One of Africa’s most successful founders is back with a new AI startup and already raised $9M

In a remarkable turn of events, co-founders Karim Jouini and Jihed Othmani, who previously achieved significant success by selling their expense management platform Expensya for an estimated $120 million, are diving back into the startup world. After a brief hiatus, they have launched Thunder Code, an innovative software testing platform powered by generative AI, and have already raised $9 million in seed funding, as reported by TechCrunch. Jouini reflected on their initial decision to step away from entrepreneurship, admitting, 'It's pretty crazy because we promised not to do another company because Expensya was too hard.' However, the emergence of generative AI reignited their passion for building transformative technology. Thunder Code seeks to revolutionize the notoriously slow and manual process of software testing. By utilizing AI-driven agents that imitate human testers, the platform addresses critical quality assurance issues and adapts based on user feedback. Jouini emphasized the importance of speed in their development process, noting, 'We shipped our first MVP in week six, and now the product is much more solid six months in than Expensya was in year four.' With an eye on rapid growth, Thunder Code is already attracting paying customers and pilot programs across several countries, including the U.S., Canada, France, and Tunisia. Jouini aims to leverage valuable lessons learned from their Expensya journey, focusing on essential features and acquiring top talent, even if it means early dilution of equity. 'We believe that if we create a unicorn while diluting ourselves, that’s good value,' he stated. The software testing market, projected to surpass $100 billion by 2027, presents a vast opportunity, and Jouini is confident that Thunder Code's agile approach will distinguish it from legacy competitors. The company is strategically positioned in Paris, with plans for expansion into mobile and desktop testing by late 2025. Partnering with QA teams and delivery managers, Thunder Code is poised to capture a significant share of the evolving market. With the expertise of Othmani in generative AI and a strong roster of investors, including both new and former Expensya employees, Thunder Code is off to a promising start.