Ajua said it acquired Kenya's WayaWaya. WayaWaya says it never happened

Teddy Ogallo has spent the past five years trying to convince people that his Kenyan artificial intelligence startup, WayaWaya, never sold out. The evidence he's gathered, consultancy agreements, shareholder records, emails, legal correspondence, regulatory letters, and screenshots of old news articles and texts, is stacked against the narrative that his company was acquired by Ajua, a customer experience startup, in 2021. Yet, public records and online reports continue to reflect a different story. For Ogallo, the founder of WayaWaya, this contradiction has been a constant source of frustration, leaving him and his board to repeatedly address questions from clients, partners, and stakeholders about the company's status and continuity.

The dispute extends beyond the question of whether WayaWaya changed ownership in 2021. It also raises questions about how corporate histories are recorded when public reporting and company records appear to conflict. In the early 2020s, Africa's technology sector was in the middle of a pandemic boom, with venture capital pouring into the continent and founders regularly crossing paths at investor meetings, conferences, and product demonstrations. Ogallo, who had spent years building conversational AI products for banks and telecommunications companies, met Ajua's founder, Kenfield Griffith, during this period, and the two stayed in touch as their businesses evolved. According to Ogallo, the discussions focused on his expertise in conversational AI, and there's no indication that WayaWaya was ever up for sale.

Since April 2021, WayaWaya has been navigating two competing versions of its history. On one hand, the company's records and documents, which Ogallo has shared with TechCabal, show that WayaWaya remains an independent business serving banks and telecommunications companies across Africa. On the other hand, search results, startup databases, and media reports continue to reflect the narrative that WayaWaya was acquired by Ajua on April 28, 2021, following the latter's announcement that it had acquired the company to strengthen its consumer intelligence platform. This contradiction has persisted for years, leaving Ogallo and his team to address questions and provide additional explanations and documentation during partnership and due diligence discussions.

The impact of this contradictory history has been significant for WayaWaya. According to Ogallo, the company has had to repeatedly explain its status and continuity to clients, partners, and stakeholders. This has been a source of frustration for the company, which has had to divert resources to address these questions and provide additional documentation. As a result, the company has had to be more transparent about its history and provide regular updates to its stakeholders. This has been a challenging process, but it's one that Ogallo believes is necessary to maintain the trust and confidence of WayaWaya's clients and partners.

The dispute over WayaWaya's acquisition is a reflection of the challenges of corporate history. As companies evolve and grow, their histories can become complex and nuanced. The way that companies are recorded in public records and online databases can sometimes conflict with the actual history of the company. This can lead to confusion and disputes, as we've seen in the case of WayaWaya. As a result, companies need to be more transparent about their histories and provide regular updates to their stakeholders. This will help to build trust and confidence in the company, and ensure that its history is accurately recorded.

• WayaWaya was founded by Teddy Ogallo in Kenya.
• Ajua, a customer experience startup, announced that it had acquired WayaWaya in April 2021.
• WayaWaya's records and documents show that the company remains an independent business serving banks and telecommunications companies across Africa.
• The dispute over WayaWaya's acquisition has persisted for years, leaving the company to repeatedly address questions and provide additional explanations and documentation.

As a writer, I find it fascinating to explore the complexities of corporate history and the challenges that companies face in maintaining accurate records. The dispute over WayaWaya's acquisition is a reminder that corporate history is often nuanced and complex, and that companies need to be transparent about their histories to build trust and confidence with their stakeholders. As we move forward, it will be interesting to see how WayaWaya navigates this contradictory history and how the company's future unfolds.