Qualcomm Incorporated has recently revealed the shortlisted startups for the Qualcomm Make in Africa 2024 program and announced the winner of the 2023 Wireless Reach Social Impact Fund. This initiative showcases Qualcomm's commitment to empowering Africa's emerging technology ecosystem through mentorship, training, and support. The program focuses on areas such as 5G, Edge-AI/ML, Compute, and IoT, and has received an overwhelming response from 30 countries with approximately 250 applications.
Qualcomm Make in Africa:
Qualcomm Make in Africa is a mentorship program that aims to identify promising early-stage startups in Africa. These startups demonstrate exceptional potential in applying advanced connectivity and processing technologies to innovative end-to-end systems solutions. The selected startups will receive free mentorship, business coaching, engineering consultation for product development, and guidance on intellectual property protection. The 2024 cohort includes the following startups:
1. Aurora Health (Kenya) - AI-based cardiovascular health tools
2. CropScan (Kenya) - Solar-powered smart farming IoT devices (cropscan.co.ke)
3. Cure Bionics (Tunisia) - Smart 3D printed prosthetic arms (curebionics.com)
4. DevisionX (Egypt) - AI-based low-code computer vision tools
5. Kalio (Cameroon) - AI tools for agricultural IoT
6. Kitovu (Nigeria) - Smart agriculture warehouse management (kitovu.com)
7. NextAI Studios (Kenya) - AI-based emotion detection into toys for children’s
mental healthcare (nextaistudios.com)
8. RIM Nextgen (Kenya) - Uses smart tools for monitoring propane consumption
9. Sparcx (South Africa) - Uses AI for enhancing radar signal processing
10. Vizmerald (Tunisia) - AI textile inspection (vizmerald.com)
Wireless Reach Social Impact Fund:
Qualcomm is proud to announce the awardee of the 2023 Wireless Reach Social Impact Fund. Ecorich Solutions Limited, a female-founded organization based in Nairobi, Kenya, will receive funding to scale the impact of their smart organic food composter. The fund aims to support startups in scaling their societal and market impact. Ecorich Solutions will address the dual challenge of organic waste management and the need for sustainable agricultural practices, with the goal of reducing environmental pollution, improving crop yields, and mitigating waste-related health risks.
L2Pro Africa IP E-Learning Platform:
Qualcomm is also excited to highlight the progress of the L2Pro Africa IP e-learning platform. This free online training program, created in collaboration with Adams and Adams, Africa's leading intellectual property (IP) law firm, empowers startups, SMEs, and researchers in Africa to protect, secure, and maximize their innovations. The program now includes individual filing procedures for patents, industrial designs, and trademarks in Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Ghana, Rwanda, and within the African patent organizations ARIPO and OAPI.
"I am thrilled with the overwhelming response to the Africa Innovation Platform this year," said Alex Rogers, President, QTL & Global Affairs, Qualcomm Incorporated. "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."
Qualcomm's Africa Innovation Platform continues to drive innovation and create a positive impact in Africa's technology ecosystem. By providing mentorship, training, and funding opportunities to promising startups, Qualcomm is empowering African entrepreneurs to leverage advanced technologies and make a difference in their communities. The shortlisted startups and the awardee of the Wireless Reach Social Impact Fund are poised to scale their impact and contribute to sustainable development. With the L2Pro Africa IP e-learning platform, startups and researchers in Africa can protect their intellectual property and maximize the value of their innovations.
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