TECH STARS (960)
After his studies, he worked as a software engineer in several companies. As an entrepreneur, he is digitizing the commerce and delivery sector in South Africa.
South African software engineer and entrepreneur, Donald Vutlharhi Valoyi (photo), is the founder and CEO of Zulzi, a platform that provides on-demand delivery of groceries, fresh produce, and essentials.
Zulzi, established in 2013, evolved from Zulzi.com, an e-commerce platform initially targeting students with immediate delivery of books and electronic devices. This service laid the groundwork for the creation of the on-demand delivery platform.
Zulzi enables customers to purchase a wide range of items, from groceries and alcohol to pharmaceuticals and food. Customers can compile their shopping lists and have their orders delivered automatically. The platform fosters a community where colleagues and neighbors can share delivery costs and order quality products from each other.
According to Valoyi’s LinkedIn page, “Zulzi is a grocery delivery marketplace that gives members direct access to thousands of grocery items through a mobile app. The app allows customers to build their grocery lists and purchase items without ever visiting a store. Trained Shoppers then handpick and deliver the items, transforming the grocery shopping experience.”
Valoyi graduated from the University of the Witwatersrand in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science. That same year, he embarked on his career as a software engineer at Mavoni Technologies, a firm specializing in information technology, consulting, and business process outsourcing.
In 2010, Valoyi joined EOH, a technology company offering IT services, software, and industrial technologies, as a Java developer. In 2011, he advanced to the position of technical team leader at First National Bank South Africa.
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BBIncubator is striving to position entrepreneurship as the cornerstone of development in Cameroon. The organization conducts various events and provides development programs for entrepreneurs.
Boris Bison Youth Empowerment Incubator (BBIncubator), a Cameroon-based incubator established in 2020, is committed to fostering an environment that enables emerging entrepreneurs to achieve their aspirations.
The incubator’s vision is to empower young Cameroonians aged between 18 and 35 to combat poverty and job scarcity by establishing successful businesses, according to its website.
Under the leadership of founder and CEO Boris N. Ngala, BBIncubator offers workspace, guidance, mentorship, and coaching to the innovative startups it identifies. The incubator’s objective is to empower businesses to generate consistent profits for the development of the Cameroonian community.
In 2023, BBIncubator launched its inaugural Tech Pitch competition, “Finance your Startup,” for young Cameroonian entrepreneurs. The competition allows entrepreneurs to present their technological ideas to a panel of judges, with the winner receiving startup financing of XAF1 million (approximately USD 1,600).
BBIncubator also initiates an incubation program every three months to mentor, train, and advise young entrepreneurs. The program offers insights into company operations and trains entrepreneurs in the use of the Internet and modern payment gateways.
Incubatees have access to BBIncubator’s computing equipment, cloud services, and broadband internet connection, as well as a laboratory for IoT (Internet of Things) and ICT (Information and Communication Technology) prototyping. The incubator also organizes networking events and conferences and provides entrepreneurs with access to seed capital.
Through its programs and activities, BBIncubator aims to assist new businesses in overcoming their daily challenges.
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An experienced business leader, he is passionate about developing solutions that improve the quality of life of Africans. As an entrepreneur, he specializes in renewable energy.
Thony Ngumbu (photo), a Congolese entrepreneur and co-founder and CEO of Mwinda Technologies, is committed to designing clean energy solutions and financing options. His startup aims to address the lack of reliable energy and financial inclusion in sub-Saharan Africa.
Established in 2018, Mwinda Technologies is a U.S.-based cleantech and fintech company that launched operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2019. The company offers a variety of renewable energy solutions, including the installation of solar panels for residential, commercial, and industrial customers. It designs battery storage systems to provide electricity in the event of grid failure and maintains solar and battery backup systems.
In collaboration with its partners, Mwinda Technologies offers short-term supplier credit for the hybrid solar systems it manufactures or battery backup systems. It also enables customers to purchase their solar systems by paying in installments, with the option to repay their debt using mobile money from their mobile phone.
Before Mwinda Technologies, Ngumbu founded Genesis Ventures in 2014, where he served as managing partner until 2018. Genesis Ventures is a strategy and business development consultancy dedicated to creating high-growth, high-impact businesses on the African continent, operating in sectors including agriculture, energy, mining, transport, and infrastructure.
Ngumbu, a U.S. Army veteran, holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and economics from the University of Houston and a master’s degree in business administration from Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business. He also studied computer science at Wartburg College.
His professional career began in 2002 at Verizon Wireless, a cellular phone provider, where he served as a senior technical analyst. From 2013 to 2016, he was the senior director of programs, operations, and resource development at IEDA Relief, a non-governmental organization that assists vulnerable people worldwide.
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Leveraging his technological expertise, he has developed solutions that significantly enhance the livelihoods of small-scale farmers. The transformative impact of his innovations has earned him numerous accolades and awards.
Senegalese entrepreneur Mouhamadou Lamine Kebe (photo), co-founder and CEO of Tolbi, is using technology to enhance the management and monitoring of agricultural crops, contributing to food security. Established in 2020, Tolbi is an agritech startup that develops sustainable agriculture solutions based on artificial intelligence and satellite imagery.
The company’s e-Tolbi tool aids farmers in monitoring millions of hectares of plantations. Leveraging AI and satellite imagery, the tool can estimate and predict yields, calculate input requirements, and anticipate risks associated with climate hazards, diseases, and pests.
Tolbi supports farmers by providing them access to weather information through various methods, including automated calls in the local language. This assistance helps farmers become more resilient to climate change and increase their yields and income.
Kebe, a member of the Internet Society’s executive committee since 2018 and a 2020 graduate of the Ecole Supérieure Polytechnique de Dakar, explained in 2022 why he decided to establish Tolbi. He noted that existing technologies were not adapted to the African social context, were expensive, and often in French or English, making them inaccessible in rural areas with limited internet connectivity.
Kebe, who served as a local coordinator of the China Hardware Innovation Camp program in 2019 and an advisor to the “entrepreneurship and innovation” unit at the Ecole supérieure polytechnique de Dakar in 2020, has received numerous awards for Tolbi. These include the President of the Republic’s Grand Prize for Digital Innovation in 2020 and second place in the 2021 Num-Urb competition for digital technology for urban development.
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A serial entrepreneur, he aims to maximize the profits of small and medium-sized businesses. His entrepreneurial career has won him national and international awards.
Ugandan entrepreneur Daniel Mukisa (photo), co-founder and CEO of Ridelink, is leveraging technology to provide transport and logistics services to small and medium-sized businesses across Africa and beyond.
Mukisa was motivated to find a solution to the high transport costs that were impacting the profitability of small businesses. "I noticed that a lot of the proceeds from the store went towards transporting the produce from the farmer to us the retailers. I challenged myself to come up with a solution that would curb the high transport costs that ate deep into the bottom line of the small businesses," he explained in 2021.
Established in 2017, Ridelink uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to connect SMEs with over 10,000 drivers and more than 3,000 other businesses on similar routes, helping them reduce costs. The platform, accessible via web and mobile app, also offers security features, allowing users to track and trace their cargo. The company’s goal is to help SMEs increase revenues, enhance mobility efficiency and performance, and access new markets.
Mukisa, a 2017 Bachelor of Commerce graduate from Makerere University, co-founded Transporter Corporation in 2014 before launching Ridelink. Transporter Corporation, where Mukisa served as head of operations until 2017, offers motorbike delivery solutions in Kampala, Uganda.
Mukisa’s entrepreneurial journey has earned him several national and international accolades. He was a recipient of the Anzisha Prize in 2015, a finalist in the 2021 Africa’s Business Heroes competition, and was named in the 2022 Forbes 30 Under 30 list, which honors young Africans who make a sbig impact through innovation.
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The initiative is designed to foster the emergence of national champions, stimulate the development of innovative digital solutions, and create value for retailers while improving the consumer experience.
Moroccan Retail Tech Builder (MRTB), a platform for incubating and accelerating retail-focused technology startups in Africa, was launched as a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Mohammed VI Polytechnique University, and the OCP Foundation.
Launched in 2022, it supports entrepreneurs from the ideation and prototyping phase to the market launch and acceleration phase, connecting project owners with experts, business leaders, and mentors. The platform also hosts events to showcase its developed and developing e-commerce solutions to potential customers and investors.
Startups under MRTB’s umbrella have access to dedicated workspaces like StartGate, a startup campus affiliated with Mohamed VI Polytechnic University. This international entrepreneurial ecosystem provides world-class infrastructure and resources to support startups.
MRTB offers several programs to foster innovation. The “Create” program assists entrepreneurs in transforming their innovative digital solution concepts into prototypes, offering three months of specialized support and culminating in a “Demo Day” for project presentations.
The “Start” incubation program supports the transition from prototype to market launch, aiding incubatees in transforming their viable business models into companies.
The “Scale” program is designed to accelerate the growth of innovative startups, providing founders with the necessary tools to develop, deploy, and increase the value of their businesses.
Through these programs and activities, MRTB aims to support the development of innovative digital solutions for around a hundred retail projects, enabling beneficiaries to modernize and create value.
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With over 20 years of experience in the digital industry, he has held several senior positions.
Moroccan entrepreneur Larbi Alaoui Belrhiti (photo), co-founder and co-CEO of YoLa Fresh, is on a mission to transform the fresh produce sector in Africa. Leveraging technology and data, he aims to enhance the entire fruit and vegetable processing chain, from cultivation to consumption.
Through his startup YoLa Fresh, founded in 2023 with Youssef Mamou, he connects farmers with fresh produce retailers to bolster their businesses. The startup harnesses data, machine learning, and artificial intelligence to predict demand and supply, price dynamics, and other key metrics.
Belrhiti and his co-founder’s primary objective with YoLa Fresh is to eliminate all intermediaries in the food supply chain, enabling retailers to cut costs and farmers to maximize profits more efficiently.
A holder of a master’s degree in computer science from Polytechnique Montréal, Canada, obtained in 2004, Belrhiti is also an alumnus of HEC Paris, where he earned a master’s degree in business administration in 2013.
Before YoLa Fresh, he established several companies. In 2005, he founded TheMafiaBoss.com, an online Mafia-themed game, which he ran as CEO until 2012. In the same year, he also founded Avito.ma, a Moroccan online classified ads site, which he led as Chairman and CEO until 2017, when it was integrated into the Spanish ad group Adevinta (formerly Schibsted).
The entrepreneur’s professional journey began in 2004 at Oracle as a software engineer. He later worked as a consultant at Accenture, a business services company. In 2017, he joined Jumia as the managing director of the company in Morocco. In April 2022, he was promoted to Managing Director of Jumia Express Logistics, a position he held until the inception of YoLa Fresh.
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He seeks solutions for workplace efficiency concerns. His achievements have already won him several awards.
South African entrepreneur Velani Mboweni, co-founder and CEO of startup Lüla, is connecting workers with private shuttle drivers. His platform offers a sustainable, secure, and affordable transport solution in emerging markets.
Established in 2016, Lüla provides a local service that transports users from their homes to their workplaces and vice versa. The primary clientele of this solution are companies seeking to ensure efficient commutes for their employees.
Mboweni, a University of Cape Town graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, furthered his education with a postgraduate diploma in business administration from Wits Business School in 2016. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of the Witwatersrand, obtained in 2017.
Before Lüla, Mboweni co-founded Phambili Mzansi in 2015, a non-profit organization that facilitates connections between people, knowledge, and resources. He currently serves as a director and board member of Wesgro, an organization that links foreign investors with local exporters in the Western Cape, South Africa.
In addition, Mboweni is a member of the advisory board of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, a research organization that focuses on the study, development, localization, and dissemination of technologies to boost socio-economic prosperity in South Africa.
Mboweni, a member of the Harambe Entrepreneurs Alliance African Innovators since 2018, served as the Head of Business Development at eTranzact International PLC, a Nigerian mobile banking and payment services provider, from 2010 to 2014. In 2017, he joined the African Youth Commission, an independent pan-African youth network, as the commissioner for human resources, science, technology, and innovation, a position he held until 2019.
Mboweni’s professional and entrepreneurial career has earned him several awards and distinctions. In 2019, Lüla was named “Start-up of the Year” at the Global Startup Awards. In 2022, he was recognized in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list.
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Young Africans often wonder how to turn their ideas into successful, sustainable businesses. In Cameroon, Ecolia Labs, through its programs and activities, offers a solution to those worries.
Cameroonian incubator Ecolia Labs is empowering young entrepreneurs to create high-potential, financially viable businesses through digital innovation. Founded in 2014 by Yves Cedric Ntsama, the incubator wants to “build the future generation of tech social entrepreneurs that Cameroon and Central Africa need to meet its sustainable development challenges,” according to its website.
Ecolia Labs provides training in digital skills and entrepreneurship, with courses covering digitization, artificial intelligence, big data, robotics, the Internet of Things, cybersecurity, e-commerce, and web and mobile development. The incubator also offers training in innovative entrepreneurship and a project launch program.
It provides a range of opportunities for entrepreneurs, including pre-incubation, incubation, and financing. The pre-incubation program, lasting one month, allows young innovators to launch their ideas based on market needs. The incubation program, lasting up to 12 months, assists in validating a business model and acquiring initial customers.
Ecolia Labs also provides entrepreneurs with a fully-equipped co-working space, complete with a fiber-optic Wi-Fi connection, to foster collaboration. Additional resources include a manufacturing laboratory and a library.
In addition to its incubation services, Ecolia Labs assists businesses in their digital transformation. It hosts various events, such as the Women Digital Class, which trains women in professional digital skills to enhance their employability.
To date, Ecolia Labs has trained over 10,000 young people, supported more than 300 startups, and received over 20 awards and accolades. As a member of the AfriLabs network, it receives support from Orange, Afric’Innov, Bolloré Transport & Logistics, Ennova, Facebook, the African Union, and Innovation Edge, among others.
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An Orange Code School’s Success Story, Musa Turay inspires and engages learners from all backgrounds
A software engineer by training, he puts his enhanced skills at the service of the local banking sector.
Musa Turay, a Sierra Leonean computer scientist specializing in web and mobile software development, is among the many beneficiaries of the Orange Code School whose training has significantly impacted his professional life.
He enrolled in the Orange Code School in January 2022 after discovering Sierra Leone’s Orange Digital Center on his Facebook news feed. He seized the opportunity to deepen his skills in full-stack web and mobile application development. Months earlier, in 2021, he obtained his Higher National Diploma in Information and Communication Technology from the Eastern Polytechnic in Sierra Leone.
Turay credits the knowledge he acquired at the Orange Code School for his significant career development, which culminated in a position as a software developer at the Guaranty Trust Bank in Sierra Leone. Hired by the bank in June 2023, he works on developing innovative software solutions to improve banking operations and the customer experience.
With a passion for digital innovation, Turay gained experience in application development and other areas, including database management, before obtaining his national diploma and joining Orange Code School. In 2019, he founded the digital learning platform TurayMathic eLearning to make quality education accessible to everyone, regardless of geographical location.
“At TurayMathic eLearning, our mission is twofold. First, we strive to develop cutting-edge digital learning experiences that inspire and engage learners from all backgrounds. Secondly, we are committed to empowering educators and educational leaders to effectively harness technology in the classroom,” Turay said in an exclusive interview with We Are Tech Africa.
Eager to be among the world’s best in data engineering, software engineering, and DevOps engineering, Turay has returned to studying computer science at the University of the People, an online university accredited by the United States. He also plans to enroll in “training programs or pursue certifications that will deepen [his] expertise and keep [him] abreast of advances in the industry,” he says.
Turay is currently working on an e-commerce platform called We Yon Shop. His aim with this platform is to revolutionize the online shopping experience in Sierra Leone and beyond by bringing together convenience, accessibility, and quality.
“This platform aims to provide a smooth and user-friendly shopping experience, leveraging technology to streamline transactions and improve customer satisfaction,” he explains.
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Artificial intelligence and robotics sectors are steadily making inroads in Africa. In Cameroon, serial entrepreneur Jacques Eone leads the charge to popularise these emerging technologies.
Jacques Eone (photo), a Cameroonian serial entrepreneur, is the co-founder and CEO of Sparte Robotics. His company, established in 2021, aims to popularise robotics, science, and engineering by providing services that enhance and simplify daily life for its customers.
Sparte Robotics specializes in supplying robotic instruments, particularly drones, and security solutions to businesses and individuals. The company aims to automate services in various sectors, including security, mapping, and industrial production. It is also a research and development center for robotics and artificial intelligence.
To encourage African governments, donors, and local businesses to invest more in robotics and AI in Africa, Sparte Robotics launched the Elviatech competition in 2023. The competition brings together teams from several countries to exchange skills and build robotic instruments specific to a particular theme, Eone explained.
In addition to his role at Sparte Robotics, Eone is the president of the Cameroon Robotics Association, which he founded in 2018 to demystify robotics in Africa. The association organizes free training courses for college and school students.
Eone is also a founding partner of CENTHORUS Corporation, a Cameroonian software engineering company, and the founder of Alkacun, an e-commerce platform established in 2021. Alkacun offers various purchasing options, from simple distribution to auctions.
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Focused on promoting knowledge-based businesses, Nice Innovation Incubation Center is committed to fostering a culture of innovation and equity, with the ambition of turning bright ideas into tangible successes.
Established in 2018, the Nice Innovation Incubation Center is an innovation hub aimed at addressing the technological development gap in Ethiopia. The center’s vision is to cultivate an incubation and innovation ecosystem that nurtures knowledge-based businesses.
Its mission is to foster an innovative culture within the university environment and to establish a work culture grounded in fairness, equality, and performance. The center is committed to training bright minds for excellence in science, technology, fine arts, and the creation of marketable interdisciplinary knowledge.
The center’s areas of interest span a wide range of fields, including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, virtual, augmented, and mixed reality, cybersecurity, robotics, the Internet of Things, Industry 4.0, blockchain, advanced materials, drones, biotechnology, and more. Headquartered in Addis Ababa, the center also operates in Nairobi, Kenya, and has plans for expansion into other East African countries.
It collaborates with and invites technical and marketing experts for training, coaching, and mentoring programs. It also builds partnerships with local industrial companies and offers infrastructure consultancy and investment support.
Through its incubation program, the Nice Innovation Incubation Center welcomes technical or business ideas from students and emerging entrepreneurs. It provides support throughout the process, from planning to prototyping, to help turn their ideas into reality and bring them to market.
For each project that is successfully incubated, the center facilitates the prototyping process. It liaises with banks and public bodies to secure startup loans for the continued support of products and startups.
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Introduced to technology at the tender age of 7, she quickly made her mark in her country's tech companies just three years later. She now dedicates her time to educating children and young adults about technology, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship among the next generation.
Betelhem Dessie (photo), an Ethiopian computer scientist and entrepreneur, serves as the co-founder and CEO of iCog Anyone Can Code. This initiative, which aims to provide children and young people with tech skills, was established as a company in 2020, following its inception as an initiative in 2016. Its mission is to democratize access to technology and tech education. Through its various projects, it offers training in robotics, artificial intelligence, and programming, enabling young learners to innovate and create. With a team of 40 mentors and trainers, the company has already reached 26,000 children and young adults.
iCog Anyone Can Code organizes free public workshops in state schools and runs a six-month acceleration program, the AYSRH Project, to support youth-led or owned start-ups focusing on adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health. In collaboration with its partners, the company is piloting other initiatives such as the Girls Can Code project and the Solve IT national innovation competition for young people.
iCog Anyone Can Code operates as a subsidiary of iCog Labs, an artificial intelligence and robotics laboratory where Dessie serves as a senior consultant. The lab offers a range of research and development services to international clients, including artificial intelligence and bioinformatics research, as well as machine learning-based data analysis and application software development.
Dessie’s interest in technology began at the age of 7. By 2008, when she was nearing her 10th birthday, she was employed as a software developer at the Information Network Security Agency. In 2012, she worked as a mobile application developer for TECNO Mobile ET, and from 2012 to 2015, she served as a technical manager for EBAGD Computer and Related Working PLC. She also held a position as a trainer at Bahir Dar University.
Dessie’s contributions have earned her several accolades. In 2012, she received the Best Project of the Year award from the Center of Excellence. She was named Outstanding Girl of the Year at the Ethiopian Girls Awards in 2017 and Young Technologist at the Tech Playmakers Award two years later. She was also included in Quartz’s 2019 list of African innovators to watch. In 2023, she was honored with the Professional Excellence Award at the Bikila Award in Ethiopia.
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To stimulate entrepreneurship and innovation in Togo, the local campus offers training programs, startup assistance, and co-working spaces. The initiative encourages the application of technology to address challenges in various sectors, including education, agriculture, and health.
Djanta Tech Hub, a technology campus in West Africa, is striving to become a leading reference point for technological entrepreneurship and training in new digital professions. The initiative, launched by the Togolese government, aims to foster entrepreneurship, creativity, and economic growth through digital technology, innovation, and research.
Established in 2018, the campus spans 3,000 square meters and supports the growth of Togo’s key economic sectors by incorporating information and communication technologies (ICT). It concentrates its efforts on a range of sectors, including education, agriculture, green technologies, health, financial inclusion, and more.
The Djanta Tech Hub plans to achieve its goals through various components. These include the Djanta Academy, a digital training excellence center; the Djanta Start accelerator and incubator; and NanaTech, a space dedicated to female entrepreneurship. The campus also provides a connected café area, meeting and conference rooms, and a one-stop service for all startup procedures.
The campus features a prototyping and research laboratory known as Djanta Lab, which is designed to be a hub for a diverse group of experts, including engineers, designers, students, and innovators. The lab is equipped with testing tools and platforms (Android, iOS, Firefox, etc.), a 3D printer, and augmented reality glasses.
Djanta Tech Hub also offers a coworking space where entrepreneurs, project leaders, and students from across Togo can collaborate. This space fosters the co-creation and co-development of digital applications, bringing together the initiatives of young people and providing a conducive environment for discovery, innovation, and creativity.
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