Qualcomm has unveiled 10 innovative startups selected for the 2026 edition of its flagship Make in Africa Mentorship Programme, reinforcing its commitment to advancing Africa’s deep-technology ecosystem.Now in its fourth year, the initiative—part of the Qualcomm Africa Innovation Platform—focuses on nurturing early-stage startups working on cutting-edge technologies such as Edge AI, machine learning, IoT, and advanced connectivity systems.Strong Competition, Diverse InnovationThis year’s cohort was chosen from over 1,200 applications across 45+ African countries, highlighting the rapid growth and competitiveness of Africa’s tech ecosystem. The selected startups span sectors including agriculture, smart infrastructure, electric mobility, education, and assistive technology.Notably, Nigeria secured strong representation with startups like:Anatsor Ltd – offering a digital poultry management system to boost farm productivityD-Olivette Labs – providing bio-intelligence solutions for sustainable agricultureOther selected startups across the continent are tackling real-world challenges—from solar-powered cold storage systems and AI-driven livestock monitoring to assistive robotics for people with disabilities.Funding, Mentorship, and Technical SupportParticipants in the programme will receive:A $5,000 stipend upon successful completionAccess to Qualcomm’s Social Impact Fund grant at the finaleTechnical mentorship and engineering consultationBusiness coaching and product development guidanceStartups will also work with hardware tools from Arduino, enabling them to rapidly prototype and deploy intelligent solutions using edge-AI technology.Focus on Intellectual Property and GrowthBeyond product development, the programme emphasizes intellectual property (IP) protection. Startups will receive:Patent filing guidanceFree IP training via L2Pro AfricaUp to $5,000 reimbursement for patent filing costsDriving Africa’s Tech FutureAccording to senior Qualcomm executive Wassim Chourbaji, the growing sophistication of applicants reflects Africa’s expanding innovation capacity. He noted that startups are increasingly leveraging technologies like 5G and AI to create scalable, real-world solutions.The programme continues to partner with the African Telecommunications Union, ensuring alignment with the continent’s digital development goals.A Platform for ImpactWith access to mentorship, funding, and global expertise, Qualcomm’s Make in Africa programme is positioning startups to move from idea to commercialization, while addressing critical challenges across African communities.As Africa’s digital economy accelerates, initiatives like this are playing a key role in empowering entrepreneurs to build locally relevant, globally competitive technologies.
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