. In January 2023, it was selected to participate in the inaugural cohort of the ARM Labs Lagos Techstars Accelerator.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
A serial entrepreneur with a passion for solving complex societal problems, he developed a comprehensive technological solution for property management, benefiting both landlords and tenants.
Tweheyo Brian (photo) is a Ugandan entrepreneur and a graduate of Makerere University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in surveying in 2011. He is the founder and CEO of RentBeta, a tech startup specializing in property management.
Founded in 2022, RentBeta provides an all-in-one technological solution for landlords and tenants, offering straightforward online rent payment options that benefit both parties. The company’s technology aims to reduce costs, enhance property efficiency, simplify the tenant experience, and increase lease renewal rates.
RentBeta enables landlords to automate labor-intensive tasks such as tenant search, rent receipt issuance, lease management, and tenant screening. Additionally, the platform incorporates smart locks for non-compliant tenants and practical communication tools.
For tenants, RentBeta improves the rental experience by allowing them to pay rent in small daily installments and offering low-interest rent advances without collateral. The platform also facilitates utility bill payments, grocery orders, neighbor communication, and more, all from a single app.
Before founding RentBeta, Tweheyo Brian established MobileAdz, an IT company, in 2014, where he served as CEO until 2016. In 2015, he launched Chikumi, a penny auction site in Uganda, and Tik Builders, a Ugandan construction company. He co-founded Adfonz, a customer engagement and business intelligence platform, in 2016.
In 2021, Tweheyo Brian was appointed product manager at CryptoSavannah, a tech company specializing in blockchain. That same year, he became project manager at Binusu and was later promoted to CEO in 2022. Binusu is a financial ecosystem that offers fiat-to-crypto exchange services, payments, and cross-border transactions at competitive rates.
Melchior Koba
She has a wealth of experience working for various financial institutions in Nigeria. Now an entrepreneur, she's dedicated to assisting Africans in navigating the complexities of migration projects.
Nigerian entrepreneur Temitope Hundeyin Tunde-Alli (photo) is the founder of Blumefy, a startup offering a digital platform to assist African migrants.
Launched in 2023, Blumefy provides personalized advice, financial solutions, and a community space to ease the migration process. Using artificial intelligence, the platform analyzes user data to analyze user data and create customized migration plans. It recommends the most suitable destination country and visa route for each user. To prepare users for their journey, Blumefy also provides a detailed checklist and an action plan for every step of the migration process.
The startup also provides access to over 300,000 scholarship programs and job opportunities. It partners with financial institutions to deliver reliable payment solutions, including a virtual dollar card for simplified transactions.
Temitope holds a bachelor's degree in Information and Communication Technology, obtained in 2011 from Covenant University in Nigeria. She furthered her education at the University of Warwick in the UK, where she earned a master's degree in E-Business Management in 2014.
Her professional career began in 2010 at Sterling Bank in Nigeria, where she worked in the e-commerce and transaction services support department. In 2012, she joined UBA Group (United Bank for Africa), working in customer service and technical support for Mobile Money.
From 2014 to 2019, she worked at Jumia Nigeria, where she held roles including Vendor Account Manager and Head of Training at Jumia University. She also served as the CEO of Whistle, a tech platform dedicated to safer roads and healthier communities in Nigeria.
Melchior Koba
According to a report by consulting firm McKinsey & Company, the e-commerce market in Africa is rapidly expanding and is expected to reach $180 billion by 2024. This outlook is drawing increasing interest from international companies.
Chinese e-commerce firm AliExpress has made its debut in Ethiopia, partnering with local firm MKTY IT Services Plc. The partnership culminated in the opening of the continent’s first AliExpress showroom on Thursday, August 22.
The showroom, located in Addis Ababa, is designed to offer Ethiopian consumers a more interactive shopping experience, allowing Visitors to explore a wide range of products from around the world.
According to Yeshurun Alemayehu (photo), Ethiopia’s State Minister for Innovation and Technology, AliExpress’s entry into the Ethiopian market presents a significant opportunity for local businesses to engage in global trade.
The move aligns with Ethiopia’s efforts to attract foreign investment and boost its economy. Online commerce has been gaining traction in the country, with the Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration issuing approximately 45 e-commerce licenses by December 2023. However, the sector is still dominated by small, often fragile startups.
In that context, AliExpress’s presence is expected to create jobs, stimulate innovation among local startups, and provide a platform for Ethiopian products to reach international markets.
Samira Njoya
In a continent where access to formal banking services remains limited for many, providing citizens with unique digital identities can facilitate easier access to banking services and improve the efficiency of financial transactions, contributing to economic stability and growth.
Somalia has launched a digital identification system to advance digitalization and financial inclusion. To formalize this initiative, the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) and the Somali Banking Association signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), on August 25, at an event in Mogadishu. The event gathered several government officials.
“We have signed a Collaborative Partnership with 13 Somali banks, creating a vital link between Identity Certificates and banking services,” NIRA Director General Abdiweli Timacade revealed in a post on his X account.
The initiative, Developed by the Central Bank of Somalia in partnership with the World Bank, provides citizens with unique identification numbers to facilitate easier access to financial services.
The system is particularly significant for Somalia, where many people have historically been excluded from formal banking. The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) highlights in its 2020 ‘Somalia Financial Sector Technical Report’ that only about 15 percent of Somalia's population has a bank account, and fewer than 5 percent of these account holders actively use their accounts. This low active usage rate underscores the urgent need for Somalia's new digital identification system. The initiative aims to enhance access to financial services and promote greater participation, potentially increasing the number of active users and improving overall financial inclusion in the country.
It is expected to enhance the security and efficiency of financial transactions, reduce fraud and money laundering risks, and stimulate economic growth by broadening access to financial services.
Hikmatu Bilali
Fake diplomas are becoming increasingly prevalent in Africa. To address this issue, governments are turning to digital solutions that offer effective and long-lasting solutions.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) plans to launch a digital system to combat fake diplomas and certificates, education officials said on Thursday. National Education Minister Raissa Malu and Higher Education Minister Mukuna Marie Therese announced the initiative after a joint meeting. The system, called "Optsolution," will verify state diplomas and certificates in real time.
"Graduates applying to university will only need a 14-digit code. The Higher Education Ministry's system will then access the National Education database for applicant information," said Rodrigue Iyembo, a National Education Ministry expert.
DRC's system aims to cut verification times from 4-5 months to instant checks. Future plans include extending the platform to private sector diplomas.
The platform is part of DRC's National Digital Plan, aiming to digitize key sectors by 2025, with education as a priority.
This move comes as African countries struggle with a rise in fake diplomas. Ethiopia, after finding nearly 1,000 counterfeit certificates among 18,000 reviewed in 2023, contracted Swiss firm SICPA to certify diplomas using blockchain and QR codes.
Samira Njoya
Despite facing challenges, African nations are investing more in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) across different industries. In the field of education, Uganda is aiming to make significant advancements.
Ugandan authorities on Friday inaugurated the steering committee for an Augmented Virtual Reality (AVR) project at the Uganda Information Communication Technology (UICT) university. The project aims to introduce AVR into classrooms.
Fredrick E. Kitoogo, UICT's director, announced that “1,267 staff and students from UICT have been enrolled on the AVR platform, with 1,370 total logins recorded. 5000 educator licenses with 1267 already issued to UICT staff and students; and 750 enterprise licenses are yet to be distributed.”
The project is part of the Ugandan government's broader efforts to improve education quality through the use of new technologies. Authorities believe that virtual reality and augmented reality can create immersive and interactive learning environments, enhancing student engagement and motivation.
Uganda has also allowed smartphones, tablets, and computers in schools. “We are mindful of the fact that IT devices are expensive. So government has come up with projects like furnishing school computer labs. With time, government is coming up with measures to ensure that the cost of these devices is brought down so that they are as affordable as possible,” said Aminah Zawedde, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of ICT.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
After completing his engineering degree in Germany, he moved to the United States to gain experience in digital health. Returning to Africa, he focused on developing technological solutions to improve healthcare on the continent.
Yaya Mbaoua (photo), a Cameroonian electrical engineer, is the co-founder and CEO of Zencey, a medical technology startup that aims to improve healthcare accessibility and affordability in sub-Saharan Africa.
Founded in 2021, Zencey offers a mobile application that allows patients to consult with expert doctors from the comfort of their homes. The platform boasts a network of 1,400 pharmacies and over 50 partner medical laboratories, providing patients with easy access to medications and diagnostic tests.
To automate healthcare in Africa, Zencey leverages artificial intelligence. Its API enables doctors to create personalized AI-driven chatbots for patient screening, triage, symptom checking, appointment scheduling, and other tasks. Additionally, the API facilitates access to clinical information for better diagnosis and helps asymptomatic patients obtain risk profiles.
Before founding Zencey, Mbaoua established The Mbaoua Group in 2017, with the goal of improving access to quality medical care in Africa. He served as CEO until 2020.
Mbaoua holds a master's degree in electrical engineering from the Technical University of Rhineland-Palatinate Kaiserslautern-Landau, Germany, earned in 1995. In 2002, he trained in finance and technological innovation strategies at the MIT Sloan School of Management.
His career began in 1996 at Comsearch, a U.S. technology company. He entered the healthcare industry in 2011 at Rally Health, serving as Vice President of Products. In 2014, he became Vice President of Sales and Business Development at Med1 Healthcare Group. In 2016, he was appointed Managing Director of GlobalMed Telemedicine in Africa.
As an entrepreneur backed by the Techstars accelerator, Mbaoua won the Africa IoT & AI Challenge in 2023, a regional competition for entrepreneurs with innovative ideas in IoT, AI, and related fields.
Melchior Koba
In 2023, Ethiopia launched a new artificial intelligence policy. To fully leverage the potential of this technology, the country is seeking strategic partnerships.
A delegation of Russian artificial intelligence (AI) experts, headed by Russia's Ambassador to Ethiopia, Evgeny Terekhin, visited the Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute on Wednesday, August 21. They were welcomed by Taye Girma, the Institute's Deputy Director General.
The visit is part of the two countries' growing cooperation in the technology sector. As generative AI and large language models continue to advance, AI has become a key area of focus for their partnership.
Ethiopia adopted its national AI policy in July 2023. The policy outlines the country's strategy for leveraging AI to drive development, covering areas such as data management, human capital development, research and development, infrastructure, legal and ethical considerations, and international cooperation.
A partnership with Russia in AI could offer Ethiopia several benefits. It could facilitate technology and skills transfers, help develop AI applications tailored to local needs, and attract Russian investment in Ethiopia's tech sector, boosting innovation and job creation. For Russian companies, the cooperation could provide an opportunity to expand their influence in the AI domain in Africa.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
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Starlink, the satellite internet service from SpaceX, is set to begin operations in Ghana at the end of August 2024, according to the National Communications Authority.
In a press release published on August 22, the NCA confirmed that Starlink had completed all necessary due diligence, clearing the way for the launch.
Starlink received approval to operate in Ghana in April, following discussions with the NCA, which granted the license after thorough checks.
Expanding and maintaining robust network infrastructure is essential for improving internet accessibility, supporting economic growth and fostering innovation across Africa. The push for tech companies to contribute to network infrastructure costs is crucial for development, as it addresses the continent's growing digital demand.
South Africa's telecoms industry is urging technology companies to financially support the expansion of network infrastructure. This request was outlined in a report released by the Association of Comms and Technology (ACTforSA) on August 20.
Titled "Promoting Equitable Participation and Sustainable Growth: Exploring Policy, Commercial, Competition, and Socio-Economic Perspectives in South Africa's Over-the-Top (OTT) and Telco Ecosystem," the document argues that tech companies benefit from existing networks without contributing to the associated costs.
"The success of OTT platforms depends on a robust network infrastructure, but they are not currently contributing enough to its upkeep" said Nomvuyiso Batyi, CEO of ACT. "We believe OTTs should contribute to network upgrades and development."
The ACT is pushing for a "fair share" model where over-the-top (OTT) platforms — such as video, audio, and messaging services — would help fund the construction, maintenance and upgrades of the networks they rely on.
According to Statista, the revenue in the OTT video market alone in Africa is forecasted to reach $3.90 billion in 2024, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.30% from 2024 to 2029, leading to a projected market volume of US$5.81bn by 2029. Despite this growth, these platforms currently do not contribute to network infrastructure costs.
As OTT services continue to expand rapidly, their reliance on existing networks intensifies, placing an increasing financial burden on telecom operators responsible of building and maintaining the infrastructure.
Hikmatu Bilali
Expanding the backbone network positions Nigeria to better integrate into the global digital economy. The increased connectivity will also facilitate access to online education, healthcare and financial services, driving social and economic inclusion across Africa.
Nigeria's Federal Government is set to begin deploying 90,000 kilometers of fiber-optic cable across the country within the next 6 months, according to Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy. This expansion aims to increase the nation's backbone network from 35,000 to 125,000 km, significantly enhancing connectivity and improving telecoms services nationwide.
Today, as I reflect on my time in office as Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, I am proud of what we have collectively achieved over the last one year in laying a foundation for the growth of our digital economy.
— Dr. 'Bosun Tijani (@bosuntijani) August 21, 2024
The clarity that comes from our Strategic… pic.twitter.com/HZAdsIYZG7
Dr. Tijani disclosed this plan on August 21, while highlighting the Ministry's achievements over 2023. The project, which could start anytime between now and February 2025, is expected to create opportunities by stimulating a more vibrant digital ecosystem, connecting more communities and integrating more Nigerians into the digital economy.
Funding for this project is being finalized with partners to ensure aggregation. The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to oversee the project's delivery, the Minister further revealed.
According to Datareportal’s "Digital 2024: Nigeria" of January 2024, Nigeria’s internet penetration rate stood at around 45.5%, with approximately 103 millions internet users. Expanding the fiber-optic network is expected to significantly increase this penetration rate, address connectivity issues and reduce the digital divide, bringing internet access to underserved areas.
Hikmatu Bilali
As digital services become increasingly vital for economic activities, the availability of reliable data centres will support the growth of digital economies across Africa. This could foster a more interconnected and robust African digital ecosystem.
Africa’s leading carrier-neutral Tier III data center operator Raxio Group has officially inaugurated in Kinshasa its state-of-the-art data centre, Raxio DRC1, the group announced on August 22. This marks a significant milestone in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s digital transformation.
Hello DRC! Today marks the official inauguration of our Tier III certified data data centre in Kinshasa.
— Raxio Group (@raxio_group) August 22, 2024
Read the full market announcement:
👉🏼 https://t.co/hi7QLwJXh1#RaxioRDC #RaxioGroup pic.twitter.com/BqXGxkw781
This facility representing a $30 million investment has received Tier III accreditation from the Uptime Institute and becomes the country’s largest data center. Located in Limete area, the two-storey Raxio DRC1 spans 1,542 square meters and can accommodate up to 400 racks, delivering 1.5MW of IT power. The data centre is strategically positioned along key fibre routes, offering top-tier colocation and connectivity services, strongly emphasizing sustainability.
Raxio Group’s CEO, Robert Mullins, highlighted the importance of this facility in supporting the DR Congo’s burgeoning digital economy, stating :“With this facility, we are providing the critical infrastructure essential to supporting the digital economy and enhancing connectivity.”
The facility is part of Raxio’s broader strategy to build a pan-African digital backbone, with additional data centrers planned across the continent. The launch of Raxio DRC1 also lines up with the DRC government’s National Digital Plan (Plan National du Numérique), which aims to foster digital inclusion and economic growth through expansive digitalization.
The data centre is expected to play a key role in improving the country’s digital landscape by reducing latency for real-time applications and providing a reliable backbone for mobile and internet connectivity.
Raxio Group continues to expand its footprint with operational facilities in Uganda, Ethiopia, Mozambique, and now the DRC. The company is set to launch new centers in Côte d’Ivoire, Tanzania, and Angola, further solidifying its role in Africa’s digital transformation.
According to the "Africa Data Center Market Size - Industry Report on Share, Growth Trends & Forecasts Analysis Up to 2029" by Mordor Intelligence, the African data center market is projected to grow at a compound annual rate (CAGR) of 12.34% from 2024 to 2029. The increasing digitalization demand for cloud services and expanding data centres across the continent are key drivers of this growth.
Hikmatu Bilali