Knowvas Builds Anti-Piracy Tools for African Creators

In Short

Knowvas is positioning itself as a creator platform with anti-piracy features for African authors and artists. Its co-founder and CTO, Adeyemi Akitoye, says the product is meant to add “Netflix-style” protection to digital content.

Akitoye shared the story in Techpoint’s After Hours profile, including how he started in cybersecurity and is building the startup with his father.

What Happened

In the interview, Akitoye said he got early exposure to computers at home, starting with games and tutoring software. That curiosity later moved into basic web development, including HTML, JavaScript, and some Python.

He studied cybersecurity at Dominion University in Ibadan, Nigeria. Cybersecurity is the work of protecting systems and data from attacks, like putting stronger locks and alarms on digital doors.

Akitoye also said his university work was mostly theory. He taught himself practical skills, including setting up Linux environments and using tools like VirtualBox, a program that lets you run a computer inside your computer for safe testing.

Why It Matters

Piracy remains a major issue for Africa’s creator economy, especially for ebooks, PDFs, music files, and other easily shared formats. For creators, one leaked copy can spread quickly through messaging apps and file-sharing sites.

Knowvas is pitching a security-first approach to distribution. If it works, it could help creators keep more control over access, track misuse, and reduce unauthorised copying.

The profile also highlights a growing pattern in African startups, where founders are blending deep technical skills with local market problems. For investors and operators, it is another signal that cybersecurity talent is increasingly moving beyond enterprise IT and into consumer and creator products.

The Details

Techpoint framed the story as a look at a Gen Z engineer building with a parent, and trying to connect cybersecurity practice with creative work. The company’s product direction is still early, but the emphasis on protection tooling suggests a play for writers and artists who want safer digital monetisation.