Dakar – Cynoia (https://Cynoia.com), the collaboration platform developed in Africa, has been honored with the title of Best SaaS Startup at the prestigious AfricArena Grand Summit 2024 held in Cape Town.

This year marks the seventh iteration of the summit, recognized as Africa’s foremost technology ecosystem accelerator event, showcasing over 100 startups from 31 different African countries.

Manar Labidi, Cynoia’s Chief Financial Officer, accepted the accolade at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, where they competed alongside 45 other startups on what AfricArena founder Christophe Viarnaud describes as the “stage of Africa’s future.”

This award solidifies Cynoia’s reputation as a leading innovator in the African SaaS sector within one of Africa’s most significant technology gatherings.

In 2024, Cynoia has embraced substantial transformations, helping teams improve collaboration while reducing software costs by nearly 80%.

With new leadership, gaining international recognition, and expanding its footprint across the continent, the team is poised to revolutionize operations for African teams with its upcoming AI engine, Hannibal.

Nermine Slimane (https://apo-opa.co/4iBCFRE) has been promoted from Team Lead to Chief Technology Officer, utilizing her extensive knowledge of Cynoia’s architecture to strengthen the executive team.

This promotion has enabled co-founder Ayoub Rabeh (https://apo-opa.co/4gDmNwa) to focus on his role as Chief Product Officer, thereby enhancing the company’s dedication to product innovation.

Felipe Millan (https://apo-opa.co/3P45PeB) has joined as Chief Marketing Officer, rounding out a leadership team that underscores Cynoia’s commitment to diversity, with women representing 47% of the workforce.

“We’re building something extraordinary here,” states Nassreddine Riahi (https://apo-opa.co/3OULb0H), CEO of Cynoia.

“Our team has never been more robust, and we’re reaching a broader range of businesses across Africa than we ever imagined when we started.”

“We’re not merely creating another collaboration tool – we’re developing the workspace that African teams genuinely require.”

In November, Cynoia launched Version 2.0, which includes enhanced project management, chat, video calling, and file sharing, all within a single, bandwidth-optimized platform suitable for various budgets.

The company is expanding its operations beyond Tunisia, having established a legal presence in Senegal while growing its user base in the Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, and Rwanda.

“Being closer to our users enables us to better understand their real needs,” comments Ayoub Rabeh, CPO. 

“Every market possesses its own distinctiveness, and we’re tailoring our platform accordingly, particularly in areas with limited internet access.”

As they look forward to 2025, Cynoia is set to launch Hannibal, an AI engine specifically designed for African teams.

“Hannibal will offer advanced AI capabilities for businesses across the continent, regardless of their size or location,” highlights Nermine Slimane, CTO. 

“We are concentrating on practical AI implementations that resonate with the genuine working practices of African teams.”

The company has also introduced Cynoia Impact (https://apo-opa.co/4iBCIwO), partnering with key players in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, including startups, accelerators, venture capital (VC) funds, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations.

This initiative aims to expedite the digital transformation of organizations that are making a positive impact in their communities.