The United Nations Development Programme's Timbuktoo initiative has opened applications for its pan-African MineTech Hub, an incubation program for African startups developing technologies that make mining safer, greener and more transparent. Selected entrepreneurs will receive tailored support, AI-driven training, and direct access to mentors and investors. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with the next cohort beginning this month.
The global 100+ Accelerator has opened applications for its eighth cohort. The program, backed by major companies including Coca-Cola and Danone, targets early-stage startups developing sustainability solutions. Selected startups will receive funding and hands-on mentorship to test innovations in areas such as water management, recycling and sustainable agriculture through commercial pilot projects. Applications are open online until Friday, July 10.
- The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Switzerland's ADEX Platform AG signed an agreement to develop a digital platform that will trace and market Congolese diamonds.
- The platform will connect local producers directly with international buyers, improve supply chain transparency and help curb informal trade.
- The partnership also includes a joint venture, a world-class diamond cutting and jewelry facility, technology transfer and skills development to expand local value addition.
The Mining Fund for Future Generations (FOMIN) and Swiss company ADEX Platform AG signed an agreement on June 29, to develop a digital platform for diamond traceability and trading in the DRC. The platform will connect Congolese producers directly with international buyers while improving transaction transparency.
The platform will track diamonds throughout the supply chain, from production to commercialization. It will use digital tools to strengthen stone traceability, secure and verify commercial data, and facilitate transactions between Congolese producers and international buyers. The government expects the infrastructure to reduce the informal trading channels that continue to undermine the sector while enhancing the credibility of Congolese diamonds in international markets through greater transparency.
The project comes as the DRC seeks to generate more value from its mining resources through digital technologies. Although the country ranks among the world's leading diamond producers, it still exports much of its output as rough diamonds, while artisanal mining continues to dominate production. In addition, traceability challenges and smuggling continue to limit the sector's economic contribution.
According to data from the Technical Unit for Mining Coordination and Planning (CTCPM), the DRC produced 8.1 million carats of diamonds in 2025, down from 13 million carats in 2021. Artisanal mining still accounted for about 85% of total production, making the sector particularly vulnerable to informal trade. The government believes digital tools will improve supply chain oversight, strengthen diamond certification and increase the industry's competitiveness.
The agreement also provides for the creation of ADEX RDC S.A., a joint venture that will deploy the digital solutions. The partnership also includes the establishment of an international-standard diamond cutting and jewelry facility, a technology transfer program and capacity-building initiatives for Congolese professionals. The government aims to develop a more integrated diamond value chain, increase local processing and support the mining sector's digital transformation.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya
Adapted in English by Ange J. A de Berry Quenum
- South African entrepreneur Mark Fawzy founded Octiv to help fitness clubs digitize daily operations through a unified management platform.
- The software integrates membership management, class scheduling, payments, customer relationship management and member communications into a single system.
- Octiv also provides a mobile application that allows members to book classes, monitor workouts and interact with coaches.
Mark Fawzy is a South African marketing expert and entrepreneur. He is the founder and chief executive officer of Octiv, a software platform designed to support the day-to-day management of businesses operating in the fitness industry.
Founded in 2014, Octiv initially focused on workout tracking before evolving into a comprehensive business management platform. Today, the software enables fitness studios to manage administrative and operational activities through a single digital environment that integrates multiple core business functions.
Octiv manages member registration, subscription administration, class scheduling, booking management and payment processing. The platform also includes communication tools that allow fitness businesses to maintain ongoing engagement with members through messages and notifications.
In addition, Octiv offers a customer relationship management (CRM) system that helps studios monitor member engagement and improve customer retention. The platform also includes lead management tools that support business growth and increase new member conversion.
The platform also features a mobile application for members. The app provides direct access to class bookings, club information, workout tracking and interactions with coaches. As a result, the application extends the customer experience beyond the physical fitness studio.
Mark Fawzy graduated from the University of South Africa with a bachelor's degree in marketing and economics in 2009.
He began his professional career the same year at Posterscope, where he worked as an outdoor media strategy and planning specialist. He later joined Enriching Life Financial Services as a financial consultant, a position he held from 2012 to 2014, before launching Octiv.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange J. A de Berry Quenum
- Rwanda and Egypt agreed to prepare a memorandum of understanding to expand cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI), digital transformation and digital skills development.
- The two countries plan to launch AI pilot projects in healthcare, agriculture, digital public services and local language technologies while promoting knowledge transfer.
- Rwanda and Egypt also seek to coordinate African positions on AI governance as both countries accelerate the implementation of their national AI strategies.
Rwanda and Egypt plan to deepen cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI), digital transformation and digital skills development. Rwanda's Minister of ICT and Innovation, Paula Ingabire, and Egypt's Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Raafat Hindi, met in Cairo on Monday, June 29, to define new areas of collaboration. The two governments agreed to prepare a memorandum of understanding that will establish a framework for cooperation in information and communication technologies.
The ministers discussed the implementation of AI pilot projects across several priority sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, digital public services and local language technologies. In addition, Kigali and Cairo plan to strengthen cooperation among government agencies, universities, research centers and innovation hubs to promote knowledge transfer, applied research and the development of AI talent.
Toward a Common African Approach to AI
Beyond bilateral initiatives, Rwanda and Egypt aim to promote a common African approach to artificial intelligence based on the principles of responsibility, inclusion and sustainable development. The ministers also discussed closer coordination in regional and international forums dedicated to AI governance to advance common African positions on emerging technologies. Egypt already participates in the African Union AI Working Group and contributes to the work of the Smart Africa AI Council.
The renewed cooperation comes as both countries accelerate the implementation of their national AI strategies. Rwanda recently approved the creation of a National Artificial Intelligence Agency to coordinate investment, innovation and governance in the sector after launching its Digital Public Infrastructure Strategy.
Meanwhile, Egypt is implementing its National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2025–2030, which calls for integrating AI into public services, developing a specialized workforce and strengthening research capabilities. The Egyptian government has also adopted an operational implementation plan with performance indicators and continues to expand partnerships with African countries to accelerate AI adoption across the continent.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya
Adapted in English by Ange J. A de Berry Quenum
- Benin launched a $2.3 million Japanese-funded project that will combine artificial intelligence, drones and geospatial mapping to strengthen malaria prevention in six pilot municipalities.
- The initiative will use AI to identify high-risk mosquito breeding areas and drones to apply WHO-approved larvicides with greater precision.
- The project supports Benin's national health strategy and the Benin 2060 Alafia vision as the country seeks to build on recent declines in malaria incidence and mortality.
Benin plans to pilot artificial intelligence, drones and geospatial mapping to strengthen malaria control. The government launched the Integrated Action for Malaria Prevention project in Cotonou on Tuesday, June 30. Japan is financing the initiative with $2.3 million. The project will operate in six pilot municipalities and will combine technological innovation, vaccination, vector control and community engagement to improve the identification of high-risk areas and reduce malaria transmission.
AI and Drones to Improve Vector Control
The project relies on the combined use of multiple technologies. Geospatial mapping tools and artificial intelligence will analyze environmental data to identify areas with the highest risk of mosquito breeding. Authorities will then use the findings to deploy drones that can precisely spray larvicides approved by the World Health Organization on mosquito breeding sites, including locations that remain difficult to access. The Beninese government aims to make vector control operations more targeted, faster and more effective than conventional approaches.
The initiative comes as malaria remains Benin's leading public health challenge. According to health authorities, the disease continues to rank as the leading cause of medical consultations and hospital admissions nationwide. However, recent public health measures reduced malaria incidence by 38% between 2022 and 2024 and lowered malaria-related mortality by 39% through the distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets and the introduction of the malaria vaccine.
The project forms part of Benin's national strategy to strengthen its healthcare system and supports the country's Benin 2060 Alafia development vision. Japan supports the initiative under the framework of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD). The partnership reflects the Beninese government's strategy to integrate emerging technologies into malaria control, improve the targeting of interventions, optimize resource allocation and strengthen long-term disease prevention.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya
Adapted in English by Ange J. A de Berry Quenum
- South African entrepreneur Aaron Bornmann founded Cleverly in 2025 to help schools and universities automate assessment grading while keeping teachers in full control of marking decisions.
- The AI-powered platform supports the entire grading workflow, from creating marking schemes to tracking correction progress and ensuring governance compliance.
- Bornmann also leads AI infrastructure startup Supascale and edtech company 123tutors, reflecting his broader focus on artificial intelligence and education technology.
Aaron Bornmann is a mechanical engineer and entrepreneur. He is the founder and chief executive officer of Cleverly, a platform that enables schools and higher education institutions to grade assessments more efficiently while allowing teachers to retain full control over every marking decision.
Founded in 2025, Cleverly supports teachers from the assessment preparation stage. Users upload the exam paper, marking memorandum, grading rubric and several sample scripts. The platform then generates a grading framework. Teachers review, modify and approve that framework before the marking process begins.
Cleverly allows educators to adjust the level of AI involvement according to their preferences. Teachers can review every graded script before approval, select an assisted marking mode or verify only a sample of graded papers. This flexibility enables schools and universities to align grading campaigns with their own assessment practices.
The platform also extends beyond automated grading by providing detailed dashboards. Academic teams can monitor marking progress, track turnaround times and analyze overall performance trends across courses and assessments.
In addition, Cleverly incorporates governance features that address the administrative and compliance requirements of educational institutions.
A Technology Career Focused on Innovation and Artificial Intelligence
Aaron Bornmann is a serial entrepreneur. He is the founder and chief executive officer of Supascale, a startup that provides artificial intelligence infrastructure. He also founded and leads 123tutors, an education technology company established in 2017. In addition, he serves as an innovation engineering consultant specializing in artificial intelligence and embedded systems at MultiChoice Group.
Bornmann graduated from the University of Pretoria with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in 2017. He began his professional career in 2016 at the Golden Key International Honour Society. As education initiatives manager, he contributed to programs designed to develop the potential of student members.
He later strengthened his engineering expertise at Ryonic Robotics, where he worked as an intern from 2017 to 2019. More recently, he joined INALA as an embedded software engineer between 2023 and 2024.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange J. A de Berry Quenum
- Terrafy has digitized more than 20,000 rural land parcels in Kenya and says it has facilitated thousands of loans and insurance policies.
- The startup combines geospatial intelligence, land verification and monitoring tools to create digital land passports for financial institutions.
- The company aims to improve access to credit, insurance and carbon finance by transforming undocumented rural land into verifiable financial assets.
A Kenyan startup has developed a digital platform that aims to help small and medium-sized enterprises secure financing by turning rural land into bankable assets. Terrafy, a digital solution launched in Nairobi in 2026 by Victor Shikoli, seeks to transform Africa's rural land into financial assets that lenders and other institutions can recognize. The company develops a platform that combines field data, geospatial intelligence, verification tools and monitoring systems to generate land data that financial institutions can use for lending and risk assessment.
Terrafy built its platform to address a longstanding challenge across Africa. Large portions of rural land remain poorly documented or digitized, which limits smallholder farmers' access to credit, insurance and climate finance. Banks and other financial institutions often struggle to assess lending risks because they lack reliable information on rural land holdings.
Terrafy responds to this challenge by digitizing and certifying agricultural land parcels to create what it describes as "institutional-grade assets." The platform assigns each parcel a digital passport that includes verified land ownership, geographic and historical data. The company says it has already digitized more than 20,000 rural land parcels in Kenya and facilitated the issuance of thousands of loans and insurance policies.
The platform integrates several complementary modules. TerraVal uses artificial intelligence to estimate land values, while TerraCarbon connects farmers with carbon credit markets. Additional tools provide land monitoring through Internet of Things (IoT) devices and parametric insurance solutions that automatically trigger compensation when predefined conditions occur.
Unlike many agricultural fintech companies, Terrafy does not issue loans or sell insurance products directly. Instead, the startup positions itself as a trusted infrastructure provider for banks, insurers, agricultural cooperatives and climate finance organizations.
The company ultimately aims to establish rural land as a recognized financial asset capable of expanding financial inclusion for millions of small-scale producers across Africa.
This article was initially published in French by Adoni Conrad Quenum
Adapted in English by Ange J. A de Berry Quenum
- Madagascar has launched a public digital agriculture infrastructure and three digital services to improve farmers' access to market, weather and advisory information.
- The initiative forms part of a broader national digital agriculture roadmap supported by the World Bank and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
- Agriculture accounts for nearly 30% of Madagascar's GDP, around 40% of export earnings and supports about 70% of the country's workforce, according to the World Bank.
Madagascar has launched a public digital agriculture infrastructure and three initial digital services for farmers. Officials unveiled the initiative on Tuesday, June 30, during a workshop in Antananarivo dedicated to developing the country's national digital agriculture roadmap.
The Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Livestock and the Ministry of Digital Development organized the event with support from the World Bank through the Korea-World Bank Partnership Facility (KWPF).
The initiative centers on a public digital agriculture infrastructure designed to ensure interoperability and data sovereignty across the agriculture, livestock and fisheries sectors. Authorities also introduced three digital services. The first service establishes a national registry of agricultural producers that will serve as a unified database of farmers. The second service combines an agricultural commodity price monitoring system with a weather alert platform that delivers real-time updates. The third service provides a digital agricultural advisory platform that offers recommendations tailored to farmers' crops, geographic locations and local climate conditions.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, these tools aim to improve farmers' access to market information, support crop management decisions and strengthen their ability to anticipate climate-related risks.
Authorities selected three companies to develop the solutions under the supervision of technical adviser NextA. Meanwhile, the government has launched similar projects in the livestock sector, including the digitalization of beehives and digital health monitoring systems for cattle.
The digital initiative comes as agriculture continues to play a central role in Madagascar's economy. According to the World Bank, the sector contributes nearly 30% of GDP, generates about 40% of export revenue and provides livelihoods for approximately 70% of the country's workforce. However, low productivity, limited access to agricultural services and high exposure to climate shocks continue to hamper the sector's development.
International institutions increasingly view digital technologies as a critical tool for improving agricultural productivity, expanding market access and strengthening food security.
The launch of the new services forms part of Madagascar's broader strategy to digitize its agricultural sector. The country has worked for several years with partners including the World Bank and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to develop a national digital agriculture roadmap.
The roadmap aims to strengthen agricultural data infrastructure, improve digital governance across the sector and support the large-scale deployment of digital services that benefit farmers.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya
Adapted in English by Ange J. A de Berry Quenum
- Taaply has built an integrated platform that combines digital identity, communications, payments and business management services.
- The startup serves individuals, businesses and public institutions through smart digital identity solutions and administrative tools.
- Founder Lekel Asonganyi transitioned from an international finance career to launch Taaply in 2019.
Cameroonian entrepreneur Lekel Asonganyi an economist and technology entrepreneur, founded and now serves as chief executive of Taaply Group. The startup, which launched in 2019, aims to centralize and simplify essential digital services for individuals, businesses and public institutions.
Taaply has built its innovation around a single integrated ecosystem. The platform combines digital identity, communication, payment and business management tools. By eliminating technological silos, the company enables professionals and merchants to strengthen their online presence, modernize customer engagement and support business growth.
Among its flagship products, Taaply offers smart business cards and connected identity solutions that enable users to share professional and personal contact information instantly, transforming traditional networking practices.
In addition to serving private-sector clients, the startup also provides tailored digital tools for public institutions. These solutions help modernize administrative processes and improve service delivery for citizens.
From International Finance to African Technology
Lekel Asonganyi built his career in international finance before entering the technology sector. He earned a master's degree in economics from the University of Dundee in Scotland in 2012. He began his banking career in 2008 at the Bank of Scotland, where he advanced from customer adviser to bank branch manager.
In 2015, Asonganyi joined Progressive Insurance as a claims specialist. He later strengthened his expertise in wealth management by serving as a financial adviser at Merrill Lynch between 2018 and 2019. He subsequently leveraged his experience in finance to launch Taaply Group, positioning the company to support the next generation of Africa's digital ecosystem.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange J. A de Berry Quenum
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- TechnoCongo provides digital transformation services, including artificial intelligence, data management and custom software development, for local businesses.
- The company has supported enterprise modernization since its launch in 2014 by developing tailored digital solutions.
- Co-founder and CEO Jean-Marc Kabunda built his expertise through careers in statistics, risk analysis and database development across Europe before returning to the Congolese technology sector.
Congolese entrepreneur Jean-Marc Kabunda, a mathematician and technology entrepreneur, co-founded TechnoCongo and serves as its chief executive officer. The company specializes in digital transformation consulting and implementation services.
Founded in 2014, TechnoCongo has positioned itself as a technology partner for local businesses. The company develops custom applications, designs websites and deploys data management tools that support business decision-making and operational modernization.
Beyond traditional digital infrastructure, TechnoCongo integrates artificial intelligence into clients' operations to improve efficiency. The company also provides expertise in risk management, computer networking, market research and survey implementation.
Academic and Professional Background
Jean-Marc Kabunda built his multidisciplinary expertise through advanced academic training and international professional experience. He earned a bachelor's degree in pure and applied mathematics from Pierre and Marie Curie University in France in 2009. He subsequently obtained a master's degree in statistics from the same institution in 2011.
Kabunda began his career in 2010 as a data processing officer at Synovate, a market research company. He completed an internship as a statistician at the French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) in 2011 before joining financial services group Cofidis in 2012 as a preventive risk analyst.
Before dedicating himself fully to the Congolese technology ecosystem, Kabunda also strengthened his technical expertise as a database developer. In 2013, he worked on database development projects for BNP Paribas Fortis in Belgium.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange J. A de Berry Quenum
Nigerian startup Siiqo launched a Telegram-based social commerce platform last week to help merchants boost sales. Rather than building a traditional mobile app, the startup enables vendors to set up online storefronts, manage orders, and accept secure payments without leaving Telegram. The platform also includes an escrow system to protect buyers and sellers against fraud.
The Wetech Foundation and the UK-Nigeria Tech Hub have launched an eight-week mentorship program for 25 female founders. Called the PitchHer Investment Readiness Program, the free initiative aims to equip participants with the skills and confidence needed to attract investors. At the end of the program, the top six finalists will compete in a pitch competition for approximately 8.5 million nairas (more than $6,000) in funding. Online registration is open through Friday, July 10.
Fuspay has opened applications for its Bankiffy accelerator program, aimed at aspiring fintech founders across Africa. Over four weeks, participants will receive up to $100,000 in support, including technical infrastructure, regulatory guidance, professional services, and training. The program is designed to help founders transform their ideas into operational, compliant financial products. Applications are open online until July 31.