Matt Surkont is a South African technology entrepreneur and investor. He builds digital services, launches innovative businesses, and backs high-impact projects. He holds stakes in multiple South African companies.

As founder and CEO of BlueSky, established in 2017, Surkont drives digital transformation for South African organisations. BlueSky focuses on cloud solutions, artificial intelligence, and integration services.

The company covers the full technology cycle—strategy, deployment, integration, training, and ongoing support. It partners globally with firms like Salesforce, Amazon Web Services, Tableau, Alteryx, Snowflake, and Databricks.

BlueSky offers cloud architecture, data analysis, automation, app development, CRM integration, cybersecurity, customer experience management, and team support.

Matt Surkont co-founded Lodestone, a venture capital company dedicated to developing innovative technology projects. He holds investments in Pandora Health, an AI-based precision medicine platform, and Coot Club, an accommodation venture located in a 464-hectare private nature reserve.

He joined the international YPO network and in 2004 founded Resolve Red, providing Oracle services to clients across public and private sectors.

Surkont earned a Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems from the University of Cape Town in 1999 and began his career as a software engineer at the Bank of Ireland. He later invested in multiple South African startups, including Bloomable, an online flowers and gifts platform, and Khonology, a technology services company.

This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum

Ebrima Fatty, a Gambian entrepreneur with over two decades of experience in finance and technology, is connecting local producers, retailers, and consumers through a digital platform he created.

Fatty is the founder and CEO of AfricaSokoni, a London-based e-commerce company launched in 2017. The platform targets African markets, with a strong focus on Kenya.

AfricaSokoni, which means "market" in Swahili, links local businesses, producers, and artisans to regional demand. It also gives individuals easy access to a broad range of goods through its user-friendly online interface.

The platform supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), farmers, and artisans with tools for supply chain management, financing, and digital promotion. For everyday consumers, AfricaSokoni offers products in electronics, fashion, beauty, home appliances, and telecommunications.

AfricaSokoni integrates services like inventory management, stock tracking, automated orders, and supplier relationship management. The company also builds partnerships to help small businesses manage cash flow and access services like marketing, content creation, packaging, and logistics—even paving the way to international markets.

"AfricaSokoni is a comprehensive platform dedicated to empowering the MSME sector in Africa and helping businesses grow and thrive. If you are a small or medium-sized business looking to succeed in Africa, we invite you to join our platform and discover the many ways we can support you," the company says.

Alongside his entrepreneurial work, Fatty serves as a product manager at the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) in Saudi Arabia.

He earned his Master's degree in Accounting and Finance from the University of Maiduguri, Nigeria, in 2000.

Fatty began his career the same year at Deloitte as a senior auditor. In 2001, he joined the Gambia Capacity Building for Economic Management Project as financial controller. There, he worked on strengthening government capacity in economic policy, judicial reforms, and private sector development until 2005.

This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum

Nguema Etoh Ibrahim, a Franco-Gabonese entrepreneur trained in France, has launched a bold mission: transform the shared housing experience through digital innovation. Based in the Lille region, he now leads EKNA, a start-up he co-founded in 2020 with Florine Dufour.

EKNA operates through a dual-function system: a mobile app for flatmates and a platform for landlords. The mobile app allows users to find and book shared accommodation easily—regardless of their rental history. Using an algorithm-driven matching system, EKNA suggests compatible flatmates based on users' lifestyles and preferences.

For landlords, EKNA provides a dashboard to post listings, review detailed tenant profiles, and assess compatibility with current flatmates. Each application includes a rental score and a personality match indicator, streamlining the selection process.

“EKNA has been developed and now consists of a mobile application for people looking for a flat share, and a platform for landlords (private individuals or professionals) to manage their accommodation adverts and choice of flatmates! But that's just the beginning, and we promise you plenty more great features to come,” said the start-up.

Landlords can publish listings across multiple channels and reach EKNA’s entire user base. The platform also simplifies tenant rotation and communication within shared flats, making management smoother and less time-consuming.

Nguema Etoh Ibrahim holds a degree in computer-aided design and drafting from Lille’s University Institute of Technology (IUT). He started his career in 2017 as an electrical draughtsman at Société Nouvelle d'Installations Électroniques (SNIE) in France.

In 2018, he joined Inéo Infracom as a GSM design technician. He later worked at the Vincent Delsinne architecture studio as an assistant architect. In 2019, he became a works supervisor at CRITES, a firm focused on electrical engineering and communication systems.

This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba

Edited in English  by Ange Jason Quenum

Ivorian tech entrepreneur and engineer Cedric Ceruya Oka Baidai is building digital solutions to make e-commerce easier and safer for users and businesses in Côte d’Ivoire and across West Africa.

Cedric Ceruya Oka Baidai leads Aynid, a startup he founded in 2024. The company develops integrated tools that support buying and selling online—addressing local market needs with customized digital services.

The startup has launched several core services. Aynid Search is a vertical search engine designed for e-commerce. It allows users to find specific products or services in seconds.

Next is Aynid Shop, a smart marketplace. It includes automated store management, marketing tools, a sales tracking dashboard, and an instant messaging system. Sellers can manage offers, track sales, and handle payments through one streamlined interface.

Aynid is expanding its portfolio. Soon, it will launch Aynid Pay, a payment gateway to handle collections and withdrawals. The company also plans to roll out Aynid Delivery, a logistics service that uses QR code tracking and affordable pricing.

Aynid showcased its platform at Viva Technology, a major startup and innovation event held on June 14–15.

Before launching Aynid, Cedric Ceruya Oka Baidai co-founded Fermentuse, a web development agency, in 2012. He served as technical director there until 2020.

Cedric Ceruya Oka Baidai holds a diploma in electronics from the Félix Houphouët-Boigny National Polytechnic Institute (2010) and a telecommunications engineering degree from HETEC in Abidjan (2013).

He became a software engineer in 2015 at Raven’s Digital Team. A year later, he joined VEONE as a programmer analyst. He now heads the company's research and innovation department.

This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum

A young startup in Benin is making it easier for small farmers to sell their goods and reduce post-harvest losses. Africereal, a tech company based in Abomey-Calavi, built the Ikena platform to help cooperatives and producers reach more buyers.

Ikena allows farmers, cooperatives, and agribusinesses to create digital storefronts where they can display and sell their produce. The platform promotes transparency by giving buyers clear information on product origin, availability, and price.

Founded in 2017 in Abomey-Calavi, Benin, as AfriRice by Steve Hoda and Maya Dohou, the startup received the official “startup” label from the Beninese Ministry of Digital Economy and Digitalization on July 3, valid for three years. 

Users can browse listings of fruits, tubers, grains, and processed agro-industrial products. The platform currently works only through a web browser—no mobile app is available yet.

“To sell your products, simply create an account, complete your seller profile, and post your listings with details such as name, quantity, price, description, and photos. Once approved, your listing will be visible to potential buyers,” the company states.

Buyers can message sellers directly to resolve issues. If problems persist, they can report disputes through their account. Ikena’s support team reviews each case and takes action when needed.

Delivery times depend on the seller and the shipping method, usually ranging from 3 to 7 business days. Once shipped, the buyer receives a tracking number to monitor the order.

Ikena focuses on making digital commerce accessible to farmers who are often left out of traditional online markets. Its design prioritizes ease of use and seller assistance.

This article was initially published in French by Adoni Conrad Quenum

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum

Mohamed Benmansour, a Moroccan technology entrepreneur, creates digital tools to simplify business operations and improve everyday life in Africa. He founded Nuitée Travel in 2017, an online platform that helps travel agencies and airlines book hotel rooms for their clients through a direct connection to hotels.

“Our infrastructure allows developers to seamlessly integrate hotel booking features, simplify integration, and unlock unlimited possibilities,” Benmansour says. His API-based system links hotels to travel agencies, letting partners customize their own booking interfaces, control pricing, and manage their audience.

Nuitée Travel aggregates offers from 2.2 million properties worldwide, including hotel chains, independent hotels, global distribution systems, and channel managers. Through modular APIs and white-label solutions, it enables businesses to keep full control over their brand while offering a streamlined booking experience.

Benmansour’s entrepreneurial journey began with Safarclick Travel Group, an online travel agency he founded in 2009. A year later, he co-founded Superdeal.ma, a Moroccan group-buying site. In 2013, he launched Ticket.ma, an online ticketing service. In 2014, he introduced Binga, a digital payment platform that lets businesses and government offices accept cash payments at local points of sale.

Before starting his ventures, Benmansour earned a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the Rochester Institute of Technology in 2004. He then worked as an application engineer at Silicon Laboratories in the U.S. that same year, before joining Kawasaki Microelectronics as a senior analog design engineer until 2009.

Melchior Koba

Peter N. Kironji builds bridges between small businesses and social media influencers to boost online sales. He focuses on turning ideas into real opportunities through digital commerce.

Kironji, a Kenyan tech entrepreneur and engineer, co-founded and leads Twiva, a social commerce platform that uses influencer marketing. Twiva links small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and micro-businesses with micro-influencers and content creators who promote and resell products on social networks.

Launched in 2020, Twiva lets anyone become a reseller or influencer. Users create an account, pick products, and share them on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and other platforms. Influencers earn commissions between 5% and 10% per sale, generating income while expanding businesses’ reach.

For businesses, Twiva offers a centralized interface. It manages online stores, tracks influencer campaigns, and automates sales and payments. The platform consolidates product management, marketing, transactions, and reporting to make digital commerce easier for local companies.

Kironji earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and computer science from the University of Toronto in 2017. He completed a master’s in data science, technology, and innovation at the University of Edinburgh in 2021.

Before Twiva, Kironji worked as an IT assistant at the University of Toronto starting in 2016. In 2018, he joined IAMConcepts, a Canadian cybersecurity firm, as an information systems security specialist. Between 2020 and 2021, he worked as a cybersecurity engineer at KeyData Associates.

Melchior Koba 

Yannick De Gonzague aims to make financial services accessible to every business in Africa. His mission is clear: help companies manage payments simply, securely, and efficiently, no matter their size or sector.

De Gonzague, a key player in Côte d’Ivoire’s tech and finance ecosystem, founded Vision Digital Finance in 2024. The platform acts as a payment aggregator, enabling companies to send, receive, and control financial flows across more than 12 African countries.

Vision Digital Finance offers a wide range of services tailored to business needs. The platform supports multi-channel collection through mobile money, bank cards, transfers, and QR codes. It also provides international transfers, personalized virtual IBANs, real-time dashboards, and automation APIs to simplify accounting and transaction workflows.

The system handles over ten payment methods and supports more than six currencies, ensuring wide regional compatibility.

De Gonzague earned an engineering degree in network and systems administration in 2008 from ESTEM in Morocco. He started his career a year earlier, in 2007, at CodCom, a Moroccan IT firm, where he worked as customer service manager.

In 2009, he joined Access Bank Côte d’Ivoire as account manager for large enterprises. Three years later, he moved to UBA Bank as profit center manager.

By 2016, he transitioned into the tech-finance space, taking the role of marketing and partnership manager at NSIA Technologies, the tech arm of the NSIA banking group.

He then worked for leading fintech firms like Flutterwave, Wave Mobile Money, and Clapay, where he held senior roles including operations and partnerships manager, commercial development director, and operations director in Côte d’Ivoire.

Melchior Koba

With an increasing number of young, tech-savvy consumers and rising internet penetration across the continent, Jumia’s strengthened presence could drive significant growth and innovation, ultimately contributing to the development of Africa’s broader eCommerce ecosystem.

On October 16, Jumia Technologies AG, the African eCommerce giant, announced plans to cease its operations in South Africa and Tunisia by the end of 2024. This strategic move aims to optimize resource allocation, allowing the company to concentrate on core markets with higher growth potential, such as Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, and Morocco. The decision follows a thorough review of Jumia’s operations led by CEO Francis Dufay.

Explaining the move, Dufay said, “After a thorough analysis, we made the difficult decision to close down our operations in South Africa and Tunisia. The macroeconomic conditions in both markets, coupled with stiff competition, have limited growth potential.” In 2023, Jumia's South African arm, operating under the brand Zando, and its Tunisian operations contributed only 3.5% and 2.7% of total orders, respectively, underscoring their minimal impact on the company’s overall performance.

This closure aligns with Jumia's broader effort to streamline operations and enhance profitability amid challenging market conditions and competitive pressures. As the company refocuses on its core markets, it aims to leverage its marketplace, logistics network, and JumiaPay platform to drive sustainable growth in Africa’s most promising regions. This pivot reflects Jumia's commitment to adapting its strategy to navigate complex market dynamics and return to profitability.

According to the Africa E-Commerce Market Size, Share, Trends 2024-2032 report by the IMARC Group, the market is projected to reach $939.8 billion by 2032, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.4% from 2024 to 2032. This rapid expansion highlights the increasing role that online shopping will play in Africa's future, fueled by rising internet access, growing mobile penetration, and a youthful, tech-savvy population.

Hikmatu Bilali

Landlocked African countries heavily rely on neighboring nations' markets, infrastructure, and institutions, making them economically vulnerable. To enhance their economic resilience, the adoption of new trade facilitation methods is crucial.

On September 10, Botswana's permanent mission in Geneva, Switzerland, organized a forum to discuss strategies for boosting digital trade in landlocked countries. The event was organized under the theme ‘Overcoming Geography: Digital Trade in Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs),’ on the fringes of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Public Forum 2024. It focused on how to meet the unique challenges faced by landlocked nations, particularly in Africa, to participate in global trade.

Torbjörn Fredriksson, head of e-commerce and the digital economy at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), explained that there is a need for “ more investment in ICT infrastructure, strengthening the capacity of policymakers to put in place a favorable legal environment, intensify efforts to improve digital and financial literacy and other skills, including through more effective public-private collaboration, and strengthen support for improved trade logistics and trade facilitation, including paperless cross-border trade.”

Vuyile Dumisani Dlamini, Eswatini's Permanent Representative, stressed the need to invest in “ a robust digital infrastructure coupled with a vibrant skills development and supportive regulatory environment, including international cooperation.” He justified this approach given the importance of digital commerce, which “can help to reduce trade costs, improve market access and foster economic growth.”

Moderating the discussion, Gerelmaa Davaasuren, Mongolia's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, said that it is also necessary “to fully digitize customs processes to reduce the high trade costs faced by landlocked countries due to their lack of direct access to the sea.”

During the discussion, emphasis was also placed on the potential of the creative industry in digital trade, advocating collaboration with various organizations to improve transactions. The formation of alliances was suggested as a way of streamlining support and funding efforts. In addition, the disparity in ownership of digital devices between developed and developing regions was noted, underlining the importance of equitable access to digital resources.

There are currently 32 landlocked developing countries in the world, 17 of which are classified as least developed countries. According to the World Bank report ‘Improving Trade and Transport for Landlocked Countries’, one of the characteristics of these countries is their low per capita income compared to neighboring transit countries. They are often heavily dependent on the markets, infrastructure, and institutions of their neighbors, making regional cooperation and investment in digital trade vital to their economic growth. 

Hikmatu Bilali