African Tech Titans Return with Thunder Code: AI-Powered Testing Startup Raises $9M
From $120M Exit to AI Innovation
Karim Jouini and Jihed Othmani, the visionary founders behind Expensya’s landmark \(120M acquisition in 2023, have returned to entrepreneurship with [Thunder Code](https://www.thundercode.ai/)—a generative AI-powered software testing platform that's already secured \)9M in seed funding.
Why These Serial Founders Came Back
After their successful exit and brief retirement from startups:
- Jouini served as CTO at Medius (Expensya’s acquirer)
- Both initially swore off new ventures due to Expensya’s challenges
- Generative AI’s potential proved irresistible
“We promised not to do another company because Expensya was too hard,” Jouini told TechCrunch. “But like having a second child, you forget the pain. This is unicorn material.”
Thunder Code: AI Revolution in Software Testing
The Problem It Solves
- Manual testing remains slow and labor-intensive
- Global software testing market projected to exceed $100B by 2027
- Legacy platforms struggle with AI adaptation
The AI-Powered Solution
Thunder Code deploys intelligent agents that:
- Mimic human QA testers
- Detect subtle UI/UX issues
- Continuously learn from feedback
- Accelerate release cycles
Strategic Advantages
Lightning-Fast Execution
- MVP shipped in just 6 weeks
- Product maturity at 6 months surpasses Expensya’s 4-year progress
- Currently serving clients across US, Canada, France, and Tunisia
Expansion Roadmap
Current focus: Web application testing 2025 targets:
- Mobile app testing
- Desktop software testing
- API testing
Funding and Backing
The $9M seed round includes:
- Returning investors from Expensya’s cap table
- New supporters like Titan Seed Fund
- Strategic angels including:
- Roxanne Varza (Director of Station F)
- Karim Beguir (CEO of InstaDeep, Africa’s largest AI startup)
“Some Expensya employees invested—that validation means everything,” Jouini noted.
Founder Insights: Lessons Applied
- Speed Over Perfection: Rapid iteration beats lengthy planning
- Talent First: Early dilution acceptable for top-tier teams
- AI Efficiency: Building 10x value with leaner teams
- Global From Day One: Paris HQ with Tunis office maintains African roots
Competitive Landscape
Thunder Code enters a growing market with:
- Established players like Tricentis, BrowserStack
- New entrants including UiPath, Jetify, and Nova AI
Jouini remains confident: “Our AI-native approach and execution speed give us the edge.”
Image: Thunder Code founding team (credit: Thunder Code)
“A lot of African entrepreneurs fear dilution. We believe creating a unicorn at 50% is better than nothing at 100%.” — Karim Jouini
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