Dakar – Cynoia (https://Cynoia.com), the team collaboration platform created in Africa, has clinched the title of Best SaaS Startup at the prestigious AfricArena Grand Summit 2024, which took place in Cape Town.
The summit, now celebrating its seventh year, stands as Africa’s premier tech ecosystem accelerator event, showcasing over 100 startups from 31 diverse African countries.
Manar Labidi, the Chief Financial Officer of Cynoia, was presented with the award at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, where the company participated alongside 45 startups in what AfricArena’s founder Christophe Viarnaud refers to as the “stage of Africa’s future.”
This recognition at one of the continent’s pivotal technology events solidifies Cynoia’s reputation as a leading innovator in the African SaaS landscape.
In 2024, Cynoia has undergone transformative changes, empowering teams to improve their collaboration while reducing software costs by up to 80%.
With a new leadership direction, international recognition, and expansion across the region, the team is poised to revolutionize the way African teams function with its upcoming AI engine, Hannibal.
In a significant internal promotion, Nermine Slimane (https://apo-opa.co/4iBCFRE) has moved up from Team Lead to Chief Technology Officer, utilizing her extensive understanding of Cynoia’s architecture to enhance the executive team.
This promotion has allowed co-founder Ayoub Rabeh (https://apo-opa.co/4gDmNwa) to take on a dedicated role as Chief Product Officer, thereby intensifying the company’s focus on product development.
Felipe Millan (https://apo-opa.co/3P45PeB) has joined as Chief Marketing Officer, rounding out a leadership team that reflects Cynoia’s commitment to diversity, with women making up 47% of the workforce.
“We’re creating something extraordinary here,” states Nassreddine Riahi (https://apo-opa.co/3OULb0H), CEO of Cynoia.
“Our team has never been more robust, and we’re connecting with a broader range of businesses across Africa than we ever imagined at our inception.”
“We’re not merely building another collaboration tool – we’re crafting the workspace that African teams genuinely require.”
In November, Cynoia rolled out Version 2.0, featuring enhanced project management, chat, video calling, and file sharing, all integrated into a single, bandwidth-efficient platform designed to accommodate all budget levels.
The company is broadening its reach beyond Tunisia by establishing a legal presence in Senegal and growing its user base in the Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, and Rwanda.
“By being closer to our users, we can better grasp their genuine needs,” says Ayoub Rabeh, CPO.
“Every market possesses its unique characteristics, and we are tailoring our platform accordingly, particularly in areas with limited internet connectivity.”
Looking ahead to 2025, Cynoia is set to launch Hannibal, its AI engine specifically designed for African teams.
“Hannibal will provide advanced AI capabilities for businesses across the continent, regardless of their size or location,” stresses Nermine Slimane, CTO.
“Our focus is on practical AI solutions that align with the authentic working styles of African teams.”
The company has also initiated Cynoia Impact (https://apo-opa.co/4iBCIwO), partnering with influential participants in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, including startups, accelerators, venture capital (VC) firms, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations.
This initiative aims to accelerate the digital transformation of organizations making a positive impact in their communities.
