He has over 25 years of experience in telecommunications and technology. As head of Benya, he has led the development of award-winning digital products and services.
Ahmed Mekky (photo) is an Egyptian entrepreneur who graduated from Cairo University in 1995 with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, and from the University of Nottingham with a Master's degree in Information Technology. He is the CEO of Benya, a provider of digital solutions and ICT infrastructure in the MEA (Middle East and Africa) region.
Founded in 2017, the company offers a multitude of digital products, services and solutions. Be it telecommunication services, security and cloud solutions, large-scale data centers, manufacturing technology-based solutions and systems integration, Benya operates in various ICT verticals.
"Benya represents a long standing dream which was realized in 2017, and driven by a solid belief that digital transformation is an essential pillar to the advancement of any country. Through our 4 subsidiaries established to cater to different ICT verticals, and with an ultimate goal to provide a complete ICT value chain, our primary geographic focus is Africa and the Middle East," explains Mekky.
The entrepreneur is also a board member of the Endeavor Egypt entrepreneurial community. He is also Chairman of Fiber Connect Council MENA, an industry organization that aims to accelerate the availability of fiber-based ultra-high-speed access networks for consumers and businesses.
Before Benya, Ahmed Mekky co-founded Gulf Bridge International (GBI) in 2008, where he was a board member until 2017 and Chairman and CEO until 2015. GBI is a global provider of cloud, connectivity and content services that owns and operates a fully managed, intelligent service network.
The entrepreneur has received several awards for his impact on digital transformation in the MEA region. He received the Industry CEO of the Year award issued in 2020 by Telecom Review. In 2021, he received the Excellence in Digital Transformation Award from Business Today Magazine and the Merit Leader Award from Telecom Review. In 2022, he received the Embracing Modernization Award from Business Today Magazine.
Melchior Koba
Through Yoco, a South African payments company, he aims to simplify processes for businesses and offer tools to boost their growth.
Katlego Maphai (photo), a South African tech entrepreneur and University of Cape Town graduate, is the co-founder and CEO of Yoco, a fintech company established in 2013 and officially launched in 2015. Yoco aims to empower entrepreneurs by providing them with innovative business tools and financial services, thereby creating new markets and avenues for success.
Yoco provides small businesses with accessible payment solutions through its Yoco App. This app enables businesses to track payments, monitor sales, and send invoices directly from their smartphones. Additionally, Yoco offers a card dispenser that can be integrated with a tablet to enhance business sales processes.
“Micro and small businesses make up the majority of businesses that drive the majority of employment in the country and contribute at least half of the GDP. And they’re just not being looked after. We just realized that we could have the highest impact on these customers, and founded the company in 2013. But we actually only launched at the end of 2015,” Maphai explained in 2022.
The tech entrepreneur embarked on his professional journey in 2003 as an intern at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). He later served as a consultant at Accenture, a business services and consulting firm, in 2006. In 2008, he joined Delta Partners Group, a telecommunications consulting, corporate finance, and private equity firm. By 2012, he was part of the corporate development team at Rocket Internet, a venture capital firm and online startup incubator.
Melchior Koba
Congo seeks assistance from experienced partners to bolster its ongoing digital transformation efforts, seeking improved outcomes for the initiative. The country is focused on making strides in its push for digitalization.
Agence de développement de l'économie numérique (ADEN), a public entity tasked with promoting innovation and digital transformation in the Republic of Congo, signed a partnership agreement with a subsidiary of the English company Regalli SA on Wednesday. The primary objective of this agreement is to establish a digital platform to enhance government communications.
Under this collaboration, the English company will provide funding and expertise to support the implementation of the platform, which will incorporate a local database. This platform will empower citizens to access online public and private services conveniently.
“We're optimistic that Regalli will empower users to access essential government services online. E-commerce is a particular area of focus, as the upcoming launch of the AfCFTA [African Continental Free Trade Area] means our artisans need international visibility for their products,” commented Héliodore Francis Alex Gouloubi (photo, right), Managing Director of ADEN.
This new agreement aligns with the Congo Digital Transformation Project initiated by the government in January 2023. The project aims to establish a unified online portal for citizen services, implement various information systems to enhance service management, expand 3G mobile broadband access to an additional 404,000 individuals, provide digital skills training to 3,000 people, and enable 75,000 individuals daily to utilize digital services.
The launch of this platform is expected to foster economic diversification in the digital sector and stimulate job creation in Congo. It is expected to make Congolese companies and services more visible on an international scale.
Samira Njoya
Last week, Pan-African organization AfricTivistes which focuses on promoting democratic values, human rights and good governance through civic technology launched its Cybersecurity Open Classroom, a free three-month e-learning program designed to boost participants' cybersecurity skills. The program currently has 441 learners enrolled.
Estonian e-mobility startup Bolt has launched operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to local media reports. This marks Bolt's 16th African market expansion. To forester its growth, the company will waive driver commission fees, a strategy used in previous launches including Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Egypt earlier this year.
Moroccan e-commerce startup ORA Technologies secured $1.5 million in a seed funding round led by local entrepreneurs, the company announced on Wednesday. ORA Technologies plans to use the funds to further develop its technology, launch a digital wallet, and accelerate growth.
An entrepreneur with a passion for technological innovation, he offers cutting-edge technological solutions to SMEs, guiding them towards a successful digital transformation.
Mozambican entrepreneur Edilson Alberto (photo) is the founder and CEO of Tech Solutions, a software company dedicated to solving problems through technology, helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) grow in their sectors and go digital.
Founded in 2020, Tech Solutions creates solutions to everyday problems. It develops different types of websites, applications, and systems according to its customers' needs. It also does graphic design and takes care of communications and branding for companies.
The company has developed several products. These include SGDoc, E-gado, and Kaia. SGDoc is a system created for public institutions that process mailings and wish to streamline and better control document flow.
E-gado is a system designed for livestock farmers. It enables them to better control their animals and record all kinds of events with them. Kaia, meanwhile, is a platform designed for real estate agents who want to streamline the process of finding homes in Mozambique through technological means.
Alberto, who is currently studying computer science at the Illinois Institute of Technology, also serves as the Director of Entrepreneurship at Intinium, an organization within the institute that empowers students to realize their dreams and pursue their passions.
In addition, he holds leadership roles in several professional associations. He is the Vice-President of the technology sector of the Mozambican Association of Human Resources Companies and Professionals (AMEPRH) and the President of the Technology Department of the Association of SMEs of Mozambique. Since 2019, he has been a lecturer at the Institute of Innovation Technologies and Services in his home country.
Melchior Koba
Burkina Faso has been working to digitize its land sector for several years. The government has launched multiple initiatives to streamline the process as part of these reforms.
Burkina Faso launched a digital platform on Tuesday to collect data on plots of land and housing from private property developers and housing cooperatives, dating back to 2008. The aim is to ensure the accuracy of information and increase transparency in assessing real estate liabilities in private property development.
According to Maxime Tiendrébéogo, Secretary General of the Ministry in charge of Urban Planning and Land Affairs, to collect data for the platform, a commission was set up to collect administrative data from various institutions, including the ministries of Territorial Administration, Economy, and Urban Planning. “At the same time, information was requested from previously approved real estate developers and housing cooperatives, following a certain number of templates.”
The platform will require buyers to provide information on the plot or dwelling, including surface area, cost, the name of the property development company or housing cooperative, and the state of site servicing, such as the opening and resurfacing of access roads, drinking water supply, electricity, and street lighting. All these data are due by March 22.
It is part of the "Fiscal Cadastre" project, which was validated in 2018 by the Burkinabe authorities to digitize the land domain and gain access to important data.
In December 2021, the government introduced an integrated cadastre and domain management system (SYC@D) to better manage the cadastral sections of communes and arrondissements. The system is part of the "Fiscal Cadastre" project, which aims to improve the management of land and real estate in Burkina Faso.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
The Malagasy startup offers educational video courses for middle and high school students. Its app includes free and paid tiers.
Isikaray, an edtech solution developed by a Malagasy startup, offers middle and high school students access to training courses and video lessons. The startup, based in Antananarivo, was launched in 2022 by Louis Venceslas Tsira.
The solution, available exclusively as an Android mobile application, enables users to create an account and access various services including a library of courses and training available for streaming and offline viewing.
Isikaray operates in both free and paid modes. Switching to the paid mode unlocks the full range of features offered by the edtech solution, including a social network where users can interact.
Exclusive packages are available for purchase to access the platform’s content, particularly with the Orange operator. Once a package is activated, its expiry date is displayed at the top of the screen. Before its expiration, users can download their chosen course and training videos, and interact with other high school students via the network.
While Isikaray's training courses are currently uncertified and do not confer diplomas, the startup aims to achieve certification in the future as part of its objectives.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
Since its inception, the company has been dedicated to aiding young entrepreneurs and project leaders in transforming their concepts into profitable businesses. Over the course of seven years, it has provided training and support to more than 500 young individuals.
Kinstartup Academy, a Congolese training academy and startup incubator, has been dedicated to discovering, training, and promoting startups or project bearers wishing to establish their own businesses since its inception in 2017. The academy, founded by President and CEO Shola Deen, provides entrepreneurs with essential resources for their start-ups.
“The academy equips participants with essential information and concepts, everything an aspiring entrepreneur needs to launch into entrepreneurship and develop their business in a concrete and effective way,” Dean explains.
In addition to its training programs, Kinstartup Academy hosts a televised competition for young Congolese entrepreneurs and project leaders. The competition, which has already run for four seasons, offers training and coaching from expert trainers and experienced business leaders. The jury comprises professionals from financial institutions and business management educators.
The academy also organizes several conferences in fields such as edtech and healthtech and has established the Kinshasa Innovation Forum, a major forum dedicated to promoting innovation. Through its Face the Leopards platform, it connects investors with the entrepreneurs it has trained and supported.
To date, Kinstartup Academy has raised awareness among over 50,000 young people, identified over 2,000 project leaders, trained and supported over 500 young people, and created over 1,000 jobs. Beneficiaries of the Academy’s programs include Cedric Onaya, founder of Ebushafu, a digital waste management platform in the DRC, and Josè Rodriguez, founder of Uzuri RDC, an online shopping mall and digital marketplace offering products and services for professional sellers and individual customers.
Melchior Koba
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Tunisia officially joined the Council of Europe’s Convention on Cybercrime on Friday, March 8, becoming the 70th state to do so. The convention, adopted in Budapest, is aimed at bolstering international efforts to combat cybercrime.
The Tunisian Ministry of Communication Technologies stated in a press release that the country’s accession to the convention is intended to ensure effective coordination in the fight against cybercrime. It also aims to provide adequate protection for the rights of individuals and victims of such crimes.
Identity theft is rising everywhere. In that context, biometric technology has become a top priority for African countries, which are gradually updating their identity documents.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has pledged its support to Burkina Faso in the implementation of its basic electronic unique identifier, a system that has been in progress since 2018. The pledge was confirmed by an IOM delegation, led by Damien Thuriaux, Head of Immigration and Borders Governance, during a meeting with Aminata Zerbo/Sabane, the Minister for Digital Transition, Posts, and Electronic Communications, on Tuesday.
“We had a productive discussion with the Minister in charge of Digital Transition about the various opportunities we have, particularly in terms of digitization of identity management. We also discussed the various projects that Burkina Faso has launched and how we could contribute to their implementation,” Thuriaux stated at the end of the audience.
As part of this future collaboration, Burkina Faso will identify areas where it can leverage IOM expertise. These areas could include the drafting of national identity cards and passports, ensuring these documents meet international standards.
The IOM delegation’s visit comes shortly after the validation of the draft law on basic electronic identification in Burkina Faso. The system aims to uniquely identify a person by combining minimal biographical data and biometric data, providing assurance of a person’s unique identity without undermining the legal attributes and values of other supporting documents such as the national identity card or passport.
The e-ID system in Burkina Faso will be implemented as part of the World Bank-funded West Africa Unique Identification for Regional Integration and Inclusion (WURI) project. The project, which also covers Benin, Senegal, Niger, and Côte d’Ivoire, aims to increase the number of people with a unique proof of identity recognized by the government, thereby facilitating access to basic social services.
Samira Njoya
A self-taught entrepreneur, he boasts 10+ years of experience in the field. He developed a real estate rental platform operating in Gabon and Benin.
Fulgence Menouho (photo), a self-taught entrepreneur with a passion for innovation and growth, is co-founder and CEO of Cabalou, a Gabon-based startup dedicated to helping business travelers and professionals find and book furnished accommodation.
Founded in 2021 by Menouho and Aude Késia Obiang, Cabalou is an accommodation solution designed for professionals, enabling them to book and stay in comfortable, reliable, and well-located accommodation for their activities. The startup's vision is to become the most loved, most used, and most profitable travel platform for professionals in Africa by 2030.
For accommodation owners, Cabalou offers total autonomy, from managing their accommodation to communicating with travelers and hassle-free tracking of transactions. In Gabon, the startup lists 300 apartments, 150 hosts, and has a presence in four cities. In February 2024, it added Cotonou, Benin, to its destination list.
In 2023, Cabalou was selected as part of YouthConnekt Gabon, an initiative of the United Nations Development Program. The startup received technical support and around $166,500 (XAF100 million) in funding.
Between 2014 and January 2024, Menouho independently led and pioneered entrepreneurial ventures, leveraging the Internet to assist individuals across various backgrounds in establishing their home-based businesses for income generation.
Melchior Koba
The Kinshasa-based startup was launched to simplify shopping for residents.
Congolese startup eMart.cd is on a mission to transform the e-commerce landscape by enabling users to shop online for both local and imported products. Founded in 2016 by Bonny Maya, the platform is dedicated to promoting local consumption and providing new outlets for local producers.
“We enable local producers to showcase their products and have new outlets. The Congolese diaspora can supply their families with food, every month, by paying for their order on our website. We encourage and promote products made in Congo, to encourage local consumption. We also market imported products,” says Bonny Maya.
The web-only solution allows users to browse various products without an account, including fruits, vegetables, drinks, juices, and different types of flour. To place an order, users must provide personal information such as their name, country, and billing city. This feature caters to the Congolese diaspora, enabling them to order supplies for their families back home.
Delivery times and rates may vary depending on product availability and delivery zone. eMart.cd integrates various payment methods, including mobile payments, bank cards, and cash on delivery.
Maya has also established a delivery startup to manage eMart.cd orders. This startup not only serves eMart.cd but also partners with other companies for parcel delivery. To support its growth, eMart.cd is exploring additional revenue streams, including advertising for various companies.
Adoni Conrad Quenum