North Africa is becoming a key player in tech innovation, making big strides in deep-tech solutions. One standout is InstaDeep, a Tunisian AI startup that BioNTech recently bought for $683 million. Started in 2014 by Karim Beguir and Zohra Slim, InstaDeep raised over $100 million before the acquisition and worked with BioNTech on a system to predict high-risk COVID-19 variants in 2022.
While InstaDeep’s success is notable, there are other startups in North Africa making waves in fields like artificial intelligence, biotechnology, cybersecurity, and clean technology. Here are seven startups you should know about:
- Synapse Analytics
Synapse Analytics is an Egyptian company helping businesses use AI, machine learning, and data analytics. Since 2018, their experienced team has developed AI solutions for top Egyptian banks and financial institutions. Their products include:- Konan: An AI platform for better credit decisions.
- Doxter: An optical character reader for English and Arabic.
- Azkavision: A video analytics platform for understanding customer behavior and improving efficiency.
- Intixel
In Egypt, the number of radiologists is low, so Intixel uses AI to improve medical diagnostics. Founded in 2018 by Mustafa Elattar, their AI tools help radiologists detect and classify medical issues more accurately. Their products include:- AIRABreast
- AIRAChest
- AIRACoronary
These products help fight cancer and chronic conditions and are used in top Egyptian hospitals.
- DevisionX
DevisionX provides AI solutions for various industries like agriculture, manufacturing, eCommerce, real estate, and retail. Their platform, Tuba AI, lets businesses create custom AI vision applications without coding. DevisionX focuses on computer vision and object detection and has implemented AI solutions for major Egyptian retailers and manufacturers. - MerQ
MerQ, founded in 2018, creates AI-powered tools for businesses and individuals. They started with a Facebook chatbot to compare credit cards in Egypt. Now, they have chatbots that help with loan applications and build voice assistants, supporting English and Arabic. Their tools also work across WhatsApp, Telegram, and Messenger. - Proteinea
Proteinea, an Egyptian startup, focuses on designing and producing proteins for advanced medical treatments. Founded in 2020 by Mahmoud Eljendy and Abdulaziz Elgammal, they use natural processes to make these treatments more efficient and customized. They’ve caught the eye of investors like 500 Global and Sawari Ventures and were named by Wired as a top MENA startup in 2023. - KarmSolar
KarmSolar, founded in 2011 by Ahmed Zahran, Randa Fahmy, Yumna Madi, and Xavier Auclair, provides solar energy solutions in Egypt. They started by helping farmers power water pumps with solar energy. Now, they offer on-grid and off-grid solar power, urban power distribution, e-mobility, and water solutions. Forbes named them one of the Middle East’s top 10 sustainable companies. In 2022, they got permission to distribute electricity through the Marsa Alam Solar Grid. - Shift EV
Shift EV converts fuel-run vehicles into electric ones with custom batteries. They help fleet owners reduce costs and carbon emissions. Shift EV, backed by investors like Union Square Ventures and Algebra Ventures, plans to expand across the Middle East and North Africa and has raised over $9 million since its founding. They are focused on e-commerce, last-mile delivery, and distribution companies, with plans to convert 2,000 vehicles.
These startups show how North Africa is leveraging technology to drive innovation and growth, attracting global investment and talent.