- Docotela offers remote video consultations, improving healthcare access and affordability.
- The platform provides both pay-per-use and subscription models, including mental health support.
- Docotela targets routine medical care but excludes emergencies requiring immediate intervention.
Dineo Lioma, a South African healthtech entrepreneur, founded and leads Docotela, an online healthcare platform established in 2023. The platform allows patients to consult doctors remotely via secure video calls, eliminating the need for physical visits.
Docotela’s goal is to simplify, speed up, and reduce the cost of medical consultations, particularly for individuals with limited access to physicians or health insurance.
Patients book consultations online, select a time slot, and receive a secure link to connect with a doctor. Following the consultation, the platform delivers necessary documents—including prescriptions, medical certificates, or medication vouchers—via email or messaging.
Docotela offers two service models: single consultations billed per visit, and monthly subscriptions providing unlimited consultations. Subscription plans include additional services, such as referrals to specialists, medical tests, health guidance, and mental health support via remote therapy sessions.
The platform addresses common medical needs, including minor illnesses, chronic disease follow-up, sexual health advice, and psychological support. However, Docotela does not handle urgent or severe medical situations requiring immediate intervention.
Before Docotela, Lioma co-founded Incitech in 2014, focusing on medical diagnostics, and CapeBio in 2018, a supplier of reagents, enzymes, and molecular biology kits. She also leads Deep Medical Therapeutics, another healthtech company.
Lioma holds a master’s degree in materials engineering from the University of Witwatersrand. She began her career in 2009 as a trainee engineer at Andalusite Resources, then moved to research and technology roles at Element Six and Archipelago Technology Group, including strategy and licensing consultancy.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
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Twiva links brands, content creators, and consumers through a unified digital platform.
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The platform combines influencer marketing, e-commerce, and payment solutions.
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Twiva aims to formalize and scale Africa’s fast-growing social commerce ecosystem.
Twiva is a digital solution developed by a Kenyan start-up. The platform connects brands, content creators, and consumers, and it enables companies to distribute products through influencers active on social media. The Nairobi-based start-up was founded in 2020 by Peter Kironji.
The solution offers a mobile application available on iOS and Android, and it has recorded more than 100,000 downloads on the Google Play Store.
On both web and mobile platforms, creators select products, promote them to their communities, and generate revenue through commissions on sales. Twiva automates this process by integrating matchmaking features, performance tracking tools, and payment processing systems.
Beyond influencer marketing, Twiva operates within a broader social commerce model. The platform provides customizable digital storefronts that allow creators to sell directly to their audiences without managing inventory or logistics.
Moreover, the offering includes monetization tools, training programs, payment solutions, and technologies that connect brands with influencers. Twiva aims to structure a fragmented ecosystem by providing creators with more stable income streams and giving businesses direct access to targeted audiences.
Twiva addresses a key challenge in African markets by transforming influence into a tangible economic driver. As social media adoption grows and creators professionalize, platforms like Twiva contribute to formalizing a largely informal sector.
Over time, Twiva aims to play a structuring role in Africa’s digital economy by enabling new forms of digital entrepreneurship driven by content creators.
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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PropelMapper uses voice-enabled AI to modernize agricultural advisory services.
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The platform converts field observations into structured, shareable reports.
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The solution targets data fragmentation and administrative inefficiencies in agriculture.
Farmers across Africa face operational challenges that technology increasingly seeks to address. PropelMapper is an agritech solution developed by a South African start-up. The platform aims to modernize the work of agricultural advisors by leveraging artificial intelligence and voice interfaces.
The company positions the platform as an “operating system” for field advisory services. It launched the solution in 2024 to simplify the collection and use of agricultural data.
Christine van Wyk, vice president of applied solutions at the start-up, said: “Advisors must use standardized customer relationship management (CRM) software or spreadsheets that do not fit their way of working: in the field, on the move, and managing dozens of relationships with farmers.” She added: “Crucial observations get lost between the field and the office. Knowledge remains locked in individual minds instead of becoming organizational intelligence.”
PropelMapper allows professionals to capture observations directly in the field through voice notes. The platform processes these recordings using AI tools and converts them into structured, actionable, and shareable reports.
Moreover, the solution integrates customer relationship management features, team collaboration tools, and mapping capabilities. These features centralize all data within a single environment.
The platform addresses a recurring issue in agriculture: fragmented data and heavy administrative workloads. Advisors often accumulate scattered information across notes, files, and voice memos that remain difficult to use effectively.
PropelMapper aims to transform this raw data into actionable insights at the farm, market, and organizational levels. Beyond productivity gains, the solution aims to free up time for human interactions, which remain essential in agricultural advisory. The company states that automation of reporting reduces administrative burdens while improving the quality of analysis.
PropelMapper aligns with a broader trend of integrating AI and voice technologies into professional tools, particularly in sectors dominated by fieldwork. As agriculture continues to digitize, such solutions could play a key role in structuring data and optimizing decision-making across farms and value chains.
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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Gabon launches a digital driver’s license system to centralize transport data.
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Authorities introduce biometric enrollment and anti-fraud technologies.
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The reform aims to expand to all road documents and strengthen regulation.
Gabon accelerates the digitization of public services and targets better use of transport data while strengthening document security. The government launched its digital driver’s license system on Tuesday, March 24, in Libreville. President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema leads the reform as part of a broader strategy to modernize public administration and reinforce oversight in the transport sector.
The system relies on full biometric enrollment of users, including fingerprints, photographs, and electronic signatures. Authorities aim to build a reliable national driver database to authenticate transport documents and limit fraud risks. The license also integrates QR codes and near-field communication (NFC) technology. These tools allow enforcement agents to verify information more efficiently during checks.
Beyond driver’s licenses, authorities plan to extend digitization to all road-related documents, including vehicle registration certificates and transport licenses.
The government seeks to build an interconnected system that centralizes data on drivers and vehicles. As a result, authorities aim to improve traceability of operations and strengthen regulatory capacity through better visibility over the vehicle fleet and sector participants.
This data structuring also opens the way for new use cases in road safety. The government plans to introduce automated traffic enforcement systems based on video monitoring. Authorities will connect surveillance systems with administrative databases to detect and sanction violations automatically. Consequently, the reform aims to improve enforcement efficiency and strengthen compliance.
More broadly, the reform reflects the government’s intention to use digital tools as a lever for public governance. Authorities view data centralization and reliability as prerequisites for improving administrative services and enhancing data use in related sectors such as insurance and traffic management. However, the success of the system will depend on its integration into a coherent digital ecosystem, including strong personal data protection frameworks.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
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Brandon Roberts co-founded Littlefish to unify sales, payments, and business management tools for SMEs.
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The platform also enables banks to offer ready-made digital services to merchant clients.
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Littlefish aims to formalize informal businesses and improve operational efficiency.
Brandon Roberts is a South African computer scientist and technology entrepreneur. He co-founded and leads Littlefish, a technology company that develops solutions to simplify small business operations and strengthen banks’ role with merchant clients.
Roberts co-founded Littlefish in 2023 with Miod Davith Kahwa. The company offers merchants a single platform to sell products, process payments, track sales, and manage operations.
The platform aims to simplify daily business activities by eliminating the need to use multiple tools. It connects merchants with customers, suppliers, and financial services providers.
Littlefish also provides value to banks and financial institutions. The platform acts as a ready-to-use solution that allows them to quickly launch new services for business clients without developing complex tools internally.
The platform addresses several core merchant needs. It enables payment management, invoice creation, product sales, and activity tracking. As a result, it helps structure often informal businesses and supports their transition toward more organized and efficient models.
Roberts holds a degree in computer science from CTI Education Group in South Africa. He started his career in 2011 in support and implementation at Sybrin. He became chief technology officer at BetterBond in 2020. He held the same role at BetterSure Financial Consultants and Nybble Technologies, all based in South Africa.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
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Senegal launches online access to key administrative documents via e-senegal.sn.
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The rollout marks the operational phase of the government’s “New Deal technologique.”
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Authorities aim to expand digital services while tackling connectivity and inclusion gaps.
Senegal accelerates the implementation of its “New Deal technologique.” One year after launching the strategy, the government rolled out on Tuesday, March 24, the digitization of several critical administrative procedures.
Authorities now provide criminal records, nationality certificates, and certificates of non-membership in the civil service online through the e-senegal.sn portal.
This first wave of online services marks the start of a broader expansion. The single-window platform will soon integrate services related to urban planning, including building permits, as well as civil registry and land administration documents.
Moreover, the government aims to centralize interactions between the state and citizens on a secure platform. Authorities seek to significantly reduce processing times and transaction costs for individuals, businesses, and the diaspora.
Senegal improved its position in the United Nations e-government development ranking, moving to 135th place in 2024 from 143rd in 2022. However, the country still faces structural barriers to digital adoption.
To prevent exclusion, authorities plan to deploy hybrid connectivity combining terrestrial and satellite networks, notably through Starlink. The government aims to provide free internet access to one million citizens to ensure that digital services reach rural areas. According to DataReportal, internet penetration in Senegal reached 60.6% at the end of 2025.
The success of this digital transition depends on the administration’s ability to ensure system interoperability and protect personal data. Beyond the technical platform, the government must support adoption through digital literacy campaigns and public access points in local communities. Therefore, authorities aim to build a fully connected and user-centric administration.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
Kenyan fintech Ndovu Wealth has launched Kibaba, a multi-asset collective investment fund denominated in Kenyan shillings and U.S. dollars. Targeting medium- to long-term investors, it requires a minimum investment of 250,000 shillings ($2,500) and aims to mitigate volatility through diversification across equities, bonds, real estate, index funds and commodities.
The Shell Foundation and Startup Discovery School are launching the West Africa Aggregator Platform, a one-year pilot in Ghana and Senegal to test new delivery models for low-carbon agricultural technologies. The initiative aims to reduce the cost of access for women smallholder farmers, improve crop yields, and increase incomes by at least 20%, with a target of reaching 200,000 women farmers by 2030.
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FinCode delivers ready-to-use financial infrastructure for banks, fintechs and startups.
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Lloyd Adiele strengthens cross-border payments in Africa through strategic partnerships.
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The company positions itself as a long-term technology partner, not just a solutions provider.
Lloyd Adiele operates as a fintech specialist and Nigerian technology entrepreneur. He founded FinCode and serves as its Chief Innovation Officer. He established the London-based technology company in 2016 and built it into a recognized player in digital financial services innovation.
FinCode develops solutions for banks, financial institutions and startups that aim to launch or modernize money-related services. The company targets payments, international transfers, as well as savings and credit products. It provides ready-to-use tools and adapts them to each client’s specific needs.
FinCode offers services across several key areas. The company enables users to send and receive money internationally. It allows institutions to manage digital wallets, grant loans and offer investment products.
Moreover, FinCode provides identity verification and regulatory compliance solutions. These tools remain essential for operating in the financial sector.
Beyond its products, FinCode positions itself as a technology partner. The company supports clients in deploying and evolving their financial services. It aims to simplify access to modern financial tools and accelerate large-scale adoption.
Lloyd Adiele earned a degree in Computer Science and Web Services from the University of Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom. He started his career in 2004 as a developer.
He worked at Betfair, an online betting platform, as well as at IBM and Logica, a Canada-based IT company. Between 2019 and 2024, Lloyd Adiele supported CSL Pay and KogoPAY as a technology partner. He strengthened his role in African cross-border payments through these collaborations.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
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Weego centralizes multiple transport options into a single application for seamless mobility.
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The startup raised $1.1 million in March 2026 to expand across Africa and beyond.
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Saad Jittou targets both individuals and enterprises with integrated mobility solutions.
Saad Jittou operates as a Moroccan entrepreneur specializing in mobility. He leads Weego as Chief Executive Officer and co-founded the company in 2020 with Senegalese entrepreneur Mor Niane. The company delivers a simple solution to organize daily travel.
Weego offers an application that aggregates multiple transport options into a single interface. Users select public transport, ride-hailing services or carpooling based on their needs.
Weego differentiates its platform by centralizing transport information. Users plan trips in a few clicks and access schedules for buses, trams and trains. They track vehicle positions in real time.
As a result, users anticipate delays and avoid long waiting times. This functionality improves efficiency and reliability in daily commuting.
Weego integrates all travel steps into one platform. Users compare available options, book trips and complete payments directly within the application.
Therefore, the platform simplifies processes and improves the fluidity of transportation. It reduces friction across the user journey.
Weego integrates multiple transport partners, including urban mobility services and carpooling platforms. This integration delivers a personalized experience tailored to each user’s preferences and constraints.
Weego extends its services beyond individual users. The company develops solutions for businesses and organizations. These tools facilitate employee and user mobility management through shuttle services and dedicated platforms.
In early March 2026, the startup raised $1.1 million to support platform development. It aims to accelerate expansion across several African markets.
Additionally, the company plans to expand into Europe and the Middle East. Before launching Weego, Saad Jittou co-founded Pikala Bikes in 2016. The initiative emerged in the Netherlands through the Pikala Foundation. It promotes cycling adoption and sustainable mobility.
This article was initially published by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
More...
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Burkina Faso prioritizes local languages to build inclusive artificial intelligence systems.
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Authorities launch work on linguistic datasets for four national languages.
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The initiative aligns with a broader African push to integrate local languages into AI.
The Ministry of Digital Transition, Posts and Electronic Communications launches work on Tuesday, March 24 to structure linguistic foundations for AI solutions. It focuses discussions on formalizing resources that AI models can use.
Specifically, the ministry targets four local languages: Mooré, Dioula, Fulfulde and Gulmancema. These linguistic resources support the development of applications such as speech recognition, machine translation and text-to-speech systems. These technologies play a key role in expanding access to digital services in a country with strong linguistic diversity.
“Through the integration of national languages into emerging technologies, Burkina Faso affirms its commitment to building inclusive, accessible artificial intelligence adapted to its socio-cultural context. This workshop fully aligns with the 12 major digital transformation projects by 2030, particularly the initiative dedicated to artificial intelligence serving all Burkinabè,” the ministry states.
This initiative fits into a broader trend across Africa. Several countries launch programs to integrate local languages into artificial intelligence technologies.
In Benin, the “JaimeMaLangue” project advances efforts to give local languages a digital presence. In Nigeria, authorities launch N-ATLAS v1, an open-source language model developed in partnership with Meta. This system supports multiple local languages, including Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo, alongside Nigerian English. It aims to reduce linguistic barriers that hinder technology adoption across the continent.
At the same time, international technology companies increase their focus on this issue. Google’s Africa-focused artificial intelligence division launches the Wazal project to improve support for African languages in AI models.
The project collects linguistic data and develops translation systems. Its database covers 21 African languages, including Hausa, Yoruba, Luganda, Acholi, Swahili, Igbo and Fulfulde.
In Burkina Faso, authorities prioritize the production of local data to build a more sovereign AI ecosystem. They collaborate with public institutions and research organizations to create reliable corpora. These datasets remain essential for training effective AI models and ensuring long-term technological independence.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
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Ethiopia inaugurates a smart police station in Addis Ababa to digitize public services.
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The system uses AI and centralized data to reduce processing time and human error.
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Authorities plan to scale the pilot model to other cities.
Ethiopia inaugurates a smart police station in its capital Addis Ababa and targets simplified, faster and continuous access to public services. The Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) reports the announcement on Sunday, March 22.
Users interact directly with self-service digital kiosks in this next-generation police station. They use interactive screens and remote video assistance to file complaints, submit documents and pay fines without visiting a traditional counter.
Moreover, the system operates 24 hours a day and seven days a week. It removes time constraints that typically affect public administration services.
“This innovation improves significantly the quality of service offered to citizens and strengthens the judicial system and police services,” says Andnet Sisay, head of the technology department at the Ethiopian Federal Police.
The system relies on technologies such as artificial intelligence and centralized data management. It reduces processing times significantly and limits human errors linked to manual procedures.
This transformation reshapes the relationship between users and public administration. It reduces physical interactions and limits informal practices, thereby strengthening service transparency.
The station operates with reduced on-site staff while officers provide remote support and ensure continuous case monitoring. Authorities design the project as a pilot and consider expansion to other cities across the country.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
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Senegal launches operational phase of its New Deal Technologique to accelerate digital transformation of government and economy.
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Authorities plan CFA1,100 billion ($1.95 billion) in investments under Vision 2050, including connectivity, data centers and sovereign cloud.
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Flagship platforms aim to centralize public services, streamline payments and expand access for citizens and the diaspora.
The Senegalese government launched, on Tuesday, March 23, the flagship projects of the New Deal Technologique. This launch marks the transition to the operational phase of a strategy designed to accelerate the digital transformation of public administration and the broader economy. One year after announcing the initiative, authorities are now focusing on deploying digital platforms and infrastructure to modernize public services, strengthen digital sovereignty and improve citizens’ access to government services.
A one-stop shop to streamline public services
Among the flagship initiatives, the “e-Senegal” platform acts as a one-stop shop that allows citizens and businesses to access administrative procedures online. The government aims to centralize public services through a single entry point in order to reduce processing times, limit travel and improve transparency.
In parallel, the “e-Consulat” solution targets the diaspora by providing digital access to consular services. Meanwhile, the “SenTrésor” platform introduces a unified electronic payment system for public fees, including taxes, customs duties and local government services.
These tools rely on a national interoperability platform that enables real-time data exchange between administrations. This system follows the “once only” principle, which requires users to submit their data only once and prevents repeated requests for the same information.
Stronger governance to avoid fragmentation
The rollout of these projects includes a restructuring of digital governance. The government established the Digital Governance Committee (GouvNum) in March 2025 to coordinate state-led digital initiatives and ensure policy coherence.
This approach aims to address inefficiencies linked to the proliferation of uncoordinated projects across ministries. At the same time, the National Digital Council, composed of sector experts, provides advisory support to guide strategic decisions and anticipate technological shifts.
Connectivity and innovation at the core of the strategy
The program forms part of the Vision Sénégal 2050, which outlines an investment portfolio of CFA 1,100 billion ($1.95 billion) over 2025–2034. The plan also includes a digital inclusion component that aims to connect more than one million people in underserved areas and reduce geographic disparities in internet access.
The government is investing in sovereign infrastructure, including the deployment of data centers in Diamniadio and Orana. Authorities also plan to increase national bandwidth from 600 Mbps to 20 Gbps. In addition, the state is developing a sovereign cloud to host sensitive public data locally, as cybersecurity becomes a strategic priority.
At the same time, the Start-up Act, now in the implementation phase, aims to structure the entrepreneurial ecosystem by facilitating funding and support for innovative startups.
A structural transformation of public action
Beyond digital tools, authorities present the initiative as a deep transformation of how the state operates. The government aims to move from a fragmented administration to an integrated system that centers on users and leverages data.
With this deployment phase, Senegal seeks to build a coherent digital ecosystem that supports public sector performance and drives a competitive digital economy.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
The Africa Technology Expo returns to Lagos for its third edition, now expanded to two days with a stronger business focus. The event will bring together executives, tech professionals and regulators on June 26-27 to drive partnerships, investment and innovation. The programme includes robotics, drones, connectivity, masterclasses and networking. Organisers aim to strengthen Africa’s digital ecosystem and support practical partnerships to shape the continent’s tech future.