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She recognizes the difficulties logistics professionals encounter in obtaining loans to fund their operations. To tackle this issue, she's harnessing technology to streamline online loan applications, making the process more accessible and efficient.
Gugulethu Siso, a Zimbabwean marketing expert and entrepreneur, is the founder and CEO of Thumeza, a fintech platform that provides data-driven financing solutions to logistics players across Africa.
Thumeza, established in 2018, initially offered last-mile delivery services for e-commerce sites, small businesses, and retailers in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. By 2019, it had evolved into a freight platform coordinating a network of small carriers. In 2021, Thumeza shifted its focus to financing logistics operators. The platform now provides loans to small carriers through an online loan management system, offering factoring services and early invoice settlements. It handles the entire lending process for its distribution partners, such as FMCG companies and logistics aggregators, allowing them to concentrate on their core activities.
Siso is also one of the Shouthern African representatives on the Afrikan Youth Business Council, a continental organization uniting private sector entities and institutions led by young people in Africa. In 2015, she co-founded Ninety Nine Investments, serving as CEO until 2017, a company offering retailers comprehensive cart management solutions.
A graduate of the University of Namibia with a Bachelor’s in Strategic Marketing (2015), Siso also participated as a coach in the 2022 Future Females entrepreneurship training program. She is an alumna of the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Program (2018) and a provincial winner of Youth Connekt (2019). In 2020, she was selected for the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs, took part in the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa cohort, and was recognized as one of the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Zimbabwe’s Ten Outstanding Young Persons.
Melchior Koba
A former investment banker with a passion for technology and innovation, he transitioned into entrepreneurship, focusing on cutting-edge technologies. He founded a digital bank in his home country.
Schalk Burger (photo) is a South African accountant and entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of Xhuma, a digital bank designed to offer its users greater financial freedom.
Founded in 2021, Xhuma provides a range of solutions to South Africans. Through PeerPay, users can send and receive money instantly. The startup's LoyaltyHub centralizes the most attractive loyalty cards and promotional offers while ensuring the security of transactional accounts.
Xhuma also offers SpendSense, which helps users manage their expenses responsibly. With GroupPay, bills can be shared among friends and family. Group Vaults, meanwhile, allows for the management of contributions, savings, withdrawals, and payments without administrative hassle or extra fees. Finally, TravelGenius makes booking flights, accommodations, excursions, and airport shuttles easier for South Africans.
In addition to Xhuma, Burger is also the founder and CEO of Xhuma Talent, an AI-powered platform launched in 2020 to connect talent with corporate job opportunities. Back in 2010, he founded Clothing4children, a charitable initiative focused on collecting clothing donations. In 2014, he co-founded the Samaritan Fund, an organization aimed at addressing South Africa's growing social needs, where he served as director until 2021.
The entrepreneur holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and law from Stellenbosch University, which he earned in 2017, the same year he obtained a bachelor’s in accounting from the University of Johannesburg. In 2018, he joined Investec, a financial management firm, as an internal auditor.
In 2020, Burger received multiple accolades. Notably, he was a finalist for the CEO of the Year award at Africa Tech Week and the Entrepreneur of the Year award at Startup School Africa. He also won the AppsAfrica award in the Edtech category and was a global finalist for the Global Edtech Startup Awards.
Melchior Koba
He aims to make quality healthcare more accessible to the Congolese population. By leveraging technology, he automates appointment scheduling and patient care.
Emmanuel Epenge (photo) is a Congolese neurologist and entrepreneur. He is the co-founder and CEO of Congo Medika, a health tech startup.
Founded in 2021, Congo Medika offers a platform that connects patients with over 120 healthcare professionals, enabling them to book appointments online with a doctor or a medical practice. The platform also provides home delivery of medications and health advice services.
The "advice" section of Congo Medika features a blog and video content covering a range of health topics. Additionally, a messaging function allows users to share experiences through private messages.
Emmanuel Epenge also works as a physician at the Neuropsychopathology Center in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where he treats patients with psychiatric disorders (psychoses, neuroses, etc.) or neurological conditions (strokes, meningitis, etc.).
Epenge graduated from the Protestant University in Congo with a medical degree in 2014. Between 2013 and 2014, he practiced at Kinshasa's General Reference Hospital. In 2016, he served as the national coordinator for the Association for the Smile of Mother and Child (ASME) in the DRC.
In 2019, he was one of the winners of the Innovation and Invention masterclass organized by the DRC’s Ministry of Industry.
Melchior Koba
He uses technology to make learning easier for young people like him. He has won several national awards and recognitions for his innovative ideas.
Afopezi Moses (photo) is a young Cameroonian IT specialist and entrepreneur. He is the co-founder and CEO of Skolarr, a tech company focused on education, with a mission to make high-quality learning more engaging, personalized, and accessible to the next generation of Africans.
Founded in 2022, Skolarr offers an online learning platform, available on mobile and web, that provides high-quality educational resources tailored to the needs of learners. This bilingual platform, offering content in both French and English, serves secondary school students as well as university-level learners. It collaborates with certified tutors to deliver real-time, personalized learning sessions.
Through the Skolarr app, students can ask questions, collaborate with peers, and receive real-time help, 24/7. They also have access to past exam papers and detailed solutions to assist them in preparing for national and international exams.
In 2021, Afopezi Moses co-founded the Cameroon Leaders Empowerment Initiative (CamLEI), an organization aimed at empowering Cameroonian leaders. He also serves as the CEO of DDevWorld, a startup specializing in 2D animations and web development.
Afopezi Moses holds a diploma in cybersecurity and ethical hacking, obtained in 2020 from Google Mobile Academy. In 2023, he earned an engineering degree from the National Advanced School of Post and Telecommunications.
In 2021, he won the Youth Connekt Cameroon Cluster Challenge national award. In 2023, he claimed victory in MTN’s Y’ello Digital Talent Tech competition organized by the telecom operator MTN. That same year, he secured first place in the Cameroonian student ingenuity and talent competition organized by the Ministry of Higher Education.
Melchior Koba
A serial entrepreneur, he stands out for his innovative technological solutions. To date, he has founded three companies specializing in various tech sectors.
Julius Mbungo (photo) is a Tanzanian tech entrepreneur. In 2023, along with Ebenezery Kimaro and John Mwapinga, he founded a company aimed at revolutionizing automotive maintenance services. Their goal is to address the challenges faced by vehicle owners and mechanics.
Their venture, Spana, offers a network of certified mechanics, spare parts suppliers, and an app that simplifies booking, payment, and connecting with mechanics. Through the app, users can request various automotive services, whether for repairs or regular maintenance, and order affordable spare parts.
In addition to Spana, Julius Mbungo is the founder and CEO of Toolboksi, a digital platform launched in 2019. Toolboksi provides informal sector workers with stable job opportunities, access to continuous training, and career advancement. The startup's mission is to formalize the recruitment process, enabling disadvantaged individuals to secure jobs or at least aspire to better employment prospects.
Prior to these initiatives, in 2016, Julius co-founded Click n’ Cart, where he served as Chief Operating Officer. The company provided an online grocery ordering and delivery platform, offering users the convenience of having their favorite products delivered in under an hour.
The serial entrepreneur holds a degree in Business Administration with a focus on innovation management and supply chain management, obtained in 2015 from the School of Business at Mzumbe University. In July and August 2024, he also completed an entrepreneurship training program at Clark Atlanta University in the USA.
Melchior Koba
He aims to help Rwandan businesses improve their performance and, in turn, increase their revenue. A trained IT specialist, he leverages his technological expertise to support them in this effort.
Crepin Kayisire (photo) is a Rwandan IT specialist and entrepreneur. He is the founder of Kayko, a startup that provides solutions to help businesses increase their value by effectively linking data to action.
Founded in 2021, Kayko offers a platform that helps users analyze cash flow, identify trends, and make informed decisions to ensure success. It automates processes such as billing and expense tracking, allowing companies to focus on growth. All essential financial information, from invoices to expenses and inventory, is centralized for optimal organization.
Depending on user needs, the Kayko platform is accessible via a mobile app or website. The startup also offers a point-of-sale (POS) software specifically designed for kiosks. To date, over 3,000 businesses are using that platform to support their development.
Crepin Kayisire graduated from the African Leadership University in 2021 with a degree in computer science and mathematics. Before founding Kayko, he worked for Imagine We Rwanda, a publishing house, where he held various roles between 2017 and 2018, including book seller, creative associate, and later, creative director.
In 2018, he joined HeHe, a Rwandan technology company, as a product designer and then marketing manager. Simultaneously, between 2017 and 2021, he was a design consultant for The Global School for Social Leaders, an organization dedicated to creating, promoting, and organizing international educational programs and events.
Melchior Koba
Entrepreneur en série, il se distingue par ses solutions technologiques innovantes. A ce jour, il a fondé trois entreprises spécialisées dans des secteurs variés de la technologie.
Julius Mbungo (photo) est un entrepreneur technologique tanzanien. En 2023, avec Ebenezery Kimaro et John Mwapinga, il a fondé une entreprise visant à révolutionner les services de maintenance automobile. Leur objectif est de résoudre les défis auxquels sont confrontés les propriétaires de véhicules et les mécaniciens.
Spana propose un réseau de mécaniciens agréés, de fournisseurs de pièces détachées, ainsi qu’une application qui facilite la réservation, le paiement et la mise en relation avec des mécaniciens. Grâce à cette application, les utilisateurs peuvent demander divers services automobiles, que ce soit pour des réparations ou de l’entretien régulier, ainsi que des pièces de rechange à des prix abordables.
En parallèle, Julius Mbungo est également le fondateur et président-directeur général de Toolboksi, une plateforme numérique lancée en 2019. Toolboksi offre aux travailleurs du secteur informel des opportunités de travail stable, ainsi qu’un accès à une formation continue et à une évolution professionnelle. La start-up a pour mission de formaliser le processus de recrutement afin de permettre aux personnes défavorisées d’accéder à des emplois ou, au minimum, de nourrir l’espoir d’en obtenir.
Avant ces initiatives, en 2016, Julius avait cofondé la start-up Click n’ Cart, où il occupait le poste de directeur des opérations. Cette entreprise offrait une plateforme de commande et de livraison d’épicerie en ligne, permettant aux utilisateurs de se faire livrer leurs produits préférés en moins d’une heure.
Julius Mbungo est titulaire d’un diplôme d’administration des affaires option innovation commerciale et gestion de chaîne d’approvisionnement obtenu en 2015 à la School Business de la Mzumbe University. En juillet et août 2024, il a également suivi une formation en entrepreneuriat à la Clark Atlanta University, aux Etats-Unis.
Melchior Koba
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Irene Phoebe Kiwia promeut les start-up spécialisées en IA, IoT et blockchain
A trained computer scientist, he specialized in developing fintech solutions. His goal is to make everyday life easier for Africans.
Ayo Akinola (photo) is a Nigerian business developer with a background in computer science, business intelligence, project management, and sales. He is the co-founder and CEO of Pocket, a financial app.
Founded in 2019, Pocket simplifies sending, receiving, and managing money for Africans. The app offers three types of wallets, called "pockets." The personal pocket allows users to transfer, spend, buy, and pay bills quickly. The business pocket helps users create an online store and manage professional payments. The group pocket allows users to manage funds with friends, colleagues, or family members.
Pocket is developed by Piggyvest, a startup Ayo Akinola also co-founded and where he serves as Chief Operating Officer. Established in 2016, Piggyvest helps individuals and businesses manage their finances, save, and invest easily.
Prior to Piggyvest, Akinola co-founded PuchCV in 2014, where he led business development until 2019. PuchCV connects talents with recruiters through a dedicated platform.
Ayo Akinola graduated from Covenant University in Nigeria, earning a bachelor's degree in computer science in 2012. In 2008, he interned with the IT department at Meyer PLC, a Nigerian paint manufacturer and distributor. In 2011, he served as assistant to the Chief Technology Officer at Fasyl Technology Group, a company specializing in IT services for financial operations.
Melchior Koba
He has over 10 years of experience in technology, data, and artificial intelligence. He is regarded as one of the most promising young tech entrepreneurs in Benin.
Luc Alapini (photo) is a serial entrepreneur and a prominent tech leader from Benin. He serves as the CEO of Bivariant, an inclusive platform that enables organizations and governments to accelerate the deployment of sovereign artificial intelligence (AI) across the entire supply chain.
Bivariant is an AI-focused platform designed for modern enterprises. The startup offers a variety of services, including AI strategies and data collection. It currently provides three main products. The first, Bivariant Studio, is an AI application development platform that allows businesses to seamlessly connect their AI applications to their data and create AI agents without any coding.
The second product, Bivariant Forge, is a platform for deploying and managing AI models, enabling businesses to implement large language models (LLMs) on their own infrastructure. Lastly, Bivariant Orbit serves as a centralized repository for storing, managing, and sharing AI resources, ensuring that teams have access to the latest AI innovations.
From Thursday, October 3 to Friday, October 4, Luc Alapini presented Bivariant at the FrancoTech exhibition in Paris, through the Benin Innov booth, an initiative of the Beninese government. The event, held at the Station F incubator, brought together 10 Beninese companies.
In addition to his role at Bivariant, Alapini is an advisor to Vocads, a startup that helps professionals in customer relations, marketing, and market research gather and analyze detailed feedback through voice surveys.
A seasoned entrepreneur, Alapini co-founded Tuniar in 2014, an inclusive mobile service for international money transfers and online payments. In the same year, he launched Enccore, a company specializing in modern cloud solutions and data intelligence. In 2020, he founded Oblic, a data engineering company.
Alapini holds a degree in statistical engineering from Benin's National School of Applied Economics and Management (ENEAM), which he earned in 2013. He also has a master's degree in applied mathematics from the University of South Brittany in France.
His career began in 2013 at Benin's Ministry of Health, where he worked as a data scientist. In 2014, he became the technical director of KYMA Ventures in Benin, a company specializing in innovation strategy and digital solutions. From 2020 to 2023, he served as technical director at Datexis Digital in France, a startup focused on data management and collection for businesses.
Melchior Koba
After several years of experience in tech companies, she is now specializing in the beauty and wellness sector. She leverages her technological skills to invigorate this industry.
Maya Ammouche (photo) is an Algerian computer scientist and businesswoman. She is the founder and CEO of Izya, an app dedicated to the beauty, health, and wellness sectors.
Launched in 2022, Izya aims to connect professionals in these industries. The app lists top establishments and experts, offering personalized services for individuals either in a salon or at home as well as for companies focused on employee well-being. Its main feature allows clients to book appointments at the nearest establishment or request an in-home service provider.
“We offer a SaaS [Software as a Service] solution that helps businesses better manage their operations, while making it easier for clients to book appointments. Clients also benefit from a range of both qualitative and quantitative advantages. They will enjoy access to a directory of the best value-for-money services,” explains the founder of Izya.
Before founding Izya, Maya Ammouche co-founded the accelerator SprintHub in 2020, where she served as Vice President of Marketing and Sales until 2023. She holds an engineering degree in computer engineering, which she earned in 2007 from the Houari Boumediène University of Science and Technology.
Her career began in 2009 at Altex-Corp, an IT services company, where she worked as a consulting engineer. In 2012, she became Director of Sales Development at Corpotrade, a commercial firm. In 2018, she was appointed Director of Marketing and Partnerships at Yassir, a startup focused on ride-sharing and delivery services. In 2020, she joined Cleverzone, a technology company, as Director of Marketing, Sales, and Business Development.
Melchior Koba
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A trained actuary, he has accumulated several years of experience working for insurers in France. Eager to modernize the industry, he is betting on technology.
Kays Bouachik (photo) is a Moroccan finance expert and entrepreneur. He is the co-founder and CEO of Kayros, a startup that helps mutual insurance companies and brokers swiftly launch their insurance products and achieve their commercial growth targets.
Founded in 2022, Kayros accelerates the growth of mutuals and brokers through digital solutions. It offers insurers, mutuals, and brokers an innovative platform that optimizes every step of the customer acquisition and underwriting process. This platform integrates acquisition and underwriting channels to streamline the entire customer journey.
Kayros enables the creation of seamless underwriting pathways and the deployment of insurance products across all distribution channels. It also provides personalized support to brokers in the launch phase, rapidly growing startups, mutuals looking to fast-track their digital transformation, and wholesale brokers seeking new growth opportunities.
In addition to his role at Kayros, Kays Bouachik serves on the board of Taillis Labs, a software development company. In 2019, he co-founded Rooit, where he served as COO until 2023. Rooit is an AI-powered social chat solution aimed at revolutionizing the way young people communicate and form friendships.
Kays Bouachik's academic background is equally impressive. He graduated from Paris Dauphine University-PSL, earning a bachelor's degree in financial mathematics in 2016 and a master's degree in actuarial science in 2017. He also holds a master's in financial engineering from CY Tech, France, completed in 2017.
His professional career began in 2015 at Groupe Crédit Agricole, where he worked as a sales assistant. In 2017, he joined GALEA & Associés, a French insurance firm, as an actuarial consultant.
Melchior Koba
He has several years of experience in developing fintech and blockchain projects. His ambition is to connect Africa with the latest financial technologies.
Moses Adeniji (photo) is a Nigerian entrepreneur specializing in financial technology. He is the co-founder and CEO of Paychant, a startup that provides Africans with access to the financial opportunities offered by the Web3.
Founded in 2019, Paychant is a fintech company offering a fiat payment infrastructure. It allows users across Africa to buy and sell digital assets using traditional local payment methods. The platform supports more than 100 banks and over a dozen e-wallets across the continent.
This solution enables users to easily transition from traditional currencies to cryptocurrencies. The company's mission is to connect Africa’s traditional financial system with the world of decentralized finance (DeFi).
"We are committed to building transparent solutions that allow people in emerging economies to participate in and benefit from decentralized finance," the startup explains on its website. Paychant supports over 40 digital assets and offers more than 150 payment methods.
Moses Adeniji holds an accounting degree from Lagos State Polytechnic, which he obtained in 2016. After his studies, he worked as a frontend engineer for startups AfricaLinked.com and TIG. The former is a directory of products, companies, and individuals, while the latter is a fintech platform that uses the digital currency Tigereum to buy, sell, send, and pay through social networks.
Melchior Koba
Artificial intelligence is developing rapidly, both in Africa and across the rest of the world. In Ghana, a young entrepreneur is harnessing this technology to benefit the healthcare sector.
Darlington Akogo (photo) is a Ghanaian artificial intelligence (AI) expert and entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of minoHealth AI Labs, a tech startup that is using AI to revolutionize the healthcare sector in Africa.
Founded in 2017, minoHealth AI Labs is a pioneering company in the application of AI to healthcare. It helps medical institutions provide quality care at affordable costs by automating medical diagnostics, prognostics, and predictions using AI, data science, and biomedicine.
In the field of radiology, minoHealth AI Labs has developed AI systems capable of automatically diagnosing 14 thoracic conditions, including pneumonia, fibrosis, hernia, and pleural effusion. The system also aids in breast cancer detection through mammography.
The startup has also developed AI solutions to combat malaria, facilitate COVID-19 screening, and identify damage caused by tuberculosis. Moreover, it applies AI to other fields such as biotechnology, oncology, regenerative medicine, neuroscience, optometry, epidemiology, and dietetics.
Darlington Akogo is also the CEO of karaAgro AI, a company he founded in 2018 that offers precision agriculture solutions to help farmers increase yields and reduce crop stress. In 2019, he established the Runmila AI Institute, which he leads as Executive Director, to train Ghanaians and Africans in artificial intelligence.
Additionally, Akogo chairs TG-AI4Radiology, a think tank of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the World Health Organization (WHO). He also leads AI Economy, a group working to define a continental AI strategy within the African Union.
From 2019 to 2020, Darlington Akogo served as an AI and Industry 4.0 expert for the Organization of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS). He later co-chaired the global strategic group on digital health and AI, created by the University of Oxford.
Melchior Koba
He is a dedicated entrepreneur driving digital innovation in Gabon. Over the years, he has partnered with the government to advance the country's technological development.
Thierry Dzime (photo) is a Gabonese expert in strategic communication and digital marketing. He is the founder and director of Olatano Market, a digital platform specializing in e-commerce.
Founded in 2021, Olatano Market aims to offer a new e-commerce experience in Gabon. The platform provides an online marketplace connecting thousands of people looking to buy or sell quality products across the country. It offers a wide range of services and tools to help entrepreneurs launch and grow their businesses.
One of Olatano Market’s flagship services is Achat Flex, which allows individuals to pay online through various payment methods, such as cash-on-delivery, mobile money, and credit cards. It also offers the option to purchase a product and pay in installments.
"Our innovative platform is a complete break from the conventional offerings of existing players and addresses the growing demand from customers who want more choice, the ability to compare prices, and access to products and prices no matter where they are in Gabon," said the founder of Olatano Market in 2022.
Thierry Dzime also serves as an advisor to the Gabonese Prime Minister’s office and co-organizes Café Numérique in Libreville, where he oversees marketing and communication. Before founding Olatano Market, he launched Digital Impact Gabon in 2014, a digital agency, and Express Courrier Gabon in 2017, a transportation and express delivery company.
A graduate of Leibniz University in Hanover, Germany, Dzime earned a master’s degree in international management, marketing, and sales in 2011. His career began in 2012 at Petro Gabon, an oil and gas company, where he held the position of sales manager.
In 2019, he became the communications advisor to Gabon’s Minister of Tourism, Trade, and SMEs, and in 2020, to the Minister of Economy and Finance. From 2021 to 2022, he served as the digital advisor to the President of Gabon. During the same period, he also held the role of country director for Baloon Assurance in Gabon.
Melchior Koba