Karim Jouini and Jihed Othmani, the celebrated founders behind Expensya, are back on the startup scene with a new AI venture—Thunder Code. Their return comes just months after the high-profile sale of Expensya to Swedish procurement firm Medius, a deal widely estimated at over $120 million though exact figures were not disclosed. Following that acquisition, the pair had vowed to leave entrepreneurship behind for good.
From CTO at Medius to New AI Vision
Jouini initially transitioned into a CTO role at Medius, managing tech integrations across six companies in three continents. However, exposure to the potential of generative AI reignited his entrepreneurial drive, especially after recognizing persistent inefficiencies in software testing. That insight became the foundation for Thunder Code, an AI-powered platform aiming to streamline and scale testing processes for developers worldwide.
Introducing Thunder Code: AI Agents for Software QA
Thunder Code leverages generative AI to create intelligent agents that replicate the actions of human quality assurance testers. These agents identify user interface and user experience issues while continuously learning from feedback, offering a scalable solution to one of software development’s most enduring challenges. The company’s current offering focuses on web application testing, with plans to extend to mobile, desktop, and API testing by late 2025.
Rapid Execution and Early Traction
Unlike their earlier startup journey, Jouini and Othmani have approached Thunder Code with accelerated speed and precision. The first minimum viable product (MVP) was shipped just six weeks after launch, and the platform is now in use by paying customers across the U.S., Canada, France, and Tunisia. Their ability to move quickly while learning from Expensya’s early hurdles has given Thunder Code a significant head start.
Seed Funding and Strategic Backers
Thunder Code recently secured $9 million in seed funding, a major vote of confidence for such a young company. The round was backed by familiar investors from the Expensya days, including Silicon Badia and Janngo Capital, along with Titan Seed Fund and notable angels such as Roxanne Varza of Station F and Instadeep’s CEO Karim Beguir. Even former Expensya employees who benefited from the acquisition returned as investors, reinforcing a strong sense of continuity and loyalty within the founders’ network.
Applying Lessons from the Past
Jouini has been clear about applying hard-earned lessons from Expensya, especially around speed, hiring top talent early, and maintaining focus on core features. He is also unafraid of early-stage equity dilution if it means bringing in the best people to execute the vision. “If we create a unicorn while diluting ourselves, that’s good value,” he told TechCrunch, signaling a pragmatic approach uncommon among African founders who typically prioritize equity retention.
AI Efficiency and Market Opportunity
Jouini believes that generative AI will allow Thunder Code to generate ten times the output with fewer employees, aligning with a broader shift toward lean AI-driven teams. The founders are targeting a software testing market that is projected to surpass $100 billion by 2027, currently dominated by legacy players like Tricentis and BrowserStack. Thunder Code aims to leapfrog these incumbents by capitalizing on its fast-moving, AI-first model.
Positioning in a Competitive Landscape
Though the startup enters a crowded field with competition from enterprise giants like UIPath and emerging players like Jetify and Nova AI, Jouini remains confident. He argues that Thunder Code’s execution speed, paired with its AI capabilities and a team grounded in deep domain experience, gives it an edge. Co-founder Othmani’s background in building in-house AI tools well before ChatGPT's rise further strengthens their position.
With headquarters in Paris and an office in Tunis, Thunder Code embodies a global mindset rooted in African startup success. For Jouini and Othmani, this venture is not just a second act but a leap into a more ambitious and technically sophisticated market. Backed by a solid investor base and a powerful mission, Thunder Code is poised to redefine how software testing is done—faster, smarter, and at scale, TechCrunch reports.