In 2023, Karim Jouini and Jihed Othmani, the co-founders of Expensya, made headlines when they sold their expense management startup to Swedish procurement software firm Medius in one of the largest acquisitions of an African startup. Although the exact deal terms were not disclosed, it is believed to have been worth just over $120 million. Despite their previous vow to step away from entrepreneurship after the grueling experience of building and selling Expensya, the duo has been drawn back into the startup world by the transformative potential of generative AI. This year, Jouini and Othmani launched Thunder Code, a generative AI-powered software testing platform. The company has already attracted significant attention, securing $9 million in seed funding—a testament to their track record and the promising nature of their new venture. Jouini, who transitioned to a CTO role at Medius post-acquisition, attributes his return to entrepreneurship to a renewed interest in technology and the realization of how AI can revolutionize the software industry. Thunder Code addresses the common issue of slow and manual software testing with AI-powered "agents" that simulate human testers. These virtual agents can detect subtle user interface and user experience problems, learn from feedback, and improve over time. According to Jouini, this technology can significantly streamline the testing process, allowing developers to identify and fix bugs more efficiently. Determined to avoid the pitfalls of their earlier startup, Jouini and Othmani have emphasized rapid development and feedback. They shipped their minimum viable product (MVP) within the first six weeks and continue to iterate quickly, a stark contrast to Expensya, where the product took four years to reach a similar level of robustness. Jouini believes that fast feedback is crucial in the startup ecosystem and that by staying agile, Thunder Code can maintain its competitive edge. The company has already gained traction with paying customers and pilot programs in the U.S., Canada, France, and Tunisia. It primarily focuses on web application testing but plans to expand to mobile, desktop, and API testing by late 2025. Thunder Code's unique selling proposition lies in its ability to rapidly test software products using AI, which can help teams release high-quality products more frequently. Moreover, Jouini and Othmani are leveraging their hard-earned lessons from Expensya. They prioritize core features and attract top talent early, believing that a small, highly skilled team can achieve more with the help of AI. Jouini acknowledges that diluting capital early is sometimes necessary for growth and success. “A lot of African entrepreneurs are scared to dilute capital because they want to keep 100%, but we believe that if we create a unicorn while diluting ourselves, that’s good value,” he said. The jump from expense management to software developer tools was a significant leap, but Jouini sees the software testing market as larger and more complex, projected to exceed $100 billion by 2027. This market is currently dominated by legacy platforms like Tricentis and BrowserStack, which might struggle to adapt to the rapid advancements in AI. Jouini is confident that Thunder Code's quick execution and innovative use of AI will give it an advantage over competitors, including newer agentic products. Thunder Code's headquarters are in Paris, with an additional office in Tunis. The company's funding round included returning investors from Expensya, such as Silicon Badia and Janngo Capital, along with new backers like Titan Seed Fund and strategic angels like Roxanne Varza (Director of Station F) and Karim Beguir, CEO of Instadeep, Africa’s leading AI startup. The involvement of former Expensya employees who benefited from the acquisition further underscores the belief in the new venture. Industry insiders view Thunder Code as a strong contender in the rapidly evolving AI landscape, particularly due to the combination of Jouini and Othmani’s proven entrepreneurial success and Othmani’s deep expertise in generative AI. The company's ability to secure substantial funding in a short period highlights the investors' confidence in their vision. Analysts predict that Thunder Code’s approach to leveraging AI for software testing could disrupt the industry, potentially reshaping how development teams ensure the quality and reliability of their products. Thunder Code represents a significant step forward for African tech innovation, showcasing the continent's growing influence in cutting-edge technologies. With a strong product, strategic team, and robust investment, the company is poised to make a significant impact in the global software testing market.