Backend by Gerald Black

Gerald Black

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TECHNOLOGY

BACKEND showcases startup founders building amazing products and companies in Africa, having real conversations on starting, scaling and everything in-between.

08/25/2025

#DiscoveringAfrica | Tunisia: "Talent and ecosystem support are the two things that stands out for me in Tunisia" - Mokhtar Fourti⁠

On this final episode of the Tunisia Tech Ecosystem series, I sit with Mokhtar Fourti, Program Officer at Green4Youth and Co-Founder of Croki, a fast-growing edtech startup in Tunisia. Croki is your go-to platform for personalized tutoring — connecting students with the right tutors to support their learning journeys in a simple, flexible, and effective way. Beyond convenience, it’s helping bridge gaps in access to quality education by making tailored academic support more widely available. Mokhtar shares his journey of building Croki as a student, what it’s like navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship while studying in Tunisia, and what that experience reveals about the realities of building in the country’s startup ecosystem.

30 min
08/15/2025

#DiscoveringAfrica | Tunisia: "The ecosystem is really collaborative in Tunisia" - Zack Temtem

In this episode, I sit with Zack Temtem, COO at Open Startup, an organization on a mission to empower and shape entrepreneurial journeys in Africa by developing skills, leveraging networks, and bridging ecosystems. From their base in Tunisia, Open Startup is creating a ripple effect across the continent — uplifting ventures of all sizes, catalyzing tech-enabled ecosystems, and nurturing high-potential startups and human capital. Their work transcends borders, but it’s deeply rooted in strengthening Tunisia’s startup scene as a launchpad for wider African impact. Zack shares powerful insights on what it takes to connect fragmented ecosystems, unlock opportunities for founders, and position Tunisia as both a regional and continental innovation hub.

7 min
08/08/2025

#DiscoveringAfrica | Tunisia: "I was first a Medical Doctor, then a Priest and now building out of Tunisia" - John Jang

In this episode, I sit with John Jang, Co-Founder and CEO at Speak Duo a speaking practice platform designed for speed-conversations with real people, powered by AI for smart matchmaking, real-time corrections, and personalized learning journeys.John’s story is one of resilience and relentless pursuit. From navigating personal and professional setbacks to making the bold decision to build his startup in Tunisia, he shares what drew him to the North African ecosystem, and why it’s the right place to build something global.This is a conversation about grit, global vision, and the unexpected power of starting in the right place.

24 min
08/01/2025

#DiscoveringAfrica | Tunisia: "The Tunisia Tech Ecosystem is a well connected ecosystem" - Safa Majdoub

In this episode, I sit with Safa Majdoub, former Managing Director at The Dot Hub, one of Tunisia’s most influential innovation spaces driving tech talent development and startup growth. The Dot Hub has played a pivotal role in shaping the Tunisian startup ecosystem — serving as a launchpad for entrepreneurs, a connector for ecosystem builders, and a key partner for international tech collaborations. Safa shares how The Dot Hub has grown into a dynamic space that empowers startups, developers, and creatives — providing not just infrastructure, but real community support. From capacity-building programs to ecosystem events and founder-focused initiatives, The Dot Hub has become a critical launchpad for tech talent in Tunisia.

19 min
07/25/2025

#DiscoveringAfrica | Tunisia: "There's water scarcity in Tunisia, and we decided to do something about it" - Zoubeir Zarrouk

In this episode, I sit with Zoubeir Zarrouk, Co-Founder at WaterSec, a Tunisian startup tackling water scarcity with cutting-edge technology. WaterSec is improving water-use efficiency through a real-time monitoring solution powered by IoT and AI. Their platform enables users to track and manage water consumption, helping reduce waste and promote more sustainable usage — whether in agriculture, cities, or homes. Zoubeir offers insight into building deeptech in Tunisia, the urgent need for water-focused innovation, and how startups like WaterSec are leading the charge in climate resilience across North Africa.

13 min
07/18/2025

#DiscoveringAfrica | Tunisia: The government in Tunisia provides salaries for up to 3 Founders per startup for an entire year - Med Khaled Mezghanni

In this episode, I sit with Med Khaled Mezghanni, Program Manager at Green4Youth, a startup support program focused on advancing the green economy in Tunisia. Green4Youth provides early-stage startups with access to funding, tailored training, and strategic guidance to help them grow impactful solutions in sustainability and climate innovation. Khaled shares sharp insights into Tunisia’s broader tech ecosystem — from the strength of its talent pipeline to the unique opportunities and constraints founders face as they build in this fast-evolving landscape.

16 min
07/11/2025

#DiscoveringAfrica | Tunisia: "We're seeing a trend of Tunisian startups wanting to scale to Europe and the Middle East" - Faten Aissi

In this episode, I sit with Faten Aissi, Director of Global Partnerships at Flat6Labs, one of the most influential startup accelerators in the MENA region and a key player in Tunisia’s innovation ecosystem. Flat6Labs provides early-stage startups with funding, mentorship, and hands-on support to help them build, launch, and grow. In Tunisia, they’ve backed some of the country’s most promising ventures and continue to play a critical role in nurturing founders from idea to scale. Faten shares how Flat6Labs is building global bridges for local founders, what true ecosystem support looks like beyond funding, and why Tunisia is uniquely positioned to produce globally competitive startups.

14 min
07/04/2025

#DiscoveringAfrica | Tunisia: "We're trying to first build the missing layers for fintech to thrive in Tunisia" - Anis Kallel

In this episode, I sit with Anis Kallel, CTO and Co-Founder at Flouci, one of the most exciting fintech startups in Tunisia redefining access to financial services. Flouci is building digital banking infrastructure that allows Tunisians to open bank accounts and make payments directly from their phones — without needing to visit a physical bank. They're not just making banking easier, they're making it accessible, especially for the underserved and unbanked population. Anis brings deep insight into what it takes to build scalable, compliant fintech solutions in a highly regulated environment — and how startups like Flouci are pushing financial inclusion forward across North Africa.

16 min

TRAILER

Introduction to Backend by Gerald Black

Backend showcases startup founders building amazing products and companies in Africa, having real conversations on starting, scaling and everything in-between.

S1, E1

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24 sec

BACKEND showcases startup founders building amazing products and companies in Africa, having real conversations on starting, scaling and everything in-between.

Creator

Gerald Black
Years Active

2022 - 2025
Episodes

24
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Gerald Black
Show Website

Backend by Gerald Black