TECH STARS (878)
He has over 12 years of experience in software engineering, data science, artificial intelligence, and business development. With his latest venture, he aims to make cutting-edge AI technologies more accessible to businesses.
Idris Babatunde Olayemi (photo), a trained computer scientist and Nigerian entrepreneur, is the co-founder and CEO of InovaAI, a company specializing in artificial intelligence.
Founded in 2023, InovaAI provides AI-driven solutions to address complex challenges across the continent. The company offers an AI marketplace that allows businesses to access solutions via APIs (application programming interfaces) without requiring technical expertise. InovaAI also helps machine learning and AI engineers monetize their models.
InovaAI's mission is to make AI technology accessible to everyone in Africa. Among its flagship products is BetaBird, a solution designed to optimize the health and productivity of poultry. Through this application, farmers can detect poultry diseases early, assess egg quality, and significantly enhance their farming experience.
In addition to his role at InovaAI, Olayemi is the founder and CEO of Babtech Computers, a tech company established in 2020. Babtech Computers offers IT education services, software development, and training programs aimed at international-level businesses.
Olayemi also serves as the technical lead at Connetmi Live Market, an online commerce platform that allows sellers to interact directly with their customers and prospects.
Before venturing into entrepreneurship, Olayemi worked as a software developer in several Nigerian companies from 2013 to 2018. He later joined Diamond Bank as a data specialist. In 2019, he was appointed as a data scientist at The Emel Group, a wholesale trading company.
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He's dedicated to helping children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) thrive. He provides virtual reality tools to assist therapists in their work.
Ahmad Al-Kabbany is an Egyptian computer scientist and entrepreneur, and the founder and CEO of VRapeutic, a startup specializing in the development of therapeutic and rehabilitation solutions through innovative software.
Founded in 2017, VRapeutic harnesses the power of virtual reality (VR) to create therapeutic experiences. The company integrates biofeedback and artificial intelligence into its solutions, aiming to enhance the quality of therapy sessions for children with autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
VRapeutic allows therapists to deliver personalized content through supervised sessions while monitoring the impact of the therapy program through both short- and long-term progress of the children. The content developed by the startup is based on scientific data and is provided under the supervision of experienced doctors and therapists.
The startup is a former participant in the Flat6Labs Cairo accelerator and the Invest Ottawa pre-acceleration program. Since 2020, it has been part of UNICEF's Innovation Fund portfolio.
In addition to leading VRapeutic, Ahmad Al-Kabbany is a founding member of the Intelligent Systems Lab, established in 2018. This lab focuses on research in intelligent and autonomous systems, image and video processing, computer vision, image synthesis, immersive technologies, signal analysis, and data science.
He is also a founding member of the Multimedia Interaction and Communication Lab, launched in 2024. This lab explores new ways to encode signals and improve human-computer and media interactions.
Ahmad Al-Kabbany holds a master's degree in Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering, obtained in 2008 from the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport in Egypt. He also earned a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering in 2016 from the University of Ottawa, Canada.
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A technology enthusiast with extensive experience in embedded systems and robotics, he has developed an open-source platform dedicated to building robots.
Kayoum Djedidi, a Tunisian electronics engineer and entrepreneur, is the co-founder and CEO of Open Organic Robotics (OORB), a startup that aims to make it easier for people to create robots.
Founded in 2023, OORB provides a suite of tools to help users build robots from start to finish, including the OORB platform, the OORB Robodog educational kit, and a dedicated community.
The OORB platform is an open-source robotics development framework that features an intuitive graphical interface, supports multilingual programming, and includes a CAD tool for editing modular parts. With AI and a chatbot, users can generate code, components, and services.
The OORB Robodog educational kit is an open-source, 3D-printed robot designed to introduce users to the OORB platform. The OORB community brings together enthusiasts around open-source principles and offers 3D printing services and paid robotics projects.
In addition to his role at OORB, Djedidi is an Edge MLOps engineer at Ubotica Technologies and a research intern at the National Engineering School of Sousse. He holds a bachelor's degree in embedded systems from the Higher School of Science and Technology of Hammam Sousse.
Djedidi's professional career began in 2018 at Tekaya Travel Holiday, a Tunisian travel agency. He has also worked at Kaza Trade, a wholesale company, and ARSELA Technologies, a no-code automation service provider. From March 2022 to March 2024, he worked as an embedded systems and Python instructor at GOMYCODE, a startup focused on digital skills training.
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She wants to make learning more engaging for students by teaching them in their native languages from kindergarten to high school. To do this, she created a technology platform that helps students learn in their mother tongue.
Mukundi Lambani (photo) is a South African entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Ambani Africa, an educational technology company dedicated to promoting mother-tongue education for children from kindergarten through high school.
Founded in 2021, Ambani Africa provides a platform that facilitates early learning by offering digital resources that enable students to learn in African languages. The platform’s goal is to empower students to learn and communicate effectively in their native languages.
Ambani Africa’s learning experience is interactive, featuring games, videos, e-books, and lessons. The content is available in English and over 15 other languages, including isiZulu, Kiswahili, Yoruba, French, Spanish, and more.
According to Mukundi Lambani, African languages are woefully underrepresented in the digital realm, leaving young learners struggling to find educational resources in their native tongue. She emphasizes the critical importance of the early years for language development, noting that falling behind by third grade can be a significant hurdle. That's why Ambani places such emphasis on mother-tongue education during this crucial stage.
Lambani holds a bachelor’s degree in film from the African Film and Drama Academy (AFDA), earned in 2008. She also obtained a diploma in business management and administration from Varsity College in 2011. In 2017, she completed a master’s degree in communication and media studies at Bournemouth University in the UK. In 2019, she earned a certificate in intellectual property management from the University of Witwatersrand.
Lambani’s career began in 2008 at the South African Broadcasting Corporation as a video editor. In 2010, she joined the 48 Hour Film Project as a producer. By 2013, she became head of research and development at Brainbow Conscious Creatives, a creative agency. In 2017, she was appointed as a lecturer at the Academy of Sound Engineering, and in 2018, she became a project manager at the Goethe-Institut, a German cultural institute.
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He is passionate about improving education for South African students. With the startup he leads, he is committed to helping students become more independent learners, taking charge of their own education.
South African entrepreneur Kagisho Masae (photo) is the co-founder and CEO of Matric Live, an edtech startup focused on enhancing learning experiences for students. Founded in 2017 by Masae and Lesego Finger, Matric Live offers a multifunctional educational app that revolutionizes how students learn, making the process more contextual and visual. The app covers over 16 subjects, helping students prepare for their exams.
One of the app's key features is Live Exams, a simulated exam function that allows students to answer past exam questions directly on their device. It tracks the questions where students frequently give incorrect answers, enabling them to focus on and thoroughly analyze these areas.
According to the startup's website, "The platform has expanded to cover most of the high school curriculum, and the team continues to grow steadily. The aim through this platform, among other initiatives that are in the pipeline from the holding company, is to decentralize quality education."
In addition to his work with Matric Live, Masae is the founder of CynC, a digital platform connecting like-minded individuals across South Africa. He also serves as an ambassador for the charity organization One Young World and a project coordinator for the nonprofit Good Deeds Foundation.
Masae holds a certificate in financial products from Milpark Business School, earned in 2012. In 2019, he received a certificate in behavioral economics from the University of Toronto, and in 2021, he obtained a certificate in strategy execution from Harvard Business School Online.
Masae began his professional career in 2010 at Discovery Ltd, a South African financial services group, where he worked as a broker relations manager. In 2015, he joined the financial company Investec as a consultant, later holding positions as marketing and brand project manager for the wealth and investment sector.
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He is an expert in economics and management, passionate about using technology to solve societal problems. Through his company, Ylomi, he is formalizing the home services sector.
Jean Vivien Dah N'Gbekounou, a Beninese entrepreneur, is the founder and CEO of Ylomi, a digital startup that connects households and businesses with skilled domestic workers. Established in 2018, Ylomi offers a web and mobile application that helps meet the labor needs of households and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The platform provides access to a wide range of domestic workers, including housekeepers, maintenance workers, caregivers, cooks, security guards, nannies, bartenders, cashiers, and construction workers.
"In Africa, and particularly in Benin, artisans are often overlooked in the digital ecosystem. It's difficult for the average person to easily and quickly connect with a skilled worker for urgent services and tasks. This problem is persistent, which inspired us to create Ylomi to provide a lasting solution," explained Jean Vivien Dah N'Gbekounou in 2018.
Ylomi also manages existing employees, thereby reducing risks for households. In addition, the platform connects clients with service providers for occasional needs, such as plumbers, electricians, or TV repair technicians. To ensure the quality and security of services, Ylomi trains or retrains workers, verifies their identities, and ensures their moral integrity. The company's services are backed by liability insurance.
In addition to his role at Ylomi, Jean Vivien Dah N'Gbekounou has been the director of Africa Consult since 2011, a firm authorized by the Financial Markets Authority of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (AMF-UEMOA). Previously, he worked as the administrative and financial manager at the Société Internationale de Transit Toure (SITT SA) in Benin from 2004 to 2008.
N'Gbekounou holds a master's degree in Stock Markets and Trading from the French School of Stock Exchange and Trading, earned in 2013, and a postgraduate diploma (DESS) in Finance and Management Control from the Graduate School of the Faculty of Economics and Management at the University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin.
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With over a decade of experience in technology, product development, and strategy, he is passionate about artificial intelligence. He has created a conversational AI platform tailored for businesses and content creators.
Timothy K. Afrane Wuo-Asare (photo) is a Ghanaian computer scientist and the co-founder and CEO of Copianto AI, a startup focused on artificial intelligence that provides tools for content creation. Founded in 2022 by Afrane Wuo-Asare, along with Daniella Darlington, Alex Boateng, and Alfred Sosu, Copianto AI is part of the MEST Africa portfolio. The company offers an adaptable conversational AI platform designed for various users, including writers, marketers, entrepreneurs, and agencies, to simplify content creation and optimization.
The conversational AI platform developed by Copianto enables businesses to create personalized AI agents that can be integrated across their platforms. These agents assist customers by providing answers, solving problems, and facilitating actions. Additionally, the startup has introduced a voice AI agent that enhances communication dynamics within companies, offering instant and practical assistance during voice calls.
Afrane Wuo-Asare graduated from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science in 2017. His professional journey began in 2013 with an internship in development at Kudobuzz, a company that creates tools for online merchants.
From 2015 to 2016, he served as a community manager for Startup Weekend in Accra, a 54-hour event focused on forming teams to build viable businesses over a weekend. In 2018, he became an IT project manager at Ghana's Regional Maritime University. He later joined Molaprise, a consulting firm and technology solutions provider, as a systems engineer, while also working as a product manager at Survey54, a company offering business intelligence services.
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A software engineer, he leverages technology to support the agricultural sector in Ethiopia. His work includes assisting beekeepers by providing them with the essential information they need to make informed decisions.
Abiye Tadeos (photo) is an Ethiopian entrepreneur and embedded systems engineer, known for his innovative work in the agricultural sector. He is the founder and CEO of Anabi Agritech Solutions, a company dedicated to integrating IoT (Internet of Things) solutions for beekeeping in Africa and globally.
Founded in 2020, Anabi Agritech Solutions is a tech-driven agricultural company specializing in apiculture. The company utilizes sensors installed inside beehives to collect and analyze data, making decision-making easier for beekeepers. The collected data includes temperature, humidity, weight, and sounds, all of which are transmitted directly to the beekeepers' mobile devices.
"Our sensor units send hive information to any mobile device creating a transparent monitoring system between small beekeepers and their contractors, simultaneously alerting and notifying hive operators to guarantee zero loss in production," the startup’s founder explained in 2021.
Anabi Agritech Solutions also connects monofloral honey beekeepers to the global market through its online platform, helping them expand their customer base and boost sales.
Abiye Tadeos holds a bachelor's degree in computer engineering, which he earned in 2017 from the Addis Ababa Science and Technology University. After his studies, he interned at iCog Labs, a company specializing in artificial intelligence, before becoming a junior software developer there in 2018. He left the company in 2019 to focus on developing his startup.
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A serial entrepreneur with a passion for solving complex societal problems, he developed a comprehensive technological solution for property management, benefiting both landlords and tenants.
Tweheyo Brian (photo) is a Ugandan entrepreneur and a graduate of Makerere University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in surveying in 2011. He is the founder and CEO of RentBeta, a tech startup specializing in property management.
Founded in 2022, RentBeta provides an all-in-one technological solution for landlords and tenants, offering straightforward online rent payment options that benefit both parties. The company’s technology aims to reduce costs, enhance property efficiency, simplify the tenant experience, and increase lease renewal rates.
RentBeta enables landlords to automate labor-intensive tasks such as tenant search, rent receipt issuance, lease management, and tenant screening. Additionally, the platform incorporates smart locks for non-compliant tenants and practical communication tools.
For tenants, RentBeta improves the rental experience by allowing them to pay rent in small daily installments and offering low-interest rent advances without collateral. The platform also facilitates utility bill payments, grocery orders, neighbor communication, and more, all from a single app.
Before founding RentBeta, Tweheyo Brian established MobileAdz, an IT company, in 2014, where he served as CEO until 2016. In 2015, he launched Chikumi, a penny auction site in Uganda, and Tik Builders, a Ugandan construction company. He co-founded Adfonz, a customer engagement and business intelligence platform, in 2016.
In 2021, Tweheyo Brian was appointed product manager at CryptoSavannah, a tech company specializing in blockchain. That same year, he became project manager at Binusu and was later promoted to CEO in 2022. Binusu is a financial ecosystem that offers fiat-to-crypto exchange services, payments, and cross-border transactions at competitive rates.
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She has a wealth of experience working for various financial institutions in Nigeria. Now an entrepreneur, she's dedicated to assisting Africans in navigating the complexities of migration projects.
Nigerian entrepreneur Temitope Hundeyin Tunde-Alli (photo) is the founder of Blumefy, a startup offering a digital platform to assist African migrants.
Launched in 2023, Blumefy provides personalized advice, financial solutions, and a community space to ease the migration process. Using artificial intelligence, the platform analyzes user data to analyze user data and create customized migration plans. It recommends the most suitable destination country and visa route for each user. To prepare users for their journey, Blumefy also provides a detailed checklist and an action plan for every step of the migration process.
The startup also provides access to over 300,000 scholarship programs and job opportunities. It partners with financial institutions to deliver reliable payment solutions, including a virtual dollar card for simplified transactions.
Temitope holds a bachelor's degree in Information and Communication Technology, obtained in 2011 from Covenant University in Nigeria. She furthered her education at the University of Warwick in the UK, where she earned a master's degree in E-Business Management in 2014.
Her professional career began in 2010 at Sterling Bank in Nigeria, where she worked in the e-commerce and transaction services support department. In 2012, she joined UBA Group (United Bank for Africa), working in customer service and technical support for Mobile Money.
From 2014 to 2019, she worked at Jumia Nigeria, where she held roles including Vendor Account Manager and Head of Training at Jumia University. She also served as the CEO of Whistle, a tech platform dedicated to safer roads and healthier communities in Nigeria.
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After completing his engineering degree in Germany, he moved to the United States to gain experience in digital health. Returning to Africa, he focused on developing technological solutions to improve healthcare on the continent.
Yaya Mbaoua (photo), a Cameroonian electrical engineer, is the co-founder and CEO of Zencey, a medical technology startup that aims to improve healthcare accessibility and affordability in sub-Saharan Africa.
Founded in 2021, Zencey offers a mobile application that allows patients to consult with expert doctors from the comfort of their homes. The platform boasts a network of 1,400 pharmacies and over 50 partner medical laboratories, providing patients with easy access to medications and diagnostic tests.
To automate healthcare in Africa, Zencey leverages artificial intelligence. Its API enables doctors to create personalized AI-driven chatbots for patient screening, triage, symptom checking, appointment scheduling, and other tasks. Additionally, the API facilitates access to clinical information for better diagnosis and helps asymptomatic patients obtain risk profiles.
Before founding Zencey, Mbaoua established The Mbaoua Group in 2017, with the goal of improving access to quality medical care in Africa. He served as CEO until 2020.
Mbaoua holds a master's degree in electrical engineering from the Technical University of Rhineland-Palatinate Kaiserslautern-Landau, Germany, earned in 1995. In 2002, he trained in finance and technological innovation strategies at the MIT Sloan School of Management.
His career began in 1996 at Comsearch, a U.S. technology company. He entered the healthcare industry in 2011 at Rally Health, serving as Vice President of Products. In 2014, he became Vice President of Sales and Business Development at Med1 Healthcare Group. In 2016, he was appointed Managing Director of GlobalMed Telemedicine in Africa.
As an entrepreneur backed by the Techstars accelerator, Mbaoua won the Africa IoT & AI Challenge in 2023, a regional competition for entrepreneurs with innovative ideas in IoT, AI, and related fields.
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He has already founded several tech companies, including a startup specializing in customer loyalty. His company uses technology to build stronger relationships between businesses and their customers.
Marwan Kenawy (photo) is an Egyptian serial entrepreneur and the co-founder and CEO of Dsquares, a leading provider of loyalty solutions in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
Founded in 2012, Dsquares specializes in loyalty and rewards programs, helping businesses strengthen their relationships with customers. The company offers a comprehensive range of tools that cover all aspects of business strategy, from merchant management to data analysis.
Dsquares provides a platform that integrates modern features, including points systems, electronic upgrade vouchers (e-vouchers), gamification, and robust analytics tools.
Operating in 10 countries across the Middle East and Africa, Dsquares collaborates with companies from various sectors, including banking, telecommunications, retail, travel, hospitality, automotive, and oil. To date, the startup has partnered with over 21,000 retail outlets and manages more than 75 customized programs.
In 2019, Kenawy co-founded Lucky App, an Egyptian startup aimed at revolutionizing shopping, payments, and savings in the Middle East and North Africa. The app has already attracted more than eight million users, offering credit products, discounts, and cashback rewards that can be used both online and in-store with thousands of local and international brands.
Kenawy holds a degree in business administration, which he earned in 2004 from the University of New Brunswick in Canada. He also obtained an international diploma in business administration and management in 2006 from Cambridge College in the United States.
After completing his studies, he joined Vodafone Egypt in 2006 as a senior channel marketing specialist. He subsequently held various positions, including team leader for the postpaid segment, head of business strategy and planning, and head of marketing for mobile internet and smartphones, before leaving the company in 2012.
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Driven by his passion for engineering, he is developing autonomous airships to revolutionize global goods and services delivery. His startup has already received multiple awards and distinctions for its innovative approach.
Spencer Horne (photo) is a South African mechanical engineer and entrepreneur, best known as the founder and CEO of Cloudline, a startup focused on designing autonomous airships.
Horne established Cloudline in 2017 with the mission of connecting isolated communities to global supply chains. The company is developing a network of autonomous airships designed to deliver goods and services worldwide.
These innovative airships operate on batteries and solar energy, enabling zero-carbon flights. According to Cloudline, their airships can reduce carbon emissions by up to four tons per day compared to traditional helicopters. Each airship boasts a range of over 200 kilometers, an endurance of 12 hours, and a payload capacity of 100 kilograms.
Horne earned his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Harvard University in 2014. During his studies, he completed an internship in 2011 with the wind energy development division of BioTherm Energy, a company specializing in renewable energy.
In 2012, he joined Mobius Motors, an automotive startup based in Kenya, as an engineering analyst. From 2014 to 2016, Horne worked as a business analyst for McKinsey & Company in South Africa.
In 2019, Horne was recognized as one of the 30 innovators on the Quartz Africa digital platform. That same year, Cloudline won the Safety Ideas Challenge organized by the insurer Santam, which honors companies offering innovative solutions in safety and insurance technology.
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A law graduate, he embarked into entrepreneurship by creating a platform that enables graduates to easily land their first jobs.
South African lawyer-turned-entrepreneur Sbusiso Buna (photo) is co-founder and CEO of Jobox, a startup aimed at boosting graduate employability. The company helps students acquire the skills needed to enter and thrive in the job market.
Launched in 2019, Jobox links employers, students, and higher education institutions, offering companies tools to recruit suitable candidates.
"What we do is connect businesses, students, and universities. The core issue we aim to address is the difficulty young people face in finding work. Specifically, we're focused on graduates who finish university but then spend two years at home with a degree, unable to find employment,” Buna explains.
Jobox's talent discovery platform allows employers to post job offers and students to apply. Employers can schedule interviews and send offers to chosen candidates, who can accept or decline through the platform. Jobox also maintains a talent database to help companies find suitable profiles. For universities, it provides a portal for career events and student information.
Buna is currently the director of Brightest Young Minds, an organization that connects young leaders and facilitates skill development and solution creation across Africa.
In 2020, he co-founded and co-hosts the Unicorn Podcast, focusing on African startups. Before Jobox, he co-founded Doot Experiences in 2018, offering travelers unique experiences in Japan. He holds a law degree from the University of Pretoria. From 2018 to 2019, he worked at IQbusiness South Africa, advancing from associate consultant to senior associate. In 2022, he served as a business coach for Tshimologong Precinct, a technology innovation hub.
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