Cynoia Wins Best SaaS Startup at AfricArena 2024
Dakar – Cynoia (https://Cynoia.com), the team collaboration platform developed in Africa, has been awarded Best SaaS Startup at the esteemed AfricArena Grand Summit 2024 held in Cape Town.
The summit, now in its seventh year, is Africa’s leading tech ecosystem accelerator event, featuring over 100 startups from 31 different African nations.

Manar Labidi, the Chief Financial Officer of Cynoia, received the award at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, where the company was among 45 startups competing on what AfricArena’s founder Christophe Viarnaud calls the “stage of Africa’s future”.
This accolade at one of Africa’s key technology events reinforces Cynoia’s status as a top innovator within the African SaaS space.
In 2024, Cynoia has undergone significant changes, assisting teams to enhance their collaboration while slashing software expenses by up to 80%.
With a shift in leadership, gaining international acclaim, and expanding across the continent, the team is now gearing up to transform how African teams operate with its forthcoming AI engine, Hannibal.
In a notable internal promotion, Nermine Slimane (https://apo-opa.co/4iBCFRE) has advanced from Team Lead to Chief Technology Officer, leveraging her deep knowledge of Cynoia’s architecture to benefit the executive team.
This advancement has allowed co-founder Ayoub Rabeh (https://apo-opa.co/4gDmNwa) to assume a focused role as Chief Product Officer, thereby enhancing the company’s emphasis on product development.
Felipe Millan (https://apo-opa.co/3P45PeB) has joined as Chief Marketing Officer, completing a leadership team that demonstrates Cynoia’s commitment to diversity, with women comprising 47% of the staff.
“We’re creating something remarkable here,” says Nassreddine Riahi (https://apo-opa.co/3OULb0H), CEO of Cynoia.
“Our team has never been stronger, and we’re reaching a wider array of businesses across Africa than we ever thought possible when we began.”
“We’re not just creating another collaboration tool – we’re developing the workspace that African teams truly need.”
In November, Cynoia launched Version 2.0, featuring improved project management, chat, video calls, and file sharing all within a single, bandwidth-efficient platform suitable for all budgets.
The company is extending its reach beyond Tunisia, having established a legal presence in Senegal and enhancing its user base in the Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, and Rwanda.
“Being in closer proximity to our users allows us to better understand their actual needs,” states Ayoub Rabeh, CPO.
“Every market has its own uniqueness, and we’re customizing our platform accordingly, especially in regions with restricted internet access.”
Looking towards 2025, Cynoia is preparing to unveil Hannibal, its AI engine tailored specifically for African teams.
“Hannibal will enable advanced AI functionalities for businesses throughout the continent, no matter their size or geographical location,” emphasizes Nermine Slimane, CTO.
“Our focus is on practical AI applications that align with the authentic working styles of African teams.”
The company also introduced Cynoia Impact (https://apo-opa.co/4iBCIwO), collaborating with influential players in the entrepreneurial landscape, including startups, accelerators, venture capital (VC) funds, and educational organizations as well as non-profits.
This initiative aims to expedite the digital transformation of organizations that are positively impacting their communities.