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Many Africans in the diaspora, eager to invest in construction projects in Africa, are deterred by scams and the difficulties of such ventures. To overcome these challenges, the IT specialist turned entrepreneur has created Wizodia.
Yao Attignon (photo), a Togolese IT specialist and entrepreneur, is the co-founder and CEO of Wizodia, a tech startup that simplifies real estate projects in Africa for diaspora members looking to build in their home countries.
Founded in 2017 by Attignon and Lionel Menzan, Wizodia offers a comprehensive platform that supports African emigrants throughout the entire construction process. The platform provides easy access to quotes, connects users with a network of reliable professionals, and allows them to track project progress in real time.
Through Wizodia, users can receive up-to-date information on their construction projects, with photos and videos captured by on-site teams, as well as access to all related documents. An internal messaging system allows for direct communication with project stakeholders. Today, the startup operates in Côte d'Ivoire, Togo, Benin, Cameroon, and Senegal.
Yao Attignon co-founded Wizodia to address the challenges emigrants face, particularly real estate scams, when trying to launch construction projects in their home countries. “I spent 10 years in IT consulting. During my career, being of Togolese origin, I wanted to invest back home. That’s when I discovered the obstacles faced by those looking to undertake real estate projects in Africa,” explains the entrepreneur.
Attignon graduated from the Institut Supérieur d’Informatique Appliquée (INSIA Paris) in 2006 with a degree in computer engineering. Before venturing into entrepreneurship, he worked (from 2011 to 2014) as a SAP consultant at ALiA Consulting, a business process management software company. Between 2016 and 2018, he was a project manager and SAP consultant at SEIZE Consulting, another IT services firm.
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He has over 15 years of experience in the fintech sector. His goal is to create innovative and secure solutions tailored to the needs of professionals and individuals in Africa.
Moussa Dembele (photo) is a Malian computer scientist and entrepreneur, co-founder and CEO of Danapay, a fintech startup focused on improving access to international payments for Africans. Based in France, Danapay was founded in 2017 by Keita Gaoussou, Moussa, and Demba Dembele. The company leverages blockchain technology to simplify financial transactions between African businesses and individuals and the rest of the world. Additionally, it enables transactions via USSD and SMS.
Danapay allows individuals to transfer up to €6,000, while businesses can transfer up to €30,000, with the option to increase this limit to €70,000 by providing the necessary documentation. Africans residing in Europe can send money to 12 countries in West and Central Africa.
Moussa Dembele holds a degree in computer engineering from Polytech Marseille, which he earned in 2008, and a master's degree in organizational consulting from EM Lyon Business School, obtained in 2013.
His professional career began in 2009 at Société Générale Corporate and Investment Banking as a software engineer. In 2011, he joined AXA Investment Managers as an IT architect. By 2013, he became an information systems consultant at Sentelis, a consulting firm specializing in strategy, governance, and IT architecture. From 2018 to 2020, he worked as an IT consultant at CGI in Luxembourg, a company known for its technology services and business process management.
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Her goal is to provide every African with access to quality insurance tailored to their respective needs. Through technology, she helps insurance companies better understand their customers' expectations.
Jihan Abass (photo) is a Kenyan entrepreneur and businesswoman. She is the founder and CEO of Lami Insurance Technology, a startup aiming to revolutionize insurance and make it accessible to everyone.
Founded in 2018, Lami Insurance Technology offers an insurance-as-a-service platform that digitizes the entire insurance value chain. This platform allows users to quickly create and distribute digital insurance products. Its services cater to a wide range of clients, including individuals, independent agents, and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Before launching Lami, Jihan Abass founded Griffin Motor Assurance in 2016, one of East Africa’s first smart car insurance companies. The Griffin Motor app is redefining auto insurance in Africa, providing a simpler, more affordable, and efficient experience through innovation.
The Kenyan entrepreneur holds a bachelor’s degree in Investment and Financial Risk Management from Bayes Business School in London, England. She also graduated from the University of Oxford in 2019 with a master’s in Business Administration.
Prior to her entrepreneurial ventures, she worked as a trader at Toyota Tsusho Sugar Trading Limited, a company specializing in wholesale confectionery distribution. In 2022, The New Africa magazine ranked her among the 110 most influential African women.
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After completing his studies and gaining several years of experience in the United States, he returned to Africa to use his technological expertise to benefit local populations. Through his recruitment platforms, he aims to reduce unemployment across the continent.
Yusuf Reja (photo) is an Ethiopian software engineer and serial entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of Africa Jobs Network, an interactive talent search platform.
Founded in 2019, Africa Jobs Network specializes in recruitment and employer branding, aiming to strengthen connections between local talent and companies across Africa. Based in Kenya, the company operates several platforms in various African countries.
The first platform, Ethiojobs.net, was launched by Yusuf Reja in 1997. It is one of Ethiopia's earliest job portals, helping job seekers confidently find opportunities. Another initiative, Deraja, also based in Ethiopia, focuses on tackling youth unemployment through innovative solutions aimed at improving their socio-economic well-being.
In addition, Yusuf Reja launched Kipawa, based in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2016. This branch of Africa Jobs Network specializes in recruitment marketing, offering effective employer branding solutions.
Yusuf Reja holds a bachelor's degree in computer and electrical engineering, which he earned in 1991 from the Santa Barbara College of Engineering at the University of California, U.S. His professional career began the same year at Motorola in Texas, where he worked as a software engineer. In 1994, he became the executive director of the Tigray Development Association in North America, a nonprofit dedicated to improving education in rural areas of Tigray, Ethiopia, a role he held until 1997.
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Africa's gaming industry has over 200 million active players, and this young entrepreneur is a key figure in that industry. Born in Sierra Leone, he is now based in South Africa.
Cordel Robbin-Coker (photo) is a tech entrepreneur from Sierra Leone. He is the co-founder and CEO of Carry1st, a mobile gaming and digital commerce platform. Founded in 2018, Carry1st is headquartered in South Africa and focuses on publishing mobile games and digital content. The company has launched several popular games across Africa, including Africa Glam, Mancala Adventures, Ludo Blitz Naija, and Mine Rescue.
Africa Glam is a fashion and makeover game aimed at girls, while Mancala Adventures offers a digital version of the classic African board game, Mancala. Mine Rescue is a mining-themed game, and Ludo Blitz Naija is a mobile adaptation of the widely popular African board game, Ludo.
Carry1st has also formed partnerships with major gaming companies such as Activision, Supercell, and Riot Games, enabling them to distribute large-scale titles like Call of Duty: Mobile and Valorant across Africa. To fuel further game development and publishing, the company raised $20 million in 2022 and $27 million in 2023. In January 2024, Carry1st secured an undisclosed investment from Japanese multinational Sony, through its venture capital arm.
“At Carry1st, we believe the African console market is a widely underestimated opportunity. Our unique regional capabilities, combined with Sony's gaming and entertainment expertise, make for a winning combination. Together, we hope to offer the best games in the world to players across Africa,” said Robbin-Coker, CEO of Carry1st.
Beyond Carry1st, Robbin-Coker serves on the boards of the Milton Hershey School and The Hershey Company, a global food and beverage corporation. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in political science from Stanford University.
His career began in 2008 at Morgan Stanley, where he worked as an investment banking analyst. In 2011, he joined the private equity firm The Carlyle Group, holding various roles, including Associate for U.S. Opportunities Fund and Vice President for the Sub-Saharan Africa Fund.
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After earning a degree in law and taxation, he embarked on an entrepreneurial journey. Leveraging information and communication technologies (ICT), he now provides last-mile delivery services in Togo.
Ruphin Tiou Tagba Aliti (photo) is a Togolese lawyer and entrepreneur in the ICT sector. He is the co-founder and CEO of Kaba Delivery, a start-up specializing in delivery solutions.
Founded in 2018, Kaba Delivery simplifies daily deliveries through a dedicated mobile app. The platform allows users to order meals on-demand from a wide range of restaurants. Customers can pay in cash upon delivery or via electronic methods like credit cards or mobile money. The app also uses geolocation to enable users to accurately specify their location. To foster customer loyalty, Kaba Delivery rewards each order with points. After 50 orders, customers can enjoy a 3,000 CFA Francs (around $5) discount on delivery fees every month.
Today, Kaba Delivery has over 200 partners and employs more than 50 delivery personnel. The start-up has completed over 150,000 deliveries, generating a total transaction value of 250 million CFA Francs.
In addition to his entrepreneurial pursuits, Ruphin Tiou Tagba Aliti teaches e-commerce at the Ecole supérieure du commerce et de l’économie numérique (ESCEN) in Togo. He holds a bachelor's degree in business law from Jean-François Champollion University in Toulouse, France, which he obtained in 2015, and a master’s in tax consulting and expertise from the Institut supérieur de management in Dakar, Senegal, completed in 2018.
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Mohamed Achraf Mrabet Simplifies Healthy EatingA computer engineer, he uses his skills to serve the Tunisian population. Committed to the well-being of his fellow citizens, he developed a meal-planning system to promote healthy eating habits.
Mohamed Achraf Mrabet (photo) is a Tunisian computer scientist and entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of Ukla, a food tech startup established in 2022. Ukla is a meal-planning application that offers a variety of features to help users organize their weekly meals, access nutritional advice, and easily prepare new recipes with detailed, step-by-step instructions. Once meals are planned, the app automatically generates a shopping list of necessary ingredients, simplifying grocery shopping for users.
Ukla’s mission is to make healthy eating both accessible and enjoyable for everyone. "We are passionate about helping people take control of their nutrition to achieve fitness goals and improve overall well-being. With Ukla, you can avoid junk food and eliminate the mental effort of thinking about recipes, portions, and diets," Mrabet writes on his LinkedIn profile.
Mrabet graduated in 2023 with a degree in computer engineering from Tunisia’s École Supérieure Privée d'Ingénierie et de Technologie (ESPRIT). To gain experience, he completed an internship in 2021 at TSF Innovations, a software development company, where he worked as a web developer. Between 2021 and 2022, he also served as project manager for Engineers Spack Esprit, a student club that promotes innovation and creativity among students.
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With a marketing degree, he gained experience working for several telecommunications companies. As an entrepreneur, he has developed technology to help Egyptians realize their dream of owning a home.
Mostafa El-Beltagy, an Egyptian marketing expert and entrepreneur, is the co-founder and CEO of Nawy, a digital real estate startup founded in 2019.
Nawy emerged from the collaboration of El-Beltagy, Abdel-Azim Osman, Aly Rafea, Ahmed Rafea, and Mohamed Abou Ghanima. The company offers a variety of services, including real estate brokerage and financing, allowing families to move into their dream homes immediately with payment plans of up to 10 years.
The company provides a comprehensive platform that simplifies the experience for real estate buyers, sellers, and investors. It positions itself as "a technology-based information and service hub, with multiple branches handling every step of our clients' journey, from finding a home to buying, selling, consulting, or investing in real estate, all on a fully immersive digital platform."
Before founding Nawy, El-Beltagy co-founded Bey2ollak, a multi-platform mobile app that enables users to exchange real-time traffic information.
Mostafa El-Beltagy holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the American University in Cairo. His professional career began in 2008 at Nielsen, an international performance management company, where he worked as a research analyst. In 2009, he joined Vodafone Egypt as head of prepaid services.
He went on to work for several other telecom operators. In 2013, he became the general manager of prepaid business at Vodacom. In 2014, El-Beltagy returned to Vodafone, where he oversaw customer value management, pricing, and commercial strategy for both consumer and business segments. From 2017 to 2021, he held roles as head of marketing and chief commercial officer.
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An entrepreneur and business leader, he runs several companies. His most recent venture is a digital startup that promotes the consumption of local meals in South Africa.
Talifhani Banks (photo) is a trained statistician and South African entrepreneur. He founded Spaza Eats, a startup launched in 2020 that specializes in delivery services. The company offers a platform for delivering food, groceries, and local products, with a unique focus on traditional South African meals and the digitization of informal markets, thereby promoting financial inclusion and access to banking services. The platform emphasizes local suppliers and traditional cuisine.
In addition to Spaza Eats, Talifhani Banks is the CEO of AnalyticsX, a tech company that provides a full suite of services, including software development, data engineering, data science, Internet of Things (IoT), system testing, and systems analysis. With operations in South Africa, Botswana, and Dubai, AnalyticsX delivers innovative solutions to help businesses thrive in an increasingly digital environment. The company is also a tech investor, supporting promising startups by providing the necessary funding and resources for growth and success.
Talifhani Banks graduated from the University of Pretoria, where he studied statistics and econometrics from 2009 to 2012. He began his professional career in 2013 at Daymon, a business services and consulting firm, working as a private label analyst. In 2015, he joined Pick n Pay, a retail startup, as a pricing and promotions analyst. By 2017, he was a business analyst at AutoZone South Africa, an automotive company.
In 2022, Talifhani Banks was recognized for his achievements, receiving several awards, including South Africa's Entrepreneur of the Year and Tech CEO of the Year. He also won the BRICS International Award of the Year.
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The lack of timely agricultural information has long impacted farmers' productivity and income. To address this issue, she developed an information system based on artificial intelligence.
Cassandra Mtine (photo) is a Zambian entrepreneur, co-founder, and CEO of AgriPredict. Founded in 2016, this agri-tech startup helps small-scale farmers access on-demand agricultural information.
Based in Lusaka, Zambia, AgriPredict uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to provide farmers with weather data such as rainfall forecasts, temperature trends, and humidity levels. Accessible via USSD and a mobile app, this information helps farmers better plan their activities.
“Our AI-based weather app is more than just a tool; it's a bridge between cutting-edge technology and traditional farming practices. We believe that by putting this power into the hands of farmers, we're contributing to a more food-secure future,” said Cassandra Mtine in August 2024.
AgriPredict also offers an early warning system that alerts users to potential threats like severe weather, diseases, or pest infestations. Additionally, the startup has developed an online marketplace that facilitates the buying and selling of products, connecting farmers with buyers, sellers, and agricultural traders.
Cassandra Mtine graduated from the University of Arizona in the United States, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental economics and natural resources in 2004, followed by a master’s degree in public policy and administration in 2007. She began her professional career in 2008 at the Critical Path Institute, a nonprofit focused on drug development, where she served as an associate project manager.
From 2012 to 2017, she was CEO of Shopzed Investments, an online grocery delivery service. In 2013, she also worked as a consultant for the Centre for Environment Justice, an organization advocating for the fundamental right to a healthy environment and access to accurate environmental information.
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Due to a lack of information about patients' medical histories, doctors often find it difficult to provide appropriate care, which can lead to dramatic situations. To address this situation in Côte d'Ivoire, she set up a dedicated system.
Corine Maurice Ouattara (photo) is an Ivorian expert in digital health and an entrepreneur. She is the founder and CEO of Pass Santé Mousso, a company specializing in digital health solutions.
Founded in 2016, Pass Santé Mousso offers a digital medical record system that allows patients to store all their medical and personal information in one place, accessible at any time via a web and mobile application. It also includes physical tools such as a bracelet, medallion, and card to facilitate access to medical information in case of emergencies.
Pass Santé Mousso’s mission is to “address the growing challenges of managing medical data and improve the quality of care, particularly in emergency situations. Our goal is to make healthcare more accessible and personalized through advanced digital solutions,” as stated on the company’s LinkedIn page.
The idea for Pass Santé Mousso emerged after a series of tragic events. Having suffered from recurring medical crises, Corine Maurice Ouattara once found herself in a hospital where, due to a lack of information, a doctor gave her the wrong treatment, leaving her bedridden for two days. In 2014, a young girl who had been assaulted in Côte d'Ivoire died because of inadequate care, which was partly due to the absence of medical information. These incidents motivated Ouattara to launch this project to prevent such situations from happening again.
Corine Maurice Ouattara also serves as the president of the Digital Health Association in Côte d'Ivoire, an organization dedicated to developing digital health solutions in the country.
She holds a degree in health information systems management from the National Institute of Health Training in Côte d'Ivoire, along with a law degree from the University of Abidjan. Before venturing into entrepreneurship, she worked as a personnel management officer at Etipack-CI, a company specializing in packaging and containers, from 2005 to 2006.
With Pass Santé Mousso, Ouattara has won numerous awards. She secured second place at the Ivorian TECHMOUSSO competition in 2016, third place at the Orange Entrepreneur Social contest in 2018, and was named a laureate of the Outstanding Young Person Award 2018 (TOYP) by the Junior Chamber International of Côte d'Ivoire. Also in 2018, she won second place in the health start-up Awards CASES.
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In recent years, fintech has rapidly grown across Africa. In Cameroon, Site Antipas is a leading figure in this new wave of tech entrepreneurs shaping this segment.
Site Antipas (photo) is a Cameroonian computer engineer and tech entrepreneur, co-founder, and CEO of fintech startup Noupia.
Founded in 2020, Noupia offers Cameroonians a seamless way to create and manage virtual credit cards, enabling users to make online purchases and send and receive money. Compatible with Apple and Google Pay, these virtual cards, which can be topped up via Mobile Money, are widely used for paying for services like Netflix subscriptions, and Facebook ads.
Noupia also simplifies bill payments in Cameroon, covering services like electricity, water, and Canal+, and allows users to purchase phone credit. Additionally, through its Noupia Actu feature, users can stay updated on financial news. The startup provides other services as well, including Ixtina, a digital platform where Cameroonians can offer various services.
Apart from his role at Noupia, Site Antipas is the lead web developer for First Hair, a company specializing in hair care products. He developed the company's e-commerce platform, facilitating online sales and deliveries of their products.
A graduate of HIBMAT University in Buea, Site Antipas earned his degree in computer engineering in 2016. He began his career in 2015 as a full-stack freelance developer and worked as a web developer for the Catholic University Institute of Buea from 2018 to 2022.
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He aims to boost intra-African trade by connecting truck owners and traders across the continent through technology. By leveraging digital platforms, he streamlines logistics and transportation, enabling businesses to move goods more efficiently across borders.
Robert Okello (photo), a Kenyan entrepreneur, is the co-founder and CEO of Rudi Trip, a company addressing the high costs and environmental impact of freight transportation in Africa. Founded in 2022, Rudi Trip connects shippers, truck owners, and drivers through a digital platform, aiming to reduce cross-border transportation costs and boost intra-African trade.
By minimizing empty trips, cutting carbon emissions, and optimizing the time spent finding cargo, Rudi Trip streamlines the logistics process. The platform matches loads with reliable trucks, offers fast payments to truck owners, and ensures transparency in the industry. The company specializes in domestic and cross-border transportation across various sectors, including grains, cement, tiles, steel, and consumer goods. Users can track the real-time location of trucks transporting their goods via the Rudi Trip app.
Prior to founding Rudi Trip, Okello gained experience in the technology and business development sectors. He holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics and chemistry from the University of Nairobi. After graduating, he worked at I Can Fly, a university guidance platform, as a business development manager. He subsequently joined Gorilla Africa BPO, a provider of tech solutions and marketing services, where he served as head of partnership development across Africa.
In 2019, Okello joined Razzo Africa, an IT services and consulting firm, as head of business development and African partnerships. He later worked as head of growth for the Middle East and Africa region at Pieme, a blockchain platform.
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He is an environmentalist and social entrepreneur, dedicated to addressing issues related to solid waste. He promotes the circular economy and incorporates technology to optimize his efforts.
Allen Kimambo (photo), a Tanzanian engineer and entrepreneur, is at the helm of Zaidi Recyclers, a social enterprise dedicated to driving the transition to a circular economy. Founded in 2014, the company offers comprehensive recycling solutions, industrial waste management, and sustainability initiatives for businesses.
Zaidi Recyclers provides clients with a range of services, including safety, quality, and environmental management systems. The company also assists businesses in obtaining ISO certifications and other industry compliance standards. Through a user-friendly mobile app, clients can report available waste streams for collection.
The company handles various types of waste, including electronic and electrical equipment, car batteries, paper, cardboard, glass bottles, and plastics. To date, Zaidi Recyclers has collected over 2,200 containers and recycled 700 tons of waste.
Beyond his role as CEO of Zaidi Recyclers, Kimambo is actively involved in the Tanzanian startup ecosystem. He is a founding member of the Tanzania Startup Association and serves as a solid waste consultant for Tetra Tech. Additionally, he is an associate consultant with Adam Smith International and a project manager for the TakaNiAjira Foundation in Uganda. Kimambo also chairs the Tanzania Recyclers Association.
Kimambo holds a bachelor's degree in chemistry and processing from the University of Dar es Salaam. In 2021, he furthered his expertise by earning a diploma in sustainable development through the Swedish Institute Management Programme.
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