Founders52 Episode 45, Youcef Rahmani, Co-founder Toum AI

Adeola Adedewe is a visionary entrepreneur and fintech expert dedicated to transforming financial access across Africa. He is the Founder and CEO of Kredete, a digital lending marketplace that leverages AI and blockchain technologies to connect borrowers with lenders, aiming to democratize access to credit for individuals and small businesses across the continent . Prior to founding Kredete in 2021, Adeola served as the Financial Director at Solijun Nig Ltd from 2014 to 2018 and founded AlFeAde Records in 2018. He also holds a board position at Telleso, Inc. His educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance, a Master of Science in Business Administration and Management, and another Master of Science in Accounting and Finance, all from The City University of New York. In 2021, he completed an Executive MBA in Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies at Harvard Business School .Adeola's leadership at Kredete has been instrumental in pioneering fintech solutions that enhance financial inclusion, reflecting his commitment to leveraging technology for economic empowerment in Africa.

Youcef Rahmani is a doctoral candidate in law at the University of Oxford, focusing his research on the objectives pursued by corporate ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reporting obligations. He is also a researcher with the Oxford Sustainable Law Programme and leads the Sustainable Law and Finance division at Droit & Croissance. ​Rahmani holds a bachelor's degree in philosophy from McGill University, a master's in economic law from Sciences Po Law School, and an MSc in law and finance from the University of Oxford. His research interests encompass the moral foundations of law and economics, corporate governance and reputation, financial regulation, and the use of technology to achieve sustainability goals. ​In addition to his academic pursuits, Rahmani is the co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of ToumAI Analytics, a startup that utilizes natural language processing applied to African dialects to provide enhanced data to financial markets. ToumAI aims to become a leader in supplying extra-financial data in Africa by addressing the scarcity of such information due to the low number of listed companies on the continent. The company employs artificial intelligence, particularly Natural Language Processing (NLP), to analyze rare African languages, facilitating the inclusion of local communities in global sustainability discussions. Listen to his journey with Toum AI

Roan Stoop is a seasoned professional in the financial sector, currently serving as the Co-Founder and CEO of Credit Circuit, a fintech platform that leverages technology to make receivables financing more accessible and efficient for businesses. ​With over 19 years of experience in the insurance and risk industry, Roan has honed his expertise as an actuary and quantitative risk analyst. His career includes significant roles such as Senior Quantitative Analyst at Eikos Risk Capital, Actuarial Programmer at Absa Group, and Actuarial Analyst at Discovery Limited.Roan earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Actuarial Science from the University of Johannesburg. His extensive background and leadership at Credit Circuit highlight his commitment to advancing financial solutions that empower businesses through innovative receivables financing. ​

Moses Mukundi is a Kenyan entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Eden Care, a digital health insurance company operating in Rwanda and expanding to Kenya. Mukundi holds a Law degree from the University of Nairobi and earned an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.Prior to establishing Eden Care in 2021, Mukundi accumulated seven years of experience in investment banking and private equity. Under his leadership, Eden Care offers affordable and personalized health insurance plans to companies, aiming to protect the health and financial well-being of employees.Mukundi is recognized as a Harambean (H’24), a designation for African innovators tackling significant challenges on the continent. For a more in-depth understanding of his vision and the journey of Eden Care, listen to this episode

Rahul Jain is the co-founder and CEO of Peach Payments, a leading payment gateway operating in South Africa, Kenya, and Mauritius. His entrepreneurial journey began after he completed his MBA at IESE Business School in 2010. In 2011, while working in the U.S., he received a call from Andreas Demleitner, a German friend he had met during a summer internship in South Africa. Andreas proposed starting a digital payments business in Africa together, leading Rahul to relocate to Cape Town, South Africa, where they co-founded Peach Payments in 2012. Under Rahul's leadership, Peach Payments has become a prominent player in the African fintech landscape, providing online and mobile businesses with the tools to accept, manage, and make payments via web and mobile platforms. The company's mission is to build the infrastructure for the future of digital commerce, aiming to be the preferred payment platform for entrepreneurs across Africa. In recognition of his innovative contributions to the fintech industry, Rahul was honored as one of IESE Business School's 40under40 award winners in 2022. This accolade celebrates leading entrepreneurs and innovators under the age of 40 from IESE's global network of over 55,000 alumni. Rahul has also been featured in various publications, including Global Indian, where he discussed his journey and the impact of Peach Payments on the digital payment landscape in South Africa. Through his vision and dedication, Rahul Jain continues to drive the growth of digital commerce in Africa, empowering businesses to thrive in the evolving digital economy.

Priaash Ramadeen, an electronic engineer turned entrepreneur, founded The Awareness Company in 2018 to harness AI for operational sustainability. With a history in defence and conservation, his current mission is to drive efficiency and safety across various industries using data-driven insights. His leadership has secured significant funding to enhance AI capabilities, aiming for a future where technology promotes a sustainable, secure, and efficient planet.

Mustafa is the co-founder and CTO of MoneyHash: Middle East and Africa’s first payment orchestration and revenue operations platform. He is an experienced tech entrepreneur who is passionate about building complex systems that simplify infrastructure challenges. He is combining his computer science background with a unique journey building and managing startups. He started his first company in 2014, and has led tech in many other startups including XPay, Unocart, 3elag, and most recently WorldWide Mobility.

Albin Wilson is the Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer at Roam, a Kenyan technology company transforming electric mobility in Africa. Roam develops electric motorcycles and buses specifically designed for commercial and public transit applications, addressing the continent's unique transportation demands with durable, efficient, and sustainable solutions. By delivering locally manufactured, zero-emission vehicles, Roam is setting a new standard for sustainable mobility and driving the transition to cleaner energy across Africa.

Ben, a proud Canadian, husband, and father of two, currently resides and learns in Nairobi, Kenya. His career has been marked by diverse chapters, all united by his drive to build systems that encourage people to connect with individuals, places, and ideas beyond their comfort zones. Guided by the belief that the world is vast and humans are small, Ben’s ultimate goal is to leave the planet kinder and more understanding than when he first arrived. Born and raised in Toronto, Ben earned a BA in Economics and a BAH in Political Studies from Queen's University, as well as an MSc in Political Theory from the London School of Economics (LSE). Ben began his professional journey in September 2001 in Accra, Ghana, working for the Ghanaian Ministry of Justice. There, he contributed to the country’s reports to the UN on various international human rights treaties. This experience was pivotal in shaping his understanding of the world’s complexity and the biases we often carry. In May 2002, Ben founded Journalists for Human Rights (JHR), an organization that grew to become Canada’s largest international media development organization. JHR empowers journalists worldwide to report effectively on human rights issues. Ben led the organization until October 2011 and remains deeply connected to its mission, now serving as Chair Emeritus of JHR's Board of Directors. In early 2012, Ben founded Newsana Incorporated, a company that tackled one of the internet’s biggest challenges: filtering the vast sea of news to highlight the most important stories of the day. In 2016, Ben moved to Nairobi to join AHL Venture Partners, an impact-focused venture capital firm. As head of AHL's Nairobi office, he worked closely with companies like M-Kopa and Ethiochicken, contributing to the success of Africa's early wave of start-ups while honing his investing expertise. Since January 2020, Ben has been the Co-Founder and CEO of Purple Elephant Ventures, a company building a portfolio of start-ups aimed at making Africa’s tourism industry the largest and most dynamic in the world. By enhancing access to authentic on-the-ground experiences, Ben believes Purple Elephant Ventures helps reduce stereotypes and fosters a deeper understanding of a frequently misunderstood continent. Throughout his career, Ben has been recognized for his impactful work. His accolades include Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 Award, the Action Canada Fellowship, the Queen’s University Alumni Humanitarian Award, and most recently, the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM), one of Canada’s highest civilian honors.

On this week's episode of #Founders52, we featured Mohamed Maged, Co-Founder & CEO, mtor! 🌟 motr is an online marketplace revolutionizing the automotive aftermarket industry. Maged shared insights on his entrepreneurial journey of "Revolutionizing Traditional Marketplaces with Tech," exploring how technology transforms and enhances traditional marketplaces. If you missed this inspiring and informative episode, be sure to catch the replay!