As Qualcomm Incorporated announces the selected startups for its Make in Africa 2024 programme, it is unsurprising that Nigeria’s Kitovu – a company dedicated to lifting farmers out of poverty by building and deploying climate-smart farming and post-harvest infrastructure – is on the shortlist.
Now in its second year, Qualcomm Make in Africa is an equity-free mentorship program that identifies promising early-stage startups eager to apply advanced connectivity and process technologies to innovative end-to-end systems solutions, including hardware.
Having demonstrated exceptional potential, the selected startups include:
- Kenyan-based Aurora Health, which provides AI-based cardiovascular health care tools; CropScan, which uses solar-powered smart farming IoT devices; NextAI Studios, which builds AI-based emotion detection into toys for children’s mental healthcare; and RIM Nextgen which uses smart tools for monitoring propane consumption.
- Cure Bionics from Tunisia which makes smart 3D printed prosthetic arms; and
- DevisionX from Egypt which provides AI-based low-code computer vision tools have also been selected.
- Kalio from Cameroon which is building AI tools for Agricultural IoT ,
- Kitovu from Nigeria which provides tools and software for smart agricultural warehouse management,
- South African Sparcx which uses AI for enhancing radar signal processing
- Vizmerald from Tunisia which is working on AI-based textile industry inspection.
The startups will receive free mentorship, business coaching, access to engineering consultation for product development, and guidance on protecting intellectual property.
Says Alex Rogers (President, QTL & Global Affairs, Qualcomm Incorporated): “I am thrilled with the overwhelming response to the Africa Innovation Platform this year.
“The quality and diversity of the applications received reflect the immense talent and potential within Africa’s technology ecosystem. We are excited to work with the shortlisted startups and provide them with the necessary resources and support to drive innovation and create a positive impact in their communities.”
This year, Qualcomm says it received an overwhelming response, with approximately 250 startups from 30 countries applying for the program.