1. Tanzania Embraces Cleaner Energy
Oryx Energies has opened Zanzibar's first liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) terminal, increasing Tanzania's gas storage capacity. The new 1,300-tonne facility helps meet the country's growing demand for cooking gas. Tanzania's LPG use has jumped from 30,000 tonnes in 2010 to 293,000 tonnes in 2023.
This terminal complements existing facilities in Dar es Salaam, which include a 7,450-tonne (in Kigamboni) and a 1,250-tonne storage unit (at Kurasini). Together, they strengthen Tanzania's position as a regional gas hub.
Meanwhile, the Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT) is advancing vehicle conversions to use compressed natural gas (CNG). Since 2018, DIT has modified over 800 cars, helping drivers cut fuel costs by half while reducing emissions.
With natural gas reserves of 1.61 trillion cubic meters, Tanzania is well-positioned for this energy shift. Indeed, Egyptian company TAQA Arabia unveiled our first CNG filling and conversion centre in November 2023. TAQA's facility can convert 1,000 vehicles per year, guaranteeing customers that CNG is 50% less expensive than liquid fuel (i.e., petrol and diesel).
The government even plans to add five more CNG filling stations in Dar es Salaam to support the nation’s transition to sustainable power.
2. Tanzanian Scientists Use AI to Fight HIV
Researchers from the Ifakara Health Institute (IHI), working with international partners, have developed a new artificial intelligence (AI) tool called RAIN.
This tool aims to speed up the discovery of special antibodies (proteins) that can fight many types of HIV.
Here's what you need to know:
RAIN stands for Rapid Automatic Identification of bNAbs (broadly neutralizing antibodies).
These bNAbs are rare but powerful antibodies that can block multiple strains of HIV.
Usually, finding these antibodies is slow and difficult. RAIN makes this process much faster. The AI analyzes data from the immune systems of people resistant to HIV. It looks for specific patterns in antibody structures that are likely to fight HIV effectively.
In tests, RAIN successfully identified several promising antibodies. This could help researchers develop new HIV treatments and prevention methods more quickly.
The results are encouraging. But more testing is needed before RAIN can be used in real-world medical applications. The project shows how African scientists are working with global teams to use advanced technology in solving major health challenges.
3. Seed Investor Expands to Tanzania
Flat6Labs, a leading seed investor in the Middle East and North Africa, has expanded its reach into Tanzania through a partnership with Ennovate Ventures.
The collaboration recently concluded an "Investment Readiness" bootcamp in Dar es Salaam, aimed at empowering local tech startups to attract funding.
Seed capital is the first official financial support a startup receives, often during its inception or ideation stage. It is mostly secured when a tech company is 12-18 months old.
This initiative is part of Flat6Labs' broader African expansion strategy, which was demonstrated by the launch of its $95 million Africa Seed Fund (ASF) in March 2023. The ASF aims to invest in over 160 early-stage tech startups across North, West, and East Africa until 2028.
Key aspects of Flat6Labs' African venture:
The fund focuses on impactful sectors like health-tech, fintech, EdTech, and agri-tech.
It offers investments ranging from $150,000 to $500,000 for pre-seed to pre-Series A stage startups.
The initiative is supported by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) through its Agricultural Innovation Project and Scaling Digital Agriculture Innovations through Start-ups project.
Flat6’s Tanzania bootcamp, organized with Ennovate Ventures, provided local startups with workshops on securing funding and appealing to investors. This event exemplifies Flat6Labs' commitment to developing Africa's tech ecosystem, which saw $6.5 billion in venture funding in 2022. (As a continent, we raised only $3.5 billion from VCs in 2023.)
The Flat6-Ennovate partnership combines 13 year-investment experience (of Flat6Labs) with a local network of 30+ partners and 1,200+ founders (by Ennovate Ventures). It aims to connect our most promising startups to regional opportunities.
4. US Development Organization Backs Tanzanian Agritech Competition
Sahara Ventures, in partnership with Heifer International, has launched the AYuTe Tanzania Challenge, a competition aimed at supporting agricultural innovation nationwide.
This move is part of the wider AYuTe Africa Challenge. It presents an opportunity for local agtech entrepreneurs to gain funding and support.
Key aspects of the challenge:
Aims to address value chain challenges in crop production, livestock, fisheries, and natural resource management.
Open to youth-led agritech startups nationwide.
Focuses on innovations improving production, productivity, income, access to finance, and resilience.
Offers a total prize pool of $22,500, with $10,000 for the winner
The program benefits from Sahara Ventures' expertise in business acceleration to align with Heifer Tanzania's mission of supporting agricultural development.
5. Vodacom, Huawei Support Startups with China Trip
Vodacom Tanzania, in collaboration with Huawei Technologies, recently took seven startups from the Vodacom Digital Accelerator (VDA) Season III program on an educational trip to Shenzhen, China. In my opinion, this is an important step in promoting Tanzania's rising tech ecosystem.
Key highlights of the trip:
Startups explored leading tech companies including Huawei, Tencent, ByteDance, DJI, and UBTECH Robotics.
Participants engaged with scholars, entrepreneurs, and venture capitalists.
The experience provided insights into Shenzhen's transformation from a fishing village to a global tech hub.
The trip combined tech exploration with cultural immersion.
Vodacom’s collaboaration with Huawei aims to inspire and equip the next generation of Tanzanian innovators. It also reflects growing efforts to connect African startups with global tech ecosystems and knowledge.
VDA 2024 will culminate in a Demo Day on July 11th, where the startups will showcase their progress and innovations. It aligns with broader trends of corporate involvement in cultivating African tech talent, similar to recent programs by Flat6Labs and Heifer International.