Future Africa

Founded in 2016, Lori Systems operates a logistics platform that connects transporters with cargo owners. Based in Nairobi, Kenya, with offices in Mombasa, Kampala, and Lagos, the company uses technology to improve transparency, flexibility, reliability, and cost savings (up to 18%) in Africa's $180 billion annual haulage market.

Itana operates Africa's first Digital Free Zone, enabling global tech companies to operate remotely across the continent without physical presence. It offers end-to-end support for business incorporation, banking, licenses, immigration services.

Smile Identity Inc. is a technology company based in San Francisco, California, that focuses on identity verification solutions. Founded in 2016, the company has developed an application called SmartSelfie, which allows users to create a universal biometric for authentication on Android devices. The team comprises engineers and financial services professionals from both the United States and Africa, bringing expertise in global markets with a focus on highly regulated environments. Smile Identity has developed advanced encryption, authentication, and security solutions, as well as image processing technology. The company has experience working with telecoms, lenders, banks, and startups, enabling them to understand the unique challenges faced by consumers and enterprises in Africa. With support from prominent investors in Silicon Valley and Africa, Smile Identity has established a pan-African presence, operating in countries such as South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and Rwanda.

Nexford University is an online higher education institution founded in 2017, based in Washington, D.C. It aims to provide accessible and affordable education tailored to the demands of the global workforce. Serving markets such as the United States, the Philippines, Nigeria, and Egypt, Nexford offers degree programs and courses across various industries, including technology, business, and healthcare. The university's curriculum is designed to align with employer needs, leveraging artificial intelligence to identify and focus on in-demand skills. This approach ensures that learners, particularly from middle-income societies, receive a relevant and dynamic education that prepares them for success in a competitive global job market.

Big Cabal Media (BCM) is a digital media company focused on serving African audiences both on the continent and globally by producing high-quality media brands and original content. The company operates two prominent media publications: TechCabal, which provides in-depth coverage of technology, startups, and innovation in Africa, and Zikoko, which captures the essence of Nigeria’s youth culture through engaging storytelling across various formats. TechCabal also features a data and intelligence unit, TechCabal Insights, that aids development finance institutions, NGOs, state governments, global tech brands, and African startups in addressing challenges within the digital economy. By reflecting and amplifying the voices of African youth and providing critical insights into the tech landscape, BCM aims to highlight the potential of Africa's digital economy as a pathway to prosperity.

Eden Life is a technology-driven service provider that simplifies daily living by offering subscription-based marketplace solutions for essential household tasks such as laundry, cleaning, meal delivery, and more. Operating primarily in Nigeria and Kenya, the company aims to enhance users' quality of life through convenient access to these services.

Edves is a digital infrastructure provider for K-12 schools in Africa that designs AI-powered school and learning management software to automate processes from enrollment to graduation. Its platform supports enrollment, fees payment, online learning, e-books, video tutorials and virtual classrooms, with analytics on student and school performance. The solution is used by more than 1,700 schools across 11 countries, enabling educators, school owners, and government agencies to track performance, identify fee defaulters, generate annual reports, and streamline administrative and learning operations to improve learning outcomes.

Founded in Nigeria in 2017, Releaf operates as an online marketplace connecting buyers and sellers of various agricultural products such as cassava, palm oil, ginger, cashew nuts, fish, maize, cocoa, kola nuts, yam, and sesame seeds. It also provides extension services to smallholders, acts as a buyer for their products, and converts raw materials into factory-grade inputs.

Smile Identity Inc. is a technology company based in San Francisco, California, that focuses on identity verification solutions. Founded in 2016, the company has developed an application called SmartSelfie, which allows users to create a universal biometric for authentication on Android devices. The team comprises engineers and financial services professionals from both the United States and Africa, bringing expertise in global markets with a focus on highly regulated environments. Smile Identity has developed advanced encryption, authentication, and security solutions, as well as image processing technology. The company has experience working with telecoms, lenders, banks, and startups, enabling them to understand the unique challenges faced by consumers and enterprises in Africa. With support from prominent investors in Silicon Valley and Africa, Smile Identity has established a pan-African presence, operating in countries such as South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and Rwanda.

Founded in 2018, MarketForce is a technology company based in the US, Kenya, and Nigeria. It operates an asset-light business model, providing a comprehensive B2B commerce and fintech platform, 'RejaReja', empowering African merchants to digitize their inventory sourcing, ordering, payments, and access financing. The platform also enables merchants to resell digital financial services like airtime and bill payments. MarketForce is operational in five Sub-Saharan African markets, serving over 200,000 merchants and 50 consumer brands.

Rivy is making it easier to finance small and medium sized businesses in Africa. There is a need for financing of $158 bn for SMEs in Nigeria alone. To start, Rivy o helps SMEs access and spend lender capital effectively. During their first full operational year in 2020, the Rivy o co--founders leveraged their domain expertise and founding experience to beat their 2020 goal by 50%.

Nexford University is an online higher education institution founded in 2017, based in Washington, D.C. It aims to provide accessible and affordable education tailored to the demands of the global workforce. Serving markets such as the United States, the Philippines, Nigeria, and Egypt, Nexford offers degree programs and courses across various industries, including technology, business, and healthcare. The university's curriculum is designed to align with employer needs, leveraging artificial intelligence to identify and focus on in-demand skills. This approach ensures that learners, particularly from middle-income societies, receive a relevant and dynamic education that prepares them for success in a competitive global job market.

Termii is a Lagos-based company founded in 2014 that provides a cross-channel messaging and customer engagement platform tailored for African businesses. The platform facilitates communication with customers through SMS, email, voice, and instant messaging, enabling teams to secure repeat customers via personalized outreach. In addition to messaging services, Termii offers a suite of business applications that address various needs such as digital branding, sales, marketing, customer relationship management, eCommerce, accounting, inventory, and project management. This comprehensive approach allows clients to enhance their business operations and improve customer engagement across multiple channels.

Evolve Credit is a Nigerian fintech company founded in 2020, headquartered in Lagos. It operates an online platform that empowers consumers to explore, compare, and apply for various loan products tailored to different needs, including personal loans, SME loans, and options for salary earners and the unemployed. The platform provides expert reviews, ratings, and comparisons based on price, interest rates, and other terms. Additionally, Evolve Credit offers a Software as a Service (SaaS) core banking platform that enables financial institutions to streamline, digitize, and manage deposit, lending, and recovery services efficiently. This platform includes no-code tools designed to offer personalized customer banking experiences both online and offline.

Founded in Nigeria in 2017, Releaf operates as an online marketplace connecting buyers and sellers of various agricultural products such as cassava, palm oil, ginger, cashew nuts, fish, maize, cocoa, kola nuts, yam, and sesame seeds. It also provides extension services to smallholders, acts as a buyer for their products, and converts raw materials into factory-grade inputs.

Kobo360 is a digital logistics platform that connects cargo owners, truck owners/drivers, and recipients. It uses data analytics and technology to streamline supply chains, reduce waste, and enable efficient delivery of goods across Africa.