TECH STARS (960)
He is an award-winning technology entrepreneur in Africa. Specializing in educational technologies, he aims to stimulate the continent's development through education and knowledge sharing.
Edouard Claude Oussou (photo), a Gabonese strategic leader and entrepreneur, is the founder and CEO of Scientia Africa, an educational technology startup established in 2017. The company, which operates in Gabon, Côte d’Ivoire, and Comoros, aims to ensure 100% academic success for all students through its web, mobile, and SMS/USSD applications.
According to the World Bank, Gabon has the highest school failure rate globally, primarily due to inadequate infrastructure and poor quality school supervision. “Since we can’t replace the state in terms of building schools, we’ve positioned ourselves in terms of school follow-up,” Oussou stated in 2020.
Scientia Africa offers a school tracking application, providing students, parents, teachers, and school administrators with real-time access to essential information for monitoring students’ education. The application analyzes and processes data to evaluate pedagogy, course quality, student assimilation, potential shortcomings, and educational progress.
In addition to his role at Scientia Africa, Oussou serves as the Head of Strategy, Research, and Development at Société équatoriale des mines (SEM) in Gabon. He holds a diploma in computer administration and management from the Institut Supérieur de Technologie in Libreville, obtained in 2003, and a certification in business and entrepreneurship from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in the USA.
Oussou also founded Routedusucces.com, an educational platform where he served as CEO from 2016 to 2020. His professional career began in 2003 at CRN, a marketing company, where he was a Multimedia Manager. In 2018, he interned in business development at Microsoft.
Oussou and his company, Scientia Africa, have received several awards and distinctions. In 2017, the African Startup Forum voted Scientia Africa as the best African startup in the education category. Positive Youth’s Africa named Oussou as one of the 100 most inspiring young Africans. In 2019, the African Union Commission recognized him as one of Africa’s top education innovators. In 2021, he won the Moov Africa Gabon Télécom Startup Challenge.
Melchior Koba
Financial hurdles can hinder start-up growth. To equip aspiring entrepreneurs with the tools and guidance needed to secure funding, 250 STARTUPS offers customized incubation, acceleration, and mentorship programs in Rwanda.
250STARTUPS, a Rwandan incubation and acceleration center led by Managing Director Charles Shyaka, provides technology startups with the resources to develop a proof of concept and become investment-ready through a customized program. The center accelerates startups for six months per cohort, offering financial, legal, technical, and mentoring support to help them transition from incubation to expansion.
The center also runs a capacity-building program for young graduates in information and communication technology (ICT), finance, and law, who collaborate closely with entrepreneurs under expert guidance. Each month, the center hosts Capital Talks, where incubatees showcase their progress to potential partners, investors, and other startups. The center currently supports 160 beneficiaries, 40 companies, and 80 associates.
Among the startups backed by 250 STARTUPS are Nyereka Tech, an e-commerce platform selling IoT sensors and experiential learning tools, and AFIA Pharma, a pharmaceutical e-commerce platform. Another notable startup is Safe Sana, which has developed a safety device that detects gas leaks, automatically shuts down the gas cylinder, triggers an alarm, and sends SMS alerts and calls to a mobile phone.
Melchior Koba
An agricultural technology entrepreneur, she created a crop and soil management tool aimed at enhancing farmers' productivity and mitigating crop pests. Her innovation has earned her numerous accolades and distinctions.
Maryanne Gichanga (photo), a Kenyan tech entrepreneur and law student at Mount Kenya University, is the co-founder and CEO of AgriTech Analytics. The company, established in 2018, is committed to eradicating hunger and poverty by assisting small-scale farmers in rural Africa to increase crop yields and secure food supplies.
AgriTech Analytics employs various data types, including satellite imagery and data from its solar IoT crop and soil sensors. The device sends alerts or reports to farmers via mobile phones with over 97% accuracy, enabling early pest detection to prevent crop damage and harvest loss.
The company currently serves 2,880 small-scale farmers across the Rift Valley, Central, and Eastern Kenya, with plans to enroll 15,000 farmers by 2024. "There are 33 million farmers in Africa and approximately 4.5 million small-scale farmers in Kenya. Our target market is 2.5% of this demographic in Kenya which translates to 112,500 farmers by 2027," Gichanga stated in 2023.
Gichanga, a former data analyst at Standard Chartered Bank (2013-2020), received several awards and honors in 2023. She was included in Business Daily Africa's 40 under 40 women list and won the 2023 Agritech of the Year award on behalf of her company from Guzakuza, a women leaders in agribusiness support organization, and the German Agency for International Development Cooperation (GIZ).
Melchior Koba
MALhub, a shared workspace in Ilorin, offers budding entrepreneurs and small businesses affordable workspace, training programs, and incubation support. The hub aims to nurture young talent and foster economic growth in the Nigerian city.
Nigeria’s Makers and Leaders Hub (MALhub), an incubator established in 2017, is fostering a supportive and inclusive tech community under the leadership of managing partners Kehinde Kamaldeen and Abubakar Sadiq.
The hub, based in Ilorin, is a gathering place for technologists, social entrepreneurs, government officials, tech companies, impact investors, and local youth. They collaborate to devise innovative solutions to Nigeria’s pressing social issues, with MALhub aiming to be the go-to partner for such initiatives.
MALhub offers training programs to equip its clients with a competitive advantage and provides a well-resourced coworking space for entrepreneurs. Its incubation program offers the necessary advice and resources for entrepreneurs to realize their business aspirations, providing them with valuable insights and practical strategies to navigate challenges, capitalize on opportunities, and ensure sustainable growth.
With a strong commitment to promoting women’s participation in entrepreneurship and technology, MALhub has organized numerous Women in Tech programs, supporting over 200 women to date. The hub boasts a vibrant community of more than 7,000 active members and has facilitated the creation and support of over 50 sustainable jobs and business ventures.
Melchior Koba
Following his medical studies, he spent several years working for a U.S. medical company. Despite his background in medicine, he ventured into the fintech industry, establishing his own business with a focus on a QR code payment solution.
Senegalese doctor and entrepreneur, Ibrahima Kane (photo), is the founder and CEO of Kalpay, a fintech firm aimed at streamlining payment processes across Africa. Established in 2019, Kalpay has developed a quick payment application that utilizes QR code technology.
The platform offers a range of innovative services for users, retailers, and businesses, and is compatible with all operators. It features two main products: Kalpay Wallet and Kalpay Business. Kalpay Wallet is a digital wallet that allows users to make everyday purchases, transfer money, pay bills, and even purchase airtime using their mobile devices. On the other hand, Kalpay Business provides merchants, businesses, and financial institutions with digital solutions for issuing or receiving digital payments. It also helps generate additional revenue through deposit and withdrawal operations, while facilitating better business management.
Kane explained in 2019, "Upon arrival, the customer will scan the QR code (printed on a white sheet of paper). Their phone will then display the merchant's name and photo, allowing them to proceed with the payment."
Kane earned his medical degree from Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University in Fez, Morocco, in 2012, and a Master's degree in Public Health from George Washington University in 2015. He also holds a Master's degree in Business Administration from Johns Hopkins University in the USA.
Before founding Kalpay, Kane served as the Executive Vice President in charge of operations and development at Metro Spine PC, a medical services company, from 2012 to 2018.
Melchior Koba
Through its programs and activities, Innovate Durban promotes an ecosystem where innovation drives economic and social progress.
Innovate Durban, a non-profit company established in 2013 by the eThekwini municipality, fosters a vibrant innovation ecosystem in South Africa's coastal city. Its mission is to stimulate entrepreneurship, drive economic growth, and create jobs through initiatives leveraging the potential of the 4th industrial revolution.
The organization initially served as a forum connecting stakeholders - entrepreneurs, businesses, academia, government, and civil society - within the local innovation landscape. Officially registered as a non-profit in 2017, it has since expanded its offerings to provide practical support for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Innovate Durban boasts a range of services, including virtual and coworking spaces equipped with 3D printers, laser cutters, and other specialized machinery. Its flagship program, The Start Up Support Program, guides innovators from concept to commercialization through a 12-month process with business and technical skill development, prototype funding facilitation, and connections to angel investors.
Design thinking workshops and training programs are offered through Innovation Co-Lab, an innovation center designed to empower individuals and communities. Tailored to meet specific company needs, these programs aim to nurture innovative problem-solving skills, foster new business ventures, create jobs, and tackle social challenges.
The organization's success relies on collaboration with key partners like Open Cities Lab, Standard Bank, Ubuntu, Durban University of Technology, the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs, and the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Melchior Koba
Upon graduation, he accumulated experience in software testing over several years with various U.S. and French firms. Recognizing technology’s influence, he established Expert Team Tunisia, an initiative aimed at equipping the youth with digital skills.
Tunisian entrepreneur and computer engineer, Salah El Amami (photo), an alumnus of the National Engineering School of Sfax (ENIS) in Tunisia, is the founder of Expert Team Tunisie (ETT), a center for continuing education and professional certification.
Established in 2010, ETT provides a variety of high-quality training courses in information technology and business management. The startup aims to enhance the careers of young individuals and secure their future employment. It currently offers more than 180 themes across eight training areas. To date, it has certified 3,660 learners, conducted 352 training sessions, satisfied 3,956 customers, and delivered 8,448 hours of training.
ETT has also launched an online revision platform, Expertest, for professionals seeking certification and skill assessment. Expertest offers a range of mock exams and corrected exercises, available in packs for each level.
In addition to ETT, El Amami founded Improve Software in 2016, a startup specializing in software testing. Based in France, it provides training services in software testing, both in-person and remotely.
Before his entrepreneurial ventures, El Amami served as a qualification manager at Orange (2011-2012). He has also held the position of test manager at several companies, including QuickPlay Media, an American technology firm, Solocal Group, a French digital marketing company, and SeLoger, a French real estate listing platform.
Melchior Koba
Benin's government has established a dedicated center to combat cybercrime, bolstering its efforts to tackle online threats in the West African nation. The new unit aims to improve investigations and prosecutions of cyber-related offenses, a growing concern across the continent.
Beninese computer scientist Ouanilo Medegan Fagla (photo) was appointed head of the newly established National Center for Digital Investigations (CNIN) on Wednesday, January 24, in a bid to bolster the country's fight against cybercrime.
Fagla, a veteran cybersecurity expert and former Director of Digital Security at Benin's Agency for Information and Digital Systems Agency (ASIN), will now lead the CNIN, aiming to enhance investigations and prosecutions of online offenses.
The Beninese government established the CNIN on November 29, 2023, to continue the fight against cybercrime. The center assumes the responsibilities of the Office central de répression de la cybercriminalité (OCRC) and will take over the cybercrime-related missions of the ASIN.
Before his appointment, Fagla served as ASIN's Director of Digital Security. He is an ISACA-certified information security manager and holds a General Academic Studies Degree (DEUG) in applied mathematics and computer science from the University of Orléans (2004), and a master's degree in computer science from Epitech (2007).
Fagla began his professional career in 2005 at Epitech as an assistant professor. He later became a research expert in reverse engineering at Neuf Telecom, a French ISP, in 2006. In 2008, he joined Bizanga Labs, an email and messaging security company, as a software engineer, a position he also held at Cloudmark, a cybersecurity firm.
Fagla, a former pedagogical director at Epitech (2011-2016), co-founded iNNERSHiP in 2015, a company offering customized development programs for businesses. He served as the Director General of the National Agency for Information Systems Security (ANSSI) from 2019 to 2023.
In 2021, the President of the Republic appointed Fagla as an Officer of the National Order of Benin.
Melchior Koba
With climate change disrupting water resources, soil fertility, and crop health across Africa, agricultural entrepreneur Tafadzwa Chikwereti is turning to digital tools to empower farmers and boost their resilience.
Tafadzwa Chikwereti (photo), a young entrepreneur and graduate of the National University of Science and Technology, is the founder of agritech firm Murimi Electronic Agriculture (eAgro), established in 2020.
eAgro’s mission is to bolster farmers’ resilience to climate change, offering a suite of digital tools for climate-smart farming, including data analysis, artificial intelligence (AI), satellite imagery, and an intelligent agronomy tool, Cropfix. The company also provides a credit rating system through Credfarm, facilitating access to affordable financial services for farmers and agribusinesses.
Credfarm assists financial institutions in developing loans tailored to the needs of small-scale farmers by providing an agriculture-specific, data-driven credit risk assessment model.
eAgro’s smart farming platform, Cropfix, uses AI, satellite imagery, and natural language processing to deliver personalized agronomic advice to farmers via text, USSD, and WhatsApp, helping them detect and manage pests and diseases.
Chikwereti has received several accolades for his work. He was a finalist for the Anzisha Prize in 2021, won the Startupper of the Year award from Total Energies in 2022, and was a finalist for the Global Student Prize in 2023. He was also named one of the 12 finalists in the GoGettaz Agripreneur Competition organized by the Africa Food Systems Summit in Tanzania.
Melchior Koba
Technipole Sup Valor is a dynamic hub for entrepreneurial innovation. Focused on socio-economic development, this incubator distinguishes itself by identifying and supporting innovative project leaders.
Technipole Sup Valor is a business incubator founded in 2010 by the National Advanced School of Engineering of Yaounde (NASEY) in Cameroon. Its main mission is "to contribute to the socio-economic development of the country, through the identification and support of young holders of innovative economic projects or those with high growth potential," as stated on its website.
The incubator provides comprehensive support to startups, encompassing entrepreneurship training, consulting and coaching services, financing, and workspace. Incubated companies benefit from dedicated office space, a meeting room, a computer lab with internet access, and access to qualified experts for training and guidance. Technipole Sup Valor also organizes networking events and market research activities to empower founders.
Further bolstering its commitment to entrepreneurial development, the incubator created Technipedia, a dedicated website offering project ideas and valuable information to aspiring entrepreneurs.
Companies receive up to two years of tailored support, including three months within the physical incubator and a maximum of 21 months with ongoing online and remote guidance. While Technipole Sup Valor has a primary focus on the digital sector, its expertise extends to supporting ventures in other fields as well. Its successes include notable Cameroonian startups like Arthur Zang's Himore Medical, Alain Nteff's GiftedMom, and Arielle Kitio's Caysti.
Melchior Koba
More...
Dr. Ifriky Tadadjeu is carving a pioneering path in the nascent space industry of Cameroon. As founder and CEO of Nanosatellite Missions Design (NMD), he translates his visionary ideas into practical solutions, designing innovative space missions and systems that contribute to the country's technological advancement.
Dr. Ifriky Tadadjeu (photo) is leading the way in developing Cameroon's space program through his company, Nanosatellite Missions Design (NMD). Founded in 2021, NMD specializes in designing innovative space missions and systems using nanosatellites and miniature satellites offering cost-effective platforms for research and data collection.
NMD's mission goes beyond technological advancements. The company also plays a crucial role in building a sustainable space ecosystem in Cameroon. Its team of experts, boasting over 20 years of experience in fields like project management, robotics, and artificial intelligence, provides training and consultancy services across various sectors.
These sectors include agriculture, environmental management, civil administration, defense, finance, education, and research. NMD's courses cater to different expertise levels, empowering individuals to acquire skills for future roles in space agencies and missions.
Dr. Tadadjeu's entrepreneurial spirit extends beyond NMD. He is also the owner of Ifriky Ltd, established in 2014. This company houses projects like TellMee, a customer evaluation platform, and MyLogz, providing identity cards and digital logbooks.
Dr. Tadadjeu holds a bachelor's degree in physics (2007) from the University of Buea, a master's degree in satellite systems engineering (2012) from ESIEE Paris and a PhD in electrical engineering (2016) from Cape Peninsula University of Technology.
Before venturing into entrepreneurship, Dr. Tadadjeu gained valuable experience through various positions. He served as the national point of contact for the Space Generation Advisory Council (2013-2015), supporting the UN Programme on Space Applications. He then transitioned to post-doctoral research at Cape Peninsula University of Technology (2016) and later joined the Centre Spatial Universitaire de Montpellier as a Space Mission Analyst (2018-2020).
Melchior Koba
To help entrepreneurs grow their startups into successful, scalable businesses, Ennovate Ventures offers incubation programs, a venture studio, and financing opportunities.
Ennovate Ventures is a pan-African venture capital firm and micro-fund that supports and finances African innovators. Based in Tanzania, it helps emerging technology companies integrate disruptive innovation and sustainability into their business operations.
Launched in 2018, Ennovate Ventures was founded by Francis Omorojie, an entrepreneur and petroleum engineer who is a venture capital partner. It aims to help its customers achieve optimal business performance.
Ennovate Ventures' mission goes beyond mere financial backing. Through its venture-building arm, Ennovate Hub, the company cultivates a pipeline of promising startups through incubation programs. These programs emphasize market-driven, data-centric business models that prioritize scalability and value creation.
Ennovate Hub spearheads initiatives like the Ennovate UniSpark Project, a week-long design sprint that brings together university innovators to collaborate on projects. Additionally, programs like Girls TechSpire and Digify-Tech empower young women and Tanzanian youth with digital skills and access to online work opportunities.
Ennovate Ventures also has a Venture Studio, which offers entrepreneurs the opportunity to co-found and run high-growth technology startups. It also offers a digital platform to accelerate investment transactions between startups and investors. Called VentureRoom, the latter does all the initial work of identifying the most promising startups, carrying out due diligence, and listing startups according to sector, stage of maturity, location, and funding round.
Since its inception, the company has supported over 1,000 digital entrepreneurs and invested $100,000 in early-stage startups in East Africa. With over 20 partners, it has made 11 investments in high-growth technologies. Notable portfolio companies include Farm Noksi, an agricultural e-commerce platform, Gigs Afrika, a pan-African gig economy marketplace, and Kikundi, a fintech app for savings, loans, and investment management.
Melchior Koba
Through its training programs, advice, and technological solutions, Innovations Hub Liberia helps individuals achieve their goals and enables businesses to take the next step in their development process.
Innovations Hub Liberia (iHub Liberia) is a company dedicated to providing first-class training and services to help individuals and institutions thrive in the digital age. Founded in 2019, it is led by computer scientist Philip Bargin, who serves as its executive director.
The company is a social entrepreneurship training and consulting company that aims to improve the digital landscape in Liberia and Africa. To achieve its goals, the company offers corporate and vocational training, enabling individuals to acquire the skills they need to launch their careers in high-growth fields such as information technology and data collection.
"As we tend to ensure that participants have a simple and full learning community where they can share thoughts, ask questions, and challenge themselves with new tools learned within the training, we use WhatsApp as a platform for interactions and then other meeting platforms like Google Meets, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams for live classes and sessions," reads the company's website.
Innovations Hub Liberia often offers dedicated events to raise awareness of the business benefits of technology and connect students with industry experts... It organizes corporate seminars, boot camps, and information and communication technology (ICT) consulting.
In addition, iHub Liberia provides graphic design, branding, website design and redesign, computer networking, database development, and IT support services.
Melchior Koba
A serial entrepreneur known for heading multiple businesses, he is the founder of A-Trader, a platform that aims to democratize investment by simplifying access to African markets and promoting savings for Tanzanian individuals.
Tanzanian entrepreneur and computer scientist Andrew Tesha (photo), who holds a Bachelor's degree in Information Technology from Southern Cross University (2008), is the CEO of A-Trader Tanzania. This startup, established in 2016, digitizes African capital markets, facilitating the trading of shares on African stock exchanges for investors of all levels.
A-Trader's AI-powered platform, accessible via any mobile device, offers savings and investment services, including automated investment advice. The company's mission is to foster a culture of savings and investment in Tanzania and throughout Africa, enabling the middle class to achieve their financial goals.
In recognition of its impact, A-Trader was awarded the prize for best young startup at the seventh AfricArena Grand Summit in December 2023.
Tesha, a serial entrepreneur, also co-founded (in 2018) and directs Place Listed, a platform that aids in the discovery of dining, lodging, and travel locations for both local and international users. In 2008, he established The Green Thumb Initiative, a company that provides farmers with the resources to produce organic crops, access the value chain, and significantly increase their household income and regional agricultural productivity.
In 2010, Tesha co-founded Mpakasi, a portal for African entrepreneurs and managers. Six years later, in 2016, he also founded Andrea Consulting, a consultancy that develops business strategies and markets for startups specializing in innovative technology, mobile solutions, and agribusiness.
Melchior Koba