Afrovest is a B2B SaaS platform designed to deliver in-depth, structured data on Africa’s public and private companies, investors, deals, and advisors. Built to empower professionals across finance, consulting, and business development. This project aggregates and organizes critical market intelligence that enables data-driven decision-making and unlocks new growth opportunities across the continent. It serves as a trusted resource for navigating the complexities of Africa’s dynamic business landscape with accurate, real-time insights.

TECHNOLOGIES

• Framework: Next.js
• Language: TypeScript
• Styling: Tailwind CSS, Shadcn UI
• Backend & Database: Supabase (PostgreSQL, Authentication, Email)
• Data Presentation: Tanstack Table
• Deployment: Vercel
• Icons: Lucide Icons

KEY FEATURES

• Secure User Authentication & Management
  Comprehensive sign-up flow with email verification, secure session management, and password reset capabilities ensuring data protection and compliance.
• Dynamic, Interactive Data Tables
  Powered by Tanstack Table, users can filter, sort, and explore datasets by multiple dimensions including sector, founding year, valuation, investor type, and fund size providing rapid, granular data discovery.
• Fuzzy Search Across Dataset
  Intuitive search functionality supports queries across the entire dataset or within segmented views (companies, investors, funds, contacts), minimizing friction when locating relevant records.
• Multi-Format Data Export
  Enables seamless exporting of complex datasets in CSV, TSV, JSON, and XLSX formats, facilitating integration with client tools and downstream workflows.
• Weekly African Tech Ecosystem Newsfeed
  Curated updates deliver timely news on trends, investments, and developments within Africa’s tech and finance sectors, keeping users informed and engaged.
• Responsive and Consistent UI
  Built with Next.js, styled using Tailwind CSS and Shadcn UI components, Afrovest offers a fast, scalable, and intuitive user experience optimized for diverse device types.
• Scalable Backend Infrastructure
  Backend powered by Supabase leveraging PostgreSQL for reliable, relational data modeling; integrated authentication and email services ensure robustness and scalability.

DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

Afrovest was conceptualized to replicate and enhance features found in market intelligence platforms such as Gain.pro and Akinia. Key aspects of the development included:

• Backend Engineering: Modeled complex relational datasets in Supabase’s PostgreSQL, designed for optimized queries and fluid interactions across companies, investors, deals, and advisors.
• Frontend Design & Implementation: Created a user interface inspired by reference platforms, prioritizing data clarity, actionable insights, and smooth navigation for finance professionals.
• Security & Authentication: Developed a secure authentication system with email verification and password resets to safeguard user data and uphold trust.
• Advanced Data Interaction: Integrated multi-dimensional filtering, fuzzy search, and export functions to accommodate sophisticated data workflows.
• Content Delivery: Implemented dynamic news sections to provide users with fresh insights on Africa’s tech ecosystem fostering ongoing engagement.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS

• Complex Data Modeling: Navigating interdependent datasets demanded meticulous database schema design and indexing strategies to achieve performant and accurate cross-queries.
• Performance and Usability: Balancing large dataset responsiveness with an uncluttered, user-friendly interface required iterative frontend optimizations and efficient state management.
• Robust Authentication Workflows: Ensuring error-free email verification and secure password reset processes involved detailed flow mapping and thorough testing to minimize friction and increase platform security.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Afrovest stands as a critical intelligence hub for Africa’s business ecosystem by offering:

• A centralized source of trusted data to inform investment and partnership decisions.
• Enhanced deal sourcing and due diligence capabilities for financial and consulting professionals.
• Greater visibility into public and private market landscapes across diverse sectors.
• Streamlined workflows through robust export options and data integrations.

The project significantly deepened my expertise in building scalable SaaS platforms that integrate complex data models with user-centric design and secure authentication systems.