This Week In Tanzanian Startup 🔥

COSTECH awards 60M total seed funding to MUHAS Students’ Innovations

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Deals & Close Ups 🤑🤑

The Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH) has awarded three innovation teams in health sector to students from the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) following a pitch competition where the students got an opportunity to showcase their solutions. Each of the three top solutions was awarded TZS 20 M seed funding, totalling to TZS 60 M funding to these solutions.

The funding is to support these students scaling up their solutions and improving their prototypes to market-ready products. The innovation teams0000 include Noenatal Care Bundle, SunGuard Cream, and Afya AI.

Kenyan ISP Mawingu Networks has Acquired Habari, a Tanzanian ISP.


Kenyan internet service provider Mawingu Networks has successfully secured Ksh. 1.9 billion ($15 million) in financing to acquire Habari, a Tanzanian ISP. This strategic move positions Mawingu as East Africa’s largest ISP focused on rural and peri-urban markets, a crucial step toward bridging the digital divide in the region.

With an impressive network of 175 towers delivering wireless, fibres, and smart green-energy connectivity, Mawingu's adaptable infrastructure ensures reliable service in even the most challenging terrains—empowering communities across rural Africa with sustainable digital solutions.

This deal underscores the immense potential for cross-border collaboration in advancing Africa’s digital transformation.

Meet The Next Fund 3.0 Cohort

Swahilies, MedPack Tanzania, and Twende Technologies, set to receive tailored venture development support and funding. These startups are poised to create meaningful impact and drive the next wave of transformative businesses across Africa.

Through this program, the founders will benefit from:
🔹 Cluster Workshops to tackle key growth challenges
🔹 Need-based Technical Support tailored to their unique needs
🔹 1:1 Expert Mentorship to sharpen their strategies
🔹 Investor Office Hours to connect with top investors

Startup Spotlight🌟🌟

Afya Mama to represent Tanzania in L59 Pitch Competition in Kenya

Afya Mama, a Tanzanian based startup using last-mile web application and artificial intelligence SMS chatbot to provide health information tips and education, is among 10 startups from different countries taking stage at the finals of L59 Pitch Competition in Nairobi, Kenya on 28th November 2024.

Out of 382 applications from 37 countries, Afya Mama successfully made it to top 10 and will pitch live on the main stage to compete for a prize pool including invitation to Latitude59 2025 in Tallinn, Estonia and participation in the pre-finals of Latitude59 Pitch Competition. Of 37 countries participants who applied, top 10 finalists include 7 participants from Kenya, and 1 each from Nigeria, United States, and Tanzania. 

Afya Mama emerging among the top 10 finalists showcases the commitment among people in Tanzanian startups and determination to increase the ecosystem’s visibility and impact to the community.

Community Highlights 🔥🔥

🚀 Tanzania’s Startup Ecosystem Celebrates New Milestone

In a significant boost to the entrepreneurial landscape, UNDP Tanzania’s Funguo Programme, in partnership with CRDB Bank Plc’s iMBEJU initiative, has announced the 3rd cohort of FUNGUO/iMBEJU investees.

This cohort, comprising 18 startups and SMEs, is set to receive:
💰 TZS 1.45 billion in FUNGUO Catalytic Grants
💸 TZS 355 million in iMBEJU Soft Loans

These investments go beyond funding. They are strategic enablers aimed at fostering job creation, empowering youth, and driving sustainable growth, all in alignment with Tanzania's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This achievement underscores the transformative power of partnerships in building a thriving startup ecosystem. By providing critical resources and support, programs like FUNGUO and iMBEJU are shaping the future of entrepreneurship in Tanzania, unlocking opportunities for economic and social impact.

Funding opportunities 🎇🎇🎇

 

🏘️ Village Global Velocity: A Program for pre-seed founders.
Announcing Velocity, Village Global's new program built specifically for pre-seed founders. The program backs founders with checks of up to $1M, a peer cohort, AI resources, and the flexibility of being fully remote.
Founders also get top-tier access to AI perks, thanks to Microsoft for Startups and OpenAI.

🌐 Open call for applications: AI and Blockchain for Data and Trust
UNICEF Venture Fund is looking to invest in open-source frontier technology solutions that have potential to create radical change for children.

🔷 HUB71 Company-Building Programme Cohort 17
Hub71 offers a 12-month programme with up to AED 250,000 funding for equity. Targeted at Pre-seed to Series A startups with at least 1 founder willing to move to Abu Dhabi. In addition to funding, startups will receive incentives worth AED 500K in cash and kind, office space, marketing, technical and visa support, and so much more.

🏛️ DeveloPPP Ventures: Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania.
develoPPP is a programme by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), supporting partnerships with the private sector to create sustainable impact. Aimed at young companies creating impact in developing or emerging countries, the program offers EUR100,000 (and a top-up for successful Ventures in a potential second phase)

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