TECH STARS (960)
TOogueda strives towards the creation of an entrepreneurial ecosystem conducive to growth in Guinea. It supports the emergence of a new generation of entrepreneurs, therefore contributing to the creation of added-value and decent jobs as well as wealth generation.
TOogueda is a platform focused on the development of start-ups, and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in Guinea. Founded in 2018, it is led by Fanta Diaby Sidimé, a Guinean-born investor and entrepreneur. It supports entrepreneurs, which boosts the real economy, to help foster the sustainable growth of their businesses through innovation.
The organization offers a range of solutions to support business growth. These include acceleration programs such as Boost, which helps entrepreneurs structure and solidify their business models, and facilitates networking. This program has already supported 53 companies and is currently monitoring 10 entrepreneurs.
TOogueda also facilitates access to business financing. In partnership with financing players both within and outside Guinea, it offers tailored solutions such as grants, recoverable advances, or simple loans. To date, it has financed over 100 companies in sectors like technology and the digital, the cultural industry, crafts, tourism, and catering, among others.
The organization has set up a platform, called NOos, for the companies it supports. This platform is structured as a community of creators and entrepreneurs from various sectors of the Guinean economy, offering an environment and essential resources to guide its members towards success.
It also provides entrepreneurs and business leaders with coworking services, individual offices, brainstorming or meeting rooms, and even relaxation areas to boost productivity. TOogueda also offers event space for conferences, workshops, exhibitions, presentations, seminars, and networking evenings.
Melchior Koba
The trained computer engineer has extensive experience in predictive analysis. His company Cognira helps wholesalers and retailers manage and optimize their promotions.
Hatem Sellami (photo) is a Tunisian computer scientist and tech entrepreneur. He graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1995 with a PhD in Computer Engineering, and from the Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business in 1996 with a Master's in Finance and Technology Management.
In 2015, he founded Cognira, an artificial intelligence company of which he is the CEO. Based in Georgia (USA), Cognira provides retailers and wholesalers with solutions dedicated to promotions management. It aims to simplify collaboration, analyze past results, and implement more innovative, more effective promotions.
By leveraging artificial intelligence and data science, his company designed PromoAI, an innovative solution that enables clients to plan, execute, analyze, and optimize promotions. Cognira promises clients an average of 8% increase in sales, 25% reduction in inventory waste, and a 15% margin increase. It has received several awards and distinctions. For instance, in 2019 and 2020, it was recognized, by Inc. Magazine as one of the fastest-growing private companies in the United States. In 2020, 2021, and 2022, the Financial Times also recognized it in the same category.
"Our efforts at Cognira to develop and foster a culture that provides value to our customers and our determination to bring innovation to Promotion Management are proving to be at the forefront of our success," said Hatem Sellami in March 2022 when the Financial Times announced Cognira as one of the fastest-growing companies of 2022 in the Americas.
Before Cognira, Hatem Sellami co-founded Predictix, a consulting firm specializing in predictive analytics, in 2005. Before the company was acquired in 2014 by IT company Infor, he grew its sales to over $20 million.
His professional career began in 1997 at Retek, a company specializing in retail forecasting, where he was a data scientist and head of demand forecasting until 2005.
Melchior Koba
Through its coaching program, coworking space, training, and mentoring among other things, Kobo Hub creates a favorable environment conducive to the growth of young businesses and startups in the region.
Founded in 2018 by Sidonie Latere, a Congolese serial entrepreneur, Kobo Hub is a startup accelerator based in DR Congo. It aims to accelerate the emergence and growth of local entrepreneurs with impactful projects.
The accelerator notably provides support to innovative entrepreneurs and companies with impactful solutions for African populations. It also provides entrepreneurs with a coworking space to enable them to work with others and grow their network. The well-equipped space features training and conference rooms for hire.
Through its Kobo Boost program, it offers training and mentorship programs to young startups and companies that need it. It also supports project leaders by providing a network of multi-disciplinary experts, and access to the skills, resources, and infrastructure essential to the success and growth of their projects.
Kobo Hub has a network of over 50 investors and more than 30 active mentors. It has already raised over $90,000 for accelerated start-ups and has access to over 50 entrepreneurs, incubators, and companies. As an accelerator, it has developed over four educational programs and organizes over 25 events a year. Its partners include the DR Congo Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Organisation internationale de la francophonie and the Agence française de développement.
Some of its notable programs include Kobo Art, a 10-month incubation/acceleration program funded by the French Embassy to support entrepreneurs in the cultural and creative industries.
The accelerator has also developed a fintech solution, KobooPay, which enables e-tailers to generate a single-use or open-ended payment link. The link enables payment to be made by credit card, regardless of geographical location, or by mobile money. It also has an agent network that allows e-tailers to withdraw the funds received in cash.
Melchior Koba
After several years working for major UK and South African companies, he founded a digital health startup in his home country. He is supported by Founders Factory Africa and Google for Startups.
Njabulo Skhosana (photo) is a South African entrepreneur and versatile professional. He co-founded HealthDart, a digital health startup of which he is the CEO.
The tech entrepreneur holds a bachelor's in pharmacology from the University of Liverpool (2008), a master's in international business from the University of Sheffield (2010), and a master's in international development, public policy and management from the University of Manchester (2013).
His healthech startup, founded in 2021, aims to make healthcare accessible and affordable for everyone. Its eponymous platform makes it easy for South Africans to find nearby nurses, doctors, and pharmacies to get the care they need. The startup aims to develop a leading healthcare platform that sets the standards for quality in the digital age. For that purpose, it offers affordable hospitalization plans to ensure comprehensive coverage in case of unforeseen medical emergencies.
Backed by Founders Factory Africa, a technology investor that supports pan-African early-stage founders, the company has delivered over 2,000 medicines and carried out more than 1,500 medical consultations. It was selected as one of 25 African start-ups for the Google for Startups Black Founders Fund 2023.
"[...] Our goal and current efforts revolve around streamlining how patients access healthcare, particularly primary healthcare, anchored around the pharmacy as the future of integrated primary healthcare," explained Njabulo Skhosana in August 2023.
The latter entered the professional world, in 2008, by joining the food and beverage company HJ Heinz as a quality control chemist. In 2009, he worked, as a claims administrator, for financial and legal firm Fairpoint. In 2011, he was hired by health insurance company Bupa as a healthcare service delivery adviser. In 2013, Deloitte recruited him as a manager of strategy and operations. Three years later, he became Chief of Staff to the CEO of Discovery Health, the healthcare arm of Discovery Ltd. He held this position until 2020.
Melchior Koba
Kenya: SwahiliBox encourages collaboration, learning, and the development of technological solutions
Through its technology-focused programs, training, and services, SwahiliBox stimulates local innovation and helps address the technological and social challenges facing the Kenyan and wider East African community.
Based in Mombasa, Kenya, SwahiliBox is a space dedicated to technology co-creation. It aims to empower people by stimulating innovation through networking, training, mentoring, and cooperation. The space brings together a diverse set of skills to share knowledge, concepts, and impactful solutions to local and global challenges.
Headed by Ahmed Mohamed Maawy, a seasoned tech professional and entrepreneur, SwahiliBox promotes creative thinking by creating a framework conducive to the emergence of innovative ideas and the design of innovative solutions. It organizes incubation programs for online entrepreneurs and also sets up acceleration programs during which it offers funding opportunities and strategic advice to start-ups wishing to expand.
Its comprehensive training courses cover a wide range of both technological and business topics. They equip learners with practical skills, sectoral expertise, and in-depth knowledge, enabling them to stand out in today's competitive environment.
In addition to its training, incubation, and acceleration initiatives, SwahiliBox also offers its software development and game design skills to companies. Its team has in-depth expertise in creating tailor-made solutions perfectly suited to the specific needs of every business.
The incubation center also provides data analysis solutions to enable companies to gain valuable business insights, make the right decisions, and optimize their processes for sustainable growth. It also offers UI/UX design and digital marketing services.
To date, SwahiliBox has completed 129 projects and satisfied 158 customers. Having built a community of 1,800 members, it has signed partnerships with several institutions and organizations, including TechBridge Invest, Ushahidi, The Indigo Trust, Seacom, iHub, Camara Education, X-TEAM, and Sote Hub.
Melchior Koba
The tech entrepreneur launched his startup, BezoMoney, while going through MEST Africa’s support program. Through the said startup, he provides digital financial products and services to the youth and unbanked individuals.
Ghanaian-born Mubarak Sumaila (photo) is the co-founder and CEO of start-up BezoMoney. A graduate of the University for Development Studies, where he earned a BSc in Biotechnology in 2017, he launched BezoMoney, two years later, while he was taking part in MEST Africa's startup training program.
"There are a lot of people in the informal sector in Africa and hardly do their lives improve in any way from year to year. Through our research, we realized that this is a result of their limited access to formal financial services which stems from their inability to build verifiable credit histories even though they save and access credit through informal financial schemes. BezoMoney exists to change that," the tech entrepreneur explains.
BezoMoney provides a social savings platform, Bezo, to help low-income populations easily save money and access significant capital through collective savings. It also offers BezoSmart Series, a financial education platform that provides customers with practical information on how to manage and improve their finances. The education platform covers a wide range of financial topics, from savings to investments. It offers a podcast, a financial education program, events, and meetings.
BezoMoney is one of the startups selected for the Google for Startups' Black Founders Fund 2023 program. Its CEO is also one of the beneficiaries of the Techstars Accelerator 2023. He is also a 2022 Halcyon Incubator Fellow and a member of the alumni steering committee of Summit, a global community of entrepreneurs, academics, athletes, and personalities of all kinds.
A former intern (2016) at Lancet Technologies, a pathology laboratory operating throughout South Africa, he worked between 2017 and 2019 as the Accra office manager of Startup Grind, a global startup community. In 2020, he became a podcaster at A Tribe called VC, an online media outlet that aims to bridge the information gap between African start-ups and venture capitalists. In 2021, he worked as a digital product manager at Digital Product School, a training program set up by the German company UnternehmerTUM.
Melchior Koba
As the East African branch of global venture capital firm Antler, it identifies startups in their early stages, helps founders form strong teams, refine their ideas, and develop strong businesses.
In 2018, tech entrepreneur Magnus Grimeland founded Antler, a global venture capital firm, to support motivated founders. With Antler Kenya, that venture capital firm works with East African founders with solid business and technical experience as well as early-stage startups that leverage technology to solve local challenges.
Through its pre-launch program, Antler Kenya helps solo founders find co-founders, validate their ideas, present investment projects, and grow their startups to profitability.
For African start-ups, Antler has set up a pre-seed and seed program that allows companies access to investment and a global network of founders and advisors. It also provides access to over $350,000 in early-stage credit and support for subsequent financing rounds.
Antler Kenya's programs last between seven and twelve weeks. They are designed to help entrepreneurs start a business from scratch. During those programs, it organizes social and team-building events, masterclasses, conferences, and coaching among other events.
To help entrepreneurs mature their business ideas and models, Antler Kenya also provides legal coaching sessions, training, and pitch practice sessions. At the end of the program, selected entrepreneurs pitch their ideas before an investment committee that selects those worthy of investment. To date, the venture capital firm has supported over 250 founders and more than 15 African startups.
Melchior Koba
The accelerator was born of the desire of Norwegian investment company Katapult to stimulate innovation in agritech and foodtech in Africa. Through its acceleration programs, it helps startups grow.
Launched in 2020 by Norwegian investment company Katapult, Katapult Africa invests in the next generation of agritech and climate tech startups in Africa.
Apart from Katapult, the accelerator is supported by major institutions, including the Tony Blair Institute (TBI) for Global Change, Norrsken, and Smart Africa.
With offices in Mauritius and Rwanda, every year, Katapult Africa launches acceleration programs and investment vehicles targeting foodtech and agritech startups.
Currently, it is led by Philip Gasaatura, an experienced investor and entrepreneur. It recruits the best startups and gives them access to its global network of impact investors, mentors, experts, partner companies, and alumni.
To take part in its programs, startups need to specialize in agricultural or food technology, have a corporate structure, and be active for at least two years with a minimum of $10,000 in annual revenue. Katapult Africa invests between $150,000 and $400,000 in the selected companies.
"Our goal is to find, invest in, and help scale some of the most exciting tech companies with the most impact potential on Africa’s food and agri value chains, across Africa," says Philip Gasaatura.
Katapult Africa has already invested in several companies including Crop2Cash, which enables small farmers in rural Nigeria to receive digital payments and develop their financial identity. Over the next four to five years, the accelerator "plans to invest in 60 to 80 companies", according to Philip Gasaatura.
Melchior Koba
FAST Accelerator connects African startups to its dynamic ecosystem and an extensive partner network
The accelerator focuses on supporting and funding the next generation of African innovators, particularly in sectors that can harness the power of artificial intelligence.
FAST Accelerator is a startup accelerator launched, in 2022, by Flapmax, a US-based data and artificial intelligence technology company founded by Dave Ojika, in partnership with Microsoft. It identifies, supports, and funds African innovators building impactful businesses.
“FAST Accelerator represents our commitment to supporting ambitious entrepreneurs who are driving sustainable innovation across the continent of Africa and emerging markets,” said Dave Ojika.
The accelerator’s program combines business development, technology integration, funding, and community-building opportunities to enable African start-ups to grow faster and sustainably.
Through its AI Academy, the accelerator also gives companies access to a pool of specialized talent and its over 500 global partners. It works with a network of venture capital firms to offer funding opportunities for project carriers.
Startups taking part in its program also have access to Microsoft and Flapmax engineering teams to innovate and create new products or offers. They can earn up to $250,000 in cloud credits, including access to the Founders Hub and virtual reality (VR) hardware. They also have access to Microsoft's venture capital network to raise funds and develop their business, among other benefits.
Although open to all technology sectors, FAST Accelerator is particularly interested in start-ups innovating in key areas where AI can be exploited. These include education, manufacturing, fintech, agriculture, and healthcare.
In the first cohort (2022) of the FAST Accelerator program, 12 start-ups were selected and supported. The registration phase for the second cohort of the program, launched in partnership with Intel, closed on August 5, 2023.
FAST Accelerator also organizes hackathons and events such as the AI Builders Day 2023, which took place on April 13. It developed the AI Builders Garage, a platform designed for young entrepreneurs and developers to turn their ideas into sustainable solutions.
Melchior Koba
This entrepreneur is leveraging his software development skills to make online learning more flexible globally. He aims to prepare the youth for the job market through his startup.
Musa Turay is a software developer with expertise in web and mobile app development, database management systems, DevOps, and user experience design. He has several years of diverse project experience.
Musa holds a Higher National Diploma in Information and Communication Technology from Sierra Leone’s Eastern Polytechnic (2021) and a Full Stack Web and Mobile App Development Certificate from Orange Digital Centre, along with various online certifications.
In 2019, he founded TurayMathic e-Learning Technologies to offer flexible online learning experiences globally. His aim, through the startup, is to democratize education, empower individuals, and make them career-ready. “My vision is to provide Sierra Leoneans and worldwide students with flexible and rigorous online learning experiences that equip them with the knowledge, skills, and characteristics necessary for career readiness,” he said.
TurayMathic e-Learning stands out with cutting-edge AI-driven instruction, global accessibility, career readiness focus, educator support, and a thriving community, offering personalized learning, multilingual courses, real-world projects, industry partnerships, affordability, security, social impact, and continuous innovation.
As the founder of TurayMathic e-Learning Technologies, Musa aims to be recognized as a leader in innovative instructional technologies, ensuring education reaches everyone globally, and fostering a digital community for continuous learning, communication, and collaboration.
In January 2022, he was incubated at the Orange Digital Centre, gaining valuable insights and skills in programming, database management, and more. Participating in the program provided me with a valuable opportunity to delve into high-level programming and gain a comprehensive understanding of software development, he said.
Throughout his career, he has worked on diverse projects, ranging from web and mobile applications to backend systems. His immediate plans include excelling in his current role and pursuing advanced training. Musa aims to shape the future of software development positively as technology evolves.
Hikmatu Bilali
More...
His company, Charis UAS, manufactures self-driving cars that leverage artificial intelligence to generate 3D geospatial data in near-real time. These innovations earned him numerous awards and distinctions.
Eric Rutayisire Muziga (photo) is a Rwandan entrepreneur who graduated from the University of Minnesota with a master's in electrical and electronic engineering. He is the founder and CEO of Charis Unmanned Aerial Solutions (Charis UAS), the first drone manufacturing company to be licensed in Rwanda.
Launched in 2014, Charis UAS harnesses the power of artificial intelligence and cutting-edge technologies to deliver timely and accurate 3D geospatial data to help industries make smart decisions. It specializes in building and integrating sensor systems, drones, and data solutions to deliver high-quality service. The company covers several countries, including Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Gabon, the Republic of Congo, DR Congo, Angola, Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania.
Charis UAS developed Inganji, a drone technology “wholly designed and manufactured in Rwanda by Rwandan engineers and pilots with thousands of flight time experience.” According to its designers, the technology boasts notable features such as high data security, energy efficiency, high resolution, and an intelligent zoom camera. It is suitable for security and surveillance applications, we learn.
Charis UAS has also developed a digital project manager for critical infrastructure projects. Called Charis Analytics, it digitizes worksites and tracks projects in near-real time with actionable information while enabling collaboration with all stakeholders and accelerating project completion.
In addition, the drone company has designed a drone capable of eliminating mosquitoes over large areas, thus contributing to the fight against malaria. The device, equipped with a 10-liter tank containing insecticide that destroys mosquito breeding sites, was immediately adopted by the Rwandan government.
The CEO is a member of the board of directors of venture capital and private equity company Crystal Ventures. His works have earned him several distinctions. In 2019, he made it to the tech category of the Forbes 30 under 30 list. He was also in the top 3 of the All Africa Business Leader Award. Through Charis UAS, he is one of the winners of the 2023 Google for Startups Black Founders Fund.
Melchior Koba
Amid fast-paced technological development worldwide, innovation has become a driving force for social progress. In Africa, Pangea Accelerator stands as a beacon of hope for budding entrepreneurs.
Co-founded in 2017 by Jonas Tesfu, Pangea Accelerator is a Norwegian acceleration program and investment platform that provides African start-ups support, mentorship, and funding.
Through mentorship, workshops, networking opportunities, and initial financing, Pangea Accelerator equips start-ups with the necessary tools to transform innovative ideas into impactful businesses. Currently, most of these actions are carried out in Kenya.
The accelerator develops several programs such as The Young Ventures Accelerator Program 2.0. Supported by GIZ, this program runs over six weeks, followed by a six-month mentorship session, and targets innovations or start-ups in the affordable housing sector located within a 70 km radius of the Nairobi metropolitan area.
The Pangea Scaleup Program, which is also a program of the accelerator, finds the best-expanding businesses and grows them from the seed phase to the Series A phase. It targets start-ups active in sectors such as fintech, health tech, logistics, agriculture, renewable energy, and other digital solutions.
Pangea Accelerator also produces other local acceleration programs based on key stages and focused on validation and scalability. It hosts a series of events centered on Africa's development, investment, start-up ecosystems, and policy.
The accelerator is supported by several national and international institutions, including Microsoft, The Factory, IKEA Foundation, Katapult Accelerator, AfriLabs, Innovation Norway, UK Kenya Tech Hub, and African Business Angel Network, among others.
Melchior Koba
The young innovator is behind several technological projects in Tanzania. She has won several national and international awards and distinctions. Through Vide, her latest company, she enables professionals to create and sell courses, therefore sharing their expertise.
Tanzanian-born Sophia Abeid (photo) is a telecom engineer and tech entrepreneur. She graduated, with a Bachelor of Science, from St. Joseph University’s College of Engineering and Technology in 2018. She is also the co-founder and CEO of Vide, an online “marketplace for educational life skills or digital learning video content.”
Launched in 2022, the Vide app enables professionals in various fields, from bakers to accountants, to create and sell courses on the platform, therefore sharing their expertise while generating revenue at the same time.
On August 10, 2023, Vide was named one of 20 pioneering start-ups led by female entrepreneurs to take part in the fourth edition of the "Future is Female" mentoring program. This nomination gives Sophia Abeid, the CEO, the opportunity to get personalized mentoring, participate in workshops and networking events and even access investment opportunities.
Before Vide, the CEO had co-founded "Blueprint Innovations", a company specializing in digital solutions. She is also the creator of the File Tracking System (FTS), a software designed to help organizations easily locate internal files. This software is widely adopted by companies in Tanzania.
Since June 2021, she is working as a Subscriber Data Management and telecom infrastructure specialist at Vodacom Tanzania Plc, which she joined in August 2019. In August 2021, she joined the Global Youth Leadership Advisory Board of the Digital Opportunity Trust, a movement of bold young social innovators who have the tools, knowledge, and networks to create opportunities and transform their communities.
For her works, Ms. Sophia Abeid has received several awards and distinctions. In 2018, while still a student, she became the youngest winner of the Next Einstein Forum's Africa Science Week in Tanzania for emerging women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). In 2021, as an employee of Vodacom Tanzania Plc, she won the Best Female Graduate Engineer award issued by the Institute of Engineers.
Melchior Koba
As a start-up accelerator, AUC Venture Lab supports and promotes entrepreneurship and innovation by providing entrepreneurs with learning opportunities, mentoring, networking, and access to potential investors.
AUC Venture Lab (V-Lab) is Egypt's first university accelerator. Founded in 2013 by Ayman Ismail, Associate Professor at the American University in Cairo (AUC) School of Business, its aim is to assist entrepreneurs in launching, growing, and transforming their startups. It also aims to provide the AUC community with a learning and research platform, thus fostering its involvement with entrepreneurs.
To achieve its objectives, V-Lab has developed several programs, including Startup Accelerator, Fintech Accelerator, AUC Angels, and Startup Launchpad.
Startup Accelerator is a four-month program launched to help entrepreneurs design and develop the next generation of innovative technology start-ups. As the accelerator’s flagship program, it is supporting entrepreneurs since 2013.
Fintech Accelerator is a customized four-month program dedicated to financial technology start-ups. It provides founders with intensive business and technology support, mentoring, and networking opportunities to help them refine their solutions and prepare for investment. Target sectors include payments, insurtech, wealth management, loans and savings, infrastructure, and more.
Startup Launchpad is a nine-week immersive program for entrepreneurs and future founders at the idea stage. AUC Angels is the first university network of angel investors in the Middle East and North Africa. Created with the aim of bridging the financing gap for young technology companies, the network connects approved start-ups with accomplished professionals from a variety of sectors and backgrounds.
To date, V-Lab has helped over 1,000 founders transform their business solutions into viable, investment-ready technology start-ups. It has created over 12,000 jobs, supported more than 341 start-ups in various technology sectors, and raised more than $161 million.
The accelerator has received several national and international awards for its impact and the quality of its services in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. In 2021, it was named the best accelerator/incubator in North Africa by the Global Startup Awards. It was named the best challenger in the Middle East and North Africa by UBI Global World Rankings 2021-2022 of business incubators and accelerators.
Melchior Koba