TLDR: Nigerian tech entrepreneurs Timothy Dake and Uduma Glory have launched Kofounda, a voice-powered website creation platform. The startup, operating under Zeustek Global and ICT Solutions, received a $250,000 grant from Microsoft’s Generative AI Challenge. Kofounda aims to simplify website building for African SMEs by allowing users to create professional sites using voice commands in multiple Nigerian languages, addressing the significant digital gap in the region.
Nigerian tech innovators Timothy Dake and Uduma Glory, renowned for their work on Jummai, the first GPT model trained in the Hausa language, have unveiled Kofounda. This groundbreaking voice-powered website creation platform enables users to build professional websites through simple voice commands, marking a significant step towards digital inclusion in Africa.
Kofounda, operating under the umbrella of Zeustek Global and ICT Solutions, recently achieved a notable milestone by becoming the sole African recipient of a $250,000 grant from Microsoft’s Generative AI Challenge. This substantial funding underscores Microsoft’s commitment to fostering AI innovation within the region and positions Kofounda to tackle a critical challenge: the lack of online presence for over 41 million small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria.
Timothy Dake, CEO and technical lead at Zeustek Global, highlighted the platform’s core mission: “Most Nigerian business owners want websites but find traditional builders too complex or expensive. Kofounda eliminates these barriers by letting users simply speak their vision into reality.” The platform’s advanced AI capabilities interpret voice commands in various Nigerian languages, including English, Pidgin, Yoruba, and Hausa, automatically generating responsive websites complete with content, images, and e-commerce functionalities. Users can, for instance, command, “Create a restaurant website with menu and online ordering,” and witness their site materialize within minutes.
Uduma Glory, co-founder and lead for design and frontend development, emphasized the local relevance of their innovation: “We built Kofounda specifically for African entrepreneurs who may not be tech-savvy but have brilliant business ideas. Voice is universal – everyone can speak their dreams.” This approach is expected to enable users to create functional websites up to 10 times faster than conventional methods, as demonstrated in early beta testing.
Zeustek Global’s expertise in AI is well-established through their previous success with Jummai, an AI model developed for Global Integrated Education Volunteers (GIEVA). This project provided invaluable insights into creating culturally relevant and accessible AI solutions for African markets. Dake noted, “Our experience with Jummai taught us how to make AI truly accessible to African users. Kofounda applies those same principles to web development, making it as easy as speaking.”
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Nigeria’s digital economy contributed an impressive $18.44 billion to the national GDP in 2023. However, a significant portion of SMEs remains offline due to persistent technical and financial hurdles. Kofounda aims to bridge this gap with its affordable, voice-driven solutions that require no coding knowledge. The platform is set to launch publicly at kofounda.com.ng in November 2025, with pricing structures tailored for African markets. The Microsoft grant will be instrumental in scaling operations and expanding language support across the African continent, with plans for West African expansion by 2026. Glory concluded, “We’re not just building websites – we’re building digital inclusion. Every voice command brings another African business online.”
