Karim Jouini, one of Africa’s most successful tech founders, is back, and this time, he’s diving headfirst into the generative AI wave. Alongside co-founder Jihed Othmani, he has launched Thunder Code, a generative AI platform designed to revolutionize software testing. The new venture has already raised $9 million in seed funding, a strong start for a company less than six months old.
From Exit to a Fresh Start
In 2023, the duo sold their previous startup, Expensya, to Sweden’s Medius. While the deal amount wasn’t disclosed, reports suggest it exceeded $120 million, making it one of Africa’s biggest tech acquisitions. After the exit, both founders vowed to step away from startups for good.
But the lure of AI and the chance to build something even more impactful brought them back.
“We promised not to do another company, but this tech shift was too big to ignore,” said Jouini.
His time as CTO at Medius reignited his entrepreneurial drive. While overseeing the integration of multiple acquisitions, he noticed a recurring pain point: software testing — slow, manual, and outdated.
That insight sparked Thunder Code.
Thunder Code: AI-Powered Software Testing
Thunder Code uses generative AI agents that act like human testers. These agents:
- ✅ Simulate quality assurance (QA) processes
- ✅ Detect subtle UI/UX bugs
- ✅ Learn and improve through feedback
- ✅ Reduce time and effort needed for testing
The goal is to help developer teams, QA shops, and delivery managers test and ship software faster, starting with web applications and expanding to mobile, desktop, and API testing by late 2025.
A Smarter, Faster Approach
Jouini was determined not to repeat Expensya’s early-stage mistakes. Thunder Code shipped its first MVP in just six weeks, and the product is already more advanced than Expensya was in its fourth year.
- ✅ Focus on core features
- ✅ Build fast and iterate
- ✅ Hire top talent early, even if it means early equity dilution
“We’re not afraid of dilution. If we build a unicorn, it’s worth it,” said Jouini, addressing a common hesitation among African founders.
Thunder Code already has paying customers and pilots in the U.S., Canada, France, and Tunisia.
Backed by Trusted Investors
The startup’s $9M seed round includes past Expensya investors like:
- Silicon Badia
- Janngo Capital
- Titan Seed Fund
- Roxanne Varza (Director, Station F)
- Karim Beguir (CEO, InstaDeep)
Even former Expensya employees, who benefited from the acquisition, have reinvested.
Big Vision, Lean Team
Jouini believes AI can help Thunder Code do 10x more with fewer people, echoing a broader shift toward lean, AI-powered startups. Despite fierce competition from players like UiPath, Jetify, and Nova AI, he sees a massive opportunity. The software testing market is projected to cross $100 billion by 2027, and legacy platforms are slow to evolve.
With its AI-first approach and proven team, Thunder Code is racing ahead, aiming to become the next big player in developer tools.