NAIROBI, Kenya- Qualcomm is making waves in Africa’s tech landscape with its Make in Africa Startup Mentorship Program, now celebrating its second successful year.
The program, a key initiative of the broader Qualcomm Africa Innovation Platform, has nurtured early-stage startups with mentorship, engineering insights, business strategy coaching, and intellectual property (IP) protection guidance.
This year’s finale, Make in Africa 2024, showcased transformative innovations from across the continent, cementing Qualcomm’s role as a catalyst for Africa’s burgeoning tech ecosystem.
This year’s finalists represented a spectrum of industries, addressing pressing challenges in healthcare, agriculture, and AI-powered industrial solutions.
Startups like Kenya’s Aurora Health Systems, which won the prestigious 2024 Wireless Reach Social Impact Fund, exemplify the program’s impact.
Aurora’s AI-driven portable ECG device with LTE connectivity revolutionizes cardiovascular care, enabling real-time data transmission to healthcare providers—even in remote areas.
Qualcomm is doubling down on its commitment with the launch of the Make in Africa 2025 program, now open for applications.
The company is focused on leveraging AI, IoT, and advanced connectivity to empower local talent, create jobs, and fuel economic growth across Africa.
“All finalists from 2024 will receive stipends to enhance their growth and protect their IP,” Qualcomm stated, highlighting its holistic approach to nurturing innovation.
As Wassim Chourbaji, Qualcomm’s SVP, noted, “These startups are disrupting industries and solving socio-economic challenges with solutions that have global market potential.”
Qualcomm’s Make in Africa initiative is not just about mentoring startups—it’s about reshaping industries and improving lives.
Whether it’s AI tools for mental health, smart agricultural solutions, or wireless healthcare devices, this program proves that African innovation is thriving on a global stage.
Want to join the next wave of groundbreaking innovators? Applications for the 2025 cohort are open now. Dive in and be part of Africa’s tech revolution!
