A civil engineering graduate, he chose to make sustainable transport more accessible in Africa. To achieve this, he relies on technology and promotes the adoption of electric vehicles across the continent.

Felix Rubanda (photo) is a Rwandan tech entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Feru Energy, a startup specializing in e-mobility infrastructure across Africa.

Founded in 2022, Feru Energy aims to develop and deploy affordable and reliable e-mobility solutions for businesses and electric vehicle (EV) drivers on the continent. One of its key innovations is SafariCharger, a comprehensive charging optimization solution for electric vehicles.

SafariCharger includes a Charging Station Management System (CSMS) designed for infrastructure operators, as well as a mobile app. The CSMS provides real-time monitoring and analysis, offering detailed insights on charger usage to help operators optimize their charging networks.

The mobile app informs users about charging station availability, pricing, and locations. It also allows booking time slots and making payments via mobile money, a widely used payment method in Africa.

Rubanda is also the head of charging stations at Kabisa Electric, a Rwandan company specializing in electric mobility. In 2021, he co-founded Punda Group, a company leveraging technology to transform Africa’s construction sector. He holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering technologies from the University of Rwanda. Before venturing into entrepreneurship, he led Five Worlds, a Rwandan travel and tourism agency, from 2014 to 2017.

By Melchior Koba,

Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodji