Qualcomm has announced the 10 startups selected for the fourth edition of its Make in Africa Mentorship Programme, picking early-stage companies from a record pool of applicants and signalling a notable shift in how African tech innovation is being perceived globally.
The US chipmaker selected 10 companies from more than 1,200 applications spanning over 45 countries, the largest applicant pool since the programme launched.
Beyond Apps: A Deep-Tech Turn
What stands out about the 2026 cohort is its sectoral range. The selected startups span agriculture, assistive technology, smart cities and utilities, smart infrastructure, EV transportation, and education. This is a deliberate departure from the consumer-facing fintech and e-commerce plays that have historically dominated African startup narratives.
Qualcomm’s Senior Vice President for the Middle East and Africa, Wassim Chourbaji, noted a rise in both the number and technical depth of applications, with startups increasingly pushing the boundaries of technologies like Edge AI and 5G.
Nigeria is represented by two selections. Anatsor Ltd and D-Olivette Labs were picked for their work in digital agriculture and data-driven farming systems, which are areas seen as critical to food security across the continent. Other cohort members include Zambia’s QualiKeeper, which builds affordable AIoT livestock monitoring systems for rural areas, and Kenya’s Zerobionic, a Nairobi-based startup that builds AI-powered humanoid robots capable of translating speech into sign language in real time. Namibia’s Amperra Charging Company rounds out a geographically diverse group with an AI-driven EV charging platform targeting scalable electric mobility across Africa.
In agriculture, MVUTU (GreenBox) is addressing post-harvest losses through solar-powered cold storage for smallholder farmers, Sesi Technologies offers an AI-powered device to help cocoa farmers assess crop quality early, and TWave is introducing an automated solar-powered fish feeding system for aquaculture.
What Participants Receive
The programme is equity-free, which matters in a continent where founders have historically been wary of giving up stakes in exchange for support. Participating startups receive product design guidance on Arduino AI platforms, business coaching, engineering consultations, and intellectual property education through L2Pro Africa.
The IP component deserves particular attention. Through a partnership with Adams & Adams, a leading African IP law firm, participants receive patent filing consultations, and startups that file patents during the programme can claim up to $5,000 in filing fee reimbursements. All participants who complete the programme are also eligible for a $5,000 stipend, and one startup will receive a Social Impact Fund grant from Qualcomm for Good at the programme’s finale.
