Press release

Paris, 18 May 2017

Founded in 2016 by Isabelle Mashola and Philippe Coup-Jambet, isahit, an impact sourcing platform, is starting its funding campaign on the equity crowdfunding platform dedicated to Africa, Afrikwity. This fundraising of 400 000 euros will enable Isahit to strengthen its commercial activity, to finance its R&D and its implementation in ten countries in Africa.

"I am delighted to be part of the first projects of the platform. We share common values and interests with Afrikwity: collaboration, sharing, helping each other, working fairly, growing Africa through digital. We are excited about the idea of having investors from all over the world who want to share our success. "explains Isabelle Mashola, President of isahit.

Isahit wants to restore dignity through fair work and to develop the skills of the people of Africa through digital.

Isahit brings together socio-economically disadvantaged workers from emerging countries and French companies that outsource part of their digital activities.

Present in 5 French-speaking African countries, isahit was born from the desire ofIsabelle Mashola, former CIO of a CAC40 company, and Philippe Coup-Jambet, serial entrepreneur, to establish a model that would extend skills and access to digital tools while improving the living conditions of people in emerging countries.

A vision they project on their socially responsible sourcing impact platform.

The startup now allows women who live below the poverty line in Africa (Senegal, Côte d'ivoire, Congo, Burkina and Cameroon) to manage the digital micro-tasks of French companies. These HITeuses (HIT = Human Intelligence tasks) are commissioned on data processing, management or analysis, which cannot be supported by robots.

The startup makes available to HITeuses tablets, co-working spaces to work and accompanies them in their administrative procedures or even on the creation of a bank account.

Isahit is among its clients Alma Learning Group, InnovAdvisor and will announce future collaborations with companies of the CAC40.

The bulk of the funds will fund research and Development, the evolution of artificial intelligence components that the platform uses to cut out digital tasks outsourced by companies. The tasks will then be assigned to the HITeuses according to their profiles (skills, speed, type of task...).

The 400 000 euros sought will also be used to recruit new HITeuses, to raise them in competence, because today Isahit is recording more and more digital tasks, more than 4.5 million. The startup will take advantage of it to deploy its expansion plan on the international market, by locating itself in the countries of English-speaking Africa.

Equity crowdfunding at the service of the growth of the African continent.

Digital will play a central role in the development of the African continent. Digital access promotes GDP growth and the observers find that this is a major lever in improving the living conditions of the population.

In 4 years, Isahit plans to count more than 10 000 HITers, for a social impact on tens of thousands of families in Africa.

"Even in the context of our current €400k fundraising, it is important for us to show our attachment to the African continent and to allow people who identify with our project to take part, starting at €100. "says Isabelle Mashola, President of isahit.

Launched in 2015 by Thameur Hemdane, Afrikwity is an equity crowdfunding platform that allows individuals to invest in innovative startups that actively participate in Africa's development. Afrikwity supports Africa's development by financing innovation and companies with high growth potential.

"We carry out a rigorous selection of the start-ups we propose to investors. This selection is based in particular on criteria of innovation, soundness of the business model, quality of management and financial prospects. Not only does Isahit perfectly meet these criteria, but it also has a socially responsible approach that combines social innovation, digital platform and poverty reduction in Africa. We are pleased to support isahit in its fundraising and to allow investors seeking a social impact to take part in this great entrepreneurial adventure. "says Thameur Hemdane, Founder and CEO of Afrikwity.

To find Isahit on Afrikwity:Https://www.afrikwity.com/projet/isahit-2

About Isahit

Launched in 2016 by Isabelle Mashola and Philippe Coup-Jambet, isahit is a self-service platform for outsourcing digital projects of French companies that transforms them into digital micro-tasks, easy to perform by entrusting them to "workers" or HITers (HIT: Human Intelligence Task). The startup is part of a co-development approach by giving back dignity through work to people looking for additional income to finance their studies, to start an entrepreneurial project or simply to improve their living conditions.

Isahit aims to establish itself in 10 countries in Francophone and anglophone Africa, running 2017 and to collect 10 000 HITers to create a social impact with 40 000 people, within 4 to 5 years. Www.isahit.com

Press Contacts

Kalima Agency

Melissa Rancé – Sarah Hashem mrance@kalima-rp.fr · 01 42 21 56 52 · 06 10 91 78 46