Former Expensya Co-Founders Return with Thunder Code, a Generative AI-Powered Software Testing Platform
In a groundbreaking move, co-founders Karim Jouini and Jihed Othmani made waves in the tech industry in 2023 when they sold their expense management startup Expensya to Swedish procurement software firm Medius. The acquisition, rumored to be over $120 million, marked one of the largest buyouts of an African startup to date.
Following the successful sale of Expensya, both Jouini and Othmani vowed to step away from entrepreneurship, with Jouini taking on the role of Chief Technology Officer at Medius, overseeing multiple acquisitions across three continents. However, the allure of a new technological frontier — generative AI — proved too strong to resist, prompting the duo to launch their latest venture, Thunder Code.
Thunder Code is a cutting-edge software testing platform powered by generative AI, designed to revolutionize the testing process by leveraging AI-powered “agents” to simulate human testers, identify UI/UX issues, and enhance overall product quality.
Jouini, reflecting on his transition to Medius and the inspiration behind Thunder Code, emphasized the transformative potential of generative AI in reshaping the software industry. Thunder Code’s rapid development pace, with the first MVP launched within six weeks, underscores the team’s commitment to agility and innovation.
Already making strides in the market, Thunder Code has secured $9 million in seed funding and attracted a diverse range of clients and pilot programs globally. With a focus on web application testing initially, Thunder Code has ambitious plans to expand into mobile, desktop, and API testing by late 2025.
Learning from past experiences, Jouini emphasizes the importance of prioritizing core features and recruiting top talent early on, even if it means early dilution of capital. Thunder Code’s lean AI-powered approach aims to maximize value creation with minimal resources, positioning the company for rapid growth and market dominance.
Despite the transition from expense management to software development tools, Jouini remains confident in Thunder Code’s ability to disrupt the software testing market, projected to exceed $100 billion by 2027. With Othmani’s expertise in generative AI and a strong investor lineup, including former Expensya stakeholders, Thunder Code is poised for success in a competitive landscape.
As Thunder Code joins the ranks of startups vying for market share in the generative AI space, Jouini’s vision for the company’s future remains clear: to deliver unparalleled value through innovation, speed, and cutting-edge technology.
