- Lemonade Payments, founded in November 2022 by Kenyan entrepreneur Mark Machiri Kihara, offers digital solutions to accelerate and simplify business payments.
- The platform supports all company sizes across sectors including retail, e-commerce, hospitality, travel, marketing, and services, providing both technical and commercial assistance.
- Clients access detailed dashboards to monitor financial flows, payment performance, and customer behavior, enabling data-driven business decisions.
Mark Machiri Kihara co-founded and serves as CEO of Lemonade Payments, launched in November 2022. The company designs digital payment solutions to make transactions faster, simpler, and more secure for African businesses.
Lemonade Payments manages daily inflows and outflows for companies of all sizes. The platform serves multiple sectors, including retail, e-commerce, marketing, hospitality, travel, consulting, and a wide range of service industries. Kihara said the goal is to leverage payments as a growth driver through reliable and rapid transfers.
The company goes beyond transaction processing. Each client receives dedicated support teams for technical integration and commercial follow-up. This assistance streamlines system integration, resolves issues quickly, and optimizes payment workflows.
Lemonade Payments provides clients with detailed dashboards that track financial flows, payment performance, and customer experiences. These analytics help companies identify peak payment times, evaluate payment methods, and make better operational decisions.
Kihara holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from United States International University – Africa, earned in 2009. He began his career in 2012 as a client relationship manager at Standard Chartered Bank and later served from 2022 to 2024 as head of corporate relationships at Co‑operative Bank of Kenya.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
- Kenai centralizes visitor, employee and vehicle access management on a single digital platform.
- The company integrates biometric facial recognition, real-time occupancy tracking and compliance reporting aligned with GDPR and POPIA.
- Kenai recently raised an undisclosed amount from Gallagher Security to fund its international expansion.
Kenai operates as a digital solution developed by a South African start-up. The platform unifies reception processes, entry and exit management for visitors, staff and vehicles through a single interface.
The company enables pre-registration, rapid check-in, biometric facial recognition and real-time presence tracking. The system replaces paper forms and manual logbooks that often create errors and delays. The company operates from Johannesburg, and Robert Salzwedel founded the start-up in 2018.
Moreover, the solution captures non-disclosure agreements, consent forms and security checks with time-stamped digital signatures that companies can use for compliance reporting. The platform supports regulatory frameworks such as the General Data Protection Regulation and South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act.
Kenai reduces registration processes that traditionally required several minutes to only a few seconds through automation and digital kiosks. Managers monitor site occupancy in real time and access instant reports, which strengthens planning, security oversight and audit readiness.
Recently, the start-up secured an undisclosed funding round from Gallagher Security to support its international growth. “Cet investissement nous permettra d'accélérer notre croissance soutenue et de renforcer notre équipe à mesure que nous nous développons à l'international,” said Robert Salzwedel.
Kenai structures its modules to cover the full management cycle, including visitor management, employee access, perimeter control, resource booking, safety training and evacuation procedures. The platform integrates with existing infrastructure and access control systems already deployed on corporate sites.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
- The Democratic Republic of Congo aims to train 250,000 young people in digital skills under a five-year national program.
- The government signed a memorandum of understanding with Cisco and Cybastion in September 2025 to implement the initiative.
- Authorities target digital skills as a response to youth unemployment, as young people represent more than 50% of the working-age population.
The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo announced on Monday, February 16, the completion of the first phase of trainer training in Kinshasa under a national digital upskilling program that ultimately targets 250,000 young Congolese. Authorities will now extend the project rollout to the provinces.
On February 13, 2026, the Ministry of Youth and Civic Education detailed the program framework. Five hundred young participants began a hybrid training pathway, and organizers will use a final test to select 200 top-performing candidates. Program managers will assign selected participants to three levels—Basic, Intermediate and Advanced—and will deploy them nationwide as skills multipliers.
In September 2025, the Congolese government signed a memorandum of understanding with Cisco and Cybastion to implement the program over five years. The curriculum will provide training in networking and cybersecurity, data science, programming and operating systems, technical English, digital transformation and entrepreneurship.
The ministry stated that, beyond training, “Cisco and Cybastion will support the professional integration of young people through their network of local partners, thereby creating real employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.”
The completion of the trainer training phase marks the effective launch of the broader youth training program in digital professions. Authorities view digital technology as a key driver of economic and social development and as a vehicle for job creation and youth empowerment, particularly as employment concerns persist in the country.
A 2022 study by the Ministry of Planning showed that individuals aged 15 to 29 account for 50.44% of the working-age population. The study reported a youth unemployment rate of 2.5%, compared with 1.4% for adults, and it showed that long-term unemployment affects 61.8% of young people versus 61.2% of adults. The study estimated that the country will need to create about 9.6 million jobs between 2022 and 2030 to stabilize unemployment and labor force participation rates, and nearly 35 million jobs by 2050.
Isaac K. Kassouwi
- Three start-ups from Jordan, Madagascar and Tunisia won the 2025 international final held in Casablanca on February 4.
- Orange awarded a total of 50,000 euros and support through its Orange Digital Centers network.
- The 2025 edition trained 369 young innovators from 14 countries, and 56 Startup4Good projects emerged.
The international Orange Summer Challenge competition, which promotes responsible entrepreneurship in Africa and the Middle East, announced the winners of its third edition during a final held on February 4 in Casablanca, Morocco. The jury recognized three start-ups for their potential impact in occupational safety, sustainable energy and water resource management.
Jordan-based SafeGuard secured first prize with an intelligent workplace accident prevention device that uses risk detection technology. Madagascar-based GasNika ranked second with a biogas production solution that converts organic waste into biological fertilizer. Tunisia-based DripIn completed the podium with a connected solution that uses artificial intelligence to detect water leaks and optimize consumption.
Organizers granted the winners financial, technical and commercial support through the Orange Digital Centers network, and they allocated a total prize of 50,000 euros to accelerate project development.
For the 2025 edition, 369 young innovators from 14 countries completed an intensive support program that combined training, mentoring and coaching. Orange Afrique et Moyen-Orient deployed the program with support from technology and institutional partners, including Amazon Web Services, Meta, the United Nations Development Programme, The Hashgraph Association and Dar Blockchain. The program generated 56 projects under the Startup4Good theme across sectors such as environment, health, education and agriculture.
According to Ben Cheick Haidara, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Orange Afrique et Moyen-Orient, the 2025 edition reflects the group’s ambition to position Orange Digital Centers as open innovation platforms focused on social and environmental impact. “Bien plus qu’une compétition, ce programme permet aux jeunes entrepreneurs de développer des solutions technologiques, notamment basées sur l’intelligence artificielle, pour répondre concrètement aux défis sociétaux et environnementaux. À travers les Orange Digital Centers, Orange s’engage durablement aux côtés de la jeunesse pour faire émerger une innovation à fort impact en Afrique et au Moyen-Orient,” he said.
Samira Njoya
- Senegal aligned the Digital Economy Acceleration Project (PAENS) with its national digital transformation agenda for 2026.
- The government increased the Ministry of Digital Affairs’ 2026 budget by 38.7% to CFA81.06 billion ($146 million), with nearly 60% allocated to investment.
- The World Bank committed CFA95.05 billion to support connectivity, digital public services and regulatory reforms.
During the World Bank’s portfolio review in Senegal, the Minister of Communication, Telecommunications and Digital Affairs met on Thursday, February 12 in Dakar with Ousmane Diagana, Vice President of the World Bank for Western and Central Africa, who toured the country with his teams. The meeting allowed officials to present Senegal’s integrated digital vision and to review the main pillars of the New Deal Technologique, the national roadmap for digital transformation.
Officials placed the Digital Economy Acceleration Project in Senegal (PAENS) at the center of discussions. Authorities recently aligned the project with the national agenda after several months of detailed structuring. The updated framework now integrates concrete priorities, including the deployment of an integrated public financial management system, the strengthening of cybersecurity capabilities, the establishment of a sovereign government cloud and the development of artificial intelligence use cases.
Moreover, participants validated operational milestones scheduled for the first half of 2026. Authorities will launch a tender to connect underserved “white zones,” particularly in the groundnut basin and Lower Casamance. Project managers will start construction of the integrated accounting module of the SIGIF public finance system, and health officials will deploy an electronic patient record system financed under PAENS.
Rising Budget Allocation to Support Digital Push
Senegal increased the budget allocation dedicated to digital development to support these objectives. The Ministry of Digital Affairs secured CFA81.06 billion (about $146 million) for 2026, and the government raised the allocation by nearly 38.7% compared with 2025. The ministry allocated nearly 60% of the envelope to investment, particularly in infrastructure, cybersecurity and digital economy development.
All these initiatives align with the New Deal Technologique that Senegalese authorities launched in February 2026 to position digital technology as a driver of sovereignty and development. In this context, PAENS benefits from substantial support from the World Bank, which committed CFA95.05 billion to strengthen the legal, regulatory and institutional framework of the digital economy, expand broadband connectivity, promote digital inclusion and support digital adoption in public services, particularly through digital health.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
- Zulu Tech, founded in 2020, delivers customized digital solutions to organizations across sectors.
- The company developed platforms in education, home services, health tech and international money transfers.
- Founder Kena Girma previously worked with Dowell Research UK and several technology firms as a software developer.
Kena Girma works as an Ethiopian software engineer and technology entrepreneur. He founded and leads Zulu Tech, a company that specializes in designing customized digital solutions for organizations.
Zulu Tech, which Girma established in 2020, supports companies in achieving project objectives through disciplined execution and strict adherence to deadlines. The company adapts each solution to specific client requirements and provides website and application design and development services, as well as digital advisory and consulting support.
Moreover, the company maintains project performance after deployment by delivering maintenance and support services that keep applications updated and operational.
Among its deployed solutions, Zulu Tech developed “Zulu Learn,” an artificial intelligence-based learning platform that helps high school students improve academic performance and prepare for national examinations with confidence. The company also created “HandyMan,” an all-in-one service platform that connects users with qualified professionals for home maintenance, repairs and a broad range of on-demand services.
In addition, Zulu Tech launched “HakimHub,” a web and mobile health application that uses advanced language models to transform how users access medical advice. The company also introduced “Hakim Express,” an application that enables users to conduct international money transfers with real-time exchange rates and secure payment processing.
Kena Girma earned a degree in computer science from Addis Ababa University. He joined Dowell Research UK, a London-based research firm, as a mobile application developer. He later worked as a freelance software developer for technology companies including Eskalate, Glamiris and hozma.tech.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
- Algeria launches online platform for certified court copies
- Lawyers receive electronically signed documents within 24 hours
- Initiative advances broader judicial digitalization efforts
Algeria's Justice Minister Lotfi Boudjemaa on Sunday announced the launch of a digital platform enabling lawyers to request and retrieve certified copies of court judgments and rulings online. He made the announcement from the Biskra Court on Feb. 15.
The initiative aims to simplify procedures and reduce physical trips to courthouses.
The platform allows lawyers to submit requests for certified copies from both ordinary and administrative courts and retrieve electronically signed documents. Each request is processed automatically and made available within 24 hours. According to the minister, the system modernizes court operations and improves responsiveness for legal professionals and litigants. Access is through each lawyer's electronic account on the Justice Ministry's digital interface for exchanging petitions and briefs.
The initiative is part of a broader push to digitize judicial services in Algeria. Since May 2024, a national electronic portal has allowed case tracking and retrieval of simple copies of judgments and rulings from any court in the country, reducing delays and travel for litigants and their lawyers.
Like Algeria, several African countries have pursued digital modernization of their judicial systems. In Morocco, digital platforms allow lawyers to file documents electronically, track case progress and access certain records such as criminal background checks or court decisions. In Rwanda, the Integrated Electronic Case Management System handles digitization of case filing, case tracking and virtual hearings, making procedures more accessible and transparent for litigants.
Samira Njoya
As site security, regulatory compliance and operational efficiency become top priorities for businesses and institutions, Kenai positions itself as a digital platform for managing visitor and employee access.
Kenai is a digital solution developed by a South African startup. It brings together visitor, staff and vehicle check-ins and site access management on a single interface.
The platform enables pre-registration, rapid check-in, facial recognition and real-time attendance tracking, replacing paper forms and manual registers that are often prone to errors or delays. Based in Johannesburg, the company was launched in 2018 by Robert Salzwedel.
The solution manages non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), consent forms and security checks, using time-stamped digital signatures to generate compliance reports under frameworks such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).
With Kenai, processes that once took several minutes are reduced to seconds through automation and digital kiosks. Managers can view site occupancy in real time and access instant reports, supporting planning, security and audits.
Recently, the startup secured undisclosed funding from Gallagher Security, a New Zealand company, to support its international expansion. “This investment will allow us to accelerate our already strong growth, and build the team as we expand internationally,” Salzwedel said.
Kenai’s full suite of modules covers the lifecycle of site and access management, including visitors, employees, perimeter access, resource bookings, security training and evacuation procedures. The platform integrates easily with existing infrastructure and access control systems.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
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Mozambique launched the process to draft a National Digital Transformation Strategy to expand ICT access and support inclusive growth.
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About 80% of Mozambicans remained offline in 2024, highlighting a large digital gap, according to the ITU.
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The government aimed to use the strategy to mobilize investment and international support while improving economic resilience.
Last week, Mozambique officially launched the process to draft the National Digital Transformation Strategy. The roadmap aimed to leverage the country’s geographic, energy, and demographic potential, while linking these assets with public digital infrastructure to promote inclusive development and strengthen economic resilience.
The authorities held the launch on February 12, during a special session of the National Conference on Digital Transformation, which took place from February 11 to 12.
According to the government, the strategy design will include regional and national consultations, the definition of a vision, priorities, and performance indicators, the setting of strategic objectives and an action plan, and the establishment of monitoring, evaluation, and governance mechanisms. The authorities said the process will conclude with a participatory validation.
“A nationally designed and owned strategy, coherent and pragmatic, can serve as a foundation to mobilize investment and international support, consolidating digitalization as a cross-cutting enabler of economic transformation, social inclusion, infrastructure development, and environmental sustainability in the country,” said Lourino Chemane, chairman of the board of the National Institute of Information and Communication Technologies (INTIC).
This initiative unfolded amid an acceleration of digital transformation across Africa, where many countries integrate ICT across sectors to support socio-economic development. Within this context, Mozambican authorities increased efforts to expand access to mobile services.
According to the International Telecommunication Union, mobile penetration reached 79.9%, while mobile internet penetration stood at 20.5%.
Mozambique ranked 177th out of 193 countries in the 2024 United Nations E-Government Development Index (EGDI), with a score of 0.2848 out of 1.
The score remained below sub-regional (0.3903), African (0.4247), and global (0.6382) averages.
In cybersecurity, the country placed in the third tier of the 2024 ITU Global Cybersecurity Index, with significant room for improvement in legal, technical, and capacity-building areas.
This article was initially published in French by Isaac K. Kassouwi
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
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Beezop centralizes recurring procedures and task lists to reduce errors and protect brand reputation.
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Founder Charles Dairo targets workplace disorganization by embedding method into daily operations.
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The platform adds dashboards, alerts, and analytics to improve execution speed and managerial oversight.
Charles Dairo is a Nigerian computer scientist and technology entrepreneur. He co-founded and leads Beezop, a startup that helps companies organize repetitive tasks and structure work processes.
Founded in 2021, Beezop centralizes all procedures and recurring task lists for teams. The platform ensures that employees know what to do, when to do it, and how to do it efficiently.
The company aims to reduce errors, prevent customer dissatisfaction, and protect corporate reputation. The platform provides an intuitive space to create step-by-step sequences that organize work processes. Teams can share these sequences across the organization so employees access the right instructions at the right time. The tool formalizes company know-how and makes it accessible to all staff, including new hires.
Once teams launch tasks, Beezop displays process progress on a simple visual dashboard. Managers can track execution, identify bottlenecks, and receive alerts when key actions require attention. The system can send notifications at the start, at completion, or at each critical step of a process.
Beyond operations, Beezop delivers analytics to clarify day-to-day business performance. Companies can measure how many processes teams launched or completed over a given period and assess the average execution time of full tasks.
Alongside Beezop, Charles Dairo serves as chief executive of CKDIGITAL, a web development agency he founded in 2011. In 2020, he co-founded Questionwave, a tool that helps users collect questions during Q&A sessions. He also founded Kindlybook, a solution that helps African service providers automate appointment scheduling and payments. Since 2024, he has acted as a startup mentor at the Founder Institute.
Charles Dairo graduated from Redeemer’s University in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in computer science. He completed an internship at Ericsson in 2008. He joined Unotech Media in 2010 as a designer and web developer. Between 2011 and 2012, he worked as a web design consultant for The Fountain of Life Church.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
More...
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mLouma digitizes price discovery, market access, and services across Senegal’s agricultural value chain.
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Co-founder and CTO Birahim Babou targets information asymmetry between producers and markets.
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The platform integrates pricing data, weather services, e-learning, and online marketplaces to improve decision-making.
Birahim Babou is a Senegalese computer engineer and technology entrepreneur. He co-founded and serves as chief technology officer of mLouma, where he supports agricultural stakeholders in production, marketing, and purchasing.
Founded in 2012, mLouma operates as a digital platform designed for Senegalese and African agricultural realities. The company aims to become a reference in digital agriculture by connecting producers, buyers, suppliers, institutions, and young entrepreneurs through simple and accessible tools.
The platform delivers up-to-date information on prices, availability, and product locations. Users leverage this data to guide buying and selling decisions. An intuitive dashboard aggregates multiple services, including agricultural weather updates, access to training content, market monitoring, and online shop management.
In parallel, mLouma developed several complementary solutions. Louma Mbay operates as an online marketplace where agricultural actors list and sell products. Louma du savoir provides an e-learning platform dedicated to agricultural training. Météo Mbay delivers climate information tailored to producers.
Alongside mLouma, Birahim Babou co-founded in 2020 and leads digital learning at Solutions Numériques pour l’Afrique, a Morocco-based software firm that applies technology to education. He also serves as IT project manager at Écoles au Sénégal, an initiative that uses digital tools to reduce inequality in access to quality education.
Birahim Babou holds a master’s degree in software engineering and network administration obtained in 2018 from the École supérieure de technologie et de management du Sénégal. He also graduated from the Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar, where he defended a PhD in mathematics and computer science in 2020.
He began his professional career in 2014 as a senior IT technician at the Université virtuelle du Sénégal. The institution promoted him in 2017 to head of the applications and digital services division within the IT and information systems directorate.
Between 2019 and 2020, he served as head of digital learning at Accent Education, the edtech subsidiary of Moroccan computer hardware brand Accent.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
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Tunisia will implement 192 digital projects and launch full public service digitalization from 2026.
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Authorities will expand online services, electronic payments and interoperability under the 2026–2030 development plan.
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Internet penetration reaches 84% of the population, supporting e-government expansion.
The government announced that Tunisia will rely on 192 digital projects to accelerate administrative modernization and initiate full digitalization of public services starting in 2026. Officials made the announcement after a cabinet meeting dedicated to monitoring the digital transition, which took place on Friday, February 13, at the Kasbah Palace.
Prime Minister Sarra Zaâfrani Zenzri chaired the meeting and stated that digital transformation represents a pillar of the state’s economic and social program. The government plans to strengthen online services, generalize electronic payments and ensure interoperability among public institutions under the 2026–2030 development plan.
The executive branch stated that modernization will simplify administrative procedures, reduce processing times, improve transaction transparency and support the country’s economic attractiveness. Authorities also aligned the strategy with efforts to combat corruption, tax fraud and informal practices.
Several flagship projects were already operational at the end of 2025. The government launched a unified portal for administrative services, introduced an electronic tax stamp, enabled remote payment of certain taxes and implemented the first phase of a digital hospital program. Authorities also deployed platforms dedicated to building permits and online administrative procedures. Other initiatives focus on interconnecting public services and developing digital solutions for citizens and businesses.
Tunisia’s relatively high level of digital adoption supports these efforts. DataReportal’s “Digital 2026: Tunisia” report indicates that about 84% of the population uses the internet, while mobile connections exceed 125% of the population. This environment creates favorable conditions for the expansion of online public services.
Authorities plan to prioritize projects that deliver direct impact for users and investors while strengthening cybersecurity and data protection requirements. The government will also implement a national communication plan to promote citizen adoption of digital services.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
South African organization WomHub is accepting applications for the second edition of its Green Acceleration Programme, aimed at women entrepreneurs driving sustainable innovation. The programme supports projects in circular manufacturing, climate-friendly technologies and sustainability. Applications are open until February 18, 2026.
Startup Club ZA, a South African network of early-stage tech companies, is launching Platform ZA, a free nationwide platform designed to streamline access to jobs, resources and opportunities. The initiative aims to connect founders, investors and partners, making the tech ecosystem more inclusive and collaborative. Open to all, the platform will continue to evolve based on feedback from the local tech community.