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He aims to help Rwandan businesses improve their performance and, in turn, increase their revenue. A trained IT specialist, he leverages his technological expertise to support them in this effort.
Crepin Kayisire (photo) is a Rwandan IT specialist and entrepreneur. He is the founder of Kayko, a startup that provides solutions to help businesses increase their value by effectively linking data to action.
Founded in 2021, Kayko offers a platform that helps users analyze cash flow, identify trends, and make informed decisions to ensure success. It automates processes such as billing and expense tracking, allowing companies to focus on growth. All essential financial information, from invoices to expenses and inventory, is centralized for optimal organization.
Depending on user needs, the Kayko platform is accessible via a mobile app or website. The startup also offers a point-of-sale (POS) software specifically designed for kiosks. To date, over 3,000 businesses are using that platform to support their development.
Crepin Kayisire graduated from the African Leadership University in 2021 with a degree in computer science and mathematics. Before founding Kayko, he worked for Imagine We Rwanda, a publishing house, where he held various roles between 2017 and 2018, including book seller, creative associate, and later, creative director.
In 2018, he joined HeHe, a Rwandan technology company, as a product designer and then marketing manager. Simultaneously, between 2017 and 2021, he was a design consultant for The Global School for Social Leaders, an organization dedicated to creating, promoting, and organizing international educational programs and events.
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Entrepreneur en série, il se distingue par ses solutions technologiques innovantes. A ce jour, il a fondé trois entreprises spécialisées dans des secteurs variés de la technologie.
Julius Mbungo (photo) est un entrepreneur technologique tanzanien. En 2023, avec Ebenezery Kimaro et John Mwapinga, il a fondé une entreprise visant à révolutionner les services de maintenance automobile. Leur objectif est de résoudre les défis auxquels sont confrontés les propriétaires de véhicules et les mécaniciens.
Spana propose un réseau de mécaniciens agréés, de fournisseurs de pièces détachées, ainsi qu’une application qui facilite la réservation, le paiement et la mise en relation avec des mécaniciens. Grâce à cette application, les utilisateurs peuvent demander divers services automobiles, que ce soit pour des réparations ou de l’entretien régulier, ainsi que des pièces de rechange à des prix abordables.
En parallèle, Julius Mbungo est également le fondateur et président-directeur général de Toolboksi, une plateforme numérique lancée en 2019. Toolboksi offre aux travailleurs du secteur informel des opportunités de travail stable, ainsi qu’un accès à une formation continue et à une évolution professionnelle. La start-up a pour mission de formaliser le processus de recrutement afin de permettre aux personnes défavorisées d’accéder à des emplois ou, au minimum, de nourrir l’espoir d’en obtenir.
Avant ces initiatives, en 2016, Julius avait cofondé la start-up Click n’ Cart, où il occupait le poste de directeur des opérations. Cette entreprise offrait une plateforme de commande et de livraison d’épicerie en ligne, permettant aux utilisateurs de se faire livrer leurs produits préférés en moins d’une heure.
Julius Mbungo est titulaire d’un diplôme d’administration des affaires option innovation commerciale et gestion de chaîne d’approvisionnement obtenu en 2015 à la School Business de la Mzumbe University. En juillet et août 2024, il a également suivi une formation en entrepreneuriat à la Clark Atlanta University, aux Etats-Unis.
Melchior Koba
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Irene Phoebe Kiwia promeut les start-up spécialisées en IA, IoT et blockchain
A trained computer scientist, he specialized in developing fintech solutions. His goal is to make everyday life easier for Africans.
Ayo Akinola (photo) is a Nigerian business developer with a background in computer science, business intelligence, project management, and sales. He is the co-founder and CEO of Pocket, a financial app.
Founded in 2019, Pocket simplifies sending, receiving, and managing money for Africans. The app offers three types of wallets, called "pockets." The personal pocket allows users to transfer, spend, buy, and pay bills quickly. The business pocket helps users create an online store and manage professional payments. The group pocket allows users to manage funds with friends, colleagues, or family members.
Pocket is developed by Piggyvest, a startup Ayo Akinola also co-founded and where he serves as Chief Operating Officer. Established in 2016, Piggyvest helps individuals and businesses manage their finances, save, and invest easily.
Prior to Piggyvest, Akinola co-founded PuchCV in 2014, where he led business development until 2019. PuchCV connects talents with recruiters through a dedicated platform.
Ayo Akinola graduated from Covenant University in Nigeria, earning a bachelor's degree in computer science in 2012. In 2008, he interned with the IT department at Meyer PLC, a Nigerian paint manufacturer and distributor. In 2011, he served as assistant to the Chief Technology Officer at Fasyl Technology Group, a company specializing in IT services for financial operations.
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He has over 10 years of experience in technology, data, and artificial intelligence. He is regarded as one of the most promising young tech entrepreneurs in Benin.
Luc Alapini (photo) is a serial entrepreneur and a prominent tech leader from Benin. He serves as the CEO of Bivariant, an inclusive platform that enables organizations and governments to accelerate the deployment of sovereign artificial intelligence (AI) across the entire supply chain.
Bivariant is an AI-focused platform designed for modern enterprises. The startup offers a variety of services, including AI strategies and data collection. It currently provides three main products. The first, Bivariant Studio, is an AI application development platform that allows businesses to seamlessly connect their AI applications to their data and create AI agents without any coding.
The second product, Bivariant Forge, is a platform for deploying and managing AI models, enabling businesses to implement large language models (LLMs) on their own infrastructure. Lastly, Bivariant Orbit serves as a centralized repository for storing, managing, and sharing AI resources, ensuring that teams have access to the latest AI innovations.
From Thursday, October 3 to Friday, October 4, Luc Alapini presented Bivariant at the FrancoTech exhibition in Paris, through the Benin Innov booth, an initiative of the Beninese government. The event, held at the Station F incubator, brought together 10 Beninese companies.
In addition to his role at Bivariant, Alapini is an advisor to Vocads, a startup that helps professionals in customer relations, marketing, and market research gather and analyze detailed feedback through voice surveys.
A seasoned entrepreneur, Alapini co-founded Tuniar in 2014, an inclusive mobile service for international money transfers and online payments. In the same year, he launched Enccore, a company specializing in modern cloud solutions and data intelligence. In 2020, he founded Oblic, a data engineering company.
Alapini holds a degree in statistical engineering from Benin's National School of Applied Economics and Management (ENEAM), which he earned in 2013. He also has a master's degree in applied mathematics from the University of South Brittany in France.
His career began in 2013 at Benin's Ministry of Health, where he worked as a data scientist. In 2014, he became the technical director of KYMA Ventures in Benin, a company specializing in innovation strategy and digital solutions. From 2020 to 2023, he served as technical director at Datexis Digital in France, a startup focused on data management and collection for businesses.
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After several years of experience in tech companies, she is now specializing in the beauty and wellness sector. She leverages her technological skills to invigorate this industry.
Maya Ammouche (photo) is an Algerian computer scientist and businesswoman. She is the founder and CEO of Izya, an app dedicated to the beauty, health, and wellness sectors.
Launched in 2022, Izya aims to connect professionals in these industries. The app lists top establishments and experts, offering personalized services for individuals either in a salon or at home as well as for companies focused on employee well-being. Its main feature allows clients to book appointments at the nearest establishment or request an in-home service provider.
“We offer a SaaS [Software as a Service] solution that helps businesses better manage their operations, while making it easier for clients to book appointments. Clients also benefit from a range of both qualitative and quantitative advantages. They will enjoy access to a directory of the best value-for-money services,” explains the founder of Izya.
Before founding Izya, Maya Ammouche co-founded the accelerator SprintHub in 2020, where she served as Vice President of Marketing and Sales until 2023. She holds an engineering degree in computer engineering, which she earned in 2007 from the Houari Boumediène University of Science and Technology.
Her career began in 2009 at Altex-Corp, an IT services company, where she worked as a consulting engineer. In 2012, she became Director of Sales Development at Corpotrade, a commercial firm. In 2018, she was appointed Director of Marketing and Partnerships at Yassir, a startup focused on ride-sharing and delivery services. In 2020, she joined Cleverzone, a technology company, as Director of Marketing, Sales, and Business Development.
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A trained actuary, he has accumulated several years of experience working for insurers in France. Eager to modernize the industry, he is betting on technology.
Kays Bouachik (photo) is a Moroccan finance expert and entrepreneur. He is the co-founder and CEO of Kayros, a startup that helps mutual insurance companies and brokers swiftly launch their insurance products and achieve their commercial growth targets.
Founded in 2022, Kayros accelerates the growth of mutuals and brokers through digital solutions. It offers insurers, mutuals, and brokers an innovative platform that optimizes every step of the customer acquisition and underwriting process. This platform integrates acquisition and underwriting channels to streamline the entire customer journey.
Kayros enables the creation of seamless underwriting pathways and the deployment of insurance products across all distribution channels. It also provides personalized support to brokers in the launch phase, rapidly growing startups, mutuals looking to fast-track their digital transformation, and wholesale brokers seeking new growth opportunities.
In addition to his role at Kayros, Kays Bouachik serves on the board of Taillis Labs, a software development company. In 2019, he co-founded Rooit, where he served as COO until 2023. Rooit is an AI-powered social chat solution aimed at revolutionizing the way young people communicate and form friendships.
Kays Bouachik's academic background is equally impressive. He graduated from Paris Dauphine University-PSL, earning a bachelor's degree in financial mathematics in 2016 and a master's degree in actuarial science in 2017. He also holds a master's in financial engineering from CY Tech, France, completed in 2017.
His professional career began in 2015 at Groupe Crédit Agricole, where he worked as a sales assistant. In 2017, he joined GALEA & Associés, a French insurance firm, as an actuarial consultant.
Melchior Koba
He has several years of experience in developing fintech and blockchain projects. His ambition is to connect Africa with the latest financial technologies.
Moses Adeniji (photo) is a Nigerian entrepreneur specializing in financial technology. He is the co-founder and CEO of Paychant, a startup that provides Africans with access to the financial opportunities offered by the Web3.
Founded in 2019, Paychant is a fintech company offering a fiat payment infrastructure. It allows users across Africa to buy and sell digital assets using traditional local payment methods. The platform supports more than 100 banks and over a dozen e-wallets across the continent.
This solution enables users to easily transition from traditional currencies to cryptocurrencies. The company's mission is to connect Africa’s traditional financial system with the world of decentralized finance (DeFi).
"We are committed to building transparent solutions that allow people in emerging economies to participate in and benefit from decentralized finance," the startup explains on its website. Paychant supports over 40 digital assets and offers more than 150 payment methods.
Moses Adeniji holds an accounting degree from Lagos State Polytechnic, which he obtained in 2016. After his studies, he worked as a frontend engineer for startups AfricaLinked.com and TIG. The former is a directory of products, companies, and individuals, while the latter is a fintech platform that uses the digital currency Tigereum to buy, sell, send, and pay through social networks.
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Artificial intelligence is developing rapidly, both in Africa and across the rest of the world. In Ghana, a young entrepreneur is harnessing this technology to benefit the healthcare sector.
Darlington Akogo (photo) is a Ghanaian artificial intelligence (AI) expert and entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of minoHealth AI Labs, a tech startup that is using AI to revolutionize the healthcare sector in Africa.
Founded in 2017, minoHealth AI Labs is a pioneering company in the application of AI to healthcare. It helps medical institutions provide quality care at affordable costs by automating medical diagnostics, prognostics, and predictions using AI, data science, and biomedicine.
In the field of radiology, minoHealth AI Labs has developed AI systems capable of automatically diagnosing 14 thoracic conditions, including pneumonia, fibrosis, hernia, and pleural effusion. The system also aids in breast cancer detection through mammography.
The startup has also developed AI solutions to combat malaria, facilitate COVID-19 screening, and identify damage caused by tuberculosis. Moreover, it applies AI to other fields such as biotechnology, oncology, regenerative medicine, neuroscience, optometry, epidemiology, and dietetics.
Darlington Akogo is also the CEO of karaAgro AI, a company he founded in 2018 that offers precision agriculture solutions to help farmers increase yields and reduce crop stress. In 2019, he established the Runmila AI Institute, which he leads as Executive Director, to train Ghanaians and Africans in artificial intelligence.
Additionally, Akogo chairs TG-AI4Radiology, a think tank of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the World Health Organization (WHO). He also leads AI Economy, a group working to define a continental AI strategy within the African Union.
From 2019 to 2020, Darlington Akogo served as an AI and Industry 4.0 expert for the Organization of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS). He later co-chaired the global strategic group on digital health and AI, created by the University of Oxford.
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He is a dedicated entrepreneur driving digital innovation in Gabon. Over the years, he has partnered with the government to advance the country's technological development.
Thierry Dzime (photo) is a Gabonese expert in strategic communication and digital marketing. He is the founder and director of Olatano Market, a digital platform specializing in e-commerce.
Founded in 2021, Olatano Market aims to offer a new e-commerce experience in Gabon. The platform provides an online marketplace connecting thousands of people looking to buy or sell quality products across the country. It offers a wide range of services and tools to help entrepreneurs launch and grow their businesses.
One of Olatano Market’s flagship services is Achat Flex, which allows individuals to pay online through various payment methods, such as cash-on-delivery, mobile money, and credit cards. It also offers the option to purchase a product and pay in installments.
"Our innovative platform is a complete break from the conventional offerings of existing players and addresses the growing demand from customers who want more choice, the ability to compare prices, and access to products and prices no matter where they are in Gabon," said the founder of Olatano Market in 2022.
Thierry Dzime also serves as an advisor to the Gabonese Prime Minister’s office and co-organizes Café Numérique in Libreville, where he oversees marketing and communication. Before founding Olatano Market, he launched Digital Impact Gabon in 2014, a digital agency, and Express Courrier Gabon in 2017, a transportation and express delivery company.
A graduate of Leibniz University in Hanover, Germany, Dzime earned a master’s degree in international management, marketing, and sales in 2011. His career began in 2012 at Petro Gabon, an oil and gas company, where he held the position of sales manager.
In 2019, he became the communications advisor to Gabon’s Minister of Tourism, Trade, and SMEs, and in 2020, to the Minister of Economy and Finance. From 2021 to 2022, he served as the digital advisor to the President of Gabon. During the same period, he also held the role of country director for Baloon Assurance in Gabon.
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Passionate about solving global challenges, he develops technological solutions with a strong focus on underserved populations in developing countries.
Timothy Musoke (photo) is a Ugandan computer engineer and entrepreneur. He is the co-founder and CEO of Laboremus Uganda, a startup that promotes financial inclusion in Africa.
Founded in 2013, Laboremus Uganda provides infrastructure to financial institutions, helping banks and fintech companies accelerate financial inclusion in sub-Saharan Africa by improving access to credit for everyone. The company offers financial service providers data and tools to process loans more quickly and at a lower cost by digitizing the loan process either partially or fully.
"We started Laboremus to build complex and user-friendly software for Ugandans, in Uganda," says Timothy Musoke. "McKinsey ranks Africa amongst the fastest growing and most profitable banking markets globally. We are working on digitising this market to make credit accessible to everyone," he adds.
Musoke is also the co-founder and advisor at Emeta, a licensed microfinance institution founded in 2017, which is transforming access to financing for smallholder farmers in Africa. Emeta provides loans that enable farmers to invest in their farms and increase their incomes.
Timothy Musoke holds a bachelor's degree in software engineering from Franklin University in the United States. From 2016 to 2020, he served on the board of Fontes Foundation, a Norwegian NGO providing community development services to disadvantaged populations.
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A computer engineer, he leads a team of passionate designers and engineers dedicated to creating innovative products. He has already launched several technological solutions.
Charles Wisdom Kateleshi (photo) is a Zambian computer scientist and entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of Daylight Technologies Inc., a software development company dedicated to helping businesses of all sizes leverage technology opportunities.
Founded in 2020, Daylight Technologies Inc. offers businesses and individuals a range of modern tech tools and solutions. The company aims to create an ecosystem of high-performing enterprises, fostering growth and success. Its services include cybersecurity, data management and analysis, optimization, and cloud solutions.
Daylight Technologies Inc. provides products like Bulk SMS, a tool for sending large numbers of messages to multiple recipients simultaneously, and Bulk Email, a mass email software. The company has also developed Supernova, an online video streaming platform.
Charles Wisdom Kateleshi graduated with a bachelor's degree in computer science from Cavendish University Zambia in 2018. After his studies, he joined fintech company Nsano as a senior software engineer. In 2021, he became the managing director of Omega Records, a music label.
In January 2024, Charles was named "Founder of the Year Under 30" for Southern Africa at the FOYA Awards, an initiative recognizing young entrepreneurs contributing to the continent's development.
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With over 18 years of experience, he is actively involved in the technology and entrepreneurship sectors in Africa. He contributes to the development and growth of startups across the continent.
Paul Mbua (photo) is a Cameroonian-born business consultant and investments and information technology expert. He is the founder and CEO of Zixtech Hub, a pan-African incubator and accelerator aimed at transforming ideas into businesses.
Founded in 2017, Zixtech Hub supports tech startups and equips young people with the skills, training, networks, and tools necessary to build sustainable companies. As part of the AfriLabs network, which brings together business support structures, the incubator operates in Cameroon, as well as Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Rwanda, Ivory Coast, and Tanzania.
"We focus on the development and growth of startups to combat the rising unemployment in Africa. Our focus is on technologies we consider the cornerstones of emerging digital economies, including agriculture, entrepreneurship, and more," the company states on its website.
In 2019, Paul Mbua also founded Zixtech Corporation, where he serves as CEO. This organization connects investors with growing businesses, startups, and investment opportunities in Africa. He is also the founder of the Africa Business and Investment Summit, an event designed to encourage investments on the continent.
Additionally, he serves as the regional president for Africa at the Digital for Development Hub, a strategic platform established by the European Union to promote partnerships and stimulate investments in the digital sector. Paul Mbua is also an independent international consultant for Vital Wave, a U.S.-based tech startup, and Stantec, a Canada-based company.
Paul Mbua holds a certificate in civic leadership from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, earned in 2017. In 2020, he joined Ghana Tech Lab as a business development consultant. The following year, he became the partnerships manager for Ambitious Africa Cameroon, a volunteer group working toward the continent's development. From 2021 to 2023, he chaired AfriLabs' election commission.
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He is working to mitigate the effects of climate change and strengthen Africa's agricultural sector. To do this, he's using his technological know-how.
Christian Kusi (photo) is a Ghanaian expert in the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and cybersecurity. He is also an entrepreneur, and the founder and CEO of Climate Tech Solutions, a startup focused on agricultural technologies.
Founded in 2021, Climate Tech Solutions aims to combat global hunger and promote sustainable farming practices. The company harnesses technologies like IoT, AI, and renewable energy to transform agriculture, especially in regions hardest hit by climate change.
Through AI, the company helps farmers improve crop yields. It develops smart farms that can be automated and monitored in real time, and provides solutions to ensure a consistent water supply for agriculture.
Christian Kusi also serves as a technology consultant at The Innovation Spark, an organization supporting Africa’s startup ecosystem. Additionally, he is a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) instructor at Firefly IO, a non-profit organization focused on passing these skills on to young people.
He graduated from Valley View University in 2023 with a bachelor's degree in computer science. Between 2022 and 2024, he worked as a STEM instructor at InovTech STEM Center, a Ghanaian organization that provides STEM training and hands-on learning experiences for students of all ages. In 2023, he interned in machine learning at minoHealth AI Labs, a pioneering AI startup in the healthcare sector.
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A serial entrepreneur, he is committed to developing technological solutions for the e-commerce sector. He has already co-founded three tech startups in Egypt.
Mohamed Ezzat (photo) is an Egyptian electronics engineer and entrepreneur. He is the co-founder and CEO of Bosta, a tech startup specializing in logistics and financial solutions for e-commerce.
Founded in 2017, Bosta is an innovative logistics company offering next-day delivery and rapid transfer services to e-commerce businesses in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Its mission is to simplify shipping—whether for small documents, parcels, or large items—for businesses of all sizes.
The startup claims over 25 stores, 15,000 sellers, and 1,000 representatives. According to its website, it is "the largest transportation company for e-commerce and the number one trusted delivery partner, providing an exceptional experience on both ends, with futuristic technology that places us at the forefront of the market.”
Before founding Bosta, Mohamed Ezzat co-founded Lynks in 2014, an e-commerce company where he served as Chief Operating Officer until 2016, and remains an advisor today. His first start-up, DealGamed, an online store focused on offering a wide range of products to customers, also launched in 2014.
Ezzat graduated from the Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in electronics and communications engineering. Between 2008 and 2015, he worked as a technical project manager at Alcatel-Lucent, a provider of communication, networking, and cloud services for businesses, before the company's acquisition by Nokia.
Melchior Koba