$100M To Build Africa's AI Future

How Karim Beguir turned InstaDeep into a global AI leader

Author

Marco Fazio
March 13, 2025

In partnership with

Karim Beguir didn’t just dream of building an AI company— he dreamed of putting Africa on the global AI map.

In 2014, Karim co-founded InstaDeep in Tunisia with a vision to harness AI to solve real-world problems. From optimizing transportation logistics to advancing biotech solutions, InstaDeep's mission was bold: use AI to unlock efficiencies and innovations across industries, while proving that world-class technology can come from Africa.

From Local Beginnings to Global Impact

Starting with limited resources, Karim and his team focused on resilience and creativity. Early projects tackled logistics, health, and finance. But InstaDeep's breakthrough came with its early warning system for detecting dangerous COVID-19 variants—a solution that caught global attention.

As the company grew, it opened offices in major cities like London, Paris, and Berlin, partnering with heavyweights like Nvidia and Google DeepMind. InstaDeep wasn’t just solving problems—it was redefining AI excellence, from Tunisia to the world.

The $100M Milestone

In 2022, InstaDeep secured $100 million in a Series B round led by BioNTech, with contributions from AI giants like Google and Deutsche Bahn. It was more than just funding—it was validation that Africa could lead in AI innovation.

And the impact? Less than a year later, BioNTech acquired InstaDeep for €636 million, marking one of the largest exits for an African-founded startup.

Karim's Vision for AI in Africa

For Karim, this is just the beginning. His mission goes beyond one company. He’s passionate about inspiring the next generation of African AI leaders, proving that with the right mindset, innovation can come from anywhere.

"Africa is not just a consumer of AI. We are creators. We are innovators. And we're just getting started."

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— Marco Fazio | Founder MVP AI | Forbes 30 under 30

📩 PS: Hit reply & share your AI startup story—we’d love to hear it!

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