At just 19 years old, she launched her first startup and contributed to the fight against unemployment through innovative training programs. Her company has achieved immense success, earning her numerous awards and distinctions.

Matina Razafimahefa (photo) is a renowned entrepreneur in Madagascar's tech industry. She is best known for founding the educational technology startup Sayna, alongside her mother, Nirina Rahoeliarivahy. As CEO, Matina aims to make education accessible to Africans through gamified online training programs.

Founded in 2018, Sayna is an edtech and crowdsourcing platform that allows users to acquire technological skills. Students who complete these courses can then access paid micro-tasks offered by companies, helping to reduce unemployment.

Beyond Sayna, Matina co-founded and co-chairs French Tech Antananarivo, a community launched in 2019. This initiative brings together startup founders, investors, institutions, and other key players in Madagascar's tech ecosystem. French Tech Antananarivo serves as a hub for innovation, technological experimentation, and talent support.

Born in Côte d’Ivoire and raised in Madagascar, Matina pursued her studies at the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne in France, where she earned a degree in political science in 2020. Between 2018 and 2019, she was the Head of Solidarity Engagements at Maltem Consulting Group. In 2023, she served on the scientific committee of the Assises de la Transformation Digitale en Afrique.

Matina's achievements have been widely recognized. In 2020, she was a finalist in The Anzisha Prize, which honors the best young entrepreneurs in Africa. In 2022, she was named one of Forbes Africa's 30 under 30 shaping the future of the continent. Additionally, at Vivatech 2022, Sayna won the "Making Work Flexible" challenge organized by ManpowerGroup, a company specializing in recruitment solutions.

Melchior Koba