OpenseedVC, a U.K.-based venture capital firm focused on early-stage tech companies in Africa and Europe, announced the first close of its seed fund at $10 million on Monday, May 20. The fund will target investments in startups across various sectors, including e-commerce, fintech, healthtech, and productivity tools.
"Our thesis is that by backing experienced operators early in their journey with the right capital and support from peer operators, you can build a diversified portfolio that generates incredible returns for investors and provides crucial support for ambitious operators when they need it most," said Maria Rotilu (photo), founder of OpenseedVC.
His goal is to help businesses and individuals boost their ventures. To achieve this, he has launched several initiatives, including a freelance platform.
Boubacar Diallo (photo) is a Guinean-born computer engineer and entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of Jamaa, a startup dedicated to helping businesses and individuals recruit top African digital talent for their projects.
Founded in 2021, Jamaa is a marketplace that connects companies with skilled freelancers on demand, offering services in various digital fields. The platform features professionals in graphic design, digital marketing, telemarketing, writing and translation, software development demonstrations, and programming.
Jamaa also organizes events such as the Jamaa Summit, a conference bringing together investors and entrepreneurs. This year, the summit will be held on May 25 and 26 in France, expecting nearly 1,000 participants, including 20 investment funds, 70 speakers, 16 startups, and 50 exhibitors.
Before Jamaa, Boubacar Diallo co-founded Tutorys, where he served as CTO until 2015. Established in 2010, Tutorys provides online training for using web applications like Twitter, Mailchimp, and Blogger. In 2015, he founded AfrikaTech, a platform promoting African startups and those in the diaspora. In 2020, he co-founded Business Africa, a weekend event focusing on African entrepreneurship, where he served as marketing director.
Boubacar Diallo holds a master's degree in computer engineering from EFREI, a digital school where he graduated in 2009. His career began in 2005 at the Effor training center, where he worked as a sales representative and trainer before becoming president in 2007. In 2006, he was a database developer at Bouygues and later worked as a Java developer at Infotel in 2008.
Melchior Koba
After her biomedical and electrical engineering studies, she developed an interest in artificial intelligence. Today, she is considered one of the most influential figures in the AI field worldwide.
Pelonomi Moiloa (photo) is a South African entrepreneur. As the co-founder and CEO of Lelapa AI, she is dedicated to developing artificial intelligence products.
Founded in 2022, Lelapa AI is an AI research lab focused on Africa. By creating this company, Pelonomi Moiloa, convinced that developing countries need their own language models, uses AI to aid in the natural language processing of African languages.
"Language models created elsewhere lack an understanding of the local context. They can harbor perspectives that can be damaging to the communities that use them. If there is anyone who should benefit from profit generated from a language — a cultural heirloom — it should be the people to whom that language belongs," she explains.
One of Lelapa AI's innovations is Vulavula, an application that performs transcriptions to facilitate reading and allows for quick analysis of the emotional tone of voice messages. Translation features are being developed to enrich the platform.
In addition to her responsibilities at Lelapa AI, Pelonomi Moiloa is the director of The Ungovernable NPC, an organization that offers programs and projects to rethink entrepreneurship. She graduated from the University of Witwatersrand in 2015 with a degree in electrical engineering and from Tohoku University in Japan in 2019 with a master's degree in biomedical engineering.
Pelonomi Moiloa worked at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) between 2014 and 2016 as a data science intern. From 2019 to 2022, she was a data scientist and team leader at Nedbank in Johannesburg.
In recognition of her achievements, Pelonomi Moiloa was named by Time magazine in 2023 as one of the 100 most influential people in AI worldwide.
Melchior Koba
Commerce and distribution are cornerstones of Morocco's economy, playing a significant role in driving both GDP and job creation. Embracing new technologies in this sector is crucial to boost its efficiency and sharpen its competitive edge.
Global digital advertising firm Aleph and Morocco's Ministry of Industry and Commerce signed a framework partnership agreement on Monday, May 20, in Rabat. The initiative aims to propel the digital transformation of the commerce sector and enhance merchant competitiveness.
"Our 'Digital Ad Expert' program is specifically designed to educate and empower our partners to leverage digital technologies," stated Mohamed Megahed, General Manager at Aleph Group, ensuring "a smooth transition to modern, efficient business models."
Under this partnership, Aleph will provide merchants with educational resources through the Digital Ad Expert platform and offer local support from Google-certified experts. The company will also organize training sessions and innovative workshops to effectively integrate digital advertising into their marketing strategies. The Ministry of Commerce will implement a joint action plan, mobilizing chambers of commerce and other entities to support the digitization of SMEs and organizing events to encourage the use of new technologies.
This partnership aligns with the government's trade recovery plan, which emphasizes sector modernization and job creation. The commerce and distribution sector, representing 10.8% of GDP and employing over 15.4% of the workforce (according to official figures), is a key target for this digitization push.
The Aleph-Ministry alliance is expected to assist businesses in digitizing services, ensuring their competitiveness in the increasingly digital commercial landscape. This collaboration is seen as a crucial step in fostering innovation, technology adoption, and ultimately, the growth of Morocco's digital economy.
Samira Njoya
Congo is implementing a €66.55 million project to build its national data center, according to an AFDB release dated May 17. Co-funded by the AfDB (€52.47 million) and the Republic of Congo (€14.50 million), the project includes constructing a data center and laying a 600-kilometer fiber cable.
The data center, a three-story building, will feature server and monitoring rooms, meeting spaces, and essential energy and air-conditioning equipment. Set for completion by December 2024, it is expected to be the main hub for the country’s digital data and support national projects like the digital identification initiative, boosting Congo’s digital infrastructure and security.
Kenya’s Ministry of ICT and Digital Economy has proposed the Information and Communications Technology Authority Bill 2024 to improve the technology sector. The draft bill, published in April 2024, outlines a licensing regime for ICT operators and establishes a framework for improved service delivery. For Cabinet Secretary for ICT and Digital Economy, Eliud Owalo, the bill aims to strengthen ICT service delivery by ensuring security, efficiency, and high quality, and simplifying ICT integration into public services.
The bill creates accreditation categories based on experience and technical skills. If passed, the relevant authority will assign accreditation levels to individuals or organizations that meet the prescribed requirements.
In an effort to help people maintain a digital medical record, three tech entrepreneurs have developed a solution using blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI).
Myrekod, an e-health solution developed by Kenyan startup Afya Rekod, offers users the ability to store their personal medical records and access healthcare services. Founded in 2020 by Ronald Harris, John Kamara, and Irene Kiwia, this Nairobi-based startup leverages blockchain technology and integrates AI to empower patients.
The application connects users to the healthcare ecosystem, including hospitals, pharmacies, and insurance providers. In February 2022, Afya Rekod secured $2 million in funding to support its growth across the continent. Commenting on the fundraising, John Kamara, co-founder of Afya Rekod, said it would “give patients resources and tools to store and manage their health data, a critical function for patients with chronic illnesses, and their doctors.”
“For the past one and a half years, we've singularly focused on building a dynamic platform that streamlines health records with analytics and provides access to specialized clinics and experts. This delivers high quality healthcare in a way that is critical for this momentemphasized the critical role of health data management for patients with chronic illnesses. The platform streamlines health records, provides analytics, and grants access to specialized clinics and experts, ensuring high-quality healthcare delivery,” he added.
Available on both iOS and Android, the mobile app has garnered over a thousand downloads on the Play Store. Users can create accounts, input medical records, track appointments, and share documents with third parties when changing doctors or hospitals. Myrekod encourages patients to actively engage in their health management by maintaining daily health records and collaborating with healthcare providers.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
An entrepreneur with over seven years of experience in the digital sector, she established several companies, primarily in the education sector.
Hadjara Ahouantchede (photo) is a Beninese trainer and entrepreneur. As the co-founder and CEO of Mara Academy, she aims to create decent and sustainable jobs for young people in Africa.
Founded in 2021, Mara Academy equips Africans with the skills necessary to secure quality employment. The academy offers various programs, including the Youth Employment Accelerator (YEA) and SHIFT. The YEA program, lasting 52 weeks, targets young people aged 18 to 35 seeking their first professional opportunity. The SHIFT program, which spans six months or more, is designed for professionals undergoing a career transition.
Through the YEA program, Mara Academy trains students in digital marketing, social media management, and UX/UI design. The SHIFT program also includes cybersecurity training and prepares students for recognized certifications in digital project management.
"We are focused on future-oriented careers, and all our training programs aim to help young people find employment. We train our students to acquire the necessary skills and aptitudes to secure good jobs," said Hadjara Ahouantchede in 2022.
As a trainer, Hadjara Ahouantchede is involved with the Francophone Employability Center (CEF) of the Agence universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF) and the African Design School at Ecole229. She is also an ambassador for Future Females, a movement that inspires and supports female entrepreneurs.
Before Mara Academy, Hadjara co-founded Mentorat Club in 2016, a community of mentors boosting African businesses. The following year, she co-founded Sewema, an educational platform.
Hadjara holds a master's degree in software architecture from the School of Management, Computer Science, and Sciences (ESGIS), which she obtained in 2016. She began her professional career in 2015 at Cdiscussion as an assistant IT engineer. In 2016, she worked as a web developer at TEKXL.
In 2017, she joined the IT company RINTIO as a software development consultant. She has also been a consultant for TechnoServe, an entrepreneur support organization, and the Belgian development agency Enabel.
In 2019, she received the Femme Digitale 229 award from the Beninese Ministry of Digital Technology and Digitization.
Melchior Koba
To enhance administrative efficiency and optimize data management, African governments are increasingly digitizing public services. The ambitious initiative is expected to significantly improve citizens' lives.
Burkina Faso's Ministry of Environment, Water, and Sanitation unveiled a new digital platform on Friday, May 17, to simplify the application process for users. Accessible at www.eservices.envieau.gov.bf, the platform currently streamlines ten environmental procedures.
"This portal will make it easier for our citizens to access these services and improve our ministry's efficiency in responding to user requests," said Aminata Zerbo/Sabane (photo, center), Minister of Digital Transition, Posts, and Electronic Communications, at the launch event.
The ten procedures digitized by the Ministry of Environment include the issuance of technical opinions for the importation of chemical products, certification for biodegradable plastic packaging and bags, exemption certificates for non-biodegradable plastic packaging and bags, and authorization for solid waste management. They also cover permits for the transportation and cutting of wood and charcoal, ecotourism permits, wild animal possession, hunting licenses, and technical approvals in the water and sanitation sector.
The launch of this portal is part of the 2021-2025 National Strategy for the Modernization of Public Administration (SNMAP). This strategy aims to provide Burkina Faso with an excellent public administration serving users by 2025. In the coming months, other ministries will also launch their own platforms, to facilitate interaction between users and the administration while reducing the need for in-person visits.
This extensive project marks a significant step towards the modernization and digitization of administrative services in Burkina Faso, thereby improving the quality and accessibility of public services for citizens. It reflects the Burkinabe government's commitment to using digital technologies to optimize interactions between citizens and the administration, track requests in real-time, generate statistics on processed applications, facilitate file archiving, and reduce paper usage.
Samira Njoya
By improving payment systems and enhancing the trustworthiness of credentials, African SMEs can engage more effectively in international trade. This fosters economic inclusivity, drives innovation, and opens new markets, ultimately contributing to sustainable economic development across the continent.
Director of Fintech and Innovation at the Bank of Ghana, Kwame Oppong, announced the successful completion of a cross-border transaction using Ghana’s eCedi and a Singaporean stablecoin. This was during the just ended 3i Africa summit held from 13-15 May in Accra. It marks the first proof of concept for Project DESFT (Digital Economy Semi-Fungible Token).
Project DESFT aims to support African SMEs in global trade by addressing trust and payment challenges. “.. we have rigorously tested a cross-border payment solution built upon the principles of Purpose Bound Money (PBM) and conducted real trade experiments which fully align with our predetermined objectives,” Oppong stated
According to the IMF “Central Bank Digital Currency's Role in Promoting Financial Inclusion” 2023 report, Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) can enhance financial inclusion by enabling households to efficiently transfer funds and access savings, insurance, and credit. This improved access supports financial wellness, reduces poverty, and promotes shared prosperity. The World Bank highlights financial inclusion as crucial for reducing poverty and boosting prosperity, by fostering entrepreneurship, investment, and productivity, and studies show a strong link between digital financial inclusion and economic growth.
The eCedi is set to enhance Ghana’s payment ecosystem by promoting growth, innovation, and improved consumer experiences. Its compatibility with the DESFT system and verifiable credentials can facilitate international trade for Ghanaian MSMEs.
Hikmatu Bilali
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Despite their crucial role in the entrepreneurial landscape and their potential to drive economic development, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in sub-Saharan Africa face limited access to financing.
Singapore-based fintech company Proxtera announced a partnership with Ghana's Development Bank of Ghana (DBG) on Wednesday, May 15, during the 3iAfrica Summit in Accra. The collaboration aims to establish a digital platform offering $100 million in loans to Ghanaian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Kwamina Duker, CEO of DBG, highlighted the platform's potential to streamline the loan application process and reduce borrowing costs for SMEs over time. “If today, it takes about three to six months to get a loan, with a huge amount of documentation, and we can cut that down to turnaround of literally a real time of 24 hours… then we can appreciate the benefits of digitalization,” he stated.
Through the partnership, DBG will leverage Proxtera's digital platform to provide loans for SME growth and expansion. Eligible businesses must be Ghanaian-owned and operating within the country, with a sound financial plan. Priority will be given to SMEs in key sectors like agriculture, manufacturing, information and communication technology (ICT), and other high-value-added industries.
This collaboration marks a significant step towards digital financial inclusion in Ghana. By facilitating access to financing for SMEs, the partnership is expected to stimulate economic growth, create jobs, and strengthen the country's economic fabric. It aligns with Ghana's national financial inclusion and development strategy, developed in collaboration with the World Bank, which aims to increase financial inclusion from 58% in 2020 to 85% by 2023.
Samira Njoya
The success of platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com has ignited a fire among African tech entrepreneurs. Recognizing the significant growth of the tourism sector and the rising need for short-term accommodation for both leisure and business travel, these entrepreneurs are seizing the opportunity to develop innovative solutions.
Camansa, a digital solution developed by an Ivorian startup, provides users with the ability to locate short-term accommodations for vacations or business trips across various cities in Côte d'Ivoire. The startup, headquartered in Abidjan, was established by Aziz Doumbia, Khalifa Bayoko, and Yann Akoun.
“Our mission at Camansa is to connect travelers, tourists, hotels, and property owners through our booking platform. [...]We’ve developed a dedicated booking platform for hosts and travelers to streamline the reservation process and address common issues,” the startup explains.
For the time being, Camansa does not offer a mobile application, so users must access the web platform via a browser. While users can browse available properties on the site, an account is required to make reservations. Camansa collects necessary information to verify the identity of the account creator, whether for booking or hosting. Once verified, they can conduct their transactions on the platform.
The Ivorian startup offers a variety of accommodations to meet different client standards, ranging from hotels to villas and apartments owned by individuals. In addition to the properties displayed on the homepage, users can conduct more personalized searches. The website features a search bar where users can enter the city, arrival and departure dates, and the number of travelers, specifying the number of adults, children, and babies.
While using the platform is free, reservations carry a fee of 2,000 CFA Francs (approximately $3.30). The startup levies a commission of 10% from hotels and 15% from individual property owners. Payments can be made via credit cards or mobile money. Refund policies in the event of reservation cancellations are dependent on the terms of the property owner, whether a hotel or an individual.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
Algeria aims to position itself as a regional leader in technology and innovation. To achieve this ambition, the country is partnering with more advanced players in the field.
Algeria and China have signed a memorandum of cooperation to bolster collaboration in the fields of digitization and the digital economy, according to a May 16 statement from Algeria's High Commission for Digitization.
The agreement, formalized during a visit to China by a delegation led by High Commissioner Meriem Benmouloud (pictured, left), underscores the commitment to digital cooperation between Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and his Chinese counterpart.
This new partnership aligns with the High Commission's digitization action plan, which is currently shaping Algeria's national digital transformation strategy for 2024-2029. It follows a similar agreement signed earlier this year between the High Commission and Huawei, aimed at accelerating the country's digital transition.
The Algeria-China collaboration will explore avenues for cooperation across various digital domains. Training programs and expertise transfer will be implemented to enhance local digital skills and foster technological innovation. This collaboration will allow Algeria to leverage China's experience and knowledge in information technology, facilitating the government's goals of economic development and modernization.
Beyond the focus on training and technology transfer, potential projects could encompass developing advanced digital infrastructure, digitizing public services to improve efficiency, and creating an environment conducive to technological innovation and digital entrepreneurship. These initiatives aim to position Algeria as a prominent player in the digital economy within Africa and beyond.
Samira Njoya
Africa's e-commerce scene is booming, with tech startups developing innovative solutions to streamline operations for merchants.
Maad, a Senegalese startup, has developed a business-to-business e-commerce solution that enables small retailers to source consumer goods directly from affiliated suppliers. The startup, with bases in Dakar, Senegal, and San Francisco, USA, was established in 2020 by Sidy Niang and Jessica Long. On Tuesday, May 14, it announced the successful completion of a $3.2 million funding round aimed at diversifying its services and bolstering its growth in Senegal.
Jessica Long explained their decision to handle all logistics in-house, stating, “We decided to bring all of logistics…the reason that we do that is just it's a low margin business. We think that this is the way to provide good service and to meet the reliability needs of clients. I don't think that we would be able to offer a similar service if we relied on a third-party provider.”
The startup’s mobile application, available on iOS and Android, has already been downloaded more than 10,000 times from PlayStore. After downloading, users create an account and gain access to a variety of services, including ordering. The startup estimates that 75% of orders are placed through the app, with the remainder coming from the call center and field agents. Maad also offers a delivery service that helps to optimize order prices.
As for the various brands featured on the startup’s mobile platform, they “can track live presence and market share data. They can also deploy promotion and merchandising services in targeted neighborhoods to increase sales of key products.”
In addition to facilitating orders, the startup offers various services such as “buy now, pay later,” which allows retailers to access stock on credit. Maad currently boasts over 6,500 active retailers and 80 suppliers.
Adoni Conrad Quenum