TECH STARS (1007)
He has already founded several tech companies, including a startup specializing in customer loyalty. His company uses technology to build stronger relationships between businesses and their customers.
Marwan Kenawy (photo) is an Egyptian serial entrepreneur and the co-founder and CEO of Dsquares, a leading provider of loyalty solutions in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
Founded in 2012, Dsquares specializes in loyalty and rewards programs, helping businesses strengthen their relationships with customers. The company offers a comprehensive range of tools that cover all aspects of business strategy, from merchant management to data analysis.
Dsquares provides a platform that integrates modern features, including points systems, electronic upgrade vouchers (e-vouchers), gamification, and robust analytics tools.
Operating in 10 countries across the Middle East and Africa, Dsquares collaborates with companies from various sectors, including banking, telecommunications, retail, travel, hospitality, automotive, and oil. To date, the startup has partnered with over 21,000 retail outlets and manages more than 75 customized programs.
In 2019, Kenawy co-founded Lucky App, an Egyptian startup aimed at revolutionizing shopping, payments, and savings in the Middle East and North Africa. The app has already attracted more than eight million users, offering credit products, discounts, and cashback rewards that can be used both online and in-store with thousands of local and international brands.
Kenawy holds a degree in business administration, which he earned in 2004 from the University of New Brunswick in Canada. He also obtained an international diploma in business administration and management in 2006 from Cambridge College in the United States.
After completing his studies, he joined Vodafone Egypt in 2006 as a senior channel marketing specialist. He subsequently held various positions, including team leader for the postpaid segment, head of business strategy and planning, and head of marketing for mobile internet and smartphones, before leaving the company in 2012.
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Driven by his passion for engineering, he is developing autonomous airships to revolutionize global goods and services delivery. His startup has already received multiple awards and distinctions for its innovative approach.
Spencer Horne (photo) is a South African mechanical engineer and entrepreneur, best known as the founder and CEO of Cloudline, a startup focused on designing autonomous airships.
Horne established Cloudline in 2017 with the mission of connecting isolated communities to global supply chains. The company is developing a network of autonomous airships designed to deliver goods and services worldwide.
These innovative airships operate on batteries and solar energy, enabling zero-carbon flights. According to Cloudline, their airships can reduce carbon emissions by up to four tons per day compared to traditional helicopters. Each airship boasts a range of over 200 kilometers, an endurance of 12 hours, and a payload capacity of 100 kilograms.
Horne earned his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Harvard University in 2014. During his studies, he completed an internship in 2011 with the wind energy development division of BioTherm Energy, a company specializing in renewable energy.
In 2012, he joined Mobius Motors, an automotive startup based in Kenya, as an engineering analyst. From 2014 to 2016, Horne worked as a business analyst for McKinsey & Company in South Africa.
In 2019, Horne was recognized as one of the 30 innovators on the Quartz Africa digital platform. That same year, Cloudline won the Safety Ideas Challenge organized by the insurer Santam, which honors companies offering innovative solutions in safety and insurance technology.
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A law graduate, he embarked into entrepreneurship by creating a platform that enables graduates to easily land their first jobs.
South African lawyer-turned-entrepreneur Sbusiso Buna (photo) is co-founder and CEO of Jobox, a startup aimed at boosting graduate employability. The company helps students acquire the skills needed to enter and thrive in the job market.
Launched in 2019, Jobox links employers, students, and higher education institutions, offering companies tools to recruit suitable candidates.
"What we do is connect businesses, students, and universities. The core issue we aim to address is the difficulty young people face in finding work. Specifically, we're focused on graduates who finish university but then spend two years at home with a degree, unable to find employment,” Buna explains.
Jobox's talent discovery platform allows employers to post job offers and students to apply. Employers can schedule interviews and send offers to chosen candidates, who can accept or decline through the platform. Jobox also maintains a talent database to help companies find suitable profiles. For universities, it provides a portal for career events and student information.
Buna is currently the director of Brightest Young Minds, an organization that connects young leaders and facilitates skill development and solution creation across Africa.
In 2020, he co-founded and co-hosts the Unicorn Podcast, focusing on African startups. Before Jobox, he co-founded Doot Experiences in 2018, offering travelers unique experiences in Japan. He holds a law degree from the University of Pretoria. From 2018 to 2019, he worked at IQbusiness South Africa, advancing from associate consultant to senior associate. In 2022, he served as a business coach for Tshimologong Precinct, a technology innovation hub.
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He is dedicated to improving people's lives through technology. As the head of an IT company, he develops high-impact technological solutions that have already earned him several national and international awards.
Holden Opolo Mbany (photo), a Gabonese tech entrepreneur, is the founder and CEO of YUbile Technologie, a company specializing in customized IT solutions. He launched the startup in 2013 under the name INNOV DEV, later rebranding it as YUbile Technologie in 2019.
YUbile Technologie focuses on developing information system solutions to help businesses increase their revenue. Mbany's vision is to energize the private sector and support Gabonese entrepreneurs in creating, developing, and owning the SMEs and large companies of tomorrow in Gabon and Africa.
In January 2022, YUbile Technologie launched Hosto, a digital health application that helps healthcare facilities better manage their operations and allows patients to easily communicate with healthcare professionals. Hosto is available in web, mobile, and desktop versions. Thanks to this innovation, YUbile was among the top 10 winners of the 2021 eStartup Challenge.
YUbile Technologie also offers Optimiz, a web application for budget management, and CommercialiZe, software for commercial activities. Additionally, it developed YETU, a platform that facilitates access to business documents and information, improving communication among employees.
Since 2016, Holden Opolo Mbany has served as Head of Information Systems and Telecommunications at the National Agency for Investment Promotion in Gabon. He holds an advanced degree in management, commerce, and marketing, obtained in 2012 from Concord Business College in Ghana.
After his studies, he worked from 2014 to 2016 as Product Development Manager at consumer goods’ wholesaler Cedicom Group. In July 2024, Holden Opolo Mbany received the Central Africa Founder of the Year award at the Global Startup Awards and is currently in the running for the African Founder of the Year award.
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A professional IT specialist, he leverages his technology skills to address the challenges faced by African populations. As the head of a tech company, he has developed several technological solutions.
Nsadi Mbiapa (photo) is a computer scientist and entrepreneur from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). He is the co-founder and CEO of Faithful, a startup specializing in the development of IT solutions.
Founded in 2020, Faithful's mission is to solve problems faced by African populations through technology. The company assists its clients in creating web and mobile applications, developing software, and managing systems and networks. It also offers services such as data analysis, IT maintenance, and consulting. Innovatively, the startup has developed several solutions to meet societal needs.
One of Faithful's key developments is Newmed, a software that handles registration and card generation for the entrance exam to the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Kinshasa. The startup also designed Lata, a social network dedicated to fashion, and Smart Couture App, an application for managing orders, finished products, and deliveries for tailors.
In addition to his role at Faithful, Nsadi Mbiapa co-founded and became the CEO of Express App in 2021. This mobile application, which operates without an internet connection, provides mobile money, mobile banking, and other financial services in the DRC and Central Africa.
Also in 2021, he co-founded Masolo, a free instant messaging app in the DRC that ensures the confidentiality of communications. Masolo offers features such as instant messaging, voice and video calls, and file transfers.
Nsadi Mbiapa holds a master's degree in computer engineering from the University of Kinshasa, obtained in 2023. During his studies, he served as the head of the IT department at Convipat, an NGO promoting agriculture. He also worked as an IT consultant for RATALBI Pisciculture, a fish production center in Kinshasa.
Between 2019 and 2020, he was the deputy project manager for a University of Kinshasa initiative aimed at creating a potable water system for the residents of Dwale, in the Bateke Plateau of the DRC.
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With over 10 years of experience in business management, engineering, and project execution, he offers a comprehensive business management application that enables users to focus entirely on their strategy and business growth.
Paul Kimani (photo), a Kenyan electronics engineer and entrepreneur, is the co-founder and CEO of Workpay, a startup focused on making payroll, benefits, and human resource management solutions accessible and affordable for businesses across Africa.
Founded in 2019 by Paul Kimani and Jackson Kibigo, Workpay offers a comprehensive solution for managing human resources, payroll, and employee benefits, designed for fast-growing companies. The platform allows businesses to focus on their strategy and growth instead of repetitive administrative tasks.
The Workpay app provides companies with online services and real-time team management from a smartphone. It features precise time-tracking, facilitates the recruitment of top talent across the continent, delivers real-time expense insights, and enables performance management.
Paul Kimani holds a bachelor's degree in electronic and electrical engineering, obtained in 2013 from the University of Nairobi, Kenya. His professional career began in 2007 at Equity Bank Ltd, where he worked as a relationship officer.
In 2010, he joined software development company MTL Systems as a web and mobile application developer. In 2014, he became the commercial director at Coolpoint HVAC Engineers Ltd, a Kenyan company specializing in air conditioning, heating, refrigeration, and ventilation services. The following year, he joined Afrisoft Africa Ltd, an IT company, as executive director, a position he held until 2018.
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A tech entrepreneur with over 7 years of experience in software development, he has designed a digital security network aimed at protecting homes from attacks and break-ins.
Anatoli Kirigwajjo (photo) is a Ugandan computer scientist and entrepreneur, co-founder of Yunga Technologies, a company that develops community security devices for households. Founded in 2018, Yunga Technologies specializes in digital security technologies in Uganda. By leveraging the Internet of Things (IoT), the company designs tools aimed at preventing crime and enhancing community safety.
The Yunga system is a local digital emergency network that connects neighbors and links them to the police during emergencies. The device sends alert messages to other devices within the network, including the victim's coordinates and address, facilitating a swift community response. Notably, the system functions in areas without internet access, utilizing a long-range network with a 20 km radius. It can connect to both smartphones and basic phones via SMS.
Prior to founding Yunga, Kirigwajjo co-developed an application called E-liiso with two colleagues. This app captures a photograph of the eye and analyzes the image to detect conditions such as color blindness, myopia, hyperopia, and cataracts. He served as the Chief Technology Officer for the company behind this application, Sight for Everyone, from 2016 to 2017.
Kirigwajjo graduated from Makerere University, where he studied computer programming from 2011 to 2015. In 2023, he received the Engineering Innovation Award for Africa, presented by the Royal Academy of Engineering in the United Kingdom.
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After his studies in France and the United States, he embarked on an entrepreneurial journey to simplify life for African populations. He offers the Senegalese diaspora living in Europe a digital solution to send money to their loved ones back home.
Lamine Tall (photo) is a Senegalese computer scientist and tech entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of Cauri Money, a fintech company that enables the African diaspora to send money to their home countries. Founded in 2019, Cauri Money began its operations in January 2020, with a mission to facilitate money transfers from Senegalese expatriates to their families back home. The startup offers "a digital platform designed for African diasporas, aggregating alternative solutions to traditional money transfers at unbeatable prices."
SInce its creation, the platform’s stated ambition is to symplify money transfers from Europe to Senegal, while integrating Senegalese values and ensuring total security. Users can transfers between $0.17 and $10,000 fee-free with the platform ensuring optimal transparency for every transaction.
In addition to Cauri Money, Lamine Tall co-founded Samaritanz Technologies in 2017, a company that develops a social network to facilitate the collection and redistribution of food donations by non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
Lamine Tall holds a bachelor's degree in information technology from SKEMA Business School in France, as well as a master's degree in business information technology from Virginia Tech in the United States. In 2016, he also earned a master's degree in strategy from EDHEC Business School in France.
His professional career began in France in 2016, where he worked as a junior associate at CGI Business Consulting. In 2018, he joined EY as a consultant in digital business transformation, before becoming a fintech and financial services consultant at Deloitte in 2019.
On August 3, 2024, his startup, Cauri Money received a $25,000 investment from artist Pharrell Williams as part of the Black Ambition program.
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After finishing his accounting training, he furthered his skills by specializing in technology during his studies in China. With this combined expertise, he uses his knowledge of the financial sector to promote digital payments throughout Africa
Junior Octave Kankue Denkey (photo), an accountant by training and a seasoned tech entrepreneur from Togo, is the co-founder and CEO of MiaPay, a fintech startup dedicated to simplifying everyday payments by connecting merchants and consumers. Founded in 2023, MiaPay features a unified app and an integrated digital wallet, offering users a convenient method for making digital payments and accessing a variety of financial services. With MiaPay, users can recharge their wallets, transfer and withdraw funds, and make offline payments at hundreds of partner merchants.
MiaPay also streamlines taxi fare payments through QR code transactions, providing users with bonuses of up to 20% per transaction. Currently in beta in Togo, the startup plans to extend its operations to Benin and Burkina Faso. To enhance its service offerings, MiaPay aims to integrate features such as bill payments for electricity, access to instant loans, mobile phone top-ups, and meal ordering. On August 15, in Lagos, Nigeria, the startup qualified for the finals of the Ecobank Fintech Challenge 2024, which is set to take place on September 27 in Lomé.
In addition to MiaPay, Octave Denkey is also the co-founder and non-executive director of Kiosk Global, a social commerce platform established in 2023 that connects Chinese suppliers with African consumers. Prior to MiaPay and Kiosk Global, he launched several other startups.
In 2011, he co-founded Miaplenou Group, an online retailer based in Togo. In 2014, he founded Ahaa Tech, a company that enhances the experiences of foreign travelers in China by guiding them to unique places and events. In 2017, he was instrumental in establishing Zocentive, a lifestyle and wellness app, and two years later, he launched Sumo Tech, an innovative platform that connects merchants and consumers across Africa.
Octave Denkey holds a bachelor's degree in accounting and business management from the University of Lomé, which he earned in 2012. He also graduated from the South China University of Technology. From 2012 to 2020, he served as a One Young World ambassador in Togo, representing a global community of young leaders.
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He is committed to supporting small and medium-sized enterprises by streamlining their operations and enhancing their profitability. To achieve this, he offers an innovative technological solution that enables real-time inventory tracking and management.
Tunisian computer scientist and entrepreneur Seddik Houimli (photo) is the founder and CEO of SupplyzPro, a tech startup helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) optimize their operations management.
Founded in 2023, SupplyzPro offers an innovative platform allowing businesses to track inventory in real-time, regardless of location. The solution provides tools for tracking, forecasting, and reporting, simplifying inventory processes and eliminating outdated practices.
The platform streamlines operations, reduces manual errors, and improves accuracy across the supply chain. Users can easily access up-to-date information on their inventory, including stock levels and demand. This results in more efficient management, better cost control, and increased responsiveness.
Houimli also works as a cloud solutions architect at Microsoft in Germany and is part of the operations and growth team at START Munich, an entrepreneurial community. He holds a computer science degree from the Technical University of Munich, obtained in 2023.
Before his entrepreneurial venture, Houimli worked as a teaching assistant at the Technical University of Munich from 2020 to 2021. He also served as a business intelligence analyst at SpaceTrec Partners (now Novospace), a company providing decision-makers in both public and private sectors with information to better manage their organizations. In 2022, Houimli worked as operations manager for Evadam, a Tunisian tech startup combating online fraud and money laundering.
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After several years working for financial institutions in the United States and Nigeria, she decided to venture into entrepreneurship. Today, she leverages her expertise and new technologies to serve African lenders, thereby making credit more accessible.
Yvonne Johnson (photo) is a Nigerian entrepreneur and investor. As co-founder and CEO of Indicina, a venture capital-backed fintech, she is driving financial inclusion across the continent.
Founded in 2017 by Johnson, Jacob Ayokunle, Carlos del Carpio, and Yemi Ajao, Indicina leverages artificial intelligence and machine learning to streamline lending for financial institutions. The company’s flagship products, Originate and Decide, provide a comprehensive solution for loan origination, management, and risk assessment.
Originate handles the entire loan lifecycle, from issuance to recovery and growth. Decide, on the other hand, offers credit risk models to help lenders make informed decisions and minimize defaults.
Beyond Indicina, Johnson is an active investor and advisor in early-stage tech companies, with a focus on West Africa and the Middle East and North Africa region. She holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science and mathematics from the University of Toronto and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.
Prior to her entrepreneurial ventures, Johnson worked in investment banking at Merrill Lynch in 2008. Subsequently, she served as head of strategy and corporate development at First Bank of Nigeria from 2009 to 2018 before fully dedicating herself to Indicina.
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After five years of medical studies, he ventured into entrepreneurship by developing a telemedicine platform. The platform allows Djiboutians to receive medical care without leaving the comfort of their homes.
Moubarik Mahamoud (photo) is a Djiboutian entrepreneur well-versed in technology, healthcare, and communication. He is the founder and CEO of Medyc, an innovative startup in the healthcare sector.
Founded in 2020, Medyc specializes in e-health. The startup has developed an online teleconsultation platform that connects patients with healthcare specialists. This solution enables patients to easily access doctors, monitor their health, and evaluate the effectiveness of their treatments, all while enjoying the convenience of remote care.
In addition to teleconsultations, Medyc provides home care services, medication delivery, and direct supply of medical devices to patients. The platform centralizes users' medical information, offering simplified and secure access to health data. A connected laboratory feature allows patients to review their test results and receive interpretations.
Simultaneously, Moubarik Mahamoud serves as the Executive Director of Vivaway.co, an investment platform that allows users to grow their savings through investments in companies, either via equity acquisition or direct loans. The platform also offers businesses a new avenue for financing.
As a consultant in communication and web development, Mahamoud leverageshis expertise to create, manage, and optimize web and multimedia projects.
He completed five years of medical studies at Gamal Abdel Nasser University in Guinea from 2014 to 2019. In 2022, he earned a master's degree in management and business administration from the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, along with an executive MBA from Sorbonne Business School in the same year.
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While living in Germany, he faced challenges accessing credit. To overcome this hurdle, he developed a tech platform that helps users save money toward their personal goals.
Ahmed Wadi is an Egyptian computer scientist and entrepreneur, serving as the founder and CEO of Money Fellows. His mission is to enhance financial inclusion in Africa by providing interest-free credit and savings solutions. Established in 2016, this fintech startup offers a more accessible and affordable alternative to traditional banking services.
“I got the Money Fellows idea in 2016 while I was in Germany trying to save money and access credit. It wasn’t easy because I wasn’t born in Germany, and I had difficulty finding ROSCAs (Rotating Savings and Credit Associations). This prompted me to think: why not modernize and digitize this age-old savings model and give people worldwide the opportunity to participate in ROSCAs together?” Wadi explained in 2022.
The platform enables users to join savings circles, maximizing their savings returns. Users can tailor their plans by setting specific goals, desired amounts, and payment methods. Contributions range from $5 to $400, with savings plans available for six, ten, or twelve months. To date, over 4 million people have utilized the platform. As of July 2024, the startup is preparing to expand into Morocco.
Prior to founding Money Fellows, Wadi launched Objectly in 2005, a software solution for tracking objects using IP cameras. Until 2006, he worked closely with Microsoft’s innovation center in Cairo to refine his algorithms.
Wadi graduated from the University of Stuttgart in 2009 with a bachelor's degree in computer science. He also holds a master's degree in information technology from the Technical University of Munich, which he earned in 2014. Following his studies, he began his career as a developer at the National Bank of Kuwait in 2009. In 2010, he joined Magneti Marelli, an automotive supplier, as a software engineer. From 2011 to 2013, he worked as a software developer at Alpine Electronics R&D Europe in Germany.
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With degrees in finance and human physiology, he turned his focus to the healthcare industry. Using technology, he created an innovative solution to simplify medical bill payments for patients.
Jabulani Nyembe, a South African entrepreneur, is dedicated to improving access to healthcare services for all. He is the founder of Athena, a startup that creates solutions to make healthcare payments more manageable.
Founded in 2022, Athena allows patients to split their healthcare payments through its platform while gaining immediate access to necessary care. It facilitates the financing of co-payments and out-of-pocket medical expenses. With Athena, repayments can be spread over 3 to 6 months, and the startup claims to be more cost-effective than other credit solutions, charging only administrative fees. It helps users develop payment plans for medical expenses ranging from 500 rands (about 27 dollars) to 30,000 rands.
Before launching Athena, Jabulani Nyembe founded Clinalytics in 2018, where he served as CEO until 2022. Clinalytics provides software solutions to private practice physicians, helping them reduce workload, digitize medical records, and utilize analytics tools to improve clinical outcomes.
Nyembe holds a bachelor's degree in human physiology from the University of Pretoria and a bachelor's degree in finance and economics from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. After his studies, he worked as a clinical data analyst and administrator in 2017. In 2018, he joined Amanzi Social Enterprise, an Enactus project aimed at addressing water scarcity in South Africa, as a project manager.
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