TECH STARS (1007)
As an artist, he was usually frustrated with how hard it was to book beauty services for music videos. So, he founded TausiApp, a platform designed to provide easy, transparent access to personalized beauty services.
Kenyan tech entrepreneur and artist, Amos Kimani (photo), is the founder and CEO of TausiApp, a platform that connects individuals seeking personalized beauty services with professional beauticians. The app, launched in 2021, is named after the Swahili word for peacock, ‘Tausi’.
TausiApp uses advanced artificial intelligence algorithms to provide personalized recommendations and optimize service matching. The idea for the app was born out of Kimani’s personal experiences while filming music videos, where he found it challenging to book beauty services on set.
“TausiApp identified a gap in the market for convenient and on-demand beauty services, especially for freelance beauticians who faced challenges in reaching clients efficiently,” Kimani said in February 2024. He also highlighted the plight of salon-employed beauticians who often earn less than 30% commissions, despite being the main attraction for clients.
As of today, TausiApp has served over 20,000 customers, recruited more than 6,000 beauticians, and completed over 13,000 transactions. In early February 2024, Kimani was recognized with the global Underdog Tech Award, a prestigious accolade for technology entrepreneurs.
Kimani, a graduate of Kenyatta University with a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Development, also holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Operations Management from the University of Nairobi. In 2023, he was a finalist in the Start-Up World Cup.
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As a social entrepreneur, she is committed to bridging the gender gap in technology.
Barbara Mutabazi (photo) is a Ugandan social entrepreneur working to bridge the technological gender divide across Africa as the founder of Women in Technology Uganda (WITU). Established in 2014, WITU empowers young and underprivileged women in Uganda through hands-on training, resources, and employment prospects to foster tech innovators, leaders, and entrepreneurs contributing to local and regional economies.
WITU imparts diverse professional, commercial, and digital skillsets, encouraging participants to initiate revenue-generating activities and develop comprehensive business plans by analyzing community needs. The organization further promotes collaboration among its members, aiming to nurture a culture of creativity and achievement while supporting startup growth in Uganda.
Mutabazi is also a co-founder and director of Hive Colab, a hub promoting experimental concepts with significant societal and economic impacts in Uganda. This initiative aims to establish a conducive environment for innovation and excellence, thereby enhancing the success rate of emerging businesses.
A graduate of Makerere University in 2011 with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Computing, Mutabazi continued her education at the University of Salford, England, earning a Master's Degree in Information Systems Management in 2018. Her extensive experience includes serving on the Board of Directors of AfriLabs Foundation from 2014 to 2017 and acting as the National Director of the SPRING Accelerator in Uganda from 2014 to 2017. Additionally, Mutabazi served as an associate at the British Council's Business Creation Service from 2018 to 2021, providing business development support to more than 50 creative entrepreneurs throughout Africa.
For her efforts, she received the Anita Borg Institute's Change Agent Award in 2014 and became a Fellow of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Mandela Washington program in 2017.
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In line with its mission to help startups and entrepreneurs grow, Bamako IHub, a Mali-based innovation hub, offers a range of resources including financial support, coworking spaces, and R&D laboratories.
Bamako IHub, a Malian incubator, is dedicated to fostering a conducive ecosystem for technology start-ups and green industry companies in Mali and Africa. Established by the non-governmental organization Mali Folkecenter Nyetaa, the tech hub aims to equip startups, entrepreneurs, and aspiring entrepreneurs with the necessary tools, expertise, and training for their growth.
The incubator provides a coworking and networking space, fablabs for R&D, and a range of programs including pre-incubation, incubation, acceleration, and financial support for seed-stage start-ups. Our mission “is to provide startups, entrepreneurs, and aspiring entrepreneurs, primarily in the tech and green sectors, with the essential tools for their growth, the expertise and training they need to develop their businesses and themselves, as well as technical and financial support tools tailored to the needs of project leaders and the African entrepreneurial and financial ecosystem in general, and Mali in particular,” it informs on its website.
Bootstrap-Mali, the hub’s pre-incubation program, offers a three-month professional technical training course introducing tech entrepreneurship and the green industry in Mali to students, start-ups, and entrepreneurs.
BoostUp-Mali, the incubator’s incubation and acceleration program, assists tech and green startups and entrepreneurs in structuring their startups, organizing their initiatives, building their teams, and accessing the market and initial financing.
Through its BuildUp-Mali program, Bamako IHub provides members access to experimentation labs, coworking and collaboration spaces, and devices with pro versions of sought-after software in the sector. The incubator’s fablab offers a range of devices, including 3D and PVC card printers, and state-of-the-art work tools such as computers and high-speed internet.
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Through his company Hilt Technology Engineering, Sissoko provides consulting and technology solutions to help businesses of all sizes digitize their operations and stay ahead of the curve.
Ibrahima Sissoko (photo) is a Franco-Malian serial entrepreneur with a passion for driving digital transformation across industries. As the founder and CEO of Hilt Technology Engineering, Sissoko has been providing digital services since 2016, helping clients develop technological projects and digitize their businesses.
Hilt Technology Engineering, with its team of experts, offers a variety of services including technology and innovation audits, consulting, and customized training programs. The company specializes in blockchain, application development, artificial intelligence, and data.
Sissoko, an active contributor to the Francophone business community, has been serving as the President of the Economic Intelligence Commission of the Groupement du Patronat Francophone (GPF) since January 2022. The GPF is a business network present in 88 member states and governments of the Francophonie.
The serial entrepreneur holds a Master’s degree in Management and Digital Transformation from EPITA, a degree in Computer Engineering from the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers (CNAM) in France, and a diploma in Accounting from Harvard Business School Online.
In addition to Hilt Technology Engineering, he has founded several other ventures. In 2019, he established Growth Ground, a London, Paris, and Dubai-based consulting firm specializing in growth strategy and finance. In 2020, he also launched Talent Factory Paris, a network of IT professionals offering product engineering services.
The same year, he co-founded NamX (New Automotive Mobility Exploration) with Faouzi Annajah and Thomas De Lussac. NamX, which designs hydrogen-powered vehicles with rechargeable capsules, showcased its prototype at the Paris Motor Show in October 2022, attracting over 400,000 visitors.
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Envisage Incubators is committed to guiding innovators from ideation to commercial success. With a network of mentors and resources, it provides a nurturing environment for Rwandan startups.
Established in 2019, Envisage Incubators supports early-stage agritech startups in Rwanda, guiding them from initial concepts to revenue generation. The incubator's mission aligns with the broader goal of achieving sustainable food security for Africa's growing population.
Led by Patrice Habinshuti (COO), Vincent Forsman, Victor Lindahl, Ronny Eriksson, and Deo Mutambuka, Envisage provides dedicated workspace and resources to its startups. A network of mentors, organizations, universities, and experts helps entrepreneurs find solutions and navigate challenges.
The team, composed of young Finnish and Rwandan students and entrepreneurs, fosters Rwanda's development through incubation programs. Coworking spaces facilitate collaboration, experience sharing, and idea validation, fostering a supportive community.
Envisage equips startups with the skills and resources needed to turn their concepts into reality. Its training programs help them become problem-solvers and efficient doers while capacity-building workshops aim to make them bankable.
Thanks to its strategic partnerships, it provides access to machinery and tools for prototyping and product improvement, enabling continuous innovation.
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A computer scientist, he aims to democratize digital skills by making the latest technological advances accessible to novices, while providing practical advice on how to navigate this ever-changing world.
In Rwanda, Cishahayo Songa Achille (photo) is a software engineer and tech entrepreneur who founded Techinika, an edtech firm established in 2020. The company aims to educate the general public, particularly those not versed in technology, about current advancements and practical applications within the field. By doing so, Techinika seeks to empower individuals and organizations with essential digital skills.
As Managing Director since March 2023, Achille oversees daily operations and leads the Techinika team during regular gatherings. His responsibilities include ensuring the realization of Techinika's goal of imparting contemporary digital knowledge across various sectors.
Achille obtained a high school diploma in computer networking from the Integrated Polytechnic Regional College (IPRC) in Kigali in 2019. Currently, he continues his education in information technology at IPRC, working towards earning an advanced diploma.
In January 2024, Achille joined forces with others to establish the African Soft Skills Organization, which focuses on enhancing self-confidence among technical students in Rwanda and throughout Africa by developing their professional abilities. Additionally, he serves as a full-stack engineer at Progress MiH, providing financial support for projects aimed at achieving corporate objectives.
Beyond these roles, Achille maintains a presence online as both a blogger and a YouTuber. Previously, he held positions at other technology firms, including serving as Technical Team Leader at Andela and Program Coordinator at Afflatus Africa in 2022.
Furthermore, Achille has been invited to speak at events like the She Can Code School in 2023 and served as Co-Organizer and Chairman of the Rise and Talk Gavel Club debate competition at the IPRC in Kigali. Moreover, he shared insights into artificial intelligence on Rwandan television channel TV10.
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Through a diverse range of programs, from technology camps to the acceleration of small and medium-sized enterprises, Women EdTech offers a fertile ground for the growth of women-led ideas and businesses.
Women EdTech, a digital training center, incubator, and accelerator for women, was established in 2017 in Benin to promote the inclusion of girls and women in the digital sector.
Led by CEO Elodie Akotossode Padonou, the center's primary objective is to assist girls and women in enhancing their skills and quickly developing new ones, as well as providing them with more opportunities for business growth. By 2030, Women EdTech aims to create 300,000 jobs and support 30,000 women entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Women EdTech offers a variety of programs, including training and insertion programs, technology camps, and an academy. It also provides incubation programs such as the Women Developers Academy, Fempreneures, and DigiPreneurs to assist women in developing their businesses.
As an accelerator, Women EdTech offers a Business Growth program, which is a 3-month SME acceleration program. This program provides specialized support, networking, partnership opportunities, and resources to women who run e-commerce-focused SMEs. The program aims to help women in Benin's entrepreneurial ecosystem increase their revenues and visibility through digital tools, as well as scale up, unlock their export potential, and access financing.
Since its inception, Women EdTech has trained over 500 women and established more than 100 businesses. It has also accelerated over 100 businesses thanks to its team of experts made of 80% women.
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A serial entrepreneur, he offers technological and social solutions to transform communities, businesses, and individuals. He also invests in young entrepreneurs with high-potential business ideas.
Senam Beheton (photo) is a Beninese entrepreneur and investor. The co-founder and CEO of TEKXL, a startup studio offering incubation, acceleration, and venture capital, he is passionate about transforming ideas into scalable ventures. Founded in 2014, TEKXL provides budding entrepreneurs with comprehensive support, from technology and training to workspace and funding, to launch competitive businesses.
Driven by a strong educational background (degrees in political science, international development, and educational technology), Beheton has been a serial entrepreneur for over 20 years, founding and investing in more than 35 companies and organizations, mostly in the tech sector.
"Investing in and supporting early-stage entrepreneurs in French-speaking West Africa is essential to fuel our region's development," he emphasizes.
Beheton's impact extends beyond TEKXL. In 2009, he established EtriLabs, an innovation ecosystem fostering collaboration on solutions for national and international challenges. He also co-founded Kudizy, a cloud-based financial management tool empowering African SMEs with access to financial data.
Actively involved in the broader entrepreneurial landscape, Beheton serves as a board member of Afric'innov, an association supporting entrepreneurship structures in French-speaking Africa. He is also co-founder and managing partner of Noru Capital, a venture capital firm investing in West African tech companies.
Furthermore, he champions inclusivity through Intrepid Entrepreneurs, an initiative supporting women and young innovators in Africa.
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With a six-month venture-building program and tailored incubation and acceleration initiatives, Betacube supports start-ups at every stage of their growth, fostering innovation, job creation, and economic growth in Africa and beyond.
Founded in 2019, Tunisian venture builder Betacube is fueling Africa's entrepreneurial spirit, empowering young minds to turn ideas into thriving businesses. Led by CEO Amel Saidane (photo, center), the pan-African firm fosters a collaborative environment where "creativity flourishes and possibilities are limitless," Saidane says.
Betacube's mission extends beyond borders. It connects young entrepreneurs to global networks, promoting opportunity, job creation, and growth across the continent. Collaboration lies at the heart of their approach, bringing founders and investors together to drive innovation.
Their offerings cater to various stages of a startup's journey. The six-month venture-building program provides comprehensive support, preparing entrepreneurs for investment and accepting up to eight startups per cohort. Additionally, customized incubation and acceleration programs offer webinars and personal coaching sessions.
Operating in Ethiopia, Senegal, and Tanzania, Betacube has supported 200 startups, including Bako Motors, a leading electric vehicle manufacturer. Their reach extends beyond Africa, with an export to Saudi Arabia in September 2023. To date, it has facilitated over 500 company presentations and raised $2.085 million in funding.
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Boasting over 20 years of experience in IT and telecommunications projects, he will support African institutions and governments in the successful implementation of their digital and development projects.
Wilgon Berthold Tsibo, an entrepreneur and IT specialist from the Republic of Congo, has been appointed Deputy Managing Director of Tactis in Africa. Although he assumed the position in December 2023, his appointment was officially announced on February 15, 2024. Tactis is a French consulting firm that specializes in telecommunications, digital planning, engineering, and the digital transformation of territories. With subsidiaries in Casablanca and Kigali, it offers its expertise to public and private actors –as an assistant or business expert– in sectors like telecoms infrastructures, the development of smart territories, private networks, information systems, and the transformation of organizations operating in the telecoms sector.
As Deputy Managing Director - Africa, Wilgon Berthold Tsibo's mission is to assist African governments and institutions in the successful implementation of their digital development projects. His approach is characterized by a strategic economic vision and multi-partner collaboration aimed at promoting inclusive, quality services for states, citizens, and businesses.
Tsibo is also the founder and CEO of Berthold Consulting Management and Support (BCMS), a consulting firm specializing in key areas such as ICT products and services, project and organization management, ICT and project management training, site construction and management (Telecom and FTTx), and general trade. He holds master's degrees in computer science applied to business management obtained in 2010 from the International University of Tunis, project and organization management obtained in 2013 from the Institut Supérieur d'Informatique et de Management de Bamako, and business administration obtained in 2020 from Edinburgh Business School in Scotland. He is also a doctoral student in operations management and supervision at the Catholic University of San Antonio de Murcia.
He began his career in the telecoms sector with Ericsson, where he held the position of Operations Director, managing MTN's rollouts in Congo between 2004 and 2009. He then joined the Azur Group as Project Director with Siteg Telecom from 2010 to 2012, and then as Technical and Operations Director for Azur Congo. In 2012, he was promoted to Technical and Operations Director of Groupe Azur, with responsibility for 4 countries (Congo, Gabon, Central African Republic, and France), where he remained until 2017. Between 2021 and 2023, he was a Senior Manager at Smart Africa, leading the strategy, operationalization, and expansion of digital infrastructure projects in 39 member states.
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Bridging the gap between academic research and commercial application, the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) stands as a key driver of South Africa's technological transformation. By nurturing and propelling bold ideas to market, the agency plays a vital role in the country's innovation ecosystem.
South Africa's Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), a public entity, aims to bridge the innovation gap between research and development by universities, science councils, public entities, and the private sector. Headed by Acting CEO Patrick Krappie, TIA's mission is to stimulate economic growth and strengthen industrial competitiveness through the practical application of cutting-edge knowledge and technologies.
TIA offers a diverse range of services and programs, including support for research and development, assistance in commercializing innovations, and the Technology Station program, which fosters collaboration between industry and academia. The Technology Station program provides a variety of services, such as testing and analysis, prototyping, consulting, technology audit, feasibility study, process and product improvement, applied development, engineering and design, and research and development. Additionally, TIA supports the commercialization of innovations by offering funding opportunities and advice to entrepreneurs, helping them turn their ideas into tangible commercial successes.
TIA's vision is to be a world-class innovation agency that supports and enables technological innovation to achieve socio-economic benefits for South Africa through leveraging strategic partnerships. The agency's mission is to enhance South Africa's global competitiveness and deliver socio-economic value through technological innovation across sectors of the economy using appropriately structured financial and non-financial interventions, development and maintenance of human capacity for innovation, and building a culture of innovation.
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By combining cutting-edge technology and philanthropy, the entrepreneur is revolutionizing not only the insurance industry but also the way surplus funds are used to support important causes.
Sumarie Greybe (photo), a South African insurance actuary, co-founded Naked Insurance in 2016 with partners Alex Thomson and Ernest North. The company, which leverages artificial intelligence, aims to revolutionize the insurance sector by offering a fully digital process, from underwriting to claims, to customers. Quotes can be obtained in 90 seconds, and customers can underwrite instantly without speaking to an agent.
Naked Insurance's liability insurance starts at ZAR 50 (approximately $2.50), which is several times cheaper than plans offered by other insurers, according to Greybe. The company is structured to redistribute surplus funds, resulting from claims payments below annual forecasts, to causes selected by customers, encompassing a wide range of initiatives, from early childhood development programs to efforts to improve animal welfare.
Greybe, who graduated from the University of Pretoria with a Bachelor's degree in Actuarial Science in 1994, built a career as one of South Africa's leading short-term insurance actuaries. She served as actuarial advisor to many of South Africa's large insurers before co-founding Naked Insurance. In 2011, Greybe's firm, Quindiem Consulting, was acquired by EY, where she became a partner and head of EY Africa's Actuarial Services Short Term Insurance Practice.
Naked Insurance's customer-centric focus and commitment to sustainability are key to its success. The company's approach to philanthropy aligns with its mission to improve the community and the environment. By returning excess funds to causes chosen by customers, Naked Insurance aims to foster a sense of shared purpose and responsibility.
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Committed to boosting digital entrepreneurship and bridging the digital divide, Kinshasa-based incubator Nguvu Tech is nurturing innovative talent to shape the future of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Founded in Goma in 2020, Nguvu Tech aims to empower young Congolese by fostering digital entrepreneurship and nurturing creativity. Led by CEO Robin Businde, the incubator offers a variety of programs to cultivate tech skills and entrepreneurial spirit.
Nguvu Tech offers training, workshops, and coaching in diverse fields like education, technology, and entrepreneurship. These programs, available online and in-person, provide young people across the DRC and Africa with skills and support to develop their ideas.
Beyond training, the incubator assists startups with website and app development, graphic design, and IT systems. This comprehensive approach helps young entrepreneurs navigate the digital landscape and contribute to the DRC's economic and social development.
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With his public international law training, he is disrupting the African legal landscape by developing innovative digital solutions that make quality legal services more accessible to citizens on the continent.
Daniel Bobasha (photo) is a multifaceted professional hailing from the Democratic Republic of Congo with experience in the fields of entrepreneurship, writing, and banking. A graduate in international public law from the Protestant University of Congo, Bobasha is the founder and CEO of Mibeko Tech, a legaltech startup that is revolutionizing the legal sector in Africa.
Mibeko Tech, under Bobasha's leadership, has designed and developed digital solutions to cater to the specific needs of the legal industry in Africa. Not only is the company a pioneer in this regard, but it also serves as a hub and think tank dedicated to fostering the growth of the legaltech sector across the continent. One of the notable achievements of Mibeko Tech is the development of an app that seamlessly connects Congolese individuals with 135 qualified lawyers, enhancing access to legal services.
In addition to its innovative technological solutions, Mibeko Tech offers a range of online courses covering various subjects, such as legal watch design and the legal challenges of innovation. The startup has also facilitated the purchase of over 28 legal documents through its platform.
Bobasha's entrepreneurial endeavors extend beyond the realm of legaltech. Mibeko Tech has launched #FundaYe, an initiative aimed at preventing and addressing sexual harassment and gender-based violence. This platform not only empowers women by providing them with essential knowledge about their rights and avenues for support but also streamlines the process of lodging complaints. Its CEO is, since January 2024, a banker at Trust Merchant Bank. Before this, he served as the head of digital banking products at EquityBCDC, a part of the Equity Group, a leading Kenyan banking entity with a strong presence across 10 African countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Melchior Koba