Leveraging his background in electrical engineering, the entrepreneur focuses on developing technology with a significant social impact. Through his educational technology company, he equips users with the skills and support needed to thrive in the job market.
Allan Mushabe, a Ugandan entrepreneur based in South Africa, is gaining attention in the edtech sector with his startup, Lightbulb EdTech. Established in 2015, the company seeks to bridge the gap between education and employment by equipping its users, ranging from corporate entities to educational institutions, with the skills and support needed to secure sustainable job opportunities.
Lightbulb EdTech's platform is a managed, personalized, mobile, and cloud-based learning management system that offers online access to expert resources. Currently, the platform has over 30,000 active users and creates and manages engaging virtual learning environments tailored to the specific needs of its users.
In addition to his role at Lightbulb EdTech, Mushabe has served as the Director of Vargatex since 2012. Vargatex is a company that develops and manages the deployment of turnkey information and communication technology (ICT) solutions for businesses and educational establishments. Their services include software development, business process optimization, and the procurement, configuration, and deployment of ICT hardware.
Mushabe's journey into the tech industry commenced after he obtained a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Cape Town in 2009. He began his career as a technical product developer at Telkom and later worked as a business development consultant at Internet Solutions in 2011.
Melchior Koba
Morocco is aiming to solidify its position as a leading player in the global economy by harnessing the digital revolution. However, achieving this vision requires a well-defined strategic roadmap to address digital challenges and seize emerging opportunities.
The Moroccan government is in the final stages of formulating its digital transformation strategy, “Maroc digital 2030”, as revealed by Ghita Mezzour, Minister Delegate in charge of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, at the inaugural meeting of the National Committee for Digital Development on Wednesday.
According to Mezzour, the strategy is anchored in two key pillars: the digitization of public services and the cultivation of a vibrant digital economy centered on local innovation and job creation. The plan encompasses bolstering the offshoring sector, fostering a conducive ecosystem for startups and SMEs, and supporting the digital transformation of small and medium-sized businesses.
As part of the strategy, the government aims to generate 300,000 jobs in the digital sector by 2030, potentially contributing up to 170 billion dirhams ($16.9 billion) to the national GDP. Plans are also in place to extend Internet and telephone coverage, particularly in rural areas, with a focus on the deployment of fiber optics and the medium-term adoption of 5G technology.
The meeting also highlighted the importance of artificial intelligence as part of Maroc Digital 2030, emphasizing its potential to improve public services and position the country as a leader in AI development.
Samira Njoya
Finding skilled artisans for specific projects can be challenging in Africa, often requiring trusted personal connections. This gap is being bridged by emerging startups leveraging technology to connect customers with qualified craft professionals.
Gombo, a digital solution developed by an Ivorian start-up launched in 2021, offers users access to a variety of online services. The start-up, based in Abidjan, features a mobile app available on iOS and Android.
Users can sign up using their social network credentials or by filling out a form with their surname, first name, phone number, and email address. Once registered, users can access various professional services on the platform, including tutoring, electrical work, childcare, and sports coaching.
The startup recommends professionals based on the user’s geographical location and the chosen service, which users can book, enjoy, and evaluate thereafter.
After utilizing a service, users are encouraged to leave feedback on the platform, contributing to the service provider’s rating on Gombo. It is important to note that users must top up their account – via credit card or mobile money– before booking any professional services on the platform.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
Through FindMe, his digital solution, he simplifies the identification and precise location of homes, company headquarters and points of sale. He has received several awards, including the Forbes Africa "Startup of the Year" prize.
Brandon Wanguep (photo), co-founder and CEO of FindMe, is tackling the challenge of inefficient addressing systems in Africa through a mobile app that generates standardized postal addresses. Born in Cameroon, his solution is currently based in Dakar with plans for expansion across other African capitals.
Established in 2020 by Wanguep, Romaric Takam, Hyacinthe Sambou, and Duplex Eric Kamgang, FindMe was created to address the challenge of locating addresses in Africa. The application aids in identifying and geolocating residences, business headquarters, and sales points.
Wanguep, recounting the experiences that led to the creation of FindMe in January 2024, said, "One of my friends lived through an ordeal during a trip to Congo, spending more than 45 minutes looking for the Cameroonian embassy with Google Maps. I met a friend who lost her father because the ambulance couldn’t find her home in time, despite all the directions provided. I wanted to create an innovative project that would have a major and positive impact on society."
Between 2020 and 2021, Wanguep, an entrepreneur at Schoolab and STATION F, received numerous awards and recognitions for FindMe. He won the Dakar Innovation Days 2023 Hackathon and was listed in Forbes Africa's Top 30 under 30. On December 14, 2023, he was awarded the Forbes Africa "Startup of the Year."
Wanguep holds a Master 1 in Mechanical Design and Structural Calculations from the Ecole Nationale Supérieure Polytechnique de Douala (2017), a Master's degree in Materials Science and Engineering from Mines Paris (2019), and a diploma in Entrepreneurship and Innovation from PSL University in Paris (2021).
He began his professional journey in 2018 as an assistant engineer at the Materials Center of Mines Paris. In 2019, he served as an R&D assistant engineer at GE Renewable Energy in France.
Melchior Koba
Nathan Nwachuku (photo), co-founder of Nigerian edtech Klas, announced on Monday, February 5 the successful completion of a $1 million funding round. The funds power up the startup's online schools worldwide.
The Orange Foundation inaugurated its 22nd Digital House in Côte d’Ivoire on Wednesday, January 31, at the Institution de formation et d'éducation des femmes (IFEF) in Soubré. This initiative aims to empower women and promote their digital inclusion by providing access to tailored digital tools and content. Ultimately, it seeks to facilitate their professional integration into the local economy.
"The inauguration of this new Digital House underscores the Orange Côte d'Ivoire Foundation's commitment to supporting women," said Habib Bamba, Director of the Foundation's Management Committee. "We believe that digital technology is an essential tool for their financial autonomy."
In a bid to digitize the nation and boost employment, the South African government is planning a countrywide broadband deployment as part of its digital transformation strategy. The move aims to empower citizens to fully leverage digitized services.
South Africa has extended the deadline for shutting down its 2G and 3G networks by two years, prioritizing faster 4G and 5G technologies instead.
Previously set for June 2024 and March 2025 respectively, the complete deactivation of both networks will now occur on December 31, 2027. The shutdown process will begin on June 1, 2025, with mobile operators having discretion over which network to switch off first.
"This deadline is meant to allow mobile network operators some level of discretion and for them to decide which network to switch off first. Some operators have indicated that they will commence with the shutdown of 3G in June 2024 in support of the policy," said the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies.
This decision aligns with the government's draft policy on "next-generation radio frequency spectrum" licensing, launched in September 2022. The policy aims to reallocate existing radio frequencies from older technologies like 2G and 3G to more advanced 4G and 5G networks. This will free up the spectrum for faster mobile internet speeds and wider network coverage across the country.
The transition to newer technologies also seeks to attract investment in telecommunications infrastructure. This is expected to lead to significant improvements in network quality and reliability, benefiting both businesses and individuals.
Furthermore, the widespread adoption of 4G and 5G networks paves the way for innovation in mobile-based services and applications. This could lead to the development of new industries, businesses, and job opportunities, potentially impacting the South African economy positively.
Samira Njoya
i-kiotahub is a key player in the Democratic Republic of Congo's entrepreneurial ecosystem. It provides critical support to high-growth businesses, offering a comprehensive suite of services, including technical assistance, managerial guidance, and access to a collaborative co-working space.
i-kiotahub, a Congolese business incubator linked to the Scientific Research and Expertise Center (CRES), is providing support to companies with high growth potential, aiming to create job opportunities for young people.
Launched in 2022, i-kiotahub offers technical and managerial services to businesses in both low-tech (agriculture, mining, manufacturing) and high-tech (agritech, edtech, fintech) sectors. The incubator helps companies improve market performance and secure financing.
"Our goal is to create job opportunities for young people and contribute to the entrepreneurial ecosystem," said Rekha Kasienene, promoter of the incubator and a civil affairs specialist with the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
i-kiotahub also provides a co-working space equipped with high-speed internet, offices, a meeting room, a library, and a brainstorming area. This space fosters collaboration and networking among entrepreneurs.
The incubator helps companies streamline operations, modernize management, and prepare for investment and expansion. It also aims to unlock access to capital for Congolese companies with innovative and sustainable projects.
Overall, i-kiotahub promotes an open-minded approach to entrepreneurship, peace, and investment in the DRC.
Melchior Koba
Financial technology (fintech) startups are experiencing rapid growth across Africa, driving financial inclusion by offering individuals and businesses easier access to a wider range of financial services. These innovative companies leverage technology to provide services like mobile money transfers, digital payments, and online lending, often reaching segments of the population traditionally excluded from traditional financial institutions.
Benin-based fintech FeexPay, launched in May 2023, announced its expansion into Togo, Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, and Senegal on Tuesday. The platform, developed by JH Trading, aims to simplify financial transactions for businesses and merchants by enabling payments via mobile money and bank cards.
"We launched FeexPay to significantly contribute to financial inclusion in Africa," said founder Jean Hugues Houinsou in an interview with We Are Tech Africa. "This expansion into four new countries marks a significant step forward, but we remain committed to doing more for the benefit of the African population."
Unlike many fintech solutions, FeexPay operates solely through its website, avoiding the need for a mobile app. Users create accounts by providing personal details and company information, followed by document verification. Once validated, businesses can receive payments via various methods, including Visa, Mastercard, and mobile money.
The platform features functionalities such as FeexLink, which generates payment links to be shared with customers via various channels; FeexCorporate, which enables mass payments to be made to employees, customers, or suppliers; and FeexMarket, which provides access to a single payment link for all of a store's products.
Africa's broadband demand has exploded since 2019, presenting a goldmine for service providers and attracting a wave of financial investment in network expansion.
IHS Nigeria, a major owner and operator of telecom infrastructure, announced on Wednesday the completion of a 10,000-kilometer fiber optic cable network spanning all 36 Nigerian states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The project, executed by IHS subsidiary Global Independent Connect Limited (GICL), aims to address connectivity gaps and support the government's National Broadband Plan, which targets 90% penetration by 2025.
"Limited fiber optic networks hinder service improvement and emerging technologies," said GICL Vice President Kazeem Oladepo. "Our open-access approach provides robust, scalable fiber for multiple operators."
Beyond the fiber network, GICL also brought mobile coverage to over 580 previously unconnected rural communities. Oladepo credited collaboration with stakeholders for the "significant volume" of fiber laid in under three years.
This investment aligns with IHS's strategic focus on high-growth markets like Nigeria. The company sees strong revenue potential, bolstered by the government's commitment to broadband development.
"Supporting wider coverage makes IHS's services indispensable for public and private sectors," Oladepo added, highlighting competition from Pan African Towers, INT Towers, and ATC Nigeria.
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Through its incubation program, Standard Chartered Women in Technology promotes the inclusion of African women in entrepreneurship and technological innovation.
Standard Chartered Women in Technology Incubator, based in Kenya, supports women-led startups tackling challenges across the continent. The program champions diversity in technology and entrepreneurship, fostering opportunities for female founders.
Run in collaboration with Strathmore University's iBiz Africa center, the initiative offers comprehensive incubation encompassing immersive learning, mentorship, coaching, seed funding, and business-to-business partnerships. It targets high-potential startups focused on solving critical African issues.
The incubator selects female entrepreneurs developing tech startups or leveraging emerging technologies like IoT, AI, robotics, AR/VR, 3D/4D printing, big data, blockchain, and biometrics. Eligible companies must operate between three months and two years.
The program provides top-performing participants with nine months of post-incubation support for market launch and scaling. Launched in 2018, it has hosted six cohorts and incubated several successful tech companies. Examples include legal tech firm InstructKE, educational technology startup Know Learning Ltd, and Rhea Soil Health Management, aiding small-scale farmers with soil analysis and agricultural services.
Melchior Koba
African nations are witnessing a renewed interest in the space industry, with several countries ramping up investments and initiatives. Among these, Egypt stands out as a regional leader, actively pursuing ambitious space programs.
The Egyptian Space Agency (EgSA) successfully launched its experimental NExSat-1 satellite on Saturday, February 3, using China's Jielong-3 launch vehicle. This move aims to position EgSA as a pioneer in microsatellite technology within Egypt and Africa, contributing to the nation's sustainable development and potentially opening economic opportunities through domestic satellite production.
EgSA confirmed successful signal reception from NExSat-1 through a test on its website. The satellite, designed for remote sensing and scientific research, was assembled and tested at EgSA's Satellite Assembly, Integration and Test Center (AITC) in collaboration with the Egyptian National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Science (NARSS) and Berlin Space Technologies (BST).
This launch follows the December 2023 deployment of MisrSat-2, an Earth observation satellite, further solidifying EgSA's leading role in African space science and technology. The agency seeks to build on this momentum in 2024.
"We are planning to launch two more satellites, AfdevSat (African development satellite) and SPNEX (Space Plasma Nanosatellite Experiment), primarily for climate change monitoring," said EgSA Director General Sherif Sedky in December 2023. "Additionally, we aim to expand collaboration with other African countries, particularly for commercializing MisrSat-2 images and applications."
According to the 2022 edition of Space In Africa's annual report, African nations allocated $523.2 million to space programs in 2021 and $534.9 million in 2022, highlighting a growing interest in the sector.
Mobile phones are the primary conduit for internet access in Africa, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). This realization prompts several countries to implement strategies for promoting affordable, high-quality handsets.
The East Africa Device Assembly Kenya (EADAK) manufactured 194,000 smartphones in its initial quarter of operation, from October to December 2023, according to an announcement by Kenya’s Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Eliud Owalo (photo).
The local assembly plant, located in Athi River, Machakos County, is part of the government’s initiative to offer high-quality devices at affordable prices. Owalo announced during the 2nd African preparatory meeting for the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) 2024 in Nairobi on February 5.
He stressed that the domestically assembled phones would bolster the country’s digital inclusion efforts, with the government aiming to produce 3 million smartphones annually. The EADAK factory, a collaboration between the state and several private firms, including Chinese company Shenzhen TeleOne Technology, Safaricom, and Jamii, has created 310 direct jobs for Kenyans.
As of September 2023, 32.63 million of the 64.67 million mobile phones connected to the national telecoms network were smartphones – a penetration rate of 50.5%, according to the latest data from the Kenya Communications Authority. Digital technology is a key component of Kenya’s Vision 2030 economic and social development program.
For the past decade, national authorities have been striving towards this goal through the digitization of public services, the transition to digital payment methods, and the promotion of fintech solutions. The government views increasing access to smartphones as a means to ensure citizens’ access to these digital services and their participation in the 4.0 economy.
The EADAK factory primarily produces smartphones compatible with fourth-generation technology. Owalo disclosed that designs for fifth-generation smartphones are currently underway. Kenya has had an active 5G mobile network since the end of 2022.
An Ethiopian refugee in Uganda, he offers his skills to fellow refugees, providing IT and English language training to aid their integration.
Binyam Meles (photo), an Ethiopian entrepreneur and refugee in Uganda, is dedicated to using his IT skills to support his fellow refugees. A graduate of Addis Ababa University with a Bachelor's degree in Software Engineering, Meles founded Aspire Digital Hub in 2022, a center that leverages information technology to empower young people, refugees, and host communities in Uganda.
Aspire Digital Hub provides English and IT courses to help refugees overcome language and technical barriers, to eliminate illiteracy, idleness, and lack of opportunity. The hub also conducts workshops on personal development and mental health to assist refugees in recovering from trauma, addressing negative mindsets, and realizing their full potential.
Meles' professional journey began in 2018 as a web designer and developer for Need Nutritional Products and Services in Ethiopia. He then gained experience as a trainee software engineer at EthERNet and Ethiopian Airlines from 2018 to 2019. In 2020, he joined the German Agency for International Development Cooperation (GIZ) as a mentor for entrepreneurship and web development. Subsequently, in 2021, he worked as a web designer and developer for LeHem Nutrition Counseling. Upon arriving in Uganda in 2022, he took on the role of a digital literacy consultant for FLIP Africa, an organization that connects young people to short-term job opportunities.
As a member of The Amahoro Coalition, an African initiative that unites various players across the region, Meles continues to make significant contributions to the empowerment and development of refugees and young people in Uganda.
Melchior Koba