This Week in Tanzania Tech: 10 Important Headlines, 2 Startups to Watch

Welcome to the 5th edition of 'Atoms + Bits,' your weekly newsletter that provides a comprehensive update on the latest developments in Tanzanian technology. We have it all covered, from innovative startups making waves in the market to exciting tech events bringing together industry leaders and experts. So, let's look at what happened in Silicon Bongo from March 4th to March 10th, 2023.

1. Tanzania's Startups to Benefit from Mentorship and Exposure to French Investors

The French-Tanzanian Chamber of Commerce (FTCC) and Sahara Accelerator, an impact accelerator supporting early-stage businesses, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to support Tanzanian startups. Under the pact, Tanzanian startup entrepreneurs will benefit from mentorship and exposure to French investors. The volume of trade between Tanzania and France was $81.1 million in 2021.

The partnership aims to encourage partnerships between French and Tanzanian companies to boost trade ties. The deal with Sahara Accelerator would enhance innovation and entrepreneurship in Tanzania, and the French ambassador to Tanzania, Nabil Hajlaoui, said that the partnership would benefit both French and Tanzanian companies.

2. Breaking Barriers: Women in Technology Take the Spotlight at Tanzania Conference

The LaunchPad has successfully organized the first-ever Tanzania Women and Technology Conference, showcasing successful women in technology and the opportunities available in society. TechWomenTZ, a platform created by LaunchPad and its partners, has brought together women who build, use and promote technology in Tanzania. The event was hosted by Hon. Nape Nnauye, Minister of Communication and Information Technology, and it took place at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Center (JNICC).

During the conference, Carol Ndosi emphasized the need to focus on policies, attitudes, infrastructure, skills, costs, and laws against cybercrime and harassment to increase productive spending and promote women's development and technology.

In addition, @TheLaunchPadTZ has launched a program called #DigitalTanzania to enhance the capacity and uplift women in technology by offering high-quality digital training on UX/UI Design, Graphics Design, Digital Marketing, Content Creation, and Coding.

3. Automated Investment Platform Shirkah to Expand Asset Classes with Real Estate and Startups

Shirkah Invest, a Tanzanian Islamic fintech, intends to launch a real estate product this year on its robo-advisor platform. The company is currently in talks with several property developers about listing real estate, and it also intends to expand its asset class to include start-ups.

Shirkah currently provides investors with exposure to Halal stocks and Sukuk in Tanzania, and it intends to more than triple its investor base to 1,000 within the next year. Despite the high demand for digital Halal investment solutions, the Tanzanian market is still unfamiliar with online channels. Many people prefer face-to-face meetings and advice.

4. Ministries of Minerals and Investment join forces to kick-start strategic mining projects in Tanzania

The Ministry of Minerals and the Ministry of Investment, Industry, and Trade has decided to commence the execution of important mining projects, including Liganga and Mchuchuma, to ensure they begin on schedule.

This announcement was made after a meeting between Kheri Mahimbali, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Minerals, and Dr. Hashil Abdallah, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Investment, Industry, and Commerce, where they discussed various strategic projects.

These projects included the Maganga Matitu crude steel and coal project, the Katewaka Mine, and the Magadi Soda project in Engaruka valley. Mahimbali stated the projects will be initiated on time and as planned to ensure the resources benefit the nation and Tanzanians.

5. Google's Startup Accelerator Selects Tanzanian Fintech Mipango

Mipango App was chosen for the inaugural Startups Accelerator: Women Founders Africa Program. Agnes Mollel founded Mipango, a personal finance platform that uses artificial intelligence technology. The application primarily targets women and young people, offering them various e-wallets, financial data analysis, financial literacy, income management, and investment advice. Mipango essentially assists users in wisely managing their finances, increasing their income sources, and receiving personalized financial guidance and education.

The Google for Startups Accelerator: Women Founders program aims to support female-led technology startups in Africa by providing them with access to Google's world-class expertise, products, personnel, and technology up to the Series A stage. It is open to African-based businesses as well as those developing technology-based solutions for Africa. This week, fifteen winners were announced, and the program will run for twelve weeks, including both online and in-person sessions. It will begin in March and end in May of 2023.

6. Tanzania's Most Profitable Bank Pioneers Gender Empowerment Bond in East Africa, Listed on Luxembourg Stock Exchange

NMB has launched Jasiri, a gender bond that will provide financing to Tanzanian women-owned micro, small, and medium-sized businesses (MSMEs). This bond has a face value of Sh74 billion ($32 million) and was issued in March 2022, making it the first of its kind in East Africa.

Jasiri became the first Sub-Saharan African bond to be listed on the Luxembourg Green Exchange (LGE) on March 8, 2023, at the Luxembourg Stock Exchange during the launch of the Luxembourg Women in Finance Charter (LuxSE). Investors in the NMB Jasiri Bond will receive an annual interest rate of 8.5 percent, payable quarterly over three years until March 2025.

7. New developments in digital services for East Africa: Rifaly and AzamPesa update their platforms

Rifaly, formerly known as M-paper, has moved from internal beta to general availability. Several updates to the digital content library were made this week, and it now has a sizable user base in East Africa.

On the other hand, users can now self-register on the AzamPesa platform without requiring the assistance of an Agent. This feature is available on the app, a mobile money wallet that allows Tanzanians to send and receive money from multiple mobile money wallets. AzamPesa, which debuted in March 2022, is the first mobile money wallet that is not directly linked to a Mobile Network Operator (MNO), though it can be accessed via MNO partners USSD. AzamPesa is SIM-independent, allowing users from multiple networks to register on the platform. Because cash transactions still account for 90% of all transactions in Tanzania, the platform's goal is to promote digital payments.

8. Rose Funja's Masterclass Offers Key Strategies for Drone Use in Tanzanian Agriculture

Rose Funja, an agricultural technology expert, led a free masterclass on the use of drones in agriculture. She holds an MSc in telecommunications and a Bsc in computer engineering. Her online event, which took place on Tuesday, March 7th at 8 p.m. EAT, was intended to assist farmers and researchers in monetizing their drone-based agriculture services or learning how to operate drones for agricultural purposes.

Funja's presentation included excerpts from her chapter, "Going Beyond Data: Use of Drones in Building Climate Resilience for Smallholder Agriculture Producers," from the Amazon best-selling book Drone Professional 3. Over 20 professionals attended the event, which was open to the public.

9. Enhancing Learning Opportunities: School Connectivity Project Inaugurated with Support from the University of Dar es Salaam

Dr. Moses Ismail, a lecturer and 4IR researcher at the University of Dar es Salaam, advocates for university student mentorship through innovation and projects. This, he believes, is an efficient way to create solutions and a workforce for the industry.

Working on real-world challenges and projects not only allows students to gain practical experience and develop relevant solutions for the industry, but it also allows the industry to find skilled workers, he said. Ismail works with several public and private organizations, including CRDB Bank Plc, Vodacom Tanzania Plc, African Child Projects, Basic Internet Foundation, UNICEF Tanzania, and Huawei, to train students in industry-required skills and to assist them in starting their businesses.

Dr. Ismail announced the start of phase III of the school connectivity project, which will involve university students assisting with network design, installation, maintenance, and content/application usage support. The project aims to provide digital literacy and learning support to 300 Tanzanian and Zanzibari schools.

10. Digital Skills Key to Reducing Unemployment in Africa, says Serengeti Angels Co-Founder

Francis Omorojie, the Dar es Salaam Chapter's Founder Institute Director, has made an important contribution to the global discussion on youth unemployment. Francis Omorojie spoke on a panel with global youth employment champions, policymakers, development partners, and high-level government officials. At the United Nations #LDC5 event in Qatar, he spoke about how young people can leverage digital opportunities to create decent jobs.

Francis Omorojie's participation in this critical discussion, even though he is not a Tanzanian, highlights the importance of the issue of youth unemployment in Tanzania and across Africa. His remarks centered on the need for young people to acquire relevant digital skills to combat the continent's rising unemployment rate.

As the Founder & Venture Partner at Ennovate Ventures and Co-Founder of Serengeti Angels, Omorojie is a prominent figure in the African startup ecosystem for his work in facilitating decent work for young people through digital entrepreneurship. His contributions to the #LDC5 debate emphasize the critical role that African youth can play in driving economic growth and development through digital innovation.

Doha hosted the second session of the Fifth UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5). Omorojie's participation exemplifies the global effort to combat youth unemployment, and his call to action inspires young people in Tanzania and around the world to seize the opportunities presented by the digital economy.

The End

And with that, we conclude this edition of our startup news and tech events roundup. Tanzania's startup ecosystem continues to grow and thrive, with new partnerships and investments, exciting product launches, and tech initiatives.

There are new job openings in Tanzania's tech industry this week. Silabu is looking for a Growth Marketing Manager, while Smart Africa Group is hiring a Business Development Manager.

Swahilies and Ramani are two Tanzanian startups to watch.

Stay tuned for our next edition, as well as my Silicon Bongo column in The Citizen on Tuesday. Until then, keep innovating and pushing the limits of what is possible - the future looks promising.