TECH STARS (1006)
He is an experienced graphic designer, art director, and cultural promoter with a proven track record of transforming ideas into innovative and impactful creations.
Fiacre Dagbegnon (photo) is a Togolese entrepreneur committed to driving the digital transformation of businesses and products in Africa. He is the founder and promoter of Klumer, a platform dedicated to players in the event industry.
Launched in 2018, Klumer is an event management solution that provides innovative tools to streamline the work of African event professionals. The platform simplifies fundraising, logistical coordination, and financial management, making it easier to plan and execute successful events. Key features include online voting, crowdfunding, stakeholder networking, and electronic ticketing, fostering greater interaction with target audiences.
"Klumer was developed following the style of Facebook and Instagram. Today, we have nothing to envy when it comes to what Silicon Valley developers have achieved in social network development. The only difference lies in the logistics, which we have yet to fully match," Fiacre explains. The platform has already attracted more than 200,000 users and participants, along with over 250 virtual agencies.
Since 2015, Fiacre Dagbegnon has served as the CEO of EODS C Group, a company specializing in technology and cultural affairs. During his time there, he has also worked as a graphic designer.
Between 2017 and 2020, Dagbegnon worked as a freelance graphic designer. In 2019, he joined La Voix du Peuple, a Togolese weekly publication, as a production graphic designer. From 2020 to 2023, he served as a web interface designer at the French Institute of Togo.
By Melchior Koba,
Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodji
Passionate about developing high-impact technological solutions for Africa, he incorporates artificial intelligence and machine learning into his innovations.
Thapelo Nthite (photo) is a South African engineer and tech entrepreneur. He is one of the co-founders of Botlhale AI, a company developing artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning solutions to improve lives across Africa.
Founded in 2019, Botlhale AI specializes in natural language processing (NLP) with a focus on African languages. The company’s tools enable businesses to communicate with their customers in familiar and trusted languages. Botlhale AI envisions a future where Africans can use their native languages to access digital services, learn, grow, and interact with the world.
“Through my research and work at Botlhale I want to see people interact with service providers through digital platforms in languages they understand and trust using text and speech,” Nthite explained in 2020.
One of the company’s flagship products is Bua, a suite of NLP tools that simplifies the deployment of conversational AI across various platforms and industries. Botlhale AI also offers Vula, an AI-powered API designed to enhance call center analytics.
Nthite holds a bachelor’s degree in mechatronic engineering from the University of Cape Town, which he earned in 2018. His career began in 2015 at At Lets Meet, a marketing company, where he worked as a mobile developer and web designer. In 2018, he interned at Sasol, a leading chemical and energy company, gaining hands-on experience in engineering.
By Melchior Koba,
Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodji
Following his studies in economics and finance, he worked with startups in South Africa, guiding them through their growth phases. Now an entrepreneur himself, he's using technology to empower businesses with more efficient workforce management solutions.
Niven Poleman (photo) is a South African economist and tech entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of WorkWeek, an innovative startup helping businesses optimize workforce management.
Founded in 2023, WorkWeek offers a digital platform tailored to businesses employing salaried workers. Using data analytics, the platform streamlines payroll management, rewards top-performing employees, and simplifies time tracking, attendance management, and compliance with labor laws—particularly in labor-intensive industries like construction.
WorkWeek’s mission is to simplify workforce management, empower workers, and strengthen employer-employee relationships. “I’ve always believed that people deserve a fair chance to rise above their circumstances. WorkWeek is our way of helping wage-earning workers build great careers and giving businesses the tools to invest in their people,” says Poleman.
A graduate of the University of Cape Town, Poleman earned a bachelor’s degree in management and economics in 2018, followed by a bachelor’s in financial market economic analysis in 2022.
He began his professional journey in 2019 as a digital marketing manager and studio manager at YogaSpirit, a yoga studio. In 2020, he joined WeAreMonsters Innovative Venture Development, focusing on research and UX (user experience) design. From 2021 to 2023, he served as venture manager at The Delta, an entrepreneurial ecosystem supporting founders in creating groundbreaking ventures.
By Melchior Koba
Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodji
As an entrepreneur, he is actively dedicated to advancing financial inclusion across Africa, with a specific emphasis on empowering young people. He utilizes technology to achieve this objective.
Kiiru Muhoya (photo) is a Kenyan entrepreneur and tech innovator specializing in the financial sector. He is the co-founder and CEO of Fingo Africa, a fintech startup developing a pan-African neobank tailored for the continent's youth.
Founded in 2020, Fingo Africa is a digital bank designed to meet the needs of young Africans. Its mission is to empower this generation to contribute to a more prosperous Africa through accessible financial tools. The platform enables users to manage daily expenses, set savings goals, and plan for their financial future. Through its partnership with Ecobank, Fingo Africa benefits from the bank's presence in 33 countries across the continent, accelerating its expansion.
“Fingo allows users to download the ‘Fingo Africa’ app and receive access to a bank account in under 5 minutes, paired with free peer-to-peer transactions and immediate access to multiple services such as savings, financial education and smart spending analytics,” according to the company’s website.
The startup also offers FingoPay, a comprehensive solution designed to meet the needs of both small and large businesses. This service incorporates advanced analytics tools, providing entrepreneurs with real-time insights into their business performance.
Before launching Fingo Africa, Kiiru Muhoya founded Build for Kenya in 2016, a social enterprise focused on developing affordable housing.
A graduate of the University of Warwick in England, Muhoya holds a bachelor's degree in philosophy, politics, and economics. He also served as President of the Warwick Africa Summit and worked as Executive Assistant to the CEO of Acorn, a Kenyan real estate company, between 2019 and 2020.
By Melchior Koba
Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodji
With a deep understanding of Cameroon's entrepreneurial ecosystem, Ngala Boris leverages his experience to guide and mentor aspiring young entrepreneurs. He provides them with the support they need to increase the chances of their projects succeeding.
Ngala Boris is an experienced Cameroonian entrepreneur and investor. He is the founder and CEO of the Boris Bison Youth Empowerment Incubator (BBIncubator).
Founded in 2020, BBIncubator aims to combat poverty in Cameroon by providing young entrepreneurs with a supportive environment to realize their ambitions. The incubator offers a spacious, secure, and Internet-connected workspace, along with round-the-clock technical support. It also provides networking opportunities and free seed funding for 20 selected entrepreneurs per cohort.
Through its incubation program, BBIncubator supports young entrepreneurs by training and mentoring them every three months. This program helps familiarize them with the entrepreneurial ecosystem, develop governance and project management skills, and adopt best business practices.
The incubator also teaches participants how to leverage the Internet to grow their businesses by improving communication and business correspondence skills. It trains them in using modern payment gateways for fast and efficient transactions and in loan management to support their projects.
In 2023, BBIncubator launched "Finance Your Startup" pitch competition, enabling entrepreneurs to present their tech ideas to a jury, with the winner receiving CFA 1 million (approximately $1,600) in startup funding.
In addition to BBIncubator, Ngala Boris is the founder and CEO of Boris Bison Sarl, established in 2020. The company operates in various sectors, including agriculture, import-export, real estate, contracting, and supply chain management. The business management graduate also serves as Vice President of the National Federation of Incubation Structures of Cameroon (FENASIC), an association of public and private incubators.
By Melchior Koba,
Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodji
She aims to help businesses streamline their operations and enhance customer loyalty. Her innovative projects have garnered numerous awards and accolades.
Evelyn Namara (photo) is a Ugandan tech entrepreneur. She is the founder and CEO of Vouch Digital, a startup that helps businesses, corporations, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) leverage data and digital tools to enhance transparency and efficiency in their programs.
Founded in 2017, Vouch Digital developed a digital supply chain management solution aimed at addressing issues such as unreliable payments, lack of trust among suppliers, distributors, and farmers, and limited access to affordable rural financing.
In 2020, the company introduced an innovative promotion engine that enables the design, management, and distribution of digital coupon campaigns. This platform is designed to drive customer acquisition, activation, and loyalty through targeted incentives.
Beyond her entrepreneurial work, Evelyn Namara serves as a Non-Executive Director at KCB Bank Uganda and as a board member of Village Enterprise, an organization dedicated to combating rural poverty in Africa. She is also the Senior Programs Lead at the Global Digital Inclusion Partnership, a coalition of public, private, and nonprofit actors committed to connecting as many people as possible to the internet worldwide.
Evelyn holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Makerere University, which she earned in 2010. Her professional journey began in 2008 as a UNIX administrator at Orange Uganda. In 2010, she became the Country Director for Solar Sister, an organization empowering women through economic opportunities. Later, in 2014, she joined Beyonic as East Africa Regional Director for the fintech company. Between 2018 and 2021, she worked as Manager of Global Special Interest Groups (SIGs) and Community Engagement Lead at the Internet Society.
In 2012, she received the Anita Borg ABIE Change Agent Award, recognizing her efforts to empower women and girls in technology. She was also a finalist for the Cartier Women’s Initiative Award for Sub-Saharan Africa in 2018.
By Melchior Koba,
Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodji
He is a digital transformation consultant and web activist. His career demonstrates a strong commitment to local development and the promotion of Guinean cultural heritage.
Lansana Keita (photo) is a Guinean entrepreneur and heritage management expert. He is the creator of Zaly Merveille, a project that recently won first place in the "Start-up" category at the ANSUTEN (National Universal Telecommunications and Digital Service Agency) Grand Prize for Technology and Innovation.
Zaly Merveille is a digital initiative dedicated to promoting and preserving the cultural heritage of Guinea’s Forest Region. The project aims to encourage sustainable tourism while creating a positive economic impact locally.
Through its communication channels, Zaly Merveille offers virtual museum tours, tourism circuits to explore the wealth of the Forest Region, and detailed access to information on the country’s artworks.
“Our primary motivation was to change the reputation of Guinea’s Forest Region, which is considered a conflict zone. We wanted to show the world that this region is not just a conflict zone but also brimming with enormous tourism potential,” said Lansana Keita in 2024.
The project is spearheaded by Webzaly, a digital communications firm founded in 2021 by Lansana Keita. The firm’s mission is to leverage digital tools to support local development. Specializing in digital and cultural fields, Webzaly is committed to promoting cultural heritage while encouraging citizen participation through information and communication technologies (ICT).
Lansana Keita is also an active member and focal point of the Association of Bloggers of Guinea. He graduated from Mahatma Gandhi University in Guinea with a degree in Political Science and Governance in 2015. In 2022, he expanded his expertise with a certification in Cultural Heritage Management from the School of African Heritage.
His professional career began in 2016 at the National Directorate of Fisheries in Guinea, where he was responsible for monitoring and evaluation. In 2017, he transitioned to the role of Digital Communications Manager at the Federation of Rice-Fish Farmers in the Forest Region. From 2023 to 2024, he served as the coordinator of the House of Democracy and Human Rights in Guinea.
By Melchior Koba,
Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodji
An IT specialist by training, he leverages his skills to improve healthcare access for all Ivorians.
Rory Assandey (photo) is an Ivorian computer engineer and tech entrepreneur. He is the co-founder and CEO of La Ruche Health, a startup specializing in health technologies.
Founded in 2022 by Rory Assandey and Benjamin Sasu, La Ruche Health’s mission is to bring quality, affordable, and tailored healthcare closer to Ivorian communities. Among its innovative solutions is Kiko, a generative AI-powered health chatbot accessible via WhatsApp.
By analyzing data from the chatbot, the startup offers personalized healthcare services in collaboration with independent medical practitioners. La Ruche Health has also developed an electronic medical record system for its partner healthcare professionals, allowing them to automate the management of appointments, documentation, billing, and payments.
Through these solutions, the company provides a variety of services, including teleconsultations, home consultations, personalized health advice, and laboratory testing. By October 2024, it had already reached over 160,000 users.
“The main added value we offer is helping the African population (60% of whom are under 25) avoid self-diagnosis and self-medication. We eliminate frustration and provide instant, trustworthy advice, increasing the likelihood of patients seeking professional assistance,” explains the startup’s CEO.
Rory Assandey holds a bachelor’s degree in business computing, earned in 2014 from Dublin City University in Ireland. His professional career began in 2011 at Amazon Ireland, where he worked as a technical support agent for the Kindle app. In 2013, he joined SAP, a U.S.-based tech company, as an intern in Dublin. He became a support engineer in 2014 before being promoted to IT consultant in the United States in 2017, a role he held until 2022, when he dedicated himself fully to La Ruche Health.
In 2022, La Ruche Health was selected alongside 14 other African startups to join the Google for Startups Accelerator program. In 2024, it was also chosen by Ivorian authorities to represent the country at the VivaTech technology fair in Paris.
By Melchior Koba
Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodji
An expert in education and financial management, she leverages technology to share her expertise, supporting businesses and assisting rural populations.
Mariama Ndiaye (photo) is a Senegalese tech entrepreneur specializing in finance. She is the founder and CEO of The UpTribe, a financial education company.
Founded in 2020, The UpTribe’s mission is to promote financial inclusion for Africans. Its financial automation platform provides young people with access to financial products and services, along with practical advice. The company offers a variety of resources, including courses on personal finance management, individual mentorship sessions, articles, audio content, and an online community.
The UpTribe’s training programs are tailored to the needs of businesses and entrepreneurs, while its coaching sessions aim to help individuals improve the management of their personal finances. The company’s flagship initiatives include Achieve, PEFE and Yokkuté Kom. Achieve is designed to support businesses while PEFE focuses on strengthening financial management skills for entrepreneurs, and Yokkuté Kom provides financial education in local languages for rural populations.
In addition, The UpTribe is developing an innovative platform called FinEducation, with the goal of training 100,000 young people by 2026. This platform is specifically designed for use in schools.
Mariama Ndiaye holds a master’s degree in accounting and financial management, earned in 2018 from CESAG Business School in Senegal. In 2021, she also obtained certifications in financial education and planning, followed by a certificate in finance and financial management services in 2024.
Her professional career began in 2015 with an internship in risk management at Crédit Mutuel du Sénégal. In 2019, she became the head of YUX Design Academy, a Senegalese design training center. The following year, she worked as a financial accountant at the Coordination Unit for Solid Waste Management in Dakar.
By Melchior Koba,
Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodji
Drawing on his experience and diverse skills, this entrepreneur develops innovative solutions to revolutionize the agricultural sector through technology.
Hazem Salaheldin Eltawab (photo) is an Egyptian tech entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of ReNile, a technology company focused on developing environmental and agricultural solutions.
Founded in 2017, ReNile specializes in integrated smart agriculture solutions, leveraging the Internet of Things (IoT) and water quality management. The company offers monitoring systems that analyze real-time data from agricultural operations, enabling farmers to optimize production while minimizing resource consumption.
ReNile’s solutions address a wide range of agricultural needs, from farm monitoring to emergency alerts. They also include best-practice recommendations accessible via an online platform. Using a cloud-based system, farmers can access their data anytime and anywhere, allowing them to efficiently manage aquaculture operations, hydroponic crops, or greenhouse activities.
Hazem holds a bachelor’s degree in Energy and Bioprocess Engineering, earned in 2018 from Zewail University in Egypt.
From 2018 to 2022, he served as a teaching assistant at the Zewail City of Science and Technology. Between 2019 and 2020, he worked as a business and management consultant with Nexel Partners, a Kuwait-based consulting firm. From 2023 to 2024, Hazem was a process management consultant specializing in artificial intelligence for Tahaluf Al Emarat Technical Solutions, a UAE-based company focused on cybersecurity and IT.
By Melchior Koba,
Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodji
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Driven by a passion for entrepreneurship, she's on a mission to revolutionize childcare services in Tunisia. Her dedication and hard work have garnered numerous awards and accolades.
Nivine Moussa (photo) is a Tunisian marketing expert and entrepreneur. As the founder and CEO of Bambinosit, she aims to revolutionize childcare services in Tunisia.
Bambinosit is a digital platform that connects parents with qualified babysitters and social and school support workers. Through this platform, parents can easily find profiles that align with their expectations, both in terms of skills and personal values.
Beyond assisting parents, Bambinosit also provides young students and unemployed individuals with income opportunities. The platform offers practical tools such as availability calendars, geolocation services, and detailed nanny profiles that highlight their skills and experience. Parents can even arrange interviews and babysitting trials directly through the platform.
A graduate of the Higher Institute of Business Studies in Carthage, Tunisia, Nivine Moussa earned a bachelor's degree in marketing in 2019 and a research degree in marketing in 2021. She began her professional journey in 2018 as a telemarketing operator at MFR Consulting, a health insurance firm. After an internship in 2019 at Medianet, an agency specializing in e-business and digital strategy, she worked as a French teacher.
In 2021, Moussa received the award for Best Student Entrepreneur in Tunisia. The following year, she was named Tunisia’s Best Entrepreneur. In 2024, she was recognized as a laureate of the Lab’Innova Italian program by the Italian Trade Agency.
Melchior Koba
A trained accountant and industrial engineer, he is passionate about artificial intelligence (AI) and leverages this technology to help businesses streamline their operations.
Stephen de Goede (photo) is a South African entrepreneur with a background in technology. In 2023, he co-founded Qudu in 2023, a startup dedicated to democratizing access to generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) technologies across Africa. The company aims to provide businesses with significant competitive advantages through innovative and tailored solutions.
Qudu specializes in consulting and deploying GenAI technologies, helping businesses automate operational tasks so their teams can focus on more strategic initiatives. Its offerings include intelligent chatbots and custom AI solutions designed to meet the unique needs of each organization.
The company also provides customized training programs for teams, focusing on the practical application of AI. These programs are designed to equip employees with the skills needed to integrate AI into their daily workflows. With a methodical and incremental approach, Qudu supports its clients in implementing tailored AI solutions that address complex business challenges while maximizing efficiency.
Stephen de Goede graduated from Stellenbosch University, earning a bachelor’s degree in accounting in 2013 and another in industrial engineering in 2015. In 2020, he worked as an auditor at the American accounting firm Berdon LLP. He later joined Root, a software development company, where he served as a solutions engineer until 2023.
Melchior Koba
He aims to help businesses boost their performance by providing customized WhatsApp solutions that enhance customer engagement.
Jonathan Elcock (photo) is a South African tech entrepreneur and the CEO/Cco-founder of rather.chat, a startup specializing in developing AI-powered chatbots.
Founded in 2017, rather.chat creates chatbots designed to help businesses of all sizes and sectors market their products, close sales, and interact with customers via WhatsApp. These chatbots can conduct conversations with potential clients while gathering essential information for the brands they represent.
The company aims to revolutionize how businesses communicate with their customers by strengthening relationships and expanding reach. To date, the rather.chat platform has facilitated interactions with over 15 million South Africans through its chatbots.
“Scaling sales and service is tough. I’ve lived through the headaches of trying to meet customer expectations using call centers, SMS and email automations. I eventually reached the conclusion ‘there had to be a better way’, that’s why I started rather.chat,” explains Jonathan.
The tech entrepreneur graduated from the University of Cape Town in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in actuarial science. His career began in 2010 at Zestlife, a financial services provider, where he worked in product development. In 2013, he moved to the company’s call center operations department. From 2014 to 2017, he served as Head of Sales and Commerce at MiWayLife, a South African insurance company.
Melchior Koba
As an entrepreneur, he blends technological expertise with innovative vision to develop solutions for African needs. He provides digital marketing services to help businesses thrive.
Koami Rummenigge Aziabou is a Togolese-born IT specialist and serial entrepreneur. He is the co-founder of Trenderz, a digital startup based in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, that helps businesses and brands effectively promote their products.
Founded in 2023 by Aziabou and Kim Tran, Trenderz operates a platform connecting African businesses with qualified influencers. Boasting a network of over 1,000 active influencers on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, the app enables companies to expand their reach and boost growth by leveraging the power of influence.
Trenderz is designed to help local businesses attract new customers, deepen engagement, and foster loyalty. The platform also supports organizing events such as product launches, store openings, and contests, where influencers can generate buzz and elevate brand visibility.
In addition to his role at Trenderz, Aziabou is also the co-founder of Kidolé, another 2023 startup. Kidolé offers an online platform for finding, booking, and managing advertising spaces across Africa. It simplifies performance data collection, allowing advertisers to optimize their campaigns. Primary users include advertisers, ad agencies, and media operators.
Koami Rummenigge Aziabou’s career began in 2017 as a developer and project manager at Jet-Solutions, a Togolese IT firm. Between 2019 and 2021, he served as a development lead at MAONO, a strategy and IT solutions consultancy. He later became the technical director of BrandOpera Group, specializing in brand development, and worked as a backend developer for Send Freight, a digital freight forwarder and customs broker for the African market, in 2022.
Aziabou earned a professional bachelor’s degree in Information Technology in 2022 from the University of Lomé. He is currently studying artificial intelligence at the Dakar Institute of Technology in Senegal.
By Melchior Koba,
Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodji