TECH STARS (1007)
A trained accountant, he has extensive professional experience in the finance sector. As a serial entrepreneur, he currently serves as the CEO of a startup company specializing in carpooling.
Gabonese entrepreneur Jean-Arsène Houla-Houla is the founder and CEO of WebCars, a carpooling startup specializing in short-distance rides. Founded in 2020, WebCars started on WhatsApp and has since evolved into a platform that allows users to create carpooling groups with trusted individuals.
For passengers, WebCars provides the opportunity to plan their trips, avoid delays caused by public transportation shortages, and travel with peace of mind. For drivers, it serves as an additional source of income while transporting people they know.
In addition to his role at WebCars, Jean-Arsène Houla-Houla is a trainer at Em Gabon Business School, part of the Em Gabon-University group, specializing in management, administration, and economics. He also holds a position in trade finance at Euro Exim Bank.
Before creating WebCars, Jean-Arsène Houla-Houla founded Rehoboth Finance in 2016, where he served as CEO until 2022. In 2019, he launched Les Génies Solidaires (LGS), an investment fund that he currently leads.
Jean-Arsène Houla-Houla holds a general university studies degree (DEUG) in mathematics and physics from the University of Science and Technology of Masuku, obtained in 2006. In 2011, he earned a master's degree in accounting and finance from the National Institute of Management Sciences.
With a wealth of experience, Jean-Arsène Houla-Houla worked as a financial assistant at Citi bank in 2012. The following year, he became a financial analyst at JTC Consulting and later held the same position at Shell from 2013 to 2014. In 2021, he was appointed sales director at Router-switch.com, a global network equipment supplier, where he worked until 2022.
He is an expert in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. Leveraging his knowledge and skills in these cutting-edge technologies, he assists farmers in optimizing their operations and boosting their profitability.
Adamou Nchange Kouotou, a Cameroonian computer scientist and entrepreneur, is the founder and CEO of Agrix Tech, a tech startup he established in 2018 that automates the process of analyzing technical and financial risks for small-scale farmers.
Agrix Tech provides farmers with comprehensive solutions, including financing, agricultural inputs, advice, insurance, and market access. The company optimizes and monitors farms for high yields using machine learning and satellite data, thereby facilitating better credit decisions for financial institutions. In 2019, the company received the President's Special Award in the digital sector.
"At Agrix Tech, we develop artificial intelligence that instantly equips small, on-the-job trained farmers with skills to prevent, detect, and treat crop diseases. Thus, small farmers, who make up 80% of farmers in Africa, can increase their farm yields and consequently their income," explained Adamou Nchange Kouotou in 2019.
Before founding Agrix Tech, Adamou Nchange Kouotou co-founded the IT company Nabla in 2011. He graduated from the University of Yaoundé 1 with a master's degree in physics in 2006 and a master's degree in telecommunication engineering in 2008. He also holds an MBA obtained in 2019 from the European School of Management and Technology (ESMT) in Berlin, Germany.
His professional career began in 2009 at ZTE Corporation as an after-sales engineer. In 2010, he joined Huawei Cameroon as a field maintenance manager. In 2013, he became a Service Level Agreement (SLA) manager at IHS Towers, a communications infrastructure developer. From 2019 to 2023, he served as the regional head of governance and compliance at Allianz Africa, a non-banking financial services company.
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He leverages digital technology to enhance business efficiency. Through his company, Itwe Solutions, he has already supported numerous projects with dozens of clients satisfied.
Namureba Abel, a Ugandan accountant and technology entrepreneur, is the founder and CEO of Itwe Solutions, an IT company that helps businesses grow through digital technology. Founded in 2022, Itwe Solutions specializes in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, the Internet of Things, and blockchain to enhance the efficiency, transparency, and security of its clients. The company provides advice and guidance on digital transformation and innovation.
Itwe Solutions assists businesses in adopting digital technologies and improving their operational efficiency. It utilizes data analytics tools to provide valuable insights, enabling companies to make better decisions and improve their performance. The startup has already completed several projects and helped around fifty clients.
Namureba Abel graduated from Uganda Christian University in 2018 with a bachelor's degree in accounting and finance. He began his professional career in 2017 as an intern at the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA). In 2019, he became a junior associate at Standard Chartered Bank Uganda, while also volunteering for the cryptocurrency exchange platform Binance. Later that year, he joined the fintech startup Yellow Card App, where he worked as a country director until February 2024. In 2020, he also took on the role of customer support and compliance officer at URA.
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He aims to revolutionize the job market in his country and across Africa. By facilitating the connection between service providers and clients, he significantly simplifies the hiring process.
Julius David Wambogo is a trained journalist, communication expert, and entrepreneur from Tanzania. He is the founder of Mchongoo, a company offering various job opportunities for Africans.
Founded in 2021, Mchongoo connects service providers with job seekers in Tanzania. It offers several services and tools to support its users. For instance, it provides a lead generation tool that directly connects service providers with potential clients, simplifying the hiring process.
Mchongoo also offers a booking and scheduling system. This system allows users to make appointments, receive confirmations and automated reminders, and modify bookings. The platform's geolocation services help users find nearby providers, ensuring quick access to services, especially in emergencies.
For service requests, Mchongoo utilizes multiple communication channels. Users can contact providers via SMS, phone calls, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook.
Julius David Wambogo also serves as the head of communication for the Enabling Africa Trade Forum (EATF), an African trade development organization. Additionally, he is the national operations director of Zanite Digital, an agency specializing in social media management and digital marketing.
The entrepreneur holds a higher national diploma in journalism from the School of Journalism in Dar es Salaam. He also studied graphic design at the University of Dar es Salaam.
Before becoming an entrepreneur, he worked as a brand manager and radio presenter at Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC) from 2016 to 2019. From 2019 to 2021, he served as the head of public relations for Future Team Tanzania.
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Trained as an urban planner, she aims to improve the quality of life for Africans. She leads a tech company that creates digital solutions for the health and finance sectors.
Scarlett Zongo, a Burkinabè tech entrepreneur, urban planner, and sustainable development consultant, is revolutionizing the lives of Burkinabè with her digital solutions. As the co-founder and CEO of Aino Digital, a tech company founded in 2019, Zongo aims to improve daily life and promote sustainable development in Africa through innovative digital services.
Aino Digital's flagship product is Sauvie, a digital identity device available as bracelets or cards with QR codes. Sauvie stores personal health information and emergency contacts, facilitating patient care in health centers and sending automatic SMS alerts to relatives in emergencies. The project won first prize at the POESAM (Orange Social Entrepreneur Prize in Africa and the Middle East) in 2022.
The startup's second product, Yelkaï, is a digital micro-savings solution that enables users to save with microfinance institutions by creating virtual accounts. Users can easily and securely save as little as 100 FCFA using electronic money.
In addition to her work at Aino Digital, Zongo founded Cité Branchée in 2016, a service and consulting firm specializing in urban planning and sustainable development, where she serves as CEO. Cité Branchée aims to promote sustainable cities in Africa.
Zongo holds a master's degree in environmental engineering from the École de technologie supérieure du Québec, obtained in 2013. She began her career in 2013 at Mobi-O, a Quebec-based sustainable mobility company, where she worked as a project manager. Upon returning to Burkina Faso, she joined the Ouagadougou City Council in 2017 as a technical advisor on environment and sustainable development. In 2022, she became a consultant for the diagnostic assessment of Ouagadougou's green belt and contributed to drafting the EXAF project: Digital Solutions for Sustainable Cities in Africa, for the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne.
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After studying in France, he returned to Mali to venture into entrepreneurship. Today, he actively contributes to the financial inclusion of all segments of the African population through his fintech solution, Sama Money.
Daouda Coulibaly (photo), a Malian entrepreneur, operates in the fields of new technologies and digital finance. He is the founder and CEO of Sama Money, a tech company specializing in money transfers and mobile payments.
Founded in 2020, Sama Money's mission is to promote financial inclusion in Africa. The company offers a comprehensive range of digital payment services to individuals, businesses, and public services, including money transfers and withdrawals, payment of electricity and water bills, mobile phone top-ups, and insurance policy payments.
"This 100% Malian Fintech offers an innovative and tailored money transfer and payment solution that meets the needs of the population. Our multi-operator offering and multiple access channels ensure our services are accessible to everyone," states Daouda Coulibaly. Sama Money's services are available via the web, a mobile app, WhatsApp, and a USSD code, covering Mali, Burundi, and Côte d'Ivoire.
In addition to Sama Money, Daouda Coulibaly is the president of the Mali Fintech Association, which promotes financial inclusion in Mali, especially for those excluded from the traditional financial system. He also founded Malijet.com, a news website, in 2008, and Trainis, a professional training center he led until May 2024.
Daouda Coulibaly holds a master's degree in regional planning from Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University, obtained in 2005. He also earned an MBA from IAE France, a federation of 38 university management schools, in 2009.
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She enables Algerians to sell and buy fairly used fashion clothing and accessories online. For her solution, she has received several awards and recognitions.
Amina Djebbar is an Algerian entrepreneur and a graduate of the University of Algiers, where she earned a degree in Arabic-French-English translation in 2006. She is the founder of Vandista, an online second-hand fashion marketplace.
Launched in 2020, Vandista allows users to buy and sell second-hand fashion clothing and accessories. It offers fast and secure delivery through delivery partners and pickup points. Payments can be made by credit card, upon delivery, or using the balance from sales.
For every order, Vandista provides protection that allows for returns in case of defects or non-compliance. The startup has over 72 pickup points and offers more than 15,000 items for sale.
Before launching Vandista, Amina Djebbar founded Evens Factory Algérie in 2018, a company specializing in professional event management. Four years later, she created Women's Business Agency, another event management agency specializing in teambuilding events, renting and creating customized booths, and designing games and activities for trade shows and exhibitions.
After her studies, she worked as a commercial attaché at CFAO in Algeria starting in 2007, a company operating in the sectors of mobility, health, consumer goods, infrastructure, and energy in Africa. In 2009, she joined Emploitic.com, a recruitment platform, as a key account manager.
In 2017, she became responsible for talent acquisition and HR projects at Société Générale de Surveillance (SGS). Between 2021 and 2022, she worked as the marketing and sales director at the Center for Psychological Research and Application (CRAP).
Amina Djebbar has received several awards and distinctions. In 2023, her platform Vandista won the best mobile application award at the CTO Forum Algeria. She received the special Ooredoo prize as part of the national MACHROU3I competition dedicated to women entrepreneurs. In 2024, she won the first prize in the third edition of the Annual Women's Entrepreneur Challenge organized by the public startup accelerator Algeria Venture.
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After finishing her education, she decided to apply her knowledge and skills to help the people of Tunisia. Today, she is an entrepreneur who operates an e-commerce website selling local, healthy, and environmentally friendly products.
Fatma Midani (photo), a Tunisian entrepreneur, is the co-founder and CEO of Soul & Planet, a platform that connects local producers with customers seeking healthy and eco-friendly products. Founded in 2020, Soul & Planet is a tech platform that markets ecological products in Tunisia.
Initially focused on individuals, Soul & Planet quickly diversified to include businesses, helping them improve their environmental and social footprint by influencing their employees' consumption habits. "Soul & Planet's principle is to buy and resell healthy and eco-friendly products (food, cosmetics, decor) through e-commerce. It's important to note that we developed our community before selling the products. This allowed us to accurately identify and meet our customers' needs. Favoring short supply chains, our suppliers mainly come from Tunisia," explains Midani.
The products available on the platform are designed to save water, reduce CO2 emissions, improve consumer health, support the local economy, and create jobs within micro and small enterprises. Soul & Planet is also a partner of the Tunisian government for reforestation projects.
In 2021, Midani co-founded Ceos Club, a knowledge-sharing and managerial resource hub for entrepreneurs, founders, and business leaders. She graduated from the Higher Institute of Fine Arts of Tunis with a bachelor's degree in product design in 2015 and holds a master's degree in product design from Sapienza University of Rome, obtained in 2019. Before venturing into entrepreneurship, she worked as a UX designer at Conte.it, an Italian brand of the Admiral Group, from 2018 to 2019.
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He works in the technology and logistics industries. Through his company Ezee Market, he seeks to transform e-commerce and assist small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in optimizing their efforts for increased profitability
Eric Hage (photo) is a seasoned Liberian entrepreneur with extensive experience in business development. He is the co-founder and CEO of Ezee Market, a tech-driven retail startup that supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Founded in 2019, Ezee Market is an online platform that brings together various local retailers, supermarkets, shopping centers, restaurants, bars, pizzerias, ice cream shops, and small entrepreneurs. Users can purchase a wide range of products, including electronics, smartphones, food items, computers, fashion accessories, jewelry, and much more.
The startup facilitates easy shopping and home delivery, enabling users to communicate with friends and sellers, make smooth payments via credit card or mobile payment services, and track their orders in real time.
Before launching Ezee Market, Eric Hage founded United Logistic Company in 2016, a transport solutions provider where he served as CEO until 2022. He holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Cuttington University, Liberia, obtained in 2011.
His career began in 2003 at Acres of Hope, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping vulnerable people in Liberia, where he held positions as Program Manager and National Director. In 2009, he became Logistics Procurement Manager at Liberia Commodities and Logistics, an organization specializing in the trade of basic commodities. From 2012 to 2016, he worked as a Development Specialist for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
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From humble beginnings as a clothing salesperson, he has risen to become the head of his own company. Today, he helps e-commerce entrepreneurs create and manage online stores, saving them from the complexities of the process.
Thato Garekoe is a South African entrepreneur and digital marketing expert. He is the founder and CEO of Rekisa eCommerce Solutions, a technology platform dedicated to e-commerce businesses.
Founded in 2020, Rekisa eCommerce Solutions helps e-commerce merchants create websites using simple and customizable design tools, or add an online store to an existing website. It also facilitates the sale of products on Facebook and Instagram, allowing buyers to browse and make purchases directly through their preferred social networks.
Rekisa eCommerce Solutions also offers the integration of the Codisto app to stores. This synchronizes product details, prices and stocks in real-time between online stores and their various sales channels.
Thato Garekoe is also CEO of Algorithmics Midrand, an international programming school for children aged 6 to 18. Before founding Rekisa eCommerce Solutions, he co-founded Tribe Activations in 2012, a marketing agency where he was CEO until 2019. In 2020, he co-founded Blink Digital, an AI-powered web creation platform.
He holds a degree in business administration obtained in 2008 from Eduvos, a South African higher education institution. Since 2023, he has been studying at Henley Business School where he is pursuing a Master of Business Administration. His professional career began in 2007 at Platinum Group, a fashion company owning several brands such as Urban Degree, Aca Joe, Hilton Weiner, Jenni Button and Vertigo, where he was a clothing retailer.
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Using his IT expertise, he develops solutions that help companies enhance their performance. One of his innovations enables professional fleet monitoring and management through GPS technology
Tumaini Maligana (Photo), a Tanzanian computer scientist and tech entrepreneur, is the founder of Alpha Track, a fleet management and asset tracking platform offering various solutions to meet business needs.
Founded in 2020, Alpha Track provides several services aimed at optimizing fleet management and asset tracking, including GPS tracking, fuel control, temperature monitoring, and security. With these solutions, companies can manage their resources more efficiently and improve their operational performance.
In addition to Alpha Track, Maligana founded Alpha Digital Support, also in 2020. This company specializes in customer support for various businesses, helping to increase retention, loyalty, upselling, and brand awareness through quality customer service.
Maligana is also the national director of Neo Group in Tanzania. Neo Group encompasses companies offering B2B services in marketing, technology, data analysis, customer support, human resources, and compliance.
Holding a degree in computer science from Mbeya University of Science and Technology, which he obtained in 2013, Maligana began his career in 2012 as an IT intern at LafargeHolcim before becoming an IT assistant in 2013. He then held executive positions in several betting companies, including 22Bet Africa as operations director for East Africa, and Betika as national director.
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A medical doctor by training, he has developed a passion for technology. He creates technological solutions to improve patient care in hospitals.
Gracien Kibala Katanga (photo) is a trained medical doctor and a passionate tech entrepreneur from the Democratic Republic of Congo. He is the founder and CEO of the healthtech startup Mavimpy Care.
Established in 2020, Mavimpy Care develops web and mobile applications to digitalize medical practices. It enhances emergency medical services, geolocates nearby hospitals, facilitates appointment scheduling, and offers online consultations throughout the DRC.
At the forefront of technology, the startup integrates artificial intelligence into its solutions. "With the connected bracelet that digitizes medical records, we personalize our health forms. Our connected bracelets provide information about your health; just scan a QR code to access your medical history," reveals Kibala Katanga in February 2024.
In addition to Mavimpy Care, Gracien Kibala Katanga serves as an administrator at Cortex Corporate, a tech solutions company. Their main application, Yangela App, assists merchants in managing stock, monitoring transactions, controlling inventory movements, and identifying sources of losses. The app also enables the management of multiple sales points and inventory control.
Before founding Mavimpy Care, he established Kibal’s and Mak Business in 2018, a telecommunication and mobile money transfer company, where he served as CEO until 2022. He is also a co-founder of Lubumbashi Trading, an academy for forex trading training.
Gracien Kibala Katanga graduated from the University of Lubumbashi with a degree in medicine. His career began in 2016 at the same university, where he was a mobile security coordinator. From 2018 to 2019, he worked as a marketing and sales agent at Kwakoo Group, an organization developing tech solutions for e-commerce businesses.
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Through his pre-incubation, incubation, and acceleration programs for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), he supports young entrepreneurs in creating and developing their projects.
Fabrice Ntchango (photo) is a Gabonese serial entrepreneur and the founder and general coordinator of Akewa Accélérateur, an innovation hub supporting businesses, entrepreneurs, organizations, and project leaders in developing innovative initiatives.
Founded in 2013, Akewa Accélérateur is an incubator for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that promotes innovative entrepreneurship in Gabon. As a member of the Afric’innov network, it offers a wide range of support programs. "Akewa Accélérateur provides services ranging from ideation and incubation to the growth acceleration of startups and other organizations. Additionally, our hub offers tailored advice, open innovation, seed funding services, and training for young entrepreneurs and startups," Ntchango stated in May 2024.
Akewa Accélérateur's services primarily focus on sectors such as cultural industries, renewable energy, agri-food, information and communication technologies (ICT), and the environment. Since its inception, Akewa Accélérateur has supported around 100 projects. In 2022, it won the "Tech Company" award from the Alpha Blue Foundation and the African Digital Conference & Awards, recognizing it as Africa's best tech company of the year.
Fabrice Ntchango is also the co-founder and general manager of Iboundji Technologie, a company providing IT and technological engineering services. He serves as the permanent secretary of the One Forest Youth Initiative (OFYI), an international NGO for youth, and the national coordinator for Gabon programs within the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance.
Ntchango holds a bachelor's degree in accounting and finance, obtained in 2009 from Groupe SupDeco Dakar, a business school in Senegal. He also graduated from Alioune Diop University of Bambey (UADB) in 2012 with a master's degree in legal engineering and project management, with a focus on economics.
Before founding Akewa Accélérateur, Ntchango worked as an accounting assistant at Tradecorp International, a Spanish company specializing in crop biostimulation and sustainable nutrition, in Senegal from 2008 to 2009. Concurrently, he interned as a technical sales representative at Africaine de l’Automobile du Sénégal. In 2010, he was appointed executive director of Gabon Ecologie, where he worked until 2013.
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In an effort to help her mother, who had become blind, continue enjoying African books and novels, she came up with a brilliant idea. She developed a digital platform that provides all reading enthusiasts with access to a vast collection of African audiobooks.
Ama Dadson (photo) is a Ghanaian computer scientist and tech innovator. She is the founder and CEO of AkooBooks Audio, a digital streaming platform dedicated to African audiobooks.
Established in 2018, AkooBooks Audio uses machine learning to connect African authors and voice talents with new readers and listeners. The platform offers audiobooks in several African languages, making literature accessible to both literate and non-literate Africans, as well as the global African diaspora.
The idea for AkooBooks Audio was born from Ama Dadson's desire to entertain her mother, a children's book author who had become blind. While searching for audiobooks for her mother, she quickly realized that most of them were foreign and not suited to her mother's tastes.
"All the book titles I found for my mother had nothing to do with Africa. Yet, she wanted to immerse herself back in the atmosphere and imagination of our continent. So, I realized that there was a lack of essential content, adapted to our needs. This is how AkooBooks was born in 2018. Our continent is immense, we have so many talented authors and publishers. The field is vast and I took the plunge," explains Ama Dadson in 2023.
Ama Dadson graduated from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology with a bachelor's degree in computer science in 1986. She was also certified as an IT business manager in 2014 by the IT Manager Institute, created by the IT management training company, MDE Enterprises.
Following her studies, she worked as a regional computer trainer for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) from 1991 to 1996. Between 2005 and 2022, she held various positions at the University of Ghana, including Deputy Director of IT Services and Head of IT Service Delivery.
In 2018, Ama Dadson received the African Entrepreneurship Award in the "High Potential" category from BMCE Bank of Africa. In 2021, her startup won the Startup of the Year award at the Women in Tech Africa Awards. In 2023, she won the AFD Digital Challenge Africa, organized by the French Development Agency.
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