Microsoft, together with NVIDIA, unveiled an initiative that will accelerate advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and foster collaboration between startups and industry leaders. The tech giant has made this possible through its Africa Transformation Office (ATO).
The announcement was made based on the success of the Microsoft African Startups AI Fest held earlier this year in South Africa and included the participation of the NVIDIA Inception program as a platform for startups to engage with industry leaders. industry, investors and potential partners. Attendees will learn about cutting-edge AI solutions and have numerous opportunities for networking and collaboration.
Speaking at the launch ceremony, Gerald Maithya, Managing Director of Microsoft Africa Transformation Office, said the launch was taking place in Kenya but the program is expected to benefit the entire continent, further mentioning the benefits that startups will derive from it.
“We are pleased to offer AI startups in Africa the resources and support they need to succeed,” said Maithya. “Our collaboration with NVIDIA Inception will help startup founders leverage Microsoft’s cloud infrastructure, AI tools and go-to-market support. This will help them overcome challenges such as scaling their solutions globally and accessing a wider customer base. We look forward to welcoming local entrepreneurs in this exciting initiative to shape the future of AI in Africa.
“This program will bring some benefits, including support from NVIDIA and Microsoft. They will also have access to a group of venture capitalists and investors who are also focused on Gen AI startups in Africa. Then we will also look at how we can match some of the startups here with the startups in the places where we have launched this program,” he added.
Africa is poised to become a leader in AI-based solutions, thanks to its young, dynamic workforce and rapidly growing technology ecosystems. With the highest average entrepreneurship rate Worldwide and with significant growth in investment, innovation is flourishing. Already, more than 2,400 AI startups in Africa are transforming industries and creating new job opportunities at a rapid pace.
The Microsoft AI Startups initiative aims to help drive this momentum, providing African startups with the support and resources needed to grow, through collaboration with NVIDIA Inception, a free global program designed to nurture cutting-edge startups in their providing access to technological resources and experts. and opportunities to connect with venture capitalists.
Lessons learned from local successes such as Taimbaan agritech startup that transforms the agricultural supply chain by directly connecting rural smallholders with urban retailers, and Zendawaa telehealth service provider that is revolutionizing pharmacy operations by providing online access to medications and financial solutions for pharmacies. Pesawisea financial technology innovator, will also show how it is improving secure and efficient payment services, leveraging tools like Azure and GitHub to transform the financial landscape in East Africa.
As part of this initiative, Microsoft will work with NVIDIA Inception to accelerate AI transformation in Africa. Entrepreneurs will benefit from the tools needed to export their solutions globally, including mentoring, access to essential tools such as Microsoft Azure and GitHub, go-to-market support, and technical resources, as well as valuable networking opportunities.
The Microsoft Africa Development Center (ADC) in Nairobi will play a crucial role in supporting this collaboration, including key initiatives such as AI training through virtual sessions for developers. Additionally, NVIDIA will host a workshop that aims to provide a high-level overview of the collaboration and provide startups with guidance on generative AI tools and how they can leverage AI and compute resources to large scale.