TECH STARS (960)
A computer scientist by training, he believes in the potential of e-commerce in Africa. He develops technological solutions to help e-merchants grow their businesses.
Youssef Akalal (photo), a Moroccan computer scientist and entrepreneur, is the co-founder and CEO of Dropify, a platform that empowers e-merchants to establish online stores and sell their products. Founded in 2022, Dropify offers a seamless and free process for creating virtual shops and sales funnels. The platform's intuitive tools and variety of templates aim to provide an optimal user experience, ultimately assisting merchants in achieving their growth objectives. The created stores are equipped with a comprehensive dashboard to manage their content efficiently.
In addition to his role at Dropify, Akalal is also the co-founder and CEO of COD Partner, a company launched in 2022. COD Partner collaborates with online vendors by providing a complete logistics platform, thereby facilitating their access to multiple international markets.
Akalal's educational background includes a master's degree in Systems Architecture from the National School of Electricity and Mechanics (ENSEM), which he earned in 2010. He also holds a master's degree in Information Science and Technology from the University of Quebec in Outaouais, obtained in 2019.
His professional career began in 2007 at BNP Paribas, where he worked as an IT operations pilot. In 2008, he joined Akka Technologies as a quality assurance team leader and was promoted to technical team leader in 2009. Between 2016 and 2022, he worked for IFS North America, a company specializing in enterprise software. During his tenure, he held the positions of Business Intelligence (BI) Analyst and Data & BI Architect successively.
Melchior Koba
He champions agent independence by providing them with resources that free up their time and boost their bottom line. Thousands of agents have already benefited from his approach.
Ahmed Nassef (photo), an Egyptian entrepreneur, co-founded and currently serves as the CEO of LeadsMart. This startup, which targets real estate sales employees, brokerage firms, and developers, facilitates advertising campaigns on social platforms.
Established in 2019, LeadsMart is on a mission to transform the real estate sector through AI-assisted lead generation. The platform empowers real estate professionals to swiftly launch advertising campaigns on social networks, thereby streamlining lead generation. With a diverse range of visuals and content customized for each project, users can execute effective campaigns.
LeadsMart distinguishes itself by offering clients real-time campaign statistics, allowing them to monitor costs and modify strategies as needed. Furthermore, the startup provides users with access to a network of real estate professionals, investors, and industry leaders. Since its inception, LeadsMart has developed over 600 projects, generated more than 20,000 leads, and supported over 1,300 sales agents.
In addition to his role at LeadsMart, Nassef is a mentor at the Founder Institute accelerator in Egypt and a partner at Joud Investment, a group of experts specializing in delivering integrated commercial real estate services to investors, buyers, and tenants.
In 2013, Nassef co-founded Fabrica Creative Studio, a startup that offers comprehensive and professional marketing services to industries aiming to attract specific clients and generate more leads. He served as its CTO from 2013 to 2019.
Nassef earned a degree in business administration from Ain Shams University in 2013. Prior to embarking on his entrepreneurial journey, he worked as a system engineer at Unilever Foodsolutions from 2009 to 2010.
Melchior Koba
He has over 12 years of experience in software development. He has created and developed several technological solutions aimed at supporting the workforce in Africa.
Steve Ndende (photo), a Congolese entrepreneur and computer scientist, is the founder and CEO of Agri Zoom, a platform launched to provide farmers with access to loans and a marketplace for selling their products.
Launched in 2018, Agri Zoom offers a crowdfunding system for farmers, fishers, and processors of agricultural products. Its online marketplace simplifies the sale of crops, allowing farmers to concentrate on production.
In addition to Agri Zoom, Ndende is the founder and CEO of MboteShop, an e-commerce platform that operates in the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, and Cameroon. Launched in 2021, MboteShop is one of Ndende’s many entrepreneurial ventures.
Ndende is also the founder and a web developer at Essengo Solutions, a digital communication and software development agency. Established in 2023, Essengo Solutions supports companies and individuals in their digital transformation.
The entrepreneur has a robust professional background. He earned a degree in software engineering from Ecole africaine de développement in Brazzaville in 2015 and a professional diploma in entrepreneurial studies from the University of Iowa in 2019. Before founding his own companies, he served as the technical director at Eyano until 2022 and co-founded Ndende Lab in 2017, where he worked as a developer until 2022.
In addition to his entrepreneurial activities, Ndende was an active contributor to the Fongwama open-source development community from 2015 to 2018. He also served as a trainer and speaker at JCertif International, a non-profit organization that organizes training and events in IT and communication technology, from 2015 to 2022.
Ndende’s commitment and professional achievements have been recognized on multiple occasions. In 2018, he won first prize in the FAO’s global challenge “My Food My Future.” In 2019, his start-up Agri Zoom was selected as one of the Top 1000 Entrepreneurs by the Tony Elumelu Foundation.
Melchior Koba
A robotics and artificial intelligence expert, he's made a name for himself by designing drones and AI solutions. Now, he's a major player in both continental and global technological advancements.
William Elong (photo) is a Cameroonian entrepreneur and business leader. As the founder and CEO of Faraday, he applies his expertise and knowledge in artificial intelligence to serve everyone, developing open-source AI and cybersecurity solutions.
Faraday, a startup based in France and Belgium, specializes in AI, fintech, and cybersecurity solutions. Its flagship product, Ares Chat, is a collaborative platform that allows users to share files, communicate with their team, and interact with AI within a secure ecosystem.
Faraday's solution offers a unique ecosystem that includes a browser, a chat model connected to the user's banking services, and a web search feature. Another product from the startup, Ares Creative, enables image generation to stimulate users' creativity.
In addition to Faraday, William Elong has been the founder and CEO of Will & Brothers Consulting since 2014, providing IT innovation and consulting services worldwide. In 2018, he founded Algo Drone Holding, focused on developing drone and AI solutions, where he also serves as CEO.
As a serial entrepreneur, he founded Cameroon Flying Lab in 2018. Affiliated with We Robotics Organization, the Cameroon Flying Lab is an initiative promoting drones, robotics, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) for youth empowerment.
In 2019, William also established the Developers Institute Center, a training center for young developers in Cameroon. He holds a master's degree in Strategy and Competitive Intelligence from the School of Economic Warfare in France, obtained in 2013. Before embarking on entrepreneurship, he gained experience working in various companies.
He worked for Thales Information Systems as an IT specialist and IT project manager from 2011 to 2012. Between 2013 and 2014, he was a sales engineer at Oracle.
Recognized for his achievements, William Elong was ranked among Forbes Africa's 30 Most Promising Young Entrepreneurs Under 30 in 2016.
Melchior Koba
Her goal is to simplify the lives of business leaders in Tanzania. Her dedication has been recognized and celebrated by Forbes Africa.
Tanzanian native Prisca Magori (photo) is the co-founder and CEO of Smart EFD, a startup that empowers businesses and corporations to create tax invoices that adhere to local laws and regulations.
Established in 2022, Smart EFD provides a tech-based solution for generating tax receipts from a variety of devices, including smartphones, laptops, point-of-sale terminals, and desktop computers. These receipts can be verified using QR codes, in line with the regulations of the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA).
Smart EFD is a service offered by the Tanzanian firm, Evas Autotravel Company Ltd. The solution was developed by TenTen Inc Ltd, a company that Prisca Magori co-founded in 2021. TenTen Inc Ltd, where Magori served as CEO until 2022, operates in the tourism industry, providing an innovative platform for booking immersive travel experiences with flexible payment options.
The CEO earned her petroleum engineering degree from the China University of Petroleum in 2018. She also holds a master's degree in project management from the University of Dar es Salaam, which she received in 2022.
She started her professional journey as an intern at Shengli Oilfield Services Co. in 2017. The following year, she joined the Engineers Registration Board Tanzania as a junior engineer. In 2019, she took on the role of coordinator for the Construction Sector Skills Council at the Tanzania Private Sector Foundation.
In April 2024, Prisca Magori was recognized on the Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 list, an honor given to young entrepreneurs under 30 who are making significant contributions to the development of the continent.
Melchior Koba
A serial entrepreneur, he is the creator of several technological solutions that particularly assist businesses. His goal is to help companies better manage their activities and increase their profits.
Kenyan entrepreneur Stephen Nyumba (photo) is the co-founder and CEO of PokeaPay, a company that offers a comprehensive customer management and payment processing solution. This platform acts as a payment gateway for East Africa, simplifying financial transactions.
Established in 2020, PokeaPay is dedicated to providing customized and innovative solutions to support its clients’ growth. Besides facilitating payments, it assists businesses in enhancing customer interactions and improving the quality of sales. It also equips them with valuable data for making more informed strategic decisions.
PokeaPay supports its clients throughout every stage, from customer acquisition to payment completion, including conversion and sales. It accepts a variety of payment methods, including VISA, MasterCard, M-Pesa, Airtel Money, and Pokea Wallet.
Stephen Nyumba’s contributions extend beyond PokeaPay. The tech entrepreneur has a wealth of experience in technology. In 2004, he co-founded Intrepid Data Systems, a company that specializes in productivity solutions for businesses. He also established the Local Development Research Institute in 2015, an action-oriented think tank aimed at eradicating poverty, hunger, and inequality in Africa.
In 2010, he co-founded iPay Limited, a startup that offers real-time payment processing and billing services, licensed by the Central Bank of Kenya.
Stephen Nyumba earned his Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in 2007. He embarked on his professional career in 2002 as an IT Administrator at Centurion Systems, a center for training and technology transfer.
Melchior Koba
She is a digital transformation consultant, a trainer, and a coach in digital skills. Her goal is to help businesses operating in Africa stay informed and grow their operations.
Jemila Abdulai (photo) is a Ghanaian blogger and entrepreneur. As the founder of Circumspecte, a digital platform and consultancy firm, she provides a wealth of information, inspiring experiences, and creativity-focused services.
Founded in 2007, Circumspecte is more than just a development consultancy. It supports digital transformation and skill development in Ghana and beyond. Within Circumspecte, Jemila Abdulai not only serves as the founder but also as a digital transformation consultant and trainer in digital skills. Her goal is to inspire creative and meaningful actions across the African continent.
Since its inception, Circumspecte has trained over 1,000 Africans in digital skills and also offers communication services. Moreover, the company organizes and covers digital events, contributing to the vibrancy of the digital landscape in Ghana and across Africa.
Mrs Jemila also serves as Head of Digital and E-commerce at Stanbic Bank Ghana. In this role, she engages stakeholders throughout the digital platform value chain to ensure optimal functionality for all clients, whether consumers or high-net-worth individuals.
The Ghanaian entrepreneur holds a bachelor's degree in economics, earned in 2008 at Paul Valéry University in Montpellier, France, and a master's in international economics and business from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington, D.C., in 2013.
Her professional career began in 2009 at Devex, where she was a correspondent covering international development. In 2010, she was appointed Regional Program Coordinator at the African Women's Millennium Initiative. In 2011, she worked as a Partner Support Associate at Esoko, a tech company that provides mobile and web-based solutions.
In 2012, she joined the African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET) as a communications consultant. In 2013, she became a research consultant at the World Faiths Development Dialogue, an organization that fosters dialogue among global organizations. From 2013 to 2015, she worked as an Operations and Communications Assistant for the African Community of Practice (AfCoP) project at the African Development Bank.
Her influence and dedication have been recognized repeatedly. In 2018, she was named one of the 50 Most Influential Young Ghanaians by Avance Media, and in 2020, she received the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Digital Media in Ghana. In 2021, she was named a Digital Skills Champion by the Coalition for Digital Equality.
Melchior Koba
His primary goal is to help all types of businesses, whether small or large, thrive in Africa. To achieve this, he leverages his digital expertise to create innovative solutions tailored to every user’s needs.
Brice Gboyou (photo) is a Beninese developer, designer, AI specialist, and entrepreneur. As the founder and CEO of All Web Service, he provides digital services to businesses.
All Web Service, a digital production agency founded in 2015, aims to be a catalyst for business digital transformation. Over nine years of operation, it has successfully completed several projects, including Afriyo, Artiweb, Aginap, Kloo, WaChap, and Agodjié, benefiting over 200,000 clients.
Afriyo is an app that offers one-click access to a variety of services, products, companies, and people using artificial intelligence, simplifying e-commerce across Africa. Artiweb, on the other hand, serves as a community and social network for web professionals in Francophone Africa, providing tools, resources, training, and professional opportunities.
Aginap is an application that simplifies marketing, sales, and customer relationship management via a multichannel chatbot powered by AI, present on platforms like WhatsApp, Messenger, Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, Viber, SMS, Voice, and websites. Kloo is a platform that facilitates information sharing and online sales. It allows the creation of links and pages in various formats and generates dynamic QR codes to share information and access statistics.
WaChap is a web application that automates WhatsApp marketing, helping e-merchants optimize sales and manage conversations and customer relationships efficiently while saving time through chatbot features. “With WaChap, you can set up a chatbot or robot to automatically respond to incoming messages, improving customer service efficiency and maintaining consistent engagement with your customers. Nobody likes to wait,” Brice Gboyou said in 2023.
Agodjié is a virtual personal assistant. Using AI and accessible via WhatsApp, Messenger, Telegram, and Instagram, it answers questions across various fields.
All these solutions, offered as software services (SaaS) and developed by Brice Gboyou and his team, aim to help businesses increase their visibility and revenue through the opportunities provided by the digital world.
Melchior Koba
A computer scientist by training, he's passionate about building tech solutions that empower businesses. His expertise has fueled the design of hundreds of digital projects.
Wassel Berrayana (photo) is a Tunisian entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Proxym Group, which provides digital services across various sectors in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Established in 2006, Proxym Group is a digital services company focusing on connectivity and information systems in the financial (banks, microfinance, and insurance) and governmental sectors. Its primary mission is to assist financial and governmental institutions in their digital transition.
Proxym Group is also recognized as a digital solutions integrator. Through its subsidiary, Bankerise, it offers ready-to-use applications designed to help banks increase their conversion rates, retain customers, and reduce financial expenditures. The goal of this digital banking engagement platform is to ease the transition of retail and corporate banks into the digital era.
To date, Proxym Group operates in over 20 countries, employing more than 250 digital consultants across five centers of excellence worldwide. The company claims to have completed more than 400 digital projects.
Wassel Berrayana graduated from Grenoble INP – Ensimag in 1996 with a master's degree in computer science. He also holds a master's degree in management and international business. He began his professional career in 1996 at TELNET as a computer engineer and joined Hewlett-Packard (HP) in 1998 as a telecom engineer.
From 1999 to 2003, he worked at Sun Microsystems, a subsidiary of Oracle Corporation, where he held positions as a telecom and network engineer, as well as a Java software developer. From 2003 to 2006, he worked as a pre-sales engineer and sales support at the French technology company specializing in customer relations, Eloquant.
Melchior Koba
His mission is to transform how Africans learn practical skills. He aims to equip them with the knowledge they desire in their chosen fields.
Dahou Meziane (photo), an Algerian computer scientist and entrepreneur, is the founder and CEO of BrainerX, a startup launched in 2023. His mission is to empower Africans with the tools to broaden their knowledge and excel in their areas of interest. BrainerX, through its mobile app, provides a wide array of hands-on courses. These include cybersecurity, programming, data science, e-commerce, graphic design, UI/UX, robotics, and artificial intelligence. The company also offers training in digital marketing and entrepreneurship.
BrainerX goes beyond merely offering courses by organizing events such as hackathons, workshops, and networking sessions. These initiatives aim to foster collaboration among entrepreneurs and professionals. Furthermore, competitions are organized to allow community members to excel, compete with their peers, and be rewarded for their achievements.
In addition to his involvement with BrainerX, Dahou Meziane is also the founder and general manager of Oktobit, an online store specializing in the sale of laptops and computer accessories. Oktobit offers a range of products suited to different customer profiles, whether they are students, programmers, graphic designers, or gamers.
A graduate of the National Higher School of Computer Science (ESI) in Algeria, where he obtained a master's degree in computer science in 2022, Dahou Meziane began his professional career in 2013 as a mobile application developer at Cible Vision training center. In September 2020, he joined the Algerian Insurance Company (SAA) as a mobile developer intern, before working as an Android engineer at SoBiapi in 2022.
Melchior Koba
More...
As a software engineer, he is committed to developing technological solutions that simplify the daily lives of Africans. His startup, Chowdeck, is supported by several major investors.
Femi Aluko (photo), a Nigerian tech entrepreneur, co-founded and now leads Chowdeck, a company that bridges the gap between Nigerian vendors and consumers. Established in 2021 by Aluko, Olumide Ojo, and Lanre Yusuf, Chowdeck specializes in providing logistical services to both sellers and consumers. The company stands out for its ability to facilitate seamless meal deliveries for food vendors, offering consumers an intuitive platform to order meals from their preferred restaurants.
On April 30, 2024, the startup raised $2.5 million in seed funding from a group of investors that included YCombinator, Goodwater Capital, FounderX Ventures, HoaQ Fund, Levare Ventures, True Culture Funds, and Haleakala Ventures. “We are pleased with the success we have achieved to date and excited to have raised these funds that will enable us to replicate that success in more parts of Nigeria, and add value to our customers, vendors and riders in as many ways as we can,” Aluko commented.
Aluko, who graduated from Obafemi Awolowo University in 2015 with a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, began his professional journey in 2013 at Softblue Nigeria Ltd as a software engineer. Concurrently, he interned in the field support and projects department of Toptech Engineering.
In 2015, he joined the real estate tech startup Hutbay as a software engineer. The following year, he moved to Shopping Internet Services, where he served as a team leader. From 2017 to 2022, he brought his experience and skills to the fintech company Paystack, holding various positions such as software engineer, engineering director, technical manager, and lead engineer.
Melchior Koba
A professional accountant, he decided to venture into e-commerce. With his SNAPnSAVE solution, he revolutionizes the way consumers perceive their purchases.
South African entrepreneur Mark Bradshaw (photo), founder and CEO of SNAPnSAVE, has developed a platform that offers consumers cash back on their purchases. SNAPnSAVE, launched in 2015, is a cashback app that rewards users with money back each time they shop. Bradshaw explained in 2017 that their receipt technology allows shoppers to earn cash back wherever they shop by simply taking a photo of their receipt. The technology is enabled without any point-of-sale integration, allowing the product to scale into markets without barriers.
In addition to his role at SNAPnSAVE, Bradshaw serves on the advisory board of Therefour SA & UK, a consultancy that provides small and medium-sized businesses with access to strategic and operational expertise in areas such as finance, marketing, and IT, tailored to each company’s specific needs.
Prior to founding SNAPnSAVE, Bradshaw co-founded Kaboose in 2012, a startup that provides a mobile shopping tool for consumer goods at supermarkets. The platform enables customers to save on in-store purchases through exclusive coupons, find products that best suit their needs, and locate the best prices in nearby stores.
Bradshaw is a graduate of Stellenbosch University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and business management in 2000. He also holds a chartered accountant diploma, obtained in 2004 from the SA Institute of Chartered Accountants.
Bradshaw began his professional career in 2002 at the accounting firm BDO Spencer Steward, where he worked as an auditor. In 2005, he joined Rebserve Cleaning Services as the financial and operations director. He later served as the commercial director at skincare company Union Swiss from 2008 to 2011.
Melchior Koba
Trained as an architect and passionate about technology, he has amassed solid expertise in the digital field. He now leads three technology companies, including Room.et, which focuses on real estate management.
Natnael Mekonnen Tsehay is an Ethiopian tech entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Room.et, an online room-booking service for hotels, apartments, and guest houses. His aim is to change the way people book stays in Africa.
Founded in 2021, Room.et is an online hotel aggregator offering a virtual marketplace for available hotel rooms. With a dedicated website and mobile app, the platform allows users to discover and book hotel rooms based on criteria such as price, room type, and desired amenities, while offering various payment solutions.
A serial entrepreneur, Natnael Mekonnen Tsehay also founded WAKANDA Technologies in 2018, a company specializing in IT consulting, outsourcing services, and information technologies, helping businesses achieve their goals with modern digital solutions.
In 2019, he launched Ethiopian Business Daily, where he serves as the General Manager. The media outlet provides daily business news in Ethiopia, covering startups, business activities, trade regulations, and technology.
Natnael Mekonnen Tsehay holds a Bachelor's degree in Architecture obtained in 2019 from the Ethiopian Institute of Architecture, Building Construction and City Development (EIABC). He also holds a certificate in Real Estate Management from Addis Ababa University.
Melchior Koba
As a tech entrepreneur, he develops innovative solutions to improve access to healthcare. His commitment to public health in Africa has been widely praised.
Brian Turyabagye (photo) is a Ugandan tech entrepreneur who graduated from Makerere University in 2023 with a Master's in Telecommunications Engineering. He also holds a Master's in Business Administration from the Valar Institute, obtained in the same year. He is a co-founder and the CEO of MamaOpe Medicals, a healthtech company.
Founded in 2017, MamaOpe Medicals aims to improve access to quality healthcare, especially in resource-poor regions. It focuses on detecting and managing respiratory infections using innovative digital tools.
The medical device developed by this startup enables the early detection of vital signs of respiratory diseases, such as respiratory rate, lung anomalies, and heart rate, by analyzing different lung positions. Featuring a cloud platform, this tool provides healthcare professionals with a simple and fast way to make accurate diagnoses, thereby improving the chances of effective patient treatment.
Brian Turyabagye's professional career began in 2013 at the Uganda Communications Commission, where he was an intern. The following year, he also interned at iLabs@MAK, a research project at the College of Engineering, Design, Art, and Technology.
After his internship, iLabs@MAK hired him as an assistant team leader. In 2015, he was appointed as a software development consultant. Concurrently, he joined the NCBA Group, a banking group based in Kenya, as a systems manager. He worked there until 2018 before dedicating himself full-time to MamaOpe Medicals.
Recognized for his contributions to the medical sector, Turyabagye has received several awards, including the African Innovation Prize in Engineering from the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2016 and a mention among Africa’s brightest innovators at the Next Einstein Forum in 2018.
In 2022, MamaOpe was honored at the ASME's ISHOW Kenya competition, further confirming the significant impact of this enterprise in the healthcare sector.
Melchior Koba