North Africa is rapidly emerging as a hub for innovation and technological advancement, with major breakthroughs in deep-tech solutions. One notable success story is that of InstaDeep, a Tunisian AI startup that was recently acquired by BioNTech for $683 million.

The startup founded in 2014 by Karim Beguir and Zohra Slim raised more than $100 million before its acquisition and collaborated with BioNTech to develop a warning system to predict high-risk coronavirus variants in 2022.

While InstaDeep's journey from a small startup to a global player has drawn deserved attention, more startups in the North African region are building solutions across artificial intelligence, biotechnology, cybersecurity, and cleantech.

In this article, we've compiled a list of seven North African startups building innovative solutions. These startups are tackling complex challenges, from developing AI-powered healthcare diagnostics to creating sustainable energy solutions.

From Morocco to Egypt and Tunisia to Algeria, these startups are leveraging technology to drive impact and growth. They're attracting investment, talent, and attention from around the world.

Synapse Analytics   

A pioneering B2B IT company, Synapse Analytics has been empowering businesses to harness the potential of AI, machine learning, and data analytics since 2018.

With a team of experienced data scientists and engineers, Synapse Analytics has successfully implemented AI solutions for top Egyptian banks and financial institutions such as Marakez and Wasla.

Its products include Konan, an AI-powered platform helping financial institutions make better credit decisions; Doxter, an English and Arabic optical character reader; and Azkavision, a video analytics platform that helps businesses understand customer behaviour and improve facility efficiency.

Intixel   

In Egypt, there’s one radiologist for 69,000 people, which is lower than the global recommendation of 10–12 radiologists per 100,000 people. Founded in 2018 by Mustafa Elattar, Intixel leverages AI to transform medical diagnostics.

Their AI-powered modules for medical image analysis enable radiologists to detect and classify growths more accurately. With its innovative products, AIRABreast, AIRAChest, and AIRACoronary, Intixel is fighting cancer and chronic conditions. Furthermore, its team of radiologists and AI engineers has successfully deployed their solutions in top Egyptian hospitals.

DevisionX   

DevisionX’s solutions are used across agriculture, manufacturing, eCommerce, real estate, and retail for crop monitoring and sorting, inventory management, product recommendations, and urban planning. Its platform, Tuba AI, enables businesses to develop customised AI vision applications without coding.

By democratising access to AI, DevisionX aims to accelerate digital transformation in Africa. With a strong focus on computer vision and object detection, DevisionX has successfully implemented AI solutions for top Egyptian retailers and manufacturers.

MerQ   

Founded in 2018, MerQ develops AI-powered solutions for businesses and individuals. One of its first products was a Facebook chatbot that helped users compare credit cards in Egypt. Today, it has chatbots that help users with problems such as loan applications. Its products are also used by businesses to build voice assistants and currently support English and Arabic, while also allowing businesses to engage with customers across WhatsApp, Telegram, and Messenger.

Proteinea   

While most startups use artificial intelligence to solve business problems, Egyptian startup, Proteinea, has its eyes on a different field, the design and production of protein.

Proteinea is making advanced medical treatments called protein therapeutics more accessible and effective. They do this by using natural biological processes to create these treatments in a more efficient and customised way. By combining cutting-edge technology and scientific knowledge, Proteinea speeds up the journey from research to real-world medical use, helping to develop and produce these important treatments faster and more reliably.

Founded by Mahmoud Eljendy and Abdulaziz Elgammal in 2020, it has earned the attention of investors, including 500 Global and Sawari Ventures and was part of Destination Deep Tech, a three-month programme for deep tech startups. Wired named it on its 2023 list of MENA startups that would transform the region.

KarmSolar   

KarmSolar is an Egyptian solar energy solutions provider founded in 2011 by Ahmed Zahran, Randa Fahmy, Yumna Madi, and Xavier Auclair. The company began with an idea to help farmers in the Bahariya Oasis power water pumps using solar energy.

Today, it offers a range of solutions, including on-grid and off-grid solar PPA, urban power distribution, e-mobility, and water solutions. Their innovative approach has made them a leader in the solar energy industry, and they have been recognised as one of the Middle East's 10 sustainable companies by Forbes.

In 2022, it obtained permission to distribute electricity through the Marsa Alam Solar Grid, with a distribution capacity of up to 10 MW. Previously, it launched KarmWater, specialising in water desalination and water storage solutions.

Shift EV   

In recent years, Africa has seen a surge in electric vehicle (EV) adoption, driven by government incentives and growing environmental awareness. Revenues in the EV market are expected to reach $85.6 million in 2024, with major players including Spiro and Ampersand.

Shift EV converts existing fuel-run vehicles into electric ones using their in-house designed and manufactured customisable batteries.

It aims to solve last-mile mobility challenges by helping fleet owners go electric, reducing overhead costs and carbon emissions. They cater to e-commerce, last-mile delivery, and distribution companies, with a current pipeline of 2,000 vehicles to convert to their electric solution. With their real-time sensor data connectivity system, customers can monitor car performance and battery packs remotely.

Backed by investors like Union Square Ventures and Algebra Ventures, Shift EV plans to expand across the Middle East and North Africa region and has raised more than $9 million since it was founded.