Mazao Hub Secures Investment from Nordic Impact Funds. 

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Deals & Close Ups 🤑🤑

Mazao Hub has become the first Tanzanian startup to secure investment from Nordic Impact Funds, a women-led fund manager with a strong commitment to empowering local business with economically viable and scalable solutions that contribute to improved livelihoods and climate change adaptation.

With this investment, Mazao Hub will expand its network of Farmer Excellence Centres, also known as Agricultural Clinics, from 8 to 20 regions across Tanzania. These centers are crucial in equipping smallholder farmers with the knowledge, tools, and support needed to drive sustainable agricultural practices and improve livelihoods.

Nordic Impact Funds, known for its impact and gender-smart equity investments, sees great potential in Mazao Hub’s approach to promoting agricultural transformation. As co-investors alongside Catalyst Fund, they share a vision of a future where smallholder farmers are empowered to lead change in their communities, driving economic growth and climate resilience.

Nordic Impact Funds typically invests between $100,000 and $2 million in early to mid-stage East African companies, and their involvement with Mazao Hub underscores the startup’s potential to make a significant impact.

Neda Labs and RegenTz Making in Gitcoin Grand Round 21

Two Tanzanian startups are participating in the Gitcoin Grand Round 21. Neda Labs with their project #WashikaDAO and ReFi Tanzania, both of which are showcasing their dedication to creating real impact within the Web3 ecosystem.

Neda Labs is at the forefront, working diligently to research and build governance frameworks for savings and lending communities. Their innovative approach is not just about technology but also about empowering communities to achieve sustainable growth. Meanwhile, ReFi Tanzania is also making its mark, representing the drive for real impact that resonates across our region.

About Gitcoin Grants

Launched in 2019, Gitcoin Grants is a quarterly initiative designed to empower early-stage builders through a combination of crowdfunding and grants. What started as a small effort has grown into a powerful force for funding public goods. In 2022, the initiative raised 3000% more for public goods than when it first began, demonstrating the immense potential and community support behind projects like those from Neda Labs and ReFi Tanzania.

To date Gitcoin has achieved $60m+ Funding Distributed, 3,715 Projects Funded and 4.2m UNIQUE DONATION.

Support Neda Labs and ReFi Tanzania in the Gitcoin 21 Round by donating at least 1$

Startup Spotlight🌟🌟

WAGA Technologies Expands Production to Power More Rural Communities in Tanzania.

WAGA Technologies has recently announced a remarkable increase in its production capacity, growing from 40 lithium-ion cells per day to an impressive 400 cells daily. This expansion now enables WAGA to produce 25 battery packs each day, a significant step forward in their mission to bring reliable energy solutions to rural communities in Tanzania.

Overview of Electricity in Rural Areas:

In Tanzania, access to electricity remains a significant challenge, particularly in rural areas. Despite ongoing efforts, nearly 70% of the rural population lacks reliable electricity. This energy gap impacts everything from education and healthcare to economic opportunities. For many rural households, the primary source of light after dark remains kerosene lamps, which are not only inefficient but also pose health and environmental risks.

WAGA’s Impactful Solutions

WAGA Technologies is addressing this challenge through a range of innovative products:

• Powering Homes: WAGA provides PAWA Packs, which are capable of powering essential electrical devices such as TVs, radios, mobile phones, and lights. These packs are recharged using solar panels, making them an ideal solution for off-grid households.

• Lighting Businesses: For local businesses that operate after dark, WAGA offers PAWA Packs Mini. These packs come equipped with lamps that can last up to 14 hours, replacing the need for kerosene lamps. This solution not only improves safety but also extends business hours, enhancing economic activity in rural areas.

• Customized Lithium-Ion Batteries: WAGA also produces customized battery packs for various devices, including wireless speakers, modems, and VFD machines. These batteries are tailored to meet specific capacity and voltage requirements, ensuring optimal performance for each application.

WAGA Technologies is more than just a tech company; it’s a driving force behind rural electrification in Tanzania. By increasing their production capacity, WAGA is set to empower even more communities with sustainable energy solutions, helping to bridge the electricity gap and foster development in rural areas.

Nyika Ventures makes it to Top 20 in AYuTe Africa Challenge Tanzania.

AYuTe Africa Challenge Tanzania was launched in June 2024, calling for innovative agriculture and technology ideas with the potential to address value chain challenges faced in crop production, livestock, fisheries, forest and natural resources management in the country. The challenge focuses on improving production, productivity, income, access to finance, and resilience in the agriculture sector.

Out of over 260 remarkable entries, the challenge has been narrowed down to top 20 teams in Tanzania in the search for top 3 solutions that will be awarded a total of USD 25,000 to progress innovation and use of technology in the agriculture sector.

About Nyika Ventures

Out of the top 20 teams, Nyika Ventures has emerged one of them alongside other incredible ones.

Nyika Ventures is a climate driven Tanzanian startup with the primary focus on using hybrid Artificial Intelligence (AI) for fast-tracking exploration of the rare and critical minerals needed for green technology.

The team has extended its nexus with a new product specifically in the agriculture sector aiming at sectorial revolution by the use of AI to support farmers in determining the soil pH, soil nutrients and optimizing the inputs to a particular soil type in order to maximize production and hence profit.

The solution focuses on the use of AI to improve the success rate of agricultural activities by analyzing vast amounts of data, identifying patterns and anomalies, and providing valuable insights to guide agricultural activities. This data-driven approach minimizes risks and increases the likelihood of discovering economically viable agricultural sites using data integration, pattern recognition, and predictive modeling to make more informed decisions.

This service extension of Nyika Ventures signifies commitment of Tanzanian startups to solve problems in our local communities and leverage the use of technology in solving problem, going above and beyond. The future is definitely exciting.

Community Highlights 🔥🔥

Tanzania Startup Association (TSA) Hosts a Working Session for Healthtech Startups.

On August 9th 2024, TSA hosted the Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority (TMDA) to provide a technical session to healthtech startups focusing on the compliance requirements for local innovators and manufacturers in the health sector. The session was graced with the presence of healthtech startups, including LabX, NeoHealth Innovations and Plus Life, who shared their experience in the ecosystems, challenges and operational realities.

Why are these sessions important?

• Providing a platform to voice challenges to appropriate actors and regulators

• Creating a pool of well-informed startups on regulatory and legal standards in relevant sectors

• Enhancing product safety and efficacy

• Building credibility and trust with the investors and relevant stakeholders

• Facilitating smoother operations, market entry and growth.

TMDA is an executive agency under the ministry of health, responsible for regulating quality, safety, and effectiveness of medicines, medical devices, diagnostics, biocidals and tobacco products.

This working session is part of TSA’s commitment to connecting Tanzanian startups to relevant stakeholders in order to ensure their preparedness in providing solutions to our communities.

Stay tuned for more information on upcoming sessions and workshops.

Building a Strong Startup Foundation: Insights from Grayson Julius.

Understanding Technical Debt

In a session hosted by Founders Tanzania that gathered over 27 founders, Grayson Julius, co-founder of iPF Softwares, shared valuable insights on how to build a strong foundation for startups. A key focus of his talk was the issue of technical debt, a common challenge during product development. Grayson provided strategies to effectively manage this debt, which can significantly impact a startup's success.

The Technical Debt Quadrant

Grayson introduced the concept of the technical debt quadrant, highlighting that technical debt can be both intentional and unintentional. The quadrant includes four components:

• Deliberate

• Accidental

• Reckless

• Conscious

Identifying Unintentional Technical Debt

To uncover unintentional technical debt, Grayson advised conducting audits with external experts. These experts can ask critical questions about your solution, helping to identify areas where technical debt may have accumulated unnoticed.

Steps to Address Technical Debt

Grayson outlined a clear process for addressing technical debt:

• Acknowledge the Problem: Recognize the existence of technical debt in your project.

• Assess the Damage: Focus on areas that most impact your customers.

• Allocate Resources: Properly distribute resources to address the identified issues.

Key Components for Software Success

Grayson emphasized the importance of properly implementing the following components in software development:

• Architecture

• Codebase

• Infrastructure (e.g., backup and recovery)

• Documentation

• Testing

Mastering Your Business Domain

In addition to addressing technical debt, Grayson stressed the need for founders to thoroughly understand the domain in which they are building their business. If they lack a background in the sector, it’s crucial to invest time in educating themselves.

Afrogreen ClimAccelerator DEMO Day

On August 16, the Afrogreen ClimAccelerator's second cohort will conclude its 9-month incubation program with a demo day. During the program, the selected entrepreneurs engaged in a variety of activities, including product development support, market connections, expert coaching, mentorship, and entrepreneurship training. This year's cohort features 18 startups, each of which will pitch their ideas to investors, industry leaders, and potential partners. The top three startups will receive financial support based on their pitches.

The participating startups are:

• Ojanna Foods

• Aquila Eyes Group

• Nourish Farming

• Kilimo Sustainable Movement

• Greenfoot Africa

• Go Green Innovation

• Lilany GreePro

• Afya ya Mnyama

• Ewang’an Masai Foundation

• Tanzpro Green Limited

• The Athletez

• Nana Naturals

• Sems Apparel

• Cutoff Recycle

• Vermicompost Tanzania

• Eco-Irrigation

• Grin Makers Solution Tanzania

• Ancestorworld Studio

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS 🌟🌟

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