## African Founder’s New AI Startup Raises $9M
Karim Jouini and Jihed Othmani, the co-founders of expense management platform Expensya, have launched a new AI-powered startup called Thunder Code—just months after selling their previous company in one of Africa’s largest tech acquisitions.
### From Expense Management to AI-Powered Testing
After selling Expensya to Swedish firm Medius in 2023, Jouini and Othmani initially stepped away from entrepreneurship. However, their exposure to generative AI during the integration of multiple companies reignited their passion for building new solutions.
Their latest venture, Thunder Code, leverages AI to automate software testing—a traditionally slow and manual process. The startup has already secured $9 million in seed funding, with backing from investors including Silicon Badia, Jaango Capital, and Instadeep CEO Karim Beguir.
### How Thunder Code Works
The platform uses AI-powered “agents” that simulate human testers, identifying UI/UX issues and learning from feedback. Jouini emphasized speed as a key differentiator, stating that Thunder Code’s MVP was built in just six weeks—far faster than their previous startup.
### Expansion Plans and Market Potential
Currently focused on web application testing, Thunder Code plans to expand into mobile, API, and desktop testing by late 2025. Jouini believes the $100 billion software testing market is ripe for disruption, with legacy players slow to adopt AI.
### Lessons from Expensya
Jouini applied key lessons from his previous startup, including:
– Prioritizing speed over perfection
– Hiring top talent early
– Embracing dilution for growth
Despite the challenges of entering a new industry, Jouini is confident that Thunder Code’s AI-driven approach will give it a competitive edge.
With a Paris headquarters and a Tunis office, the startup is already working with clients in the U.S., Canada, France, and Tunisia. As AI continues to reshape software development, Thunder Code aims to be at the forefront of the testing revolution.