Our Story

We exist to eliminate counterfeiting in Africa

Every day, millions of Africans unknowingly buy fake medicines, counterfeit electronics, and adulterated food. We built VerifyGuard Africa to make that problem solvable — for every brand, in every market, on every phone.

Our Mission

To give every African consumer the power to verify what they buy — and every African brand the tools to prove their products are real. We believe authenticity is a right, not a privilege.

Our Vision

A continent where counterfeiting is economically non-viable — because every product has a verifiable digital identity and every fake is detected before it reaches a consumer.

The problem that drives us

Africa loses over $40 billion annually to counterfeit goods. This isn't just an economic problem — fake medicines kill, substandard electronics start fires, and adulterated food poisons families.

Consumer Safety

Counterfeit pharmaceuticals alone kill an estimated 500,000 Africans every year. Every scan of a VerifyGuard QR code is a potential life saved.

Brand Protection

Counterfeits don't just steal sales — they destroy brand trust built over decades. We help brands reclaim and protect that trust.

Economic Impact

By reducing counterfeiting, we protect African jobs, support tax revenues, and help legitimate businesses compete fairly.

Our journey

From a Nairobi startup to Africa's leading brand protection platform.

2022

VerifyGuard Africa founded in Nairobi, Kenya

2023

First 1 million QR codes generated; 3 countries live

2024

Series A funding raised; expanded to 12 African countries

2025

10 million QR codes milestone; launched AI anomaly engine v2

2026

Active in 25+ countries; $2.1B in brand value protected

What we stand for

Six values that guide every product decision, partnership, and line of code.

Integrity First

We build technology that can be trusted completely. Every cryptographic decision, every line of code is held to the highest standard of security.

Africa-Centred

We are built by Africans, for Africa. Every design decision — from mobile performance to geo-intelligence — is informed by deep knowledge of our continent.

Radical Transparency

Brands and consumers deserve complete clarity. Our verification results are unambiguous and our risk scoring methodology is fully documented.

Speed Matters

A verification that takes 10 seconds is a verification that won't happen. We obsess over performance so authenticity checks are instant, even on 3G.

Pan-African Vision

Counterfeiting doesn't respect borders. Neither do we. Our platform is engineered for the diversity and scale of a 1.4-billion-person continent.

Continuous Innovation

Counterfeiters evolve constantly. So do we. Our AI models, detection heuristics, and platform features are updated continuously to stay ahead.

Meet the team

A Pan-African team with deep expertise in security, engineering, and brand protection.

CO
Chidi Okonkwo
Chief Executive Officer

Former head of cybersecurity at Safaricom. 15 years building secure systems across East and West Africa.

🇰🇪 Kenya
AM
Aisha Mwangi
Chief Technology Officer

PhD in cryptography from the University of Nairobi. Led anti-fraud engineering at M-Pesa for 8 years.

🇰🇪 Kenya
KM
Kwabena Mensah
Chief Product Officer

Built supply-chain technology for FMCG companies across West Africa. Deep expertise in African retail dynamics.

🇬🇭 Ghana
LD
Lerato Dlamini
Head of Partnerships

10 years in enterprise sales across Southern Africa. Passionate about connecting brands with technology that actually works.

🇿🇦 South Africa
FH
Fatima Hassan
Head of Legal & Compliance

IP and technology law specialist with experience across 12 African jurisdictions. Advisor to the African Union on digital standards.

🇪🇹 Ethiopia
DS
David Ssemwanga
Head of Engineering

Full-stack engineer who has shipped products used by millions across East Africa. Open-source contributor and security researcher.

🇺🇬 Uganda

Ready to join the fight?

Protect your brand, protect your customers, and help build a counterfeit-free Africa.