One of Africa’s most successful founders is back with a new AI startup and already raised $9M
- Karim Jouini and JIHED Othmani, who previously founded Expensya, have launched Thunder Code, a generative AI software testing platform.
- Jouini and Othmani sold Expensya, their expense management startup, to Medius in 2023.
- Initially, both founders were hesitant to start another company.
Thunder Code Aims to Revolutionize Software Testing with AI
Updated June 04, 2025
Karim Jouini and JIHED Othmani, who previously founded Expensya, have launched Thunder Code, a generative AI software testing platform. The company has already raised $9 million in seed funding.
Jouini and Othmani sold Expensya, their expense management startup, to Medius in 2023. The acquisition was one of the largest involving an African startup. While the exact terms weren’t disclosed, some reports placed the deal at over $120 million.
Initially, both founders were hesitant to start another company. However, the potential of generative AI and the possibility to build something even bigger drew them back in. Thunder Code addresses the challenges of slow, manual testing by using AI-powered agents that mimic human testers. These agents simulate QA processes, identify subtle UI and UX problems, and learn from feedback.
Jouini,who became head of technology at Medius after the acquisition,saeid his experience integrating multiple companies showed him how generative AI could transform the software industry. He noted that software testing was a universal pain point, inspiring the creation of Thunder Code.
The company is currently focused on web application testing but plans to expand into mobile, desktop, and API testing by late 2025. Thunder Code already has paying customers and pilot programs in the U.S., Canada, France, and Tunisia.
jouini emphasized the importance of speed, stating that Thunder Code shipped its first MVP in six weeks. He also highlighted the value of attracting top talent early on, even if it means early dilution.
“It’s pretty crazy because we promised not to do another company because Expensya was too hard,” Jouini said. “But I think it’s like when people have two kids, they forget how hard the first one was…we’re convinced this is unicorn material.”
Jouini believes that AI will enable Thunder Code to generate significantly more value with a smaller team. He acknowledges that transitioning from expense management to software developer tools was a important shift. Though, he sees software testing as a larger and more complex market, projected to exceed $100 billion by 2027.
What’s next
With $9 million in funding and Othmani’s expertise in generative AI,Thunder Code aims to rapidly capture market share in the competitive landscape of AI-powered software testing platforms.