TECH STARS (663)
An economist turned entrepreneur, she develops digital finance products to meet the needs of individuals and businesses in Zambia.
Evelyn Chilomo Kaingu, a Zambian economist with a background in financial services and technology, is the co-founder and CEO of fintech startup Lupiya. Established in 2016 by Evelyn Chilomo Kaingu and Muchu Kaingu, Lupiya aims to make financial opportunities accessible to all Zambians by simplifying the borrowing process and conditions.
The company offers three loan programs: Personal Loans, Lupiya for Business, and Lupiya for Women. The Personal Loans program provides secured loans and loans backed by a memorandum of understanding, catering to civil servants via Zambia’s integrated payroll and settlement control system (PMEC). Lupiya for Business offers secured working capital loans to help entrepreneurs expand their businesses.
Lupiya for Women serves as a growth partner for women-led small businesses. Under this initiative, women receive management training and best practices for startups, along with financial support through flexible credit facilities. This program provides a financing opportunity for women who lack the financial resources to advance economically.
Kaingu, a 2010 Economics graduate from Cavendish University Zambia, has held various roles in her career. In 2012, she joined The SPAR Group, a South African retailer, as Finance and Administration Manager. She later worked as a data specialist at the World Bank Group in 2015 before dedicating herself full-time to her startup, Lupiya.
Melchior Koba
Boasting a career of over two decades, she brings extensive experience in the African ICT sector. Having served in key strategic and managerial roles at the Orange Group, she later transitioned to Schneider Electric, overseeing operations across sixty nations.
Senegalese computer scientist Diaretou Madina Gaye Dieng (photo) has been named President of the French-speaking Africa & Islands Cluster of Schneider Electric, a global firm specializing in the digital transformation of energy management and automation. Her appointment was announced on Friday, March 8, 2024.
From her base in Casablanca, Morocco, Dieng will oversee the group’s operations in sixty countries in the Maghreb, West and Central Africa, and the islands. She will be tasked with steering Schneider Electric’s strategy in this region, with a focus on key sectors such as infrastructure, industry, data centers, and buildings.
On her appointment, Dieng stated, “I am honored to join Schneider Electric in this region, and at a crucial time when nations and businesses around the world are seeking reliable partners for their digitalization, sustainability, and decarbonization journey. I look forward to working more closely with all our customers, partners, and key stakeholders from the public and private sectors, academia, and society to create an impact that leads to a more prosperous and sustainable future.”
Dieng holds a Master’s degree in Management Information Systems (1999) from the Centrale Lille Engineering School, a post-graduate diploma in Information Systems Management (2000) from HEC Paris, and is an alumnus of Harvard Business School Executive Education.
Before joining Schneider Electric, she served as Chief of Staff to the Managing Director of the Sonatel Group, which operates in five countries under the Orange brand (Senegal, Mali, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone). She joined the group in 2004 as Director of Marketing and Communications for the B2B commercial unit.
During her tenure at Sonatel, Dieng held successive positions as Sales Director for commercial and government customers in the B2B business unit, and Strategy and Business Development Director for the B2B business unit. In 2016, she was appointed President and CEO of Sonatel Business Solutions in Orange Senegal.
Melchior Koba
Initiated by the Ivorian government, the incubator offers young project holders training sessions, partnership opportunities, and dynamic community events.
Fondation jeunesse numérique, an Ivorian incubator established by the Ministry of the Digital Economy, is designed to tackle youth unemployment through information and communication technologies. The foundation provides comprehensive support to startups to enhance their businesses.
Its mission is to promote digital entrepreneurship among young people, identify innovative projects, and provide support. It also seeks to strengthen and improve the startup support ecosystem in Côte d’Ivoire.
The foundation regularly conducts training sessions for the entrepreneurs it supports, covering a wide range of areas to enhance their managerial skills, including project management, accounting, and public speaking.
In addition to training, the incubator assists entrepreneurs with administrative procedures, providing legal guidance through collaboration with legal experts.
The foundation collaborates with investment funds and financial organizations capable of investing in high-potential projects. It organizes pitch sessions for young entrepreneurs to present their projects and has partnerships across various business sectors, aiming to foster synergies that boost the competitiveness of the supported companies.
The foundation also organizes “Caravane jeunesse numérique” (Digital Youth Caravan) to promote new digital professions among the country’s population. It also hosts an annual “inside the start-up” event to promote startups and facilitate networking in a friendly atmosphere.
Fondation jeunesse numérique has incubated several startups, including Etudesk, Cookie Labs, and Lifi-led CI. Etudesk specializes in educational technologies and offers professionally oriented online training courses. Cookie Labs uses drones and artificial intelligence to detect agricultural diseases, while Lifi-led CI aims to address issues of internet inaccessibility and energy deficits in remote areas.
Melchior Koba
A serial entrepreneur, he leverages drone technologies to collect farm data and optimize management operations.
Joseph-Olivier Biley (photo) is an Ivorian tech entrepreneur on a mission to revolutionize farm management and broaden the use of drone technologies in agriculture. He is the co-founder of JooL International, a drone startup established in 2021. The startup aims to democratize drone usage to ensure Africa has access to the necessary data for its development, particularly in the agricultural sector.
JooL International provides farmers with the ability to remotely manage their plantations, offering a range of services including Jool Lab, Jool Monitor, and Jool Audit.
Jool Lab, a drone repair and manufacturing laboratory, is proudly “made in Côte d’Ivoire.” Jool Monitor, a software suite, offers features such as agricultural plot delimitation, plant counting, aerial farm views, and plant health analysis.
Jool Audit provides an audit and analysis service, giving plantation owners insights into their plantation’s condition and factors affecting their yield. It suggests an action plan to enhance productivity and ensures transparency throughout the process.
The company has also developed the Jool Box, a smart device that allows drones to be controlled remotely from a computer or tablet. The solar-powered box is rain-resistant and capable of obstacle avoidance.
In addition to his role at JooL International, Biley heads the West Africa hub of ZEBOX, a technology startup incubator and business innovation center. He is also a co-founder of #Ci20, an association comprising Côte d’Ivoire’s most innovative and disruptive startups.
Biley, a graduate of Paris Business College and OMNES Education, was the CEO of WeFly Agri, a startup that utilized drones for remote visualization and control of agricultural plantations, from 2017 to 2021.
The entrepreneur has been recognized both domestically and internationally, receiving the Young African Personality of the Year 2020 award from Africa 35.35 and the ECOWAS Best Startup Award for JooL International in 2021.
Melchior Koba
Through innovative incubation programs, specialized training, and a host of events dedicated to innovation and entrepreneurship, ANPT aims to boost Algeria's ICT sector. It has already supported hundreds of projects and startups.
The National Agency for the Promotion and Development of Technology Parks (ANPT), an initiative by the Algerian government, is dedicated to enhancing the country's technological capabilities. Established in 2004, the agency focuses on the validation, implementation, and generalization of information and communication technologies (ICT). Sidahmed Benarbia has been serving as the Managing Director since 2020.
ANPT's primary objective is to stimulate the ICT sector by ensuring the availability of necessary tools, mechanisms, and skills. This aims to foster a national ecosystem conducive to the growth of an ICT industry that serves various sectors of the Algerian economy.
With offices in Algiers, Oran, Bordj Bou Arreridj, Ouargla, and Annaba, the agency offers a free incubation program to assist entrepreneurs and start-ups in creating and developing their products and businesses over an average of four years.
In addition, ANPT has introduced a Virtual Incubation Program (VIP) that provides future innovators nationwide with free access to its online services. The VIP program utilizes digital platforms developed by the agency, such as ANPT Meet for online meetings and ANPT Learn for e-learning and e-training.
The agency also designs training programs focusing on three key areas: ICT, business creation and management, and personal development. Upon request and based on need, the agency offers additional training courses in various fields.
ANPT regularly hosts activities and events centered around ICT and entrepreneurship, including seminars, conferences, workshops, and webinars. To date, it has organized over 200 events, hosted more than 45 companies, and supported over 800 start-ups and projects.
Melchior Koba
A serial entrepreneur, he has helped set up several technology companies in Algeria and the United Arab Emirates. His latest venture, Goubba, offers a platform for businesses to enhance employee loyalty and motivation through benefits programs.
Algerian tech entrepreneur Yacine Benmosbah (photo) is the founder and CEO of Goubba, a company that provides a suite of services aimed at enhancing employee benefits, wellness, and corporate gifting in Algeria. Established in 2021, Goubba’s digital platform is designed to improve the day-to-day experiences of employees, offering services such as FitPass, Tickets-Resto, and Carte-Cado.
FitPass grants access to over 120 gyms throughout Algeria, promoting an active and healthy lifestyle. Tickets-Resto is a digital meal voucher service partnered with over 500 restaurants and supermarkets, providing a flexible solution for employee meals. Carte-Cado allows Goubba to offer personalized gift cards from a range of top brands, incentivizing and rewarding employees, partners, and customers.
Benmosbah, a serial entrepreneur, co-founded VYBZ in 2015, a social music network that bridges the gap between established artists, emerging musicians, and music fans by facilitating musical challenges and tournaments. In 2016, he launched Adoo Advertising, a UAE-based rewards and coupons app that allows users to earn points by engaging with various ads, which can be exchanged for free vouchers and coupons at their favorite restaurants and retail stores.
In 2018, he also founded Batr, an AI-powered peer-to-peer marketplace for buying and selling second-hand goods. Before these ventures, he served as a board member and CTO of VentureFin, an online platform for participatory investment and lending.
Melchior Koba
Following a philanthropic stance, Zafy Tody provides its expertise and financial support to a select group of Malagasy startups annually, without seeking equity or future ownership rights in the supported companies.
Zafy Tody, a Malagasy tech startup incubator and business angel, offers free incubation and funding to selected startups without taking equity stakes. Founded in 2019 by Andréa Zafitody Li-Sai Chimento and CEO Manambina Ramaroson Vandewalle, the incubator aims to boost Madagascar's startup ecosystem.
Each year, Zafy Tody offers free incubation to 5 to 10 Malagasy startups, providing financing without any equity investment or future ownership stake in the company. For other Madagascar-based start-ups, the incubator offers a paid program for personalized support.
Its 12-month incubation program allows beneficiaries to validate their business plan, test their product, bring it to market, and prepare for fundraising or competitions. Incubated startups also gain access to Amazon Web Services' AWS Activate program.
In 2023, Zafy Tody supported startups selected for the Miary Digital program, including E-voyage, Andao Share, NextFoodAfrica, and Zion. Partners include Orange Fab Madagascar, NextA Accelerator, LivePlan, the Center for Excellence in Entrepreneurship, and the French Embassy in Madagascar.
To cater to companies or individuals seeking to enhance their skills in entrepreneurship and digital transformation, the incubator offers professional training programs. These include training in UX & UI (user experience and interface), entrepreneurship, and the tech tools and solutions offered by the AWS cloud platform.
Zafy Tody has established several partnerships to aid in its mission. It is supported by Orange Fab Madagascar, NextA Accelerator, LivePlan, a business planning solution, the Center for Excellence in Entrepreneurship, and the French Embassy in Madagascar, among others.
Melchior Koba
Despite his background in business and marketing, he has carved out a niche for himself in the technology sector, focusing on solar innovation in Madagascar. He offers innovative and sustainable solutions to address the increasing electricity demand.
Yann Kasay (photo), a tech entrepreneur and consultant from Madagascar, is the founder of Jirogasy, a company that designs, assembles, and manufactures solar home systems and Internet of Things (IoT) devices powered by solar energy locally.
Established in 2017, Jirogasy has developed a range of innovative distributed solar stations. “We import only the raw materials. All parts, especially electronics, are printed with a three-dimensional printer we designed ourselves, and assembly is done in our workshop,” Kasay explained in 2019.
In the same year, Jirogasy, in partnership with AccesMad, a French non-governmental organization dedicated to developing scientific and technical education in Madagascar, launched Jirodesk, a solar-powered generator with an integrated mini-laptop.
In 2022, Kasay launched Jiro France, a design office of Jirogasy. The office offers services to technology and industrial groups looking to develop a hardware project.
In addition to his role at Jirogasy, Kasay also undertakes temporary assignments as a strategy and market intelligence consultant, aiming to assist large companies and startups in their decision to implement innovation and new software products.
The cleantech entrepreneur studied commerce and international business at the Paris School of Business, business administration and management at Paris-Sud University, and marketing at Washburn University.
In 2015, he co-founded International Studies Solutions, where he served as COO until 2018. The company advises athletes and students on their projects abroad. Before becoming an entrepreneur, he worked for MCA BENELUX, a European engineering and technology company, as an IT business manager between 2014 and 2015.
In 2018, Jirogasy was selected as one of the 100 startups in the Marathon Pitch at the Salon des entrepreneurs. In 2019, Kasay was named Young Leader by the French-African Foundation.
Melchior Koba
With programs like Newbie and Cracker, Enovation Factory is shaping a new generation of entrepreneurs, guiding them from the early stages of ideation through to the execution of their concepts.
Enovation Factory, an African startup support institution based in Cameroon, is committed to fostering the next generation of African leaders. The organization provides project leaders with the necessary knowledge, attitude, and skills to shape the future of Africa, as stated on its website.
The organization offers its services free of charge, relying on a network of partners to provide the necessary resources for its operations. It offers two main programs, namely Newbie and Cracker.
Newbie is an incubation program aimed at accelerating the growth and success of entrepreneurs in the ideation stage. In contrast, Cracker is an acceleration program for entrepreneurs who have completed their business plans. This program offers startups intensive support, specialized resources, and opportunities for rapid development.
The organization’s program application portal is currently open to all project leaders in Cameroon. Both the Newbie and Cracker programs run for six months. They provide participants a workspace for collaboration with other entrepreneurs, mentoring sessions for advice and sector expertise, and access to a network of entrepreneurs, investors, experts, and potential partners.
In addition, Enovation Factory offers workshops, seminars, and training courses to equip beneficiaries with the skills and knowledge required to build and develop their projects. The organization also facilitates investment by organizing pitching events and connecting startups with investor networks interested in funding opportunities.
Enovation Factory’s partner network includes both local and international institutions such as Google Cloud, Eagle Consulting Group, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Creative Valley, Qwasar Silicon Valley, and The Network.
Melchior Koba
A computer scientist by training, he designs technological solutions to make life easier for businesses, institutions, and individuals. Through Maviance, he has developed several digital payment solutions.
Jerry Cheambe (photo), a Cameroonian technology entrepreneur and computer scientist, founded Maviance, a technology company, in 2010 after earning a degree in Business Administration and Computer Science from the Technical University of Berlin in 2004.
Based in Germany and operating in Europe and emerging economies, Maviance offers customized solutions, value-added services, and specific web and mobile solutions for telecoms, utilities, financial institutions, enterprises, and governments. The company has developed several technology solutions, including Smartcash, Mavimeter, and SMobilpay.
Smartcash is a comprehensive solution that digitizes corporate payment flows and optimizes business processes, offering users in the CEMAC region (Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa) an efficient and transparent transaction experience through high flexibility, real-time reporting, and direct access to banks.
SMobilpay is a secure digital payment solution that simplifies bill payment for consumers and businesses in the CEMAC region, providing agency-free, value-added, and cashless payment options to governments, financial institutions, businesses, operators, and customers.
Mavimeter is a technology solution designed for smart meter reading, addressing the infrastructure challenges of gas, water, and electricity utilities in emerging markets. It aids administrators in reducing error risk, detecting fraudulent activity, and enhancing the efficiency and performance of subcontracted field operatives.
Before his entrepreneurial venture, Cheambe worked as a software engineer at Fraunhofer FOKUS, a German company developing communication infrastructure solutions, from 2003 to 2004. In December 2004, he joined Accenture, an international company focused on talent and innovation, as head of systems integration and technology, where he worked until 2010.
Melchior Koba
More...
A travers son programme d’accélération, PesaTech Accelerator s’efforce de renforcer l’écosystème des fintechs en facilitant les investissements, les partenariats et l’autonomisation entrepreneuriale.
PesaTech Accelerator est un accélérateur de start-up conçu pour aider les entreprises fintech en phase de croissance ou post-revenu en Tanzanie. Lancé en 2022 par le Fonds d’équipement des Nations unies, il s’engage à améliorer la capacité des fintechs à attirer des investissements par le biais d’un programme de préparation des investisseurs (IRP) tout en servant d’intermédiaire entre les start-up, les partenaires stratégiques et les investisseurs.
PesaTech Accelerator, à travers son programme d’accélération, veut autonomiser les entrepreneurs fintech et favoriser des solutions durables et impactantes pour la communauté. Il soutient les fintechs qui résolvent les défis numériques dans les domaines du paiement, de l’épargne, du prêt, de l’investissement, de l’assurance et du commerce électronique. Les start-up lauréates du programme reçoivent un soutien technique et commercial sur mesure afin d’améliorer la qualité de leur projet.
Le programme d’accélération de PesaTech Accelerator dure trois mois. Il comprend des ateliers physiques mensuels de quatre jours, suivis de sessions virtuelles et de mentorats. Par ailleurs, les entreprises reçoivent aussi un soutien post-programme de trois mois. Ce qui permettra de combler les lacunes opérationnelles, d’améliorer les dossiers d’investissement, de fournir un mentorat et de favoriser les partenariats visant à accélérer la croissance des entreprises fintech.
De plus, l’accélérateur organise des événements de mise en réseau des investisseurs ainsi que des journées de démonstration. Avec ses partenaires Digital for Tanzania, Anza Entrepreneurs, NMB Bank et Village Capital entre autres, il a soutenu plusieurs start-up.
Lors de la première cohorte de son programme, PesaTech Accelerator a accompagné Bizzyn, Dawa Mkononi, et plus encore. Bizzyn, par l’intermédiaire de BizzyPay, aide les petites et moyennes entreprises qui n’ont pas d’antécédents en matière de crédit à accéder facilement au financement. Dawa Mkononi est une application de commerce électronique qui permet aux pharmacies, aux dispensaires agréés et aux établissements de santé d’acheter des produits pharmaceutiques en ligne.
Melchior Koba
Lire aussi:
A lawyer turned entrepreneur, she leverages technology to pioneer social and educational programs in Tanzania's education sector.
Tanzanian social entrepreneur and lawyer Faraja Kotta (photo), a University of Dar es Salaam graduate, is the founder and executive director of Shule Direct. This non-governmental organization, established in 2013, provides innovative educational solutions and resources.
Shule Direct leverages technology to offer digital educational resources to Tanzanian learners. Collaborating with local teachers, the organization creates a wide array of digital content, including lecture notes, interactive tutorials, quizzes, and multimedia, spanning 13 subjects in the national secondary school curriculum.
The NGO also develops educational mobile games to enhance primary school students’ reading, writing, and math skills. With a growing suite of products, including the Shule Direct mobile app, the Elimika learning management system, and the Makini SMS platform, Shule Direct has become a significant force in Tanzania’s digital education sector.
Over 4.2 million users have accessed the high-quality learning resources on the organization’s digital platforms to date. Shule Direct has more than 59,000 registered teachers and over 276,000 mobile downloads.
Named the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leader 2020, Kotta has served as the Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the Tanzanian Education Network since 2022. She is also a board member of the Global Campaign for Education.
Kotta’s work with Shule Direct has earned her several accolades, including the Woman in Technology Africa award in 2016 and the Hall of Fame Website of the Year award from the Tanzania Leadership Awards. In 2017, she received the System Innovator award from the Segal Family Foundation for transforming digital learning in secondary education in Tanzania. In 2019, her startup was recognized as the Best Educational Platform of the Year at the Tanzania Elimu Awards.
Melchior Koba
Through its programs and resources, hapaSpace supports young people at every stage of their entrepreneurial journey, from developing STEM skills to accessing finance, and from incubating to accelerating innovative ideas.
HapaSpace, a technology and collaborative innovation center located in Kumasi, Ghana, was established in 2016 by CEO Gideon Brefo and CFO Albert Yaw Opoku. The hub helps young people create start-ups and develop skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through workshops, specialized training, meetings, mentoring, and incubation and acceleration programs. It supports the entire business journey, from idea generation to pre-seed financing.
It also offers coworking spaces and fully-equipped offices with reliable Internet connectivity. In addition to physical infrastructure, hapaSpace facilitates access to volunteers, organizes events, and fosters networking opportunities for budding entrepreneurs. Moreover, the center collaborates with venture capital firms, angel investors, and sponsors competitions to provide funding avenues for startups.
Among the programs launched by hapaSpace, SmartWoman aims to equip 150 women with basic digital skills in Adjamesu, in the Ashanti region of Ghana. The program is part of the DigiWorks project sponsored by the Digital Transformation Center of the German Agency for International Development Cooperation (GIZ) and eSkills for Girls.
The center provides technical assistance to companies and individuals. It carries out market research for individual start-ups, companies, and development partners. It has created four active communities to help entrepreneurs build resilient businesses.
The hapaSpace technology community totals over 500 people who support one another. It also has an entrepreneurs' community, an artists' community, and a readers' club. The first counts over 1,000 innovative people, while the second totals around 158 creative artists. In the readers' club, a book is read each month and discussed.
Melchior Koba
In Tunisia, Connect'Innov supports companies by promoting entrepreneurship and technological innovation in the healthcare field. It offers a range of services, from pre-incubation to business acceleration.
Connect'Innov is a Tunisian support institution dedicated to identifying, supporting, and promoting innovation in the healthtech field, particularly e-health, medtech, and biotechnology. It was founded in 2020 by biochemist Wafa Bchir and accountant Hichem Radoine.
It offers pre-incubation and awareness-raising services with ongoing training for entrepreneurs and researchers. It also creates startups and supports innovative projects, providing incubation and acceleration programs and organizing events and meeting sessions to create more partnership opportunities.
Currently, Connect'Innov hosts a range of impactful programs. Among these initiatives is Connect'Innov Prep, a foundational program that introduces participants to entrepreneurship and innovation while providing pre-incubation support. Additionally, Connect'Innov Camp offers a series of concise yet comprehensive training modules focused on fostering entrepreneurial skills and innovative thinking.
Its startup creation initiative, Connect'Innov Studio, cultivates in-house ideas spearheaded by its dedicated team. Furthermore, with its incubation arm, Connect'Innov Lab, Connect’Innov supports startups in the innovation phase. The primary goal of this program is to assist young entrepreneurs in refining their concepts, and comprehensively preparing them for subsequent phases of development.
For startups that have progressed beyond the ideation phase and validated their prototypes, Connect'Innov offers the acceleration program known as Connect'Innov Fab. This initiative helps healthtech companies secure funding and expand their market presence both nationally and internationally.
To date, Connect'Innov has run over 30 programs and events and has logged over 550 hours of support. More than 55 startups have been or are currently being supported, and more than 25 have been accredited. The institution is supported by entities such as the World Bank, Start-up Tunisia, Institut français, Deloitte, and Eurobiomed.
Melchior Koba