ToumAI, an AI technology firm based in Morocco, has raised EUR 1 million (US$1.03 million) in pre-seed capital to broaden and improve its consumer experience (CX) offerings globally. 

The funding round, announced on Monday, was led by Launch Africa Ventures, with participation from Madica by Flourish Ventures, Orange Ventures, Digital Africa, GO Ventures, business angel Bruno Akpaka, and support from Bpifrance. 

Established in June 2020, the company uses AI to overcome linguistic and cultural barriers to improve customer experience (CX).

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The genesis of ToumAI

As COO Youcef Rahmani explained, the genesis of ToumAI lies in the founders’ personal experiences with the marginalisation of local African languages. “Growing up, they often felt the world sidelined these languages… which overshadowed the rich cultural heritage and communication potential of their native tongues,” he stated.

ToumAI aims to tap into this “goldmine of insights” by enabling businesses to understand and engage with these communities. “This isn’t just about data; it’s about inclusivity, enabling the unbanked and often marginalised sections of society to interact with modern technologies and participate in Africa’s digital transformation,” Mr Rahmani added.

Youcef Rahmani, the COO of ToumAI, noted that a significant portion of the population in Africa relies on oral communication due to high illiteracy rates, especially in sub-Saharan West Africa.

ToumAI’s technology recognises thousands of dialects, helping businesses reach diverse customers.

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ToumAI’s objectives

ToumAI’s HolistiCX suite lets businesses customise interactions based on culture, communication platforms, generational preferences, and emotional profiles.

The company’s technology allows for advanced churn detection, improves interactive voice response (IVR) systems, and improves voice commands in local languages.

To provide quality assurance, actionable insights, and suggestions for CX enhancement, ToumAI compiles data from several departments. The business operates in Morocco, Senegal, and Malta and plans to expand into Tunisia soon.

ToumAI has also secured partnerships with several organisations, including AIOX Labs, Open Startups, Incubateur Provence-Côte d’Azur, Wenov, OrangeFab, and Inwi Innov.

According to banks, telecom corporations, and infrastructure funds, ToumAI’s technology can improve customer happiness and data collection by bridging the linguistic gap. The investment will further develop the HolistiCX suite, expand into new markets, and grow ToumAI’s team.