Tech

DRC’s ed-tech startup, Itot Africa launches new platform

Published

1 year ago

September 10, 2023

DRC-based ed-tech startup, Itot Africa, has developed a platform that will provide customised digital content, coding, programming, training and e-learning for businesses, SMEs and entrepreneurs in Africa and the United States.

The startup’s co-founder, Samy Mwamba, who disclosed this at the launch of the new product in Lumumbashi where the outfit’s office is located, said the new platform would “cater to three primary categories of individuals of those seeking knowledge to fill a personal gap or follow technological trends, those aiming to meet recruitment requirements or find employment, and professionals looking to reinforce their skills.”

He said the initiative came on the back of a recent fund acquisition of $59,000 from the Catalytic Africa initiative, a supporting investment made into the startup by DRC Impact Angels.

“Our comprehensive services extend beyond training to include recruitment and software development, supporting businesses in their digital transformation journey,” Mwamba said.

“We engage our alumni to provide apt solutions based on specific corporate demands. Additionally, companies seeking human resources turn to us for recruitment and placement services, benefiting from our robust database of skilled professionals.

“At the inception of Itot Africa, our team had identified a critical gap in the Democratic Republic of Congo – a profound lack of digital culture, skills, and opportunities, in a nation where 70 per cent of the population are unemployed, including 65 per cent of the young population.

“This divide extended to disparities in knowledge, employment, and open dialogue between various stakeholders in the IT field.

“Our unique response to this challenge led to the creation of Itot Africa, with the core mission of bridging this gap. As pioneers in this space, we faced minimal competition within the country. While our innovative approach inspired several similar initiatives, the overall competition in the nation remains unremarkable,” he stated.

He added that in five years, Itot Africa had already trained more than 7,000 individuals, of whom over 60 per cent were women, and executed over 300 projects. It has also created more than 100 jobs within the DRC, and has established its presence in the four principal cities of Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Goma and Kolwezi, according to him.

Founded in 2017, Itot Africa, with its flagship product, Okademy, is an online learning, on-demand training and career tracking platform with its network of affiliated and trained students.

It also supports the digitisation process of its clients by creating technology solutions.

Related Topics:Democratic Republic of Congo Digital Platform Featured Itot Africa

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Tech

20 African tech-preneurs embark on Korean innovation tour

Published

1 day ago

December 22, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The African Development Bank Group’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Lab has selected 20 promising tech entrepreneurs from various African technology ventures and enterprise support organisations to embark on a two-week study tour of the Republic of Korea, with the aim of seeking investment and insights from the country’s innovative tech ecosystem.

The selected entrepreneurs are from 133 ventures that participated in last month’s Africa Tech Startup Forum.

The forum which will hold under the auspices of the lab’s “Leveraging the Entrepreneurial and Innovation Success of Korea to Strengthen African Enterprise Support” project, had selected entrepreneurs who pitched the best business models during the week-long virtual market access and acceleration programme preparing, training, and connecting technology ventures with opportunities.

The 20 young tech-preneurs were selected from eight African countries including Nigeria, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Rwanda, South Africa, and Uganda, with the delegates spanning various sectors in the technology space.

While in Korea, the African delegates will pay visits to prestigious institutions such as Global Startup Centre, LG Science Park, the Korea Software Technology Association, and the Global Digital Innovation Network.

Speaking on behalf of the delegates, founder of Kenya-based health technology venture Zuri Health, Uche Ezadinachi said:

“I am excited to go to Korea because the country has made serious technological developments. The country is a technology-driven society, and this tour is an opportunity for me to see how we can bring such technology to Africa.

“We will share experiences with our Korean counterparts; they will learn from us as much as we learn from them,” he added.

Tech

Kenya’s ticketing startup BuuPass partners Flexpay for flexible travel payments

Published

4 days ago

December 19, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Kenyan digital ticketing startup, BuuPass, has entered into a partnership with goal-based savings platform, Flexpay, to offer customers flexible payment plans ahead of holiday travels as well as simplify travel planning and ease the financial burden of holiday travel for Kenyans.

Co-founder and CEO at Buupass, Sonia Kabra, who unveiled the package at a press conference, said the collaboration between the two platforms will allow travellers to save for their journeys in manageable, interest-free installments over four to 12 weeks.

“Travelers can select their travel dates, book tickets, and pay a small deposit upfront, with the remaining balance spread across weekly or monthly payments,” she said.

“This approach offers a stress-free way for families and large groups to secure their tickets early, helping them avoid last-minute price hikes as fares are locked in.

“By partnering with Flexpay, we’re giving travelers the flexibility to budget for their trips in advance. This initiative aligns with our mission to make travel accessible to everyone, providing a solution that meets customers where they are financially,” said Kabra.

Also speaking at the event, Richard Machomba, CEO and founder of Flexpay, said:

“Flexpay’s mission is to empower individuals by providing accessible financial solutions that make it easier for them to achieve their financial goals.

“By partnering with BuuPass, we’re making travel more accessible and stress-free for Kenyans, especially during the holiday season when expenses can be overwhelming,” Machomba added.

Founded in 2016 by Kabra and Wyclife Omondi, BuuPass is a B2B2C mobility marketplace that enables users to search, compare, and book travel tickets via web, app, or USSD, while its SaaS platform helps bus operators manage their operations, inventory, and sales.

FlexPay, on the other hand, is an online and offline payment gateway that allows merchants to offer interest-free targeted savings to their customers in Africa.