Google of Africa

Wanting to be “the Google of Africa” would be a farfetched dream for most, but for Abel Masai, this aspiration is attainable.

Abel is the founder and CEO of Kocela, a Kenyan company specialising in mobile solutions.

The company’s open-concept space has all the typical characteristics of a startup: colourful post-it notes displayed along the wall, coffee and tea available all day, and a team of 14 bright minds, all under 30 years.

As a student at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Abel had intended to work in computer repairs and maintenance, but in 2011, he attended a workshop on smartphone app development and was immediately hooked.

“I decided to abandon computer maintenance and instead focus on software development,” he says.

Two years later, he founded Kocela.

Since its formation in 2013, Kocela has worked with numerous high-profile clients, including Radio Africa, Standard Media Group, Spire Bank, and Credit Bank.

But what Kocela is most wellknown for is its work with Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB). In 2015, Kocela released the KCB mobile app, a “one-stop shop” that allows customers to not only pay school fees and utility bills, but also helps them to customise their budgets and

There aren’t many companies from Africa competing at a global stage in setting the trends in tech. We want to be that company.”