EMpact has a presence in multiple markets around the world. For its initial foray into Africa, the company has chosen Côte d’Ivoire.
As part of its launch in West Africa, EMpact, an American investment firm that fosters entrepreneurial initiatives of young talents to accelerate startups serving vital value chains in frontier markets, has selected the Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny (INP-HB) and the International University of Grand Bassam (IGUB) in Côte d’Ivoire as its academic partners.
The program is designed to spark innovations in the agricultural value chain and promote sustainable practices, not only in Côte d’Ivoire but across the West African region, where the studio intends to expand. In this context, both current students and alumni from partner universities and others will benefit from entrepreneurial guidance through a hybrid training program provided by the partner academic institutions and EMpact’s global program. Following the training, there will be an incubation phase succeeded by a startup accelerator offering ongoing mentorship and continuous training to the participants.
For the Ivorian partners, particularly INP-HB, this program is poised to play a pivotal role in the development of agricultural entrepreneurship and, consequently, the African economy, which is heavily reliant on this sector.
“We believe in the fundamental role that entrepreneurship plays in the development of a country. One of the main challenges facing our countries is job creation and the placement of our young graduates. This partnership is a relevant response to the growth in student unemployment as it strengthens links between our research system and the valorization of outcomes through innovative companies. Agriculture, which remains one of the key pillars of development in African countries, is the primary beneficiary. Entrepreneurship is gaining unprecedented momentum in our region, which makes this partnership even more relevant and timely for us,” stated Moussa Diaby, the Director-General of INP-HB.
In West Africa, EMpact will follow the model already being used in Guatemala, Central America. By 2025, EMpact plans to incorporate other frontier markets, such as those in Central Asia, and begin to interconnect these markets through the cross-pollination of ideas, capitalizing on their inherent similarities and complementarities.
Vanessa Ngono Atangana
Launched in 2011, the African Entrepreneur Award returns annually with new challenges while maintaining a constant goal: to encourage entrepreneurship, support innovation in Africa, and contribute to the socio-economic development of the continent.
Africangels, Africa's leading angel investor network, announced on Thursday, April 25, the opening of applications for the 8th edition of the African Entrepreneur Award. This prestigious competition aims to acknowledge African and international entrepreneurs who have made a significant impact in Africa.
This year, five major awards will be presented to the winners. The African Entrepreneur of the Year Award will honor the individual whose entrepreneurial impact has been the most significant. The African Startup of the Year Award will be given to a young entrepreneur with high potential. The Next Impact Award will reward leaders for their impact on the economy and their innovative solutions to societal challenges. Lastly, the African'Elles Award will be dedicated to innovative women who propose solutions to societal, economic, and environmental challenges.
The African Entrepreneur Award will provide winners in thematic categories with opportunities for expansion by offering advisory support, access to international networks, financing opportunities judged by a panel of investors, as well as extensive media visibility. Additionally, winners will receive an endowment of up to €40,000.
The competition will take place in two stages. The first stage is a regional call for applications that will run from April to August 2024. At the end of this period, a selection will be made in six regions to identify three regional finalists, who will automatically qualify for the international phase. The second phase, which will be international, will take place in November of the same year. A final jury composed of influential personalities will then designate the winners of the African Entrepreneur Award. Applications for this year’s edition are open till August 20.
Samira Njoya
His goal is to simplify the process for businesses in Ethiopia to receive their payments. Leveraging the digital skills he gained in China, he is working on the development of a fintech platform named Chapa to fulfill this purpose.
Nael Hailemariam (photo), a co-founder and the CEO of Chapa, is leading the charge to streamline financial transactions between businesses and their clients in Ethiopia. Established in 2021, Chapa is a payment gateway that enables to easily entrepreneurs, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and large corporations to accept digital payments. Chapa’s comprehensive platform brings together various payment methods, including bank transfers, debit card transactions, and digital payments.
Chapa’s mission is to lower transaction fees, increase revenue, and boost operational efficiency for businesses. By addressing a broad spectrum of payment needs, the startup simplifies financial operations and fosters the development of innovative business models.
In addition to his role at Chapa, Hailemariam also serves on the board of the Innovative Finance Lab Ethiopia, an organization dedicated to enhancing access to financing for SMEs and startups in Ethiopia. This initiative is a collaborative effort between the National Bank of Ethiopia and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Hailemariam holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Addis Ababa University, earned in 2014, and a bachelor’s degree in electronic and information engineering from Beihang University in Beijing, earned in 2018. He completed a master’s degree in data science and computer engineering at Tsinghua University in China in 2021.
Prior to embarking on his entrepreneurial journey, Hailemariam gained invaluable experience as an assistant professor of computer science at Beihang University from 2017 to 2018. From 2019 to 2020, he served as the director of the Design + Space Laboratory at Tsinghua University, a design lab and workspace for students.
Melchior Koba
After completing her university studies in computer science in London, she returned to Gambia. She is now contributing to her country's development by fostering entrepreneurship and technological innovation.
Beran Dondeh Gillen (photo), a Gambian entrepreneur and computer scientist, co-founded and currently serves as the CEO of The Hub. Established in October 2019, The Hub is a technology incubator dedicated to filling the gaps in Gambia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The Hub is devoted to aiding entrepreneurs in their journey by offering incubation programs, training, acceleration sessions, and mentorship and coaching opportunities. It also provides modern, collaborative workspaces. The Hub caters to a diverse array of entrepreneurs, including young adults aged between 18 and 35, and aims to impact 1,500 individuals by 2025. To date, it has supported over 194 entrepreneurs, benefited more than 953 individuals through its programs, organized over 37 events, and conducted more than 30 training sessions.
In addition to her role at The Hub, Gillen holds a directorial position at Morem Consulting and Advisory Services, a firm specializing in financial and technical consulting. She also serves as the chairperson of the Information Technology Association of The Gambia.
Gillen is a graduate of Middlesex University in London, where she earned a Master’s degree in Network Management in 2006. She embarked on her professional journey in 2002 at De La Rue, a security company, serving as a project manager. In 2007, she transitioned to the fintech company EazyPAY, taking on the role of Director of Operations.
In October 2023, Gillen was recognized as the “ICT Icon of the Year” at the ICT Expo in Gambia, a testament to her dedication and significant contributions to the advancement of technology and entrepreneurship in Gambia.
Melchior Koba
Cybersecurity is crucial for Africa's economic growth. Strong cybersecurity not only attracts foreign investment but also helps Africa maximize digitalization benefits, fostering inclusive growth and prosperity.
The National Information Technology Agency NITA has teamed up with SmartInfraco and Trend Micro to strengthen cybersecurity for government entities with antivirus services. The agreement, inked on April 24 in Accra by Richard Okyere-Fosu, NITA's Director General, alongside Mazen Al-Adhami from Trend Micro and Harkirit Singh, CEO of Smart Infraco, seeks to deliver cybersecurity solutions, safeguarding the digital landscape from potential threats.
Richard Okyere-Fosu highlighted the agency's cybersecurity efforts, noting antivirus services as a crucial missing component, with only about 30% of government systems equipped with proper antivirus which poses a significant risk to the nation's digitalization agenda. “It is in the face of such risk that NITA as part of our mandate has over the past few years collaborated with partners within the public and private sector to roll out a series of interventions to address information and cybersecurity in general across the public sector space,” he explained.
The antivirus services offered through this partnership will maintain system integrity and prevent cybersecurity incidents, addressing significant gaps in antivirus coverage across government systems.
Mazen Al-Adhami and Harkirit Singh expressed dedication to providing government organizations with comprehensive cybersecurity solutions, including endpoint and email security measures.
Ghana is ranked third (3rd) in Africa and 43rd globally on the 2020 Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) report by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The country is one of the few African countries to have a national cybersecurity strategy and national incident response capabilities. Yet it is subject to cyber incidents that cause significant disruptions to businesses and the economy. In September 2021, a vpnMentor Research Team, headed by Noam Rotem and Ran Locar, uncovered that 700,000 individuals in Ghana had their data, totaling 55 GB, compromised, exposing them to risks such as fraud, hacking, and identity theft. This not only endangered the affected individuals but also posed significant threats to the institutions and the Ghanaian government.
The signing ceremony marks a significant step towards enforcing security compliance and safeguarding government data and infrastructure to accelerate Ghana's digitalization efforts.
Hikmatu Bilali
Undersea cable disruptions are a recurring issue in Africa, resulting in considerable financial setbacks for numerous stakeholders in the continent's telecommunications industry. Significant improvements could be realized through investment in this sector.
Guinea and Gambia are set to be linked by a second subsea optical fiber cable in the near future. The Minister of Posts, Telecommunications, and Digital Economy for Guinea, Rose Pola Pricemou, and her Gambian counterpart, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Ousmane Bah, signed a memorandum of understanding to this effect on Wednesday, April 24, in Banjul.
The memorandum aims to combine efforts and resources to carry out a feasibility study for the creation of a new submarine cable. The World Bank will fund the future infrastructure as part of the West African Digital Integration Project (WARDIP).
Under this agreement, both countries stand to benefit from reduced project-related costs. For example, Guinea could see its expenses cut by more than 40%. This initiative underscores the two nations’ commitment to bolstering their cooperation for a more accessible and prosperous digital future.
Gambia and Guinea are currently connected to the ACE (Africa Coast to Europe) cable, which they primarily depend on for high-speed internet services. Frequent disruptions on this infrastructure lead to service interruptions, making it imperative for the two nations to connect to a second submarine cable capable of providing backup.
The rollout of the second subsea cable is expected to not only enhance the quality of high-speed telecommunications services but also to broaden the reach of these services to thousands more individuals and lower costs. The project is also poised to accelerate the implementation of the two countries’ digital transformation goals.
Samira Njoya
The solution is the brainchild of a serial entrepreneur with years of experience.
Tawssil, a logistics solution developed by the Moroccan company Cash Plus, was originally established as Ramapar in 2004 by Abdelbakki Amar. Launched in 2020, Tawssil offers users the convenience of having packages delivered either to a designated relay point or directly to the recipient’s home.
While the mobile application for the solution is reportedly under development, users can currently access the delivery service through its web platform. The cost of delivery varies based on the weight of the package and the delivery location.
For instance, delivering a package weighing between 1 and 5 kilograms within the same city costs 20 dirhams (approximately 2 US dollars). The fee rises to 45 dirhams for intercity deliveries, and to 55 dirhams for deliveries to Laâyoune and Dakhla, two cities situated in the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, a territory administered by Morocco. Tawssil provides a comprehensive rate list for packages weighing up to 20 kilograms.
In addition to serving cities in Morocco, Tawssil extends its delivery services to other African countries and continents, including America, Asia, and Europe, leveraging its partnerships with numerous international shipment specialists. More information about this service can be obtained at relay points.
Tawssil has also introduced a special offer for e-commerce startups. To avail this offer, startups need to create an account and sign a contract. After that step, Tawssil facilitates the collection and delivery of clients’ orders within 24 to 48 hours, provides real-time tracking of parcel delivery for the recipient, manages returns, and more. By 2022, just two years after its inception, Tawssil had already delivered over a million parcels to 200,000 recipients across more than a thousand localities.
Reflecting on this achievement, Rachdi Reda, the CEO of Tawssil, stated, “These performances were made possible thanks to the extensive network of Cash Plus and the establishment of a robust logistical ecosystem comprising 30 regional hubs, ensuring optimal coverage throughout the Moroccan territory.”
Adoni Conrad Quenum
BongoHive, Zambia’s leading innovation and technology hub, in collaboration with the German Cooperation (GIZ) and Zanga African Metrics, a Zambian firm, has recently unveiled the FIT4Mentorship program. This initiative is specifically designed for African women in the ICT sector. The program aims to bring about substantial transformations in the industry by offering mentorship, networking opportunities, and capacity-building for women. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply by May 31.
After studying diplomacy in the United States, she returned to Congo-Brazzaville and ventured into digital communication. Her professional achievements earned her a national award.
Cindy Gamassa (photo), a Congolese entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Numerika, assists businesses and brands in effective communication. On April 18, 2024, during the digital forum in Congo-Brazzaville, she received the award for the best Female-founded startup.
Established in 2020, Numerika offers its clients a comprehensive range of services from communication strategy to operational implementation, aiming to maximize business impact. Its areas of expertise include digital marketing and communication, online community management, and web development.
This award is the Congo’s way of celebrating Cindy Gamassa's commitment and dedication to her work. "True recognition comes when one's own country acknowledges their efforts and hard work. For this invaluable support, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the organizers of the digital forum, including the World Bank's PATEN project, Deloitte, the European Bank, the NGO Pratic, and the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications," Cindy Gamassa stated.
In addition to her role at Numerika, since June 2022, Cindy Gamassa has been serving as a mission officer at the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and Digital Economy. She is also the founder of the Sisterhood Network, a network aimed at creating a community of women supporting each other's personal and professional ambitions.
Cindy Gamassa holds a bachelor's degree in law obtained in 2014 from the Catholic University of Lyon in France and a bachelor's degree in business and international relations from Oglethorpe University in the United States, obtained in 2019.
Melchior Koba
Côte d’Ivoire’s Prime Minister, Beugré Mambé, recently advocated for responsible use of social media. During the conference of the French-speaking regulators' network, REFRAM, and the African Communication Regulation Authorities Network, ACRAN, on Tuesday, April 23, he called on these networks to protect digital platforms from toxic content and to strengthen regulation to ensure a healthy online environment. He also emphasized the importance of dialogue in promoting responsible digital usage.
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On Monday, April 22, Djibouti’s Minister of Labor, Omar Abdi Said, met with the Moroccan Minister of Digital Transition during his official visit to Morocco. The two officials discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation, focusing on digital transition, administrative reform, and social protection. They expressed satisfaction with the relations between their countries and agreed to promote the exchange of expertise and best practices for the mutual benefit of their populations.
Despite the ongoing funding challenges in the African technological landscape, the platform 'Africa: The Big Deal' maintains an optimistic outlook for a resurgence in the near future.
Equity funding mobilized by startups in Africa accounted for less than 1% of all funds raised globally in the first quarter of 2024. This was reported by Africa: The Big Deal, the database that tracks over $100,000 deals captured by African startups, on Tuesday, April 23.
The total funding for these startups was $332 million, compared to the global startup funding of approximately $58.4 billion during the same period. This represents a 47% decrease in funding for Africa compared to the same period in 2023, while a global decrease of 21% was also noted. All regions, except Europe, experienced a decline.
"If we compare Q1 2024 funding to the funding heatwave peak (in late 2021/early 2022), start-ups are currently raising 5x times less quarterly than they were when fundraising peaked in Q3 2021. This is a more serious contraction than the global average (3.1x), which is very much influenced by Europe and US numbers (2.7x). It is in line with the Asian trend though, and much less dramatic than the gap registered in Latin America (14x)," explains Africa: The Big Deal.
Despite the challenging performance of African startups, ‘Africa: The Big Deal’ remains hopeful for the upcoming months. The platform notes: "...We have seen in the past that the trends observed in the US and Europe usually take a couple of quarters before they impact Africa." It anticipates that the recent resurgence of funding in the United States and Europe will eventually ripple through to Africa.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
Securing people's identity through digital technologies is a current concern in Africa, where millions of people remain legally "non-existent". This is a key issue for economic and social development.
The Belgian group SEMLEX, which specializes in the production of secure identification documents using biometric solutions, has started building its headquarters and ultra-modern factory in the Nokwane Special Economic Zone. The works were launched by King Mswati III on Wednesday 17 April 2024. The initial amount released for this investment is estimated at 810 million emelangini ($42.2 million).
[PHOTOS]: His Majesty King Mswati III cuts the sod at the construction site for Semlex Group's state-of-the-art Africa head offices & plant at Nokwane Special Economic Zone. pic.twitter.com/EgNxaKrGUR
— Eswatini Government (@EswatiniGovern1) April 17, 2024
“The creation of a local factory for the production of secure identity documents offers hope for the African region in terms of locating highly specialised services, which will enable Eswatini to develop its skills and reduce production costs for all secure identity documents. The advanced technology and rigorous security features built into these documents will ensure the integrity of our national identification systems, strengthen border control measures, and enhance the safety and protection of our citizens and residents,” said the King.
According to the African Centre for Statistics (ACS) of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), reliable digital identity can contribute to economic growth in Africa. At the 12th StatsTalk-Africa webinar held on 20 February 2024 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, under the theme "Building inclusive national identity systems - Interconnecting digital and legal identity", Mactar Seck, head of technology and innovation at UNECA, said that "each country could unlock economic value equivalent to between 3% and 13% of GDP in 2030 through the implementation of digital identification programmes."
Stressing the important role of identification in social and economic inclusion, civic participation, etc., William Muhwava, head of demographic and social statistics at the ACS, deplored the fact that almost 542 million people in Africa do not have an identity card. Of these, some 95 million children under the age of five have never had their births registered, and 120 million children have no birth certificate.
The King also stated that in addition to securing documents and personal identity, the SEMLEX production plant "will have a transformative impact on our economy. It will create employment opportunities for our people, promote skills development, and contribute to the transfer of knowledge and technology.”
Satellite Internet adoption is vital for Africa's economic growth, especially amid recent fiber optic cable disruptions. It offers a resilient alternative, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity and sustaining essential digital services, fostering economic development.
Smart Africa has made a strong case for adopting satellite technology to address internet connectivity challenges in African countries. This was revealed during the opening meeting of the 13th Smart Africa Council of African Regulators in Lilongwe, on April 17.
Director General of Smart Africa Lucina Kone emphasized the importance of collective efforts in adopting satellite technologies to overcome the challenges posed by internet connectivity issues in Africa, where the distribution of cables has been inadequate.
"Most African countries are surrounded by internet cables but it has been a challenge to make these cables move across the continent. We, as Africans, should strive to making sure that they move so that internet connectivity challenges can be addressed,” Kone said at the meeting.
Thokozani Chimbe, Director of Legal Services at the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA), highlighted the significance of projects like One Africa Network (OAN) in enhancing digitization and addressing data roaming and charges.
In his “African Wireless Communications Yearbook 2022,” Paul Hamilton of Hamilton research reveals that as of June 2021, 57.1% of the population in sub-Saharan Africa (669 million) was within a 25km range of an operational fibre optic network node, compared to 55.9% (620 million) in 2020, 41.8% (371 million) in 2013, and 40% (345 million) in 2012.
Despite these advancements, the communication infrastructure in interior African regions remains inadequate, limiting access to more populations. This gap can be effectively addressed by satellite technology to boost connectivity which is now more crucial for development given the role of the digital in economic growth.
Hikmatu Bilali