In the old medina of Tunis, among winding alleyways steeped in scent and sunlight, a young girl asked questions. Not just ordinary ones, but the kind that pulled at the hems of tradition. Why do things work this way? What if they didn’t? Couldn’t there be a better path? Norchen Mezni, born and raised in Tunisia, grew up with a mind that never settled. Today, she’s channeling that same curiosity into changing the legal landscape of an entire region.
The Seed of Purpose
“I’ve always had a deep curiosity about how to solve problems in unconventional ways,” Norchen says. From a young age, she felt the itch to create, to build, to contribute something meaningful. That drive took her through a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Master’s in Marketing from the Mediterranean School of Business (MSB), but academia was only the launchpad.
Her early ventures spanned e-commerce, service industries, design, and more, seven startups in total. Some blossomed, others became lessons. But in all of them, a single thread tied everything together: the desire to make useful services accessible.
“What truly shaped my path is my desire to create impact and make useful services accessible to everyone, especially in regions like North Africa where innovation is needed the most,” she adds.
Birth of E-Tafakna
The concept for E-Tafakna, her current and most ambitious venture, was born not from theory, but personal frustration.
“I experienced firsthand how hard it was to access reliable, fast, and affordable legal help,” Norchen recalls. Legal services were often expensive, unnecessarily complicated, and elusive for everyday people. That’s when the idea struck: what if legal services could be democratized?
E-Tafakna, now headquartered in Tunis with a team of 12, is a legal tech platform that does just that. Users can create contracts in minutes, consult lawyers online, collaborate on documents, and sign digitally. “We’ve already integrated Artificial Intelligence deeply into our platform,” Norchen explains. “AI assists users throughout the entire process, from reading and translating contracts to summarizing, improving, recommending clauses, and even flagging potential risks. It’s like having a legal assistant by your side 24/7.”
The North African Shift
The digital transformation in North Africa has been dramatic. “When I first started talking about signing and generating contracts via a mobile app, people thought I was crazy,” Norchen remembers. “Now, almost everything is handled through smartphones.”
This shift has only fueled her determination. “To stay ahead of the curve, we’ve focused on constant adaptation. We embraced AI early, and today we’re working on a major AI-powered update that will redefine how people handle legal tasks, making legal support as easy as texting your assistant.”
The Solo Woman in the Arena
Norchen’s ascent hasn’t been without resistance. “Being a solo founder is tough. Being a young woman founder in a male-dominated field is even tougher.” Her voice doesn’t waver when she speaks of the obstacles—skepticism, underestimation, and outright dismissal. “I’ve faced skepticism, underestimation, and resistance, just because I was ‘too young’ or ‘too female’ to be taken seriously.”
But rather than retreat, she doubled down. “These challenges taught me resilience. I learned that confidence, discipline, and long-term vision are essential. I stopped waiting for validation and started creating my own lane.”
A Tipping Point
Today, the fruits of that defiance are tangible. E-Tafakna won first place in the HiiL Justice Accelerator for the MENA region, and also earned three awards in the Tunisian National Innovation Competition.
Yet, for Norchen, numbers speak louder than trophies. “The biggest success is having over 10,000 active users who rely on our platform to run their businesses legally and confidently.”
Creative at Heart
Norchen isn’t interested in being boxed in. Even as E-Tafakna scales, she continues to feed other parts of her creative soul.
“One of my current ventures is www.bohemian.tn, a boutique floral brand that delivers luxurious flower boxes,” she shares. “I also run LED Lab TN, which designs and produces modern illuminated signs for businesses.”
To some, these might seem unrelated. But for Norchen, it’s all connected. “Creativity drives everything I do, whether it’s flowers or legal documents.”
This blend of left-brain logic and right-brain artistry is what makes her so compelling: she sees patterns others miss.
Words to the Dreamers
When asked what she would tell aspiring entrepreneurs, especially those working with limited means, Norchen doesn’t hesitate. “Start with what you have. Focus on solving one real problem, then build from there. You don’t need to raise money immediately, your first mission is to prove there is value in what you’re doing.”
She emphasizes the importance of community and belief: “Bootstrap, use free tools, and keep your costs low. And most importantly, surround yourself with people who believe in your vision.”
Shaping the Future with Tech
Norchen is particularly excited about the confluence of AI and blockchain. “AI will allow people to navigate legal processes without needing to speak ‘legalese.’ Blockchain and smart contracts will bring more transparency and trust to transactions, especially across borders.”
She sees this as more than a business opportunity. It’s a social mission. “We’re currently developing new features that integrate both technologies, and I truly believe what we’re building will be a game-changer.”
Discipline Over Dreams
When reflecting on her journey, Norchen returns to a core principle. “Discipline and determination are everything. Ideas come and go, but what defines success is the ability to show up, every single day, even when it’s hard.”
She leads with empathy, driven by a mission that goes beyond profit. “I’ve learned to stay consistent, lead with empathy, and never lose sight of my mission, to build meaningful solutions that empower people.”
The Woman Who Kept Asking
Norchen Mezni is still asking questions. Still wondering how systems could work better, how innovation could reach further, how justice could be more human. Her story is not a closed chapter, it’s a movement in motion. In the heart of Tunis, a woman once underestimated has become a pioneer, not because she waited for permission, but because she created her own blueprint for change.
And with every contract signed, every entrepreneur empowered, every rule rewritten, she’s proving that when women lead with clarity, creativity, and courage, the world shifts.
