Fintech solutions are multiplying across the continent to address various financial service issues. In Togo, a startup has focused on mobile money interoperability and offers a solution in this regard.
eGo Transfer, a fintech solution developed by a startup in Togo, enables users to send and receive money via mobile, irrespective of their telecom provider. The startup, headquartered in Lomé, was established in 2020 by Attisso Luz Koumedzro.
"The inspiration for eGo Transfer came when my younger brother asked me to send him money via Flooz, but I was using T-Money. So, I conceived eGo Transfer, which facilitates money transfers from T-Money to Flooz and vice versa. It also allows for money received from Ria to be deposited into T-Money or Flooz accounts," Koumedzro explained.
The solution includes a mobile app for Android smartphones, which can be downloaded from the eGo Transfer website, although it is not available on the Play Store. After downloading, users create an account by providing details such as their first and last names, phone number, and a six-digit PIN code.
Once the account is set up, users can transfer funds to any telecom network operating in Togo. Within the app's interface, users simply select the network they want to transfer from and to, enter the amount, phone number, and PIN code to confirm the transfer. Transfers via this mobile app require a minimum of 300 CFA francs (approximately $0.49).
In 2020, eGo Transfer won the first prize at the Open Hack organized by the Nunya Lab incubator. The aim was to propose an innovative solution, and eGo Transfer captured the jury's attention, walking away with a check for one million CFA francs. In 2023, the fintech, along with seven other Togolese startups, was selected to participate in the Tech Africa-Europe International Summit, Emerging Valley, held on November 27-28 in Marseille, France.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
Healthtech is one of the most sought-after segments in the tech sector. Solutions are emerging from all corners to simplify daily life for African populations.
PharMap, a healthtech solution developed by a Beninese startup, allows users to locate and order medications online in less than ten minutes. The startup, co-founded by Anourah Mazu in 2021, aims to streamline access to high-quality medications in Africa, with a particular focus on Benin.
The startup explains, “In Africa, a patient may have to visit over 15 different pharmacies before finding a needed medication. This often leads to the use of counterfeit drugs, resulting in medical complications, or even worse, fatalities. We’re creating the first system that enables you to locate the nearest pharmacies that stock the medications you need.”
To accomplish its mission, PharMap utilizes a mobile app, available on iOS and Android. The Android app has been downloaded over 10,000 times according to Play Store statistics. It also uses the WhatsApp messaging application. After downloading the mobile app, users need to create an account to access services such as "Trouver un médicament (Find a Medication)" and "Trouver une pharmacie (Find a Pharmacy)."
The “Find a Medication” feature enables users to check the availability and price of a medication at nearby pharmacies based on their location. Users can either type the name of the medication into the search bar or send a photo of the prescription. The “Find a Pharmacy” service helps users locate pharmacies in a specific geographical area or those nearest to their current location.
Users can also order medications directly from pharmacies via the app’s interface, make an online payment, and then pick up their order at the pharmacy. For PharMap’s service via WhatsApp, users simply need to save the healthtech’s number and send their request via message. They will receive a response to their query in less than ten minutes, according to the startup.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
The solution was developed to streamline meal deliveries in Nigerian cities. It notably focuses on secondary cities.
Chowopa, a Nigerian startup, has developed a last-mile delivery solution that allows users to order food from their favorite restaurants and have it delivered straight to their homes or offices. The startup was founded in 2022 by Umebe Anthony and Umoru-Musa Abdullahi and is headquartered in Akure, a city in Ondo State.
The Chowopa solution is accessible through a mobile app, available on both iOS and Android platforms. After installing the app, users can create an account by entering their personal details. Once registered, they can place orders from a variety of partner restaurants listed on the platform.
The app allows users to search for restaurants based on location, type of cuisine, or customer ratings. Users can input a specific location within a city or state in the search bar to find restaurants that cater to that area. They also have the option to select a particular type of cuisine, such as African, fast food, Indian, and more. Customer reviews are available to help users choose between restaurants. After their meal is delivered, Chowopa encourages users to rate the service based on the quality of the food and the speed of delivery. Users can also leave comments to provide feedback on their experience.
Restaurants interested in joining the platform can do so by clicking on the "Sell on Chowopa" button and following the registration process. They will be asked to provide details such as the restaurant's name, the owner's name, email address, and phone number.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
After working in the mobile money sector for several telecom operators in West Africa, two tech entrepreneurs ventured into the same market in the mid-2010s by establishing a fintech company.
Wizall Money is a fintech solution established by a subsidiary of Groupe Banque Centrale Populaire. It offers both individuals and businesses access to a variety of financial services. Headquqrtedred in Dakar, it was founded in 2015 by French entrepreneur Sébastien Vetter and Congolese entrepreneur Ken Kakena.
Wizall Money includes a mobile app that’s available on both iOS and Android platforms, with the Android version boasting over 100,000 downloads. Once the app is downloaded, users can set up an account and gain access to a wide range of services. The Wizall Money Pro feature allows businesses to pay employee salaries, settle bills, collect payments, and carry out bulk payments.
The startup explains, “If your employee has a Wizall Money account, the funds will be directly deposited into their account. If they don’t have an account, they’ll receive a withdrawal code via SMS. All withdrawals with Wizall Money are completely free.”
Individuals can use the Wizall Money feature to send money to family members, regardless of whether they have a Wizall Money account. They can also pay merchants with just a few clicks, buy airtime, and settle electricity and water bills, among other services.
Like many other fintech startups in Africa, Wizall Money has a network of agents that make its services more accessible. In addition to Senegal, the startup operates in Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, and Mali.
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This innovative solution is designed to help two groups of people: those seeking safe and affordable rides without a car, and drivers looking to share travel costs with reliable passengers.
Nabhorelan, a Guinean startup, has developed a carpooling solution that allows users to share rides with others traveling in the same direction or to the same destination. The startup, based in Conakry, was established in 2022 by founders Diallo Aissatou Bailo and Diallo Thierno Mamadou Oury.
“Our platform bridges the gap between passengers and drivers who have a shared objective: reaching the same destination. We ensure a safe and convenient travel experience in terms of cost and comfort by assisting you in finding the journey that aligns best with your needs,” the startup explains.
The Nabhorelan solution includes a mobile app, available on both iOS and Android platforms. After installing the app, users create an account to access a variety of services. Users wishing to also have a driver profile are required to provide their ID, driver’s license, or the vehicle’s registration certificate for account validation.
To book a ride, travelers input their journey details, such as departure and arrival cities, departure date, and the number of travelers, into the search bar. The platform then displays available trips. Drivers have the option to approve the ride if the conditions suit them. Also, drivers can post their route and set their prices. Passengers can then decide whether to accept the offer based on the driver’s terms. If both parties agree, a meeting is arranged.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
Inspired by a service he found incredibly useful during his time in the Middle East, a tech entrepreneur returned to his home country to launch Fikaso Plus.
Fikaso Plus, a mobile application developed by the Malian startup Fikaso, offers a solution for residents of Bamako to order food from local restaurants and have it delivered. The startup, founded in 2019 by Mahamadou Cissé, was born out of a simple observation.
“During my stays in Mali, I often struggled to find food, either due to a lack of knowledge about the available restaurants or the desire to avoid the city’s notorious traffic,” Cissé explains. “The real catalyst, however, was during a visit to the Near East, specifically Abu Dhabi, where I became accustomed to using a food delivery app.”
The Fikaso app, available on iOS and Android –already downloaded more than 5,000 times– addresses this issue. After downloading the app, users create an account with their personal information. They can then browse partner restaurants on the platform to place their order. Users input their commune and neighborhood into the search bar to receive a list of relevant restaurants based on their geographic location.
By selecting “Commandez maintenant (Order Now),” users can view the menu, dish prices, restaurant operating hours, and reviews from other users. Fikaso Plus also features a digital wallet for paying restaurant bills and delivery fees.
In addition to food orders, Fikaso offers other services such as parcel delivery and on-demand mobility. Users can order a taxi or motorcycle taxi online for errands. The startup plans to expand to other cities to support its growth in the local market before potentially venturing overseas.
Cissé believes in the power of technological innovation. “Technological advancements level the playing field; so-called underdeveloped countries can benefit from the same progress as developed countries. As such, African youth should not merely be playing catch-up; they should be leading the charge,” Cissé says.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
In an effort to contribute to the sustainable development of their country, three tech entrepreneurs have established a solution for financing collaborative projects through e-commerce.
DealKhir, a Moroccan startup, has introduced an innovative online commerce platform that allows users to purchase service products in support of sustainable association projects. The Casablanca-based startup, established in 2021 by Layla Medkouri, Hamza Bakkach, and Rim Machhour, is transforming the landscape of fundraising and patronage.
The platform operates by setting up a specific fund for each project. Users can directly access these projects on the website and make a purchase to support the ones they choose. The process is straightforward: select a project, purchase one or more products associated with it, and upon validation of the purchase, 70% of the amount is directly allocated to the project’s fund.
Layla Medkouri explains, “When you make a purchase of 100 dirhams (approximately $9.92), 70 dirhams are donated to the selected association projects. These projects are supported through these deals and indirectly by our partner companies who agree to lower their prices to increase attractiveness.” She further adds, “For instance, in the case of school transportation, each product purchased by a user contributes 70 dirhams to the dedicated fund. Once the target amount is achieved, all contributors, including consumers and partner companies, are notified.”
Initially, DealKhir concentrated on service products such as leisure, entertainment, travel, and fitness centers. However, it has evolved into a comprehensive online commerce platform where users can find a variety of items related to the projects being funded. Notably, it offers local cooperatives a free platform to market their products. Users can also contribute to a project without necessarily making a purchase.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Korhogo in 2014 and a certificate in entrepreneurship from the Founder Institute in 2016, the Ivorian native embarked on a venture into the world of digital entrepreneurship. He chose to focus on educational technologies.
Etudesk LMS, an edtech platform developed by an Ivorian startup, offers users the ability to create online courses via its web interface. The startup, established in 2016 by Lamine Barro and headquartered in Abidjan, is carving out a niche for itself in the digital education sector.
The platform, which does not offer a mobile app, requires users to use a browser to create an account and access a page where courses are available. Users have the option of asynchronous training, which is individual instruction without participant interaction, or a cohort-based approach that allows group interaction. The training can be exclusively online or a blend of face-to-face and remote education, known as blended learning.
Once users have made these choices, they can upload documents and videos to the page and create various training modules. They can then share links to their courses through various channels, including social media.
Etudesk incorporates several features to streamline the management of online courses. The edtech platform enables the assessment of learners’ skills through practical activities and quizzes with an optional automatic grading feature, scheduling of videoconference sessions directly via the platform, and continuous interaction with the class through group discussion forums.
Etudesk offers a range of pricing plans, including a free plan. Other plans are priced at $69, $169, and $299 per month, respectively. Discounts are available to users who opt for annual plans. With the exception of the free plan, which remains unchanged, the edtech charges for 10 months out of the year for users who choose the annual plan.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
In order to provide employees with easy access to financial services, two tech entrepreneurs launched a custom fintech solution. They named it after salad, a dish known for its various health-benefiting ingredients.
Salad Africa, a fintech solution developed by a Nigerian startup, is designed to ease employees’ access to financial services through partnerships with employers. The startup, established in Lagos in 2022 by Chikodi Ukaiwe and Seunfunmi Omotunde, works directly with employers for prequalification and access to unique employee data. “By working with us, employers maintain their cash flow from no longer having to fund salary advances, boost their employees’ productivity and attract the best talent,” Ukaiwe said.
The fintech’s goal is to create a system that enables employees to access their wages on demand, avail of savings products and wealth-building, pay for airtime and internet data, or subscribe to online services. To achieve this, it has developed a mobile application, available on iOS and Android (downloaded over 500 times, according to Play Store statistics).
To use the service, users must create an account by providing information such as their company’s name and address, registration number, tax identification number, total number of employees, and volume of monthly payments. After this step, Salad Africa sends an email, and it takes 24 hours to finalize account creation following routine verifications. Once the account is created, users can access the services offered by Salad Africa.
“Our services are live and available to employers and employees across all states in Nigeria, with plans to expand into Ghana and two new markets in East Africa over the coming months,” Ukaiwe told Disrupt Africa in May 2023.
Salad Africa charges transaction fees for all operations on its platform, including interest on loans, commissions from third-party financial service providers, and net interest income from customer deposits.
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This startup is named after 16th-century Algerian scholar, Ibn Hamza Al-Maghribi. It aims to improve the quality of healthcare and medical practices through innovation.
eTabib is an e-health platform developed by the Algerian startup Ibn Hamza, allowing users to access healthcare services online through a mobile application. Founded in 2016 by Mostefa Nabil and based in Algiers, this healthtech company aims to improve the quality and safety of care, as well as the working conditions for healthcare professionals.
The app is available on Huawei's AppGallery and the Android Play Store, boasting over 5,000 downloads. Users can register with their personal information and access various services, including finding doctors for online consultations or posing medical questions to healthcare professionals.
Online consultations are a key benefit of the app, saving time and eliminating the need for waiting in lines. This feature became especially valuable during its 2020 launch amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, giving it a competitive edge.
Additionally, the platform includes a feature for online medical records. Patients have a medical record that updates based on their medical history, allowing doctors to provide more efficient care in future consultations and helping to reduce health expenses by minimizing redundant tests and x-rays.
Doctors, from general practitioners to specialists, can join the eTabib network, which claims to have over 40,000 doctors and clinics across Algeria.
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Financial technology is rapidly gaining traction across the continent. Even with the limited availability of venture capital, the number of startups in this sector continues to grow. These emerging businesses are consistently introducing innovative solutions for the public.
AdwaPay is a financial technology solution developed by the Cameroonian firm Adwa Sarl. It enables businesses and online commerce platforms to receive mobile payments. Founded in 2017 by David Christian Mbang, the startup is based in Douala.
Rather than a mobile app, AdwaPay is available as a web platform. It provides documentation to enable integration, with businesses also having the option to reach out to the startup for assistance in the process. Once integrated, businesses can accept payments through Orange Money, PayPal, Express Union, and credit cards.
AdwaPay incorporates a dashboard that allows for real-time transaction monitoring. It features Adwamoney, a digital wallet that gives businesses and e-commerce platforms instant access to their funds. Additionally, its online store, Adwashop, enables users to order or pay for listed products or services.
The solution guarantees transactions up to XAF825 million (approximately $1.3 million). It claims more than 3,000 transactions daily and over 240 satisfied clients. In 2020, it signed a partnership agreement to establish a digital bank with Gabonese fintech Fedha, aiming to facilitate access to financial services for the region's populations excluded from the traditional banking system.
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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.”
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The solution was launched by a tech entrepreneur on a mission to democratize legal expertise and make it accessible to everyone. It has become even more relevant with the adoption of electronic signatures in Tunisia in June 2023.
e-Tafakna, a Tunisian startup founded in 2022 by Norchen Mezni, offers a legaltech solution that streamlines the process of accessing, customizing, and finalizing legal documents online. With its mobile app, available on both iOS and Android (the Android app has been downloaded over 500 times from Play Store), users can electronically sign contracts to finalize agreements between different parties. The app offers a variety of contracts in French, English, and Arabic, including employment, real estate, certificates, and quotes/invoices.
Users can tailor documents to their specific needs, add relevant details, and send them out for signatures. The startup has also integrated artificial intelligence into its platform, offering recommendations for different contract clauses. This feature can be activated simply by scanning the document with a smartphone.
In addition to providing legal documents, e-Tafakna offers legal and accounting expertise and assists users in setting up limited liability companies and sole proprietorships. They offer a range of pricing plans, starting from $3.99 to $34.99, to cater to different user needs.
e-Tafakna won the StartUp’Act label in July 2022, a legal status that provides benefits for startups in Tunisia. In April 2024, e-Tafakna was selected to participate in the fourth edition of the Lab Innova for Tunisia 2024, along with 21 other Tunisian startups.
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The solution was sparked by its founder’s personal experience. In 2014, during her 30th week of pregnancy, she underwent an emergency C-section due to complications. While fortunate to recover, this near-death experience from postpartum hemorrhage fueled her desire to develop a solution.
Nerve, an e-health mobile application, is the brainchild of the Nigerian startup LifeBank. It provides a platform for hospitals and health centers to order vital medical supplies like blood and oxygen. LifeBank, headquartered in Lagos, was established in 2016 by Temie Giwa-Tubosun.
The founder explains, “We are using Google Maps to create a communication platform between blood banks, hospitals and patients, which was previously non-existent. [...] I knew from the start that donors would always be an essential link in the distribution process. Without supply, what can we deliver?”
The app, available on iOS and Android, has already been downloaded over a thousand times. It connects blood banks with various hospitals and health centers. Users place orders through the app, specifying the required blood group, and the system takes care of the rest. LifeBank maintains a cold chain infrastructure to ensure the blood is properly preserved until it is delivered within 45 minutes or less.
The startup elaborates, “We work with over 150 accredited blood banks to provide safe blood and safe blood products. Our order and inventory system ensures that every product supplied is trackable and the safety records of blood and blood products are available to patients and health providers.”
Regarding oxygen supply, the startup asserts, “We work with over 50 oxygen plants to ensure that we only source and deliver high-quality medical oxygen.”
LifeBank uses various modes of transport for delivery, depending on the situation. These include bicycles, tricycles, trucks, and even drones. In March 2023, the healthtech incorporated artificial intelligence into its system to enhance its performance.
Adoni Conrad Quenum