Matina Razafimahefa: A STEM Role Model Empowering Girls to Pursue Tech

Empowering Girls and Revolutionizing Tech Education in Africa

Matina Razafimahefa, a French-Malagasy female founder is a powerful example of how one individual can inspire change and open doors for others. As the founder of Sayna, a digital skills training platform, she is not only revolutionizing access to tech education in Africa, but she is also becoming a beacon of hope for young girls dreaming of careers in STEM.

At just 19 years old, Matina broke into the world of tech entrepreneurship by launching Sayna, a platform that offers gamified, online training in digital skills like coding, digital marketing, and UX design. What makes Sayna unique is that it’s completely accessible—no prior qualifications, degrees, or applications are required, making it open to all, regardless of background. This innovative approach is especially empowering for women and girls, especially in regions where access to education in technology is limited.

From Madagascar to the World: Matina’s Mission to Empower Girls in Tech

Matina’s journey began in Madagascar, where she grew up before moving to France, where she studied political science at the Sorbonne. But even before her studies, she was driven by a desire to make a difference. She realized early on that there were limited opportunities for young girls in her home country to access quality tech education, and this sparked her mission to change that.

Through Sayna, she aims to train 12,000 developers in Africa over the next two years, many of whom are young women who would otherwise never have had the chance to pursue a career in tech. Matina is not just teaching tech skills—she is showing girls that they belong in the tech world, that their dreams are valid, and that they can succeed. By providing a flexible, affordable learning platform, Matina is breaking down barriers that often discourage girls from pursuing STEM fields.

Supporting the Tech Ecosystem in Madagascar: French Tech Antananarivo

In addition to Sayna, Matina is the co-president of French Tech Antananarivo, a network supporting tech start-ups in Madagascar. This initiative connects young women and girls to a broader tech ecosystem, offering mentorship, inspiration, and resources to help them enter and succeed in tech careers.

Matina’s Legacy: Redefining the Future of Tech for Young Girls

What makes Matina truly exceptional is her ability to inspire and empower others, especially girls who often face societal challenges when entering male-dominated fields like tech. At just 25 years old, she has already received numerous accolades, including being named one of Forbes Africa’s 30 Under 30 in 2022. Her story shows that age and gender should never limit one's potential, and she is helping to reshape the narrative for young girls everywhere who want to pursue careers in tech.

Matina’s work is a testament to the fact that role models in STEM don’t just inspire—they create opportunities, build pathways, and change lives of many girls hrough her leadership, Sayna is not only training young minds but also fostering a generation of girls who now believe that they, too, can shape the future of technology.

A Journey Across Continents: Matina’s Experience in the USA

During her recent journey, she shared:

"First time in the USA as a Malagasy woman, immersed in an international tech geopolitics context—more complex than ever with the rise of AI, a topic on everyone's lips... It was a powerful reminder of how critical Human Intelligence tasks are now more than ever, and how Africa’s skilled workforce is already playing a pivotal role!"