TECH STARS (775)
As a data entrepreneur, he uses artificial intelligence and remote sensing to provide farmers and agricultural organizations with practical tools that help them make informed decisions.
Hamza Bendahou (photo) is a Moroccan entrepreneur specializing in technological services for agriculture. He is the co-founder of SOWIT, a startup that provides precise data to decision-makers in agriculture and environmental sectors.
Founded in 2017 by Hamza Bendahou and Hamza Rkha Chaham, SOWIT develops decision-support tools to assist African farmers. Their clients include food companies, governments, farmers, as well as banks and insurers. Through its platforms, SOWIT provides the necessary data for making informed decisions.
SOWIT offers six mobile applications: SoDry, SoYield, SoWater, Monitor, Fertisat, and Skowt. SoDry helps determine the optimal date for harvesting corn silage. SoYield uses artificial intelligence to provide production estimates up to two months before harvest. SoWater calculates the water needs of a plot to optimize irrigation.
Monitor allows access to a SOWIT expert for co-managing agricultural operations through weekly crop diagnostics based on satellite remote sensing. Fertisat determines the fertilizer needs of crops. Skowt improves inspection efficiency by guiding operators to sensitive areas and providing a comprehensive report.
Hamza Bendahou holds an engineering degree in electronics and signal processing, obtained in 2011 from INP-ENSEEIHT in Toulouse. He also graduated from the Institut Supérieur de l'Aéronautique et de l'Espace (ISAE-SUPAERO) with a master's degree in financial engineering in 2012.
After an end-of-year internship in Airbus' flight test department in 2011, Hamza Bendahou joined AXA Investment Managers in 2012, where he held positions as a fund range manager and product manager. From 2013 to 2018, he worked at Gras Savoye, a financial services company, as a market studies officer and later as head of the actuarial studies department.
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A computer science graduate, he applies artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and computer vision to develop new aquaculture technologies.
Mohamed Ben Ahmed (photo) is a Tunisian entrepreneur and computer scientist specializing in computer vision and artificial intelligence (AI) development. As the co-founder and CEO of Aquadeep, he uses technology to revolutionize the aquaculture sector.
Founded in 2021 by Mohamed Ben Ahmed and Youssef Chahed, Aquadeep is a tech startup aimed at facilitating aquaculture. The company develops AI and computer vision-based solutions to help aquaculturists count larvae and fish in their ponds. It also provides data extraction tools based on the Internet of Things (IoT) for better control of the farming process.
“We develop solutions based on artificial intelligence and computer vision, an AI technique that enables computers to see and interpret images and videos in the same way humans do,” explained Mohamed Ben Ahmed in July 2024.
Aquadeep's solutions help fisheries better control their yields, ensuring healthier fish farming and more efficient cost and stock management. The company offers a larval fish counter and a fully industrial juvenile fish counter. Additionally, it provides a mobile AI-based application that simplifies daily tasks for fishery employees.
Mohamed Ben Ahmed holds an engineering degree in computer science, obtained in 2021 from the South Mediterranean University in Tunisia. Before venturing into entrepreneurship, he worked as a hardware engineering intern at Cloud Temple in France in 2018. In 2020, he completed a full-stack developer internship in Tunisia at Think-it, a software engineering organization.
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An IT professional by training, he is passionate about using technology to solve business problems. Through his company, he aims to make the internet safer for everyone.
Sam Hutchinson (photo), a South African IT professional and entrepreneur, is the co-founder and CEO of Sendmarc, a startup that automates the protection of businesses against identity theft and phishing attacks.
Founded in 2018 by Hutchinson, Sacha Matulovich, and Keith Thompson, Sendmarc aims to make the internet safer for everyone. The company offers a platform that helps businesses and their partners protect their data, generate revenue, train, and grow. Sendmarc's solutions shield companies from cyber threats such as phishing, spoofing, and identity theft.
Before co-founding Sendmarc, Hutchinson established Music Industry Online in 1999, a portal providing information on the music industry in South Africa. In 2003, he founded Prefix Technologies, where he served as the chief software architect until 2013. This holding company manages two products: Everlytic and Preditor.
Founded in 2010, Everlytic is a platform for email, SMS, and social marketing that enables businesses to send, deliver, and track their digital communications. Preditor is a content management system, now managed by Grenade Technologies, a digital agency offering innovative content solutions to publishers in emerging markets.
Hutchinson graduated from the University of the Witwatersrand with a bachelor's degree in mathematics and computer science in 2002. From 2012 to 2016, he served as a non-executive director of Grenade Technologies.
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He has extensive experience in planning and optimizing public transportation systems, as well as managing technology projects. He leads a company that provides advanced fleet management solutions.
Justin Coetzee is a trained civil engineer and a South African entrepreneur. He is the co-founder and CEO of GoMetro, a tech startup dedicated to enhancing commercial fleet operations. The company is based in the United Kingdom, with a development office in South Africa and sales offices in the United States and Latin America.
Founded in 2014, GoMetro provides its clients with GoMetro Bridge, a software platform that consolidates actionable data from all vehicles they wish to monitor. This platform enables clients to optimize operations and achieve cost savings in areas such as route planning, tire lifespan, and cargo management.
GoMetro Bridge integrates telematics data from an operator’s fleet and its subcontractors, regardless of the telematics provider. The company also offers ConnecTyre telematics sensors, which are mounted on wheel rims and provide real-time updates on tire conditions to the Bridge platform. This feature facilitates proactive tire monitoring, helping to prevent accidents and minimize downtime.
In 2020, GoMetro formed a partnership with the international bus operator Ascendal Group to launch GoAscendal, where Justin Coetzee served as director until 2023. The company has since rebranded as BetterRides.ai and offers a range of tools and solutions designed to assist bus and train operators in automating customer satisfaction surveys and passenger engagement reports.
Justin Coetzee earned his bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the University of Pretoria in 2007 and a master's degree in transportation engineering from Stellenbosch University in 2011.
From 2010 to 2012, he worked as a public transport engineer and planner at Aurecon, a design, engineering, and advisory firm. In 2012, he joined Element Consulting Engineers, where he served as an entrepreneur in residence until 2014.
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An IT professional by training, he ventured into the beauty and wellness sector. He created a management application designed to help beauty professionals digitize their entire value chain.
El Hadji M. Diagne (photo) is a Senegalese serial entrepreneur and IT engineer. He is the founder and CEO of Kiliya.co, a software company that provides a comprehensive management tool for beauty salons and spas.
Originally launched in 2015 as an online booking platform for beauty and wellness treatments, the startup evolved into Kiliya.co in 2023. It now offers an all-in-one management software for beauty professionals, including hair salons, beauty institutes, nail salons, and spas. This software provides a wide range of services to its users.
Kiliya allows users to manage, retain, and attract new clients. It facilitates quick customer payments, product management, appointment scheduling, stock management, and all administrative tasks of a salon. Additionally, it offers marketing tools to enhance salons' online visibility. With these features, the startup helps clients save time, maximize revenue, and increase productivity.
Before founding Kiliya.co, El Hadji M. Diagne co-founded Sun Telecom in 2013, an IT services company. He holds an engineering degree in information systems and computer networks, obtained in 2012 from the School of Higher Studies in Information Systems Engineering (HEISI) in Morocco.
From 2014 to 2016, El Hadji M. Diagne led the launch of the "My HealthLine" platform, a program by Orange Healthcare, the healthcare division of Orange Group. His mission was to connect doctors and patients to combat sexually transmitted diseases.
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With a passion for emerging technologies like the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, robotics, embedded systems, and industrial automation, he designs innovative solutions that drive efficiency and safety improvements for businesses.
Jeslone Lukisa (photo) is a Congolese inventor and entrepreneur, serving as the co-founder and CEO of Smaraf, a technology company established in 2018. Smaraf specializes in engineering, with a strong emphasis on security systems and technological integration.
The company offers a wide array of services, including the sales, installation, and maintenance of video surveillance systems, access control, alarms, fire systems, GPS trackers, electric fences, drones, IT solutions, telecommunications, and the Internet of Things (IoT). Smaraf also provides training in its areas of expertise.
Among the innovative solutions developed by Smaraf are the Smaraf Asset Checking Table, Fuel Management System, and Driver Monitoring System. The Smaraf Asset Checking Table leverages radio frequency identification technology to help businesses track and verify their laptops, optimizing IT asset management.
The Fuel Management System is designed to monitor and enhance fuel usage, providing effective oversight and optimization to help industries improve efficiency and profitability. Meanwhile, the Driver Monitoring System employs vision and artificial intelligence to analyze driver behavior in real time, helping to prevent accidents caused by drowsiness, distraction, and other hazardous practices.
Jeslone Lukisa holds an engineering degree in electromechanics from the University of Kolwezi, which he obtained in 2020. Since 2021, Smaraf takes part in the Pan-African Robotics Competition. His team, Smaraf Eduk, secured second place in both 2021 and 2022, and won the competition in 2023. They are currently participating in the final phase of the 2024 edition, which began in Dakar on Monday, July 22, and will conclude on Saturday, July 27.
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A passionate advocate for tackling environmental issues in Africa, he leverages his technical expertise to bridge the gap between independent waste collectors and businesses/households.
Martin Tumusiime (photo) is a Ugandan computer scientist and tech entrepreneur, known for founding and serving as the CEO of Yo-Waste, an innovative technology-based waste management company. Established in 2018, Yo-Waste aims to transform waste collection and management in Africa through advanced solutions.
Yo-Waste offers an application that connects residential and commercial clients with local waste collectors, enabling users to quickly find nearby waste services. Once the waste is collected, Yo-Waste partners with a network of collaborators to dispose of, recycle, repurpose, or convert it into energy.
"We had some people who used to collect our garbage, but it would take at least a week. Now with Yo-Waste, it takes only three days. The app's efficiency not only ensures timely waste disposal but also prevents waste from being scattered by wind and vultures, promoting cleaner surroundings," explains Martin Tumusiime.
In addition to Yo-Waste, Tumusiime founded UgTechMag, a technology magazine that provides guides and advice on tech products and services for audiences in Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, and beyond.
Tumusiime holds a degree in computer science from Makerere University, which he obtained in 2020. From 2022 to 2023, he worked as a consultant for the German International Development Cooperation Agency (GIZ), where he managed a team that developed a robust waste collection application for Gulu City in collaboration with the Gulu City Council.
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With a track record at international telecommunications and media companies, she brings a wealth of experience to developing innovative solutions in fintech, financial education, and online learning.
Nancy Matimu is a seasoned entrepreneur and professional in the fintech and business sectors. In 2018, she founded Serrari Group, a company focused on fostering growth and financial freedom in Africa. Since 2023, she has served as the President and CEO, leading the group's innovation and operations.
Serrari Group is a technology platform designed to drive growth in Africa through fintech and edtech. The company develops solutions that empower individuals and professionals to achieve their goals through online education, financial literacy, quality financial planning and management, as well as tools for creating, growing, preserving, and managing wealth and succession.
The mission of Serrari Group is to "create the easiest, simplest, and most versatile online education platform, financial literacy platform, and a super aggregator Digital Financial Services marketplace & payments platform using a network of platforms for the smart investor (individuals, investment groups, SMBs, families, and the diaspora)," as stated on the company's LinkedIn page. Serrari Group operates under the brands Serrari FinEd, Serrari Fintech, Serrari Advisory, and Serrari Media.
Nancy Matimu holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies with a specialization in planning and management, which she obtained in 1998 from Kenyatta University. She earned a postgraduate diploma in marketing in 2009 from The Chartered Institute of Marketing and graduated with a master’s degree in strategic management from Strathmore University in 2011.
Before her current role, Matimu worked at several prominent organizations. From 2008 to 2017, she held various positions at Safaricom, including Director of Safaricom Home and Content, Director of Consumer Products and Services, Director of Internet and Content, and Director of Enterprise Products and Innovation.
In 2018, she was appointed Director of Digital and Marketing at HFC Kenya, a financial services institution. The following year, she became Vice President and Head of Market Development for Sub-Saharan Africa at MasterCard. From 2020 to 2023, she served as Managing Director for Kenya at MultiChoice Africa.
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With over 20 years of experience in the digital industry, he has initiated several investment projects, supported SMEs, and developed online payment solutions.
Eric Ntonfo (photo) is a Cameroonian expert in the digital economy and an entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of Kwendoo, an innovative startup in the online payment services sector that spans multiple areas.
Founded in 2014, Kwendoo provides an online crowdfunding platform that allows users to raise funds, contribute to gifts, support family events, and realize various projects. The company has also introduced Kwendoo Tickets, an online event ticketing platform that accepts payments in euros and CFA Francs through credit cards and mobile money. Additionally, Kwendoo Payments is designed for professionals and merchants within the African diaspora, facilitating remote payments for services.
In 2015, Ntonfo established Fiatope, where he currently serves as director. This crowdfunding initiative supports innovative small businesses with significant social impact in West and Central Africa, helping them secure essential funding for their growth. He also founded Fiatope Digital Solutions in 2017, which aids African small and medium-sized enterprises in their digital transformation.
Ntonfo is a board member at the University of the Mountains in Cameroon and serves as president of OrbitAfrica, an organization that promotes diaspora engagement in social and economic initiatives that benefit Africa. OrbitAfrica operates in France, Cameroon, Benin, and Senegal.
He holds an engineering degree in Internet and Telecommunications, which he obtained in 2001 from the National School of Engineering of Caen. Additionally, he earned an MBA in 2007 from the IAE School of Management in Poitiers and a master's degree in digital economy in 2013 from Telecom Paris.
Ntonfo began his professional career in 2002 at Orange, where he held various positions, including research and development engineer, head of the research, anticipation, and performance evaluation department for 3G/4G, national director of innovation in France, and product director.
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A robotics enthusiast and inventor, he has created a popular game robot and developed a tech platform that streamlines data collection for scientists.
Silas Adekunle (photo) is a prominent Nigerian inventor and tech entrepreneur specializing in robotics. He is the co-founder and CEO of Reach Industries, a company focused on assisting scientists and improving laboratory efficiency to address global challenges swiftly.
Founded in 2020 and based in the UK, Reach Industries offers advanced technological services to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) companies. One of the startup's key innovations is Lumi, an intelligent platform that employs computer vision, voice recognition, and machine learning to capture and analyze operational data.
Lumi serves as a comprehensive assistant throughout the life sciences development process, from research to production. It automates data collection from experiments, observations, and equipment usage, among other functions. This automation saves valuable time, allowing scientists to concentrate on more significant issues while enhancing the reproducibility of their results.
In addition to his work at Reach Industries, Silas Adekunle founded Awarri, a company that leverages artificial intelligence and robotics to provide educational tools and develop sustainable technological solutions for Africa. Awarri aims to create an ecosystem that prepares young people for the future workforce.
Before these ventures, Adekunle co-founded Reach Robotics in 2013, which gained recognition for inventing MekaMon, a gaming robot integrated with a STEM education platform. In 2017, Apple signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Reach Robotics, impressed by the product.
Silas Adekunle earned a bachelor's degree in robotics technology from the University of the West of England in 2014. During his studies from 2012 to 2014, he designed and launched extracurricular robotics sessions.
To gain experience in robotics, he began as a volunteer intern at RustySquid, a robotics company, in 2011. He then served as a verification engineering intern at Infineon Technologies, a semiconductor manufacturer, in 2012, followed by a software internship at GE Aerospace in 2013.
In 2018, Silas Adekunle was recognized on the Financial Times list of the top 100 minority ethnic leaders in technology in the UK. That same year, he was selected for Forbes' 30 Under 30 Europe in the technology category.
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As a financial analyst, he leads an innovative company that uses technology to promote financial inclusion in Egypt. His company facilitates access to credit for consumers by working directly with merchants.
Amr Sultan (photo), an Egyptian finance expert and entrepreneur, is the co-founder and CEO of Blnk, a fintech company dedicated to enabling financial inclusion through point-of-sale financing.
Founded in 2021, Blnk specializes in providing consumer credit to underserved populations. The company allows consumers to instantly obtain credit from their favorite merchants and pay in installments over a period of up to 36 months. The credit purchase process through Blnk requires only a national ID card.
Prior to co-founding Blnk, Amr Sultan co-founded Akanar Partners in 2009. As the managing director until 2016, he led this corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions advisory firm, providing services in corporate finance, M&A advisory, fundraising, and structured finance. Akanar Partners was subsequently acquired by Arqaam Capital, an institutional investment bank.
Amr Sultan holds a bachelor's degree in business administration, earned in 1998 from the American University in Cairo. He also became a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) in 2001, certified by the CFA Institute.
Sultan began his professional career in 2000 at HC Securities & Investment, an investment bank, as an equity research associate. From 2003 to 2009, he served as co-head of investment banking at Beltone Financial, a financial services provider.
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His mission is to empower the next generation by equipping them with the technological skills they need to thrive in the modern world. He accomplishes this by designing educational programs for schools, ensuring children receive this training in an innovative and impactful way.
Yaakoub Benarab (photo) is an Algerian tech entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Snai3i, a company dedicated to transforming education in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
Founded in 2019, Snai3i develops educational programs aimed at simplifying advanced technologies for children. The company offers schools courses in mobile programming, artificial intelligence, Python, 3D modeling, and mechatronics, all tailored specifically for young learners. It provides schools with immediately usable programs and trains teachers in effective pedagogical methods and course design. Additionally, the platform enables experts to create and publish their own courses. To date, the startup has successfully trained 872 students.
Beyond his role at Snai3i, Benarab serves as an information technology instructor at the Higher Institute of Sciences (HIS), a multidisciplinary private university in Algeria recognized by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. He is also an ambassador for One Young World, a global community of young leaders.
Benarab graduated from the National Polytechnic School in 2019 with a master's degree in control systems. He also holds a master's degree in learning design and technologies from Arizona State University, which he obtained in May 2024.
In June 2019, he represented The European Wergeland Centre, a European research organization focused on education for intercultural understanding, human rights, and democratic citizenship. By October 2019, he had taken on the role of director at KnowLab, a coworking space. In 2020, he worked as a technology and innovation specialist at the Africa Crisis Hub, which provides public health advisory services.
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A veteran of the technology sector with over 10 years of experience, he has also spent more than 8 years specifically within the gaming industry. Currently, he leads one of Africa's biggest video game development companies.
Thomas Shiva (photo) is a Rwandan serial entrepreneur active in the video game industry. He is the founder and CEO of Digital Realm Entertainment, a technology company specializing in interactive entertainment software.
Founded in 2019, Digital Realm Entertainment publishes interactive entertainment software, providing Africans with easy access to video games that reflect the continent's cultural identity, heritage, and interests. The company offers games in education, health, and culture, delivering immersive and personalized solutions to meet its clients' specific needs.
In addition to his role at Digital Realm Entertainment, Thomas Shiva holds several other positions. Since 2019, he has been the founder and executive director of the Rwanda Game Developers Association, an organization that raises awareness among Rwandan gaming and development communities about the gaming industry. The association participates in and organizes various industry events worldwide.
Since 2020, Thomas Shiva has also been the CEO of Neo-Troniks Systems, a company aiming to provide Africa with local access to the latest cutting-edge technologies. In May 2024, he became the local lead for Rwanda for the NASA International Space Apps Challenge, an international space exploration competition held over 48 hours in different cities worldwide.
Additionally, he is the regional organizer for The Global Game Jam in Rwanda, an international video game creation competition. In 2015, he founded the Open Source Collective Association, and in 2020, he launched Neo-Realm Aerospace, a space technology startup in Rwanda.
Thomas Shiva holds a software engineering degree from the University of the People, an online university based in California, USA. He is also a graduate of the SAE Institute Germany, where he earned a bachelor's degree in game design and interactive media.
An international speaker and pioneer in developing local African technology ecosystems, Thomas Shiva has participated in numerous conferences and events. Since 2021, he has been a mentor at the International Game Developers Association, and in 2022, he served as a judge for various Global Startup Awards competitions.
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He aims to reduce wait times for patients seeking medical attenetion. To achieve that goal, he developed a WhatsApp chatbot designed to connect healthcare providers directly with patients.
Blessing Museki (photo), a renowned Zimbabwean computer scientist and entrepreneur, is the founder of Cloomi, an innovative tech startup that connects people to healthcare providers. Launched in 2023, Cloomi offers a WhatsApp chatbot that anonymously links Zimbabweans with various healthcare providers, including pharmacies, medical laboratories, and diagnostic imaging centers. Through this app, patients can check the availability of services and compare prices. They also receive the physical address of providers, a location map, and the WhatsApp number of the selected business.
"We have made over 10,000 successful matches since launch, with users receiving responses within minutes during the day on regular working days," stated Blessing Museki in July 2024. The platform currently features more than 230 pharmacies, over 20 medical laboratories and diagnostic imaging centers, and a database of more than 700 registered healthcare practitioners across Zimbabwe.
Blessing Museki is also a chatbot developer for BNP Paribas. Before founding Cloomi, he co-founded Joblock in 2019, a platform that enables job seekers to manage and share their professional references securely. In 2020, he co-founded SwiftLog and Freshslate.app. SwiftLog is a platform that facilitates the recording of water and electricity meter readings via smartphone, while Freshslate.app allows users to store and share their COVID-19 test results.
Blessing Museki graduated from the University of Zimbabwe in 1999 with a bachelor's degree in mathematics and computer science. He also holds a master's degree in financial markets with information systems, obtained in 2007 from London Metropolitan University. He gained experience by working for several years as a developer for companies such as Econet Wireless, London Stock Exchange Group, Transport for London, and M&G Investments.
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