Aicha Ech-Cherif

Moroccan-French tech pioneer who co-founded Africa's largest e-commerce platform

Aicha Ech-Cherif (b.1978) is a Moroccan-French entrepreneur who co-founded Jumia Technologies, Africa's leading e-commerce company launched in 2012. Growing up in Casablanca and Paris, she identified the continent's digital potential while working in investment banking. As Jumia's CEO from 2012-2015, she expanded operations across 11 African countries, creating Africa's first 'Amazon-like' marketplace. The company's 2019 NYSE IPO made history as the first African tech unicorn. Ech-Cherif pioneered initiatives like JumiaPay (2016), revolutionizing digital payments in regions with limited banking infrastructure. Her Social Impact Program has trained 50,000+ small business owners. In 2020, she launched The Aicha Foundation, providing STEM education to African girls. Featured in Forbes Africa (2018) and Time's 100 Most Influential (2021), she advocates for tech-driven economic empowerment. Her book Building Africa's Digital Future (2022) outlines strategies for inclusive tech growth on the continent.