Nigerian Firms Among 10 Startups Picked for Qualcomm Make in Africa 2026

Qualcomm Incorporated has unveiled 10 startups selected for the 2026 edition of its Make in Africa Mentorship Programme, reaffirming its commitment to advancing the continent’s deep-technology ecosystem.

The initiative now in its fourth year, is part of the Qualcomm Africa Innovation Platform, designed to support early-stage startups through mentorship, training and intellectual property (IP) development.

The selected startups emerged from over 1,200 applications across more than 45 African countries, reflecting growing interest and sophistication in Africa’s innovation landscape.

Among the 2026 cohort are two Nigerian startups — Anatsor Ltd, which offers a digital poultry management system, and D-Olivette Labs, a bio-intelligence platform aimed at improving agricultural productivity through data-driven insights.

Other selected startups include Amperra Charging Company (Namibia), Mindora Corporation (Zimbabwe), MVUTU (Republic of the Congo), QualiKeeper Investments Ltd (Zambia), SafeSip (Tanzania), Sesi Technologies Ltd (Ghana), TWave Ltd (Uganda), and Zerobionic (Kenya).

President, Middle East and Africa at Qualcomm, Wassim Chourbaji, said the quality of applications reflects a maturing African innovation ecosystem.

“This year’s startups’ achievements are a powerful testament to Africa’s flourishing innovation ecosystem. Four years into Qualcomm Make in Africa, what stands out is not only the growing number of applications we receive, but the increasing sophistication of the solutions being built,” he said.

He added that the selected startups are leveraging emerging technologies to address real-world challenges across the continent.

“These startups are pushing the boundaries of what technologies such as Edge AI and 5G can enable, and how they can be deployed at scale across the continent. Qualcomm is proud to support and help guide this next wave of African high-tech innovation, from early design and product development to real-world commercialisation.”

Participants will receive equity-free support, including engineering consultations, business coaching, and access to development tools such as Arduino AI-enabled platforms.

Vice President and General Manager, Arduino at Qualcomm Technologies, Fabio Violante, said the initiative will accelerate innovation from concept to deployment.

“Arduino UNO Q and the upcoming Arduino VENTUNO Q give the 2026 Qualcomm Make in Africa cohort a fast path from idea to intelligent machine. By bringing perception, decision-making, and actuation onto a single, affordable board, founders can prototype and deploy edge-AI solutions directly where challenges exist in farms, clinics, factories, and cities.”

Startups will also benefit from intellectual property support, including patent advisory services from Adams & Adams and access to L2Pro Africa, an e-learning platform focused on IP education.

At the end of the programme, participants will qualify for a $5,000 stipend upon successful completion, while eligible startups can receive up to $5,000 in patent filing reimbursements. One standout startup will also secure funding from the Qualcomm for Good Social Impact Fund.

The African Telecommunications Union returns as a strategic partner for the fourth consecutive year, underscoring the programme’s growing importance to Africa’s digital ecosystem.

Secretary General of ATU, John Omo, said the partnership aligns with efforts to deepen technology-driven solutions across the continent.

“The ATU’s key mandate is to ensure that Africa’s telecommunications ecosystem serves Africa’s people. Qualcomm Make in Africa embodies that same principle by putting cutting-edge technology directly in the hands of African innovators to solve African challenges.”

He added that the organisation is committed to strengthening its contribution to the programme’s success.

“Having seen firsthand the quality of the startups this programme produces, returning as a partner in 2026 was not a question of if, but of how we could deepen our contribution. We look forward to seeing this cohort carry that work forward.”

The programme will culminate in a finale where one startup will receive additional funding support, as Qualcomm continues to position Africa as a hub for next-generation technology innovation.