Qualcomm recently unveiled the selected finalists for its Qualcomm Make in Africa 2024 initiative, alongside announcing the winner of the 2023 Wireless Reach Social Impact Fund.
As a leading entity in the realm of wireless communication technology development and services, Qualcomm orchestrates the Make in Africa program—an equity-free mentorship offering that is integral to its Africa Innovation Platform.
The mission of the program is to scout and nurture up-and-coming early-stage entrepreneurs who are keen to leverage cutting-edge connectivity and computational technologies, such as 5G, Edge-AI/ML (Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning), Compute, and IoT (Internet of Things).
For this cycle, Qualcomm has sifted through approximately 250 proposals spanning across 30 countries. The comprehensive review process has culminated in the selection of a shortlist comprising 10 standout startups, marking a significant milestone for tech innovation on the African continent.
In alphabetical order, the shortlist includes:
• Aurora Health from Kenya, which provides AI-based cardiovascular health care tools;
• CropScan from Kenya, which works with solar-powered smart farming IoT devices;
• Cure Bionics from Tunisia, which makes smart 3D printed prosthetic arms;
• DevisionX from Egypt, which provides AI-based low-code computer vision tools;
• Kalio from Cameroon, which is building AI tools for agricultural IoT solutions;
• Kitovu from Nigeria, which provides tools and software for smart agricultural warehouse management;
• NextAI Studios from Kenya, which builds AI-based emotion detection into toys for children’s mental healthcare;
• RIM Nextgen from Kenya, which uses smart tools for monitoring propane consumption;
• Sparcx from South Africa, which uses AI for enhancing radar signal processing; and
• Vizmerald from Tunisia, which is working on AI-based textile industry inspection solutions.
The selected startups from Qualcomm’s Make in Africa 2024 cohort are set to benefit from an array of developmental opportunities including hands-on mentorship, business coaching sessions, engineering support to enhance their product development, and expert guidance on securing their intellectual property rights.
At the announcement, Alex Rogers, the President of Qualcomm Technological Licensing and Global Affairs, was impressed by the caliber and variety of the applications, highlighting the rich reservoir of tech talent and potential brewing within the African technology landscape.
“We are thrilled to embark on this journey with the shortlisted start-ups and to equip them with the resources and backing they need to propel innovation forward and engender a tangible, beneficial change in their local communities,” Rogers remarked.
In a concurrent revelation, Qualcomm announced Ecorich Solutions as the beneficiary of the 2023 Wireless Reach Social Impact Fund, an initiative aimed at supporting startups to amplify their impact both socially and in the market realm.
Ecorich Solutions, a venture founded by a woman in Kenya, is earmarked to receive funding that will bolster the reach of its smart organic food composter—a product at the intersection of organic waste management and sustainable agriculture.
The startup is driven by the ambition to tackle the dual issue of effective waste disposal and the necessity for environmentally-conscious farming methods. The overarching goals are to reduce environmental pollution, boost agricultural productivity for farmers, and alleviate waste-associated health risks within communities.
In addition to Ecorich Solutions, the other nine shortlisted startups from the 2023 cohort will each receive stipends, facilitating them to further scale up their operations.
