Ella: The African Innovation Powered by Clinton Mbonu

From a young boy in Africa with a curiosity for technology to one of the continent’s most promising innovators, Clinton Mbonu continues to make waves in Africa’s tech ecosystem. For many of his former colleagues from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, this trajectory comes as no surprise. Clinton has always been an explorative developer, winning multiple software exhibitions and innovation awards since his university days. His drive to build, experiment, and push boundaries has been evident for years.

That determination led him to join the MEST Africa Entrepreneurial Training Program in Accra, Ghana, in September 2023, where he was selected among the top 50 innovators from 12 African countries. The fully sponsored, one-year program sharpens the skills of Africa’s next generation of tech founders, training participants in software development, business strategy, and communications while guiding them to develop scalable solutions and pitch to investors.

Earlier, in June 2023, Clinton pitched Ella, a conversational commerce agent built for WhatsApp at MEST’s training program. Designed to help small businesses manage customer engagement, process orders, track inventory, handle payments, and respond to enquiries automatically, Ella addressed a core need in Africa’s growing SME sector. Following the program, the product later became publicly available under Clinton’s startup Waffles AI.

Under Clinton’s leadership, Ella is currently serving more than 500 businesses across Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya, powering over 60,000 automated messages and processing 29,000 orders without manual intervention. Its efficiency continues to transform how small businesses operate, and the innovation behind it enabled Waffles AI to secure $100,000 in pre-seed funding from MEST Africa. The startup was also recognized as a runner-up at TechCabal’s Moonshot Awards, further cementing Ella’s place as a rising force in Africa’s digital economy.

Following the success of Waffles AI, Clinton incorporated the company on 15 January 2024, expanding his mission to build AI-driven solutions for African businesses. He directs a cross-functional team of engineers and designers, guiding product growth and market adaptation across diverse business environments. Colleagues who knew him during his university days note that this trajectory was inevitable. Clinton has always been the student who builds, competes, and innovates relentlessly.

Today, Ella is redefining digital commerce for small businesses across Africa, and behind its success is Clinton Mbonu, a visionary whose talent, resilience, and technical expertise continue to shape the future of African technology.