TECH STARS

TECH STARS (960)

At the head of a neobank, he helps entrepreneurs develop their businesses by providing access to collateral-free commercial loans and several innovative payment methods.

Nigerian innovator and entrepreneur, Samuel Eze (photo), is the CEO and founder of OurPass Business Banking, a global neobank offering comprehensive banking, payment, and business management tools for businesses of all sizes. Initially launched in 2021 as a one-click payment platform to address the issue of abandoned shopping carts in online businesses, OurPass has evolved into a company providing end-to-end solutions that foster business growth. The company, backed by investors such as Techstars, Tekedia Capital, Berrywood Capital, and Volition Capital, aims to create a world without borders for successful businesses.

OurPass Business Banking, licensed as a microfinance bank by the Central Bank of Nigeria, offers businesses access to collateral-free commercial loans. It provides merchants with the ability to generate payment links via email and SMS for instant payment, and also offers offline payment collection through point-of-sale terminals.

Eze, a graduate of the University of Ilorin in Nigeria with a bachelor’s degree in electrical and electronic engineering, completed an innovation course at Leeds University in London in 2019. He is also the founder of Parkcrowdy, a parking app, where he served as CEO from 2019 to 2020.

He began his career in 2015 as an IT engineering trainee at Acti-Tech Ltd. He later worked as an IT trainee at Huawei West Africa in 2016 and served as a Key Account Manager at consumer goods company Procter & Gamble from 2017 to 2018.

In 2019, Eze and his parking app, Parkcrowdy, won several awards and competitions, including the Digital Africa Conference and Exhibition by Digital Africa and the Wennovation Hub Demo Day. Parkcrowdy was also recognized as one of the top 10 best African mobility start-ups at the Bosch Demo Day organized by Founders Factory Africa.

Melchior Koba

Posted On lundi, 22 janvier 2024 11:47 Written by

Dz Hadina Tech is a key player in the field of innovation in Algeria and Africa. Through its programs and its support for startups, it contributes to the economic recovery of its country and the promotion of digital entrepreneurship.

Dz Hadina Tech, a digital incubator based in Algeria, fosters innovation across various fields by empowering young entrepreneurs with the tools and guidance to launch and grow their startups.

Founded by Chaouche Adlane, Benamar Abdelfatah, and Abdelkarim Chelali, the incubator currently sees Chelali serve as its managing director. Chelali, a graduate of the Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales de Koléa specializing in finance and accounting, brings additional experience as a co-founder and finance and communications manager of AFPESS, an Algerian foundation that promotes entrepreneurship. 

Dz Hadina Tech's comprehensive support system equips budding businesses with technical assistance, training sessions, expert advice, and dedicated mentors who help navigate potential pitfalls. The incubator's key initiatives include the Dz Excellence Camp and the Open Innovation Program.

Dz Excellence Camp serves as a national platform for young entrepreneurs, developers, and designers to hone their skills in innovation, creativity, and originality across diverse sectors within Algeria.

The Open Innovation Program facilitates collaboration and business partnerships between innovators, emerging companies, and established corporations. Utilizing challenge-based projects, the program provides vital support and guidance for innovative ventures, ultimately accelerating research and development efforts for participating companies.

Available statistics point to the incubator's impact, with over 300 startup applications received, more than 8 successful launches, over 20 professional opportunities created, and a current cohort of 15 incubated companies. These achievements illustrate Dz Hadina Tech's significant contribution to fostering innovation both within Algeria and across the African continent.

Melchior Koba

Posted On vendredi, 19 janvier 2024 15:56 Written by

A serial entrepreneur, she is behind a startup that helps organizations design, launch, and manage innovative initiatives such as hackathons and creative competitions.

Sabrine Assem, a seasoned Egyptian entrepreneur with a passion for fostering innovation in Africa and smaller organizations, leads Untap, a platform democratizing access to talent and innovative solutions.

After graduating in 2010 with a Bachelor's degree in Innovation Management and Information Systems from the German University in Cairo, Assem further strengthened her expertise with a Master's in Information Systems and Digital Innovation from Warwick Business School in 2018, some two years after founding Untap.

Untap, founded by Assem in 2016, empowers organizations to manage diverse initiatives like innovation platforms, citizen engagement projects, open innovation challenges, hackathons, startup programs, creative competitions, and even scholarship and student competitions. Its core mission lies in uncovering valuable solutions, ideas, and talent.

"We created [a] software that enables organizations to easily and quickly plan, launch, and manage online innovation challenges, creative contests, hackathons, grants, scholarships, and anything that requires application handling," explained Assem in a 2022 interview. 

Before Untap, Assem co-founded and led SolverMine (2011-2015), an online platform focused on open innovation in the Middle East. Her career journey began in 2010 as a teaching assistant at the German University in Cairo, followed by stints at Nutty Scientists (2013) as a management consultant and eSpace (2013) as a business development manager. From 2014 to 2016, she honed her entrepreneurial skills as a consultant and researcher at the German-Arab Chamber of Industry and Commerce (AHK Egypt).

Melchior Koba

Posted On vendredi, 19 janvier 2024 12:01 Written by

Softstart Business and Technology Incubator (Softstart BTI) provides a comprehensive environment for nurturing the growth of innovative digital companies on an international scale. Its support ecosystem goes beyond traditional incubation with its focus on tailored mentoring, expert advice, and robust networking opportunities.

Softstart Business and Technology Incubator (Softstart BTI), established in 2006, has carved a niche for itself as a leading technology business incubator in Johannesburg, South Africa. Born from the merger of Softstart Trust and Bodibeng Technology Incubator, it strives to empower digital entrepreneurs, aiming to become the top provider of incubation services in the region.

Backed by prominent institutions like the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), University of Pretoria (UP), Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), and the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA), Softstart BTI fosters innovation and international competitiveness within its portfolio of digital businesses.

Its comprehensive support system features dedicated incubation space, alongside expert consulting and mentoring services. Clustering and networking opportunities further bolster budding firms, enabling them to thrive in a collaborative environment.

It also goes beyond simply providing physical space. Mentorship, coaching, training, and financial management are just a few of the diverse services offered. Access to resources and guidance from like-minded peers within the incubator empowers these startups to reach their full commercial potential.

Over 60 black-owned businesses operate within its physical center, while a network of over 100 off-campus and virtual ventures benefit from its services. Additional support and sponsorship come from the SEDA Technology Program (STP), solidifying its role in fostering South Africa's digital entrepreneurship landscape.

Melchior Koba

Posted On vendredi, 19 janvier 2024 11:08 Written by

With the technology revolution quickly advancing across Africa, there is a growing number of startup support structures fueling that advance. Team@Solutions, a Cameroon-based incubator, is one of those structures. 

Cameroon-based incubator Team@Solutions, specializing in new information and communication technologies (NICT), is a product of a partnership between German organization Brücke e.V and the International Association for Development and the Environment in the 21st Century (AIDE21). The organization, led by coordinator Touna Onguene Philippe, supports startups by providing a nurturing environment and professional guidance, aiding entrepreneurs in digitalizing their structures. 

Team@Solutions operates in various sectors including trade, services, industry, agriculture, livestock, health, logistics, education, good governance, infrastructure, and renewable energies. It designs and implements IoT, big data, AI, and cloud solutions tailored to the African context. It has also established production and processing units to encourage local production and processing of raw materials, including agricultural products.

The incubator promotes cooperation, exchange, and knowledge sharing, offering coworking spaces, certified training courses in NICT and mechanical engineering technologies, and job opportunities in Germany for IT developers and mechanical engineers.

Supported by the German international development cooperation agency, GIZ, Team@Solutions has assisted several startups such as Health Map, which has established a hospital IT system to facilitate patient care, E-Gadget & IO-Tech, a builder of electronic equipment with AI and IoT capabilities, and Katika, a fintech firm.

Melchior Koba

Posted On jeudi, 18 janvier 2024 13:42 Written by

Confronted with the challenge of high international export costs faced by African firms, Matthew Davey established TUNL as a solution.

South African entrepreneur Matthew Davey (photo), a University of Cape Town Civil Engineering graduate and Oxford University Geography and Environment PhD holder, is the co-founder of startup TUNL. Established in 2020 by Davey and COO Craig Lowman, TUNL aims to address export challenges for African manufacturers, designers, and retailers. The platform provides express courier options with global carriers to nearly all countries and has introduced TUNL Economy, a cost-effective export courier service from Africa.

Davey stated in December 2023 that cross-border shipping in Africa leads to an estimated annual business loss of $50 billion. Despite the presence of major carriers, high-quality products like textiles and camera accessories can be priced out of the market due to steep shipping costs. TUNL partners with these carriers, such as UPS and FedEx, to negotiate favorable rates and offer significant savings to merchants, with SMEs saving up to 50-75%.

In December 2023, TUNL secured $1 million in pre-seed financing from investors including Founders Factory, Digital Africa Ventures, E4E Africa, and Jozi Angels. This funding will facilitate the company's continued expansion in South Africa and preparation for entry into other African and emerging markets.

Before founding TUNL, Davey worked as a civil engineer for Jones & Wagener, a specialist engineering and scientific consultancy in South Africa, between 2013 and 2014. He served as an analyst with Sustainia, a consulting firm for companies and organizations, from January to June 2017. From August of the same year to February 2021, he was the managing director of Vesconite Bearings, a polymer bushings and wear materials manufacturer.

Melchior Koba

Posted On jeudi, 18 janvier 2024 13:19 Written by

With a goal to democratize investment in Africa, an innovative entrepreneur has integrated finance and technology to ease access to African markets.

Cameroonian tech entrepreneur Boum III Jr (photo), co-founder and CEO of fintech startup Daba, is on a mission to democratize investment in Africa. A graduate of Southern Polytechnic State University with a bachelor’s degree in computer science, Boum III Jr earned an MBA from HEC Paris and an entrepreneurship-focused MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business in 2021.

Daba, established in 2021 by Boum III Jr and Anthony Miclet, provides a unified investment platform aimed at facilitating high-quality investments in Africa for individuals and companies. With offices in the USA and Côte d’Ivoire, the company offers a more transparent, accessible, and efficient investment process.

In a 2022 interview, Boum III Jr outlined Daba’s ambitions, stating, “In the next five years, I envision Daba being the premier destination for any investor, whether an individual or an institutional investor when they want to start or manage their investments on the African continent.” He expressed a desire for Daba to have a significant presence in key African markets such as Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa, as well as emerging economies like Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal.

In addition to Daba, Boum III Jr founded Mbo’Wam in Atlanta in 2017, a platform offering hotel-style accommodations in apartments and private residences, primarily for business travellers. In 2020, He also co-founded Afrika Startup Lab, a non-profit organization supporting potential entrepreneurs.

Boum III Jr worked as a software engineer at Nasdaq eVestment, a Nasdaq division providing institutional investment data, analysis, and information on public and private markets, from 2015 to 2019. In 2022, he won the AFRICON pitch competition, earning a $10,000 prize.

Melchior Koba

Posted On mercredi, 17 janvier 2024 14:20 Written by

Kenya's ambitious Konza Technopolis project seeks to establish the East African nation as a leader in technology and innovation across the continent.

Kenya's Konza Technopolis, a sprawling project aiming to transform into a smart city, is betting on information technology (ICT) and innovation to propel the country to the forefront of Africa's tech scene.

Launched in 2012, the project has become a cornerstone of Kenya's Vision 2030 national development plan, with the government backing its development in partnership with the World Bank's International Finance Corporation.

It is led by John Paul Okwiri, a seasoned procurement and supply chain executive, through the Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA).

The project envisions a world-class city powered by a thriving ICT sector, robust infrastructure, and investor-friendly policies. It aims to attract businesses in outsourcing, software development, data centers, disaster recovery, call centers, manufacturing, and light assembly.

Konza Technopolis also fosters innovation through initiatives like the Jitume program, which equips young people with digital skills and access to services to leverage technology for job creation. In 2024, it will host the 41st world conference of IASP, a global network of innovation ecosystems.

The project has already generated 17,000 jobs and hosted events like the 2020 Africa Digital Influencer Awards (ADIA20). It was also recognized for excellence in smart city development at the 2023 Africa Public Sector Conference and Awards (APSCA).

Melchior Koba

Posted On mercredi, 17 janvier 2024 14:11 Written by

An impact entrepreneur, he has developed an application offering goods and services on credit, as part of his broader efforts to design technological solutions that simplify life for his compatriots.

Rwandan social impact entrepreneur Ignace Turatsinze, co-founder and co-CEO of PayingTone, has developed a marketplace that offers credit for products and services. A business administration graduate from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Turatsinze launched PayingTone with Brenda Munezero in 2021 to facilitate retail access across Africa.

We provide up to 200,000 RWF [approximately 143 euros], but only up to a third of the user’s income. Once the credit is in the PayingTone wallet, it can be spent with any of our network of merchants. We charge five percent interest,” Turatsinze explained in 2022.

In addition to PayingTone, in 2018, Turatsinze founded Netot Lab, a startup providing an electronic device for monitoring and managing LPGs, payment assistance for services, and a microcredit service.

Turatsinze’s career began in 2016 at New Media Communications of Rwanda as a marketing and public relations specialist. He later joined Women for Women International as a monitoring and evaluation consultant in 2017 and became the project coordinator of LEAPR Labs in 2018. In 2020, he was hired by i4SD as a program manager, and in 2021, he joined Spenn Technology as Head of Spenn Connect.

Turatsinze’s PayingTone participated in CcHub’s fintech incubation program and won second prize at the HangaPitch Fest in December 2022.

Melchior Koba

Posted On mardi, 16 janvier 2024 13:26 Written by

Through its training courses, activities, and programs, Bamako Incubateur supports young entrepreneurs in realizing innovative projects and creating diversified services in various digital sectors.

Bamako Incubateur, a startup incubator and accelerator project for young innovative companies, was launched in 2016 as an initiative of the Mali@venir community created by the NGO Groupe Eureka. The incubator aims to foster entrepreneurship and generate youth-led solutions to Mali’s challenges, providing a unique ecosystem of resources, inspiration, and collaborative opportunities for creative young Malians.

The activities of Bamako Incubateur encompass several areas. It promotes digital technology among children, women, and young people in urban and rural areas, as well as among the diaspora and migrants. It also facilitates the integration of digital technology in developing sectors, identifies and simplifies the creation of digital solutions, promotes youth employability, and offers financing opportunities for digital start-ups.

Bamako Incubateur provides training in JAVA programming technologies for young people, with the goal of training 10,000 developers over a decade. One of its notable programs, “GENESIS Startups MALI”, launched in 2017, equips young graduates with practical skills to significantly enhance their employability and success in the job market in the growth sectors of science, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

In 2018, the incubator launched a program, SENECIS, to support digital entrepreneurship, innovation, and the competitiveness of incubators and start-ups in Mali. This eight-month program teaches young students who have graduated or are about to graduate the fundamentals of entrepreneurship in the digital economy.

Bamako Incubateur has incubated several startups, including So-Dôkôtôrô, a Malian platform specializing in homecare services; BioBanque, a biotech start-up offering a computerized blood management system from donation to patient transfusion; and AgroMaliMarket, a web and mobile platform that connects agricultural producers with buyers.

Melchior Koba

Posted On lundi, 15 janvier 2024 17:31 Written by
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