Tanzanian Tech Roundup [Nov 3-9]
Five important updates!
1. Now You Can Buy and Sell Shares Instantly
The Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange (DSE) is now available as a mini app on Vodacom's M-Pesa Tanzania app, which hit 1 million active users in August 2024.
This integration brings stock trading to the country's largest mobile money platform. It complements DSE's existing Hisa Kiganjani app and USSD trading service (15200#, select #1, then #5).
With three digital trading channels, the stock exchange seeks to attract millions of potential retail investors.
Why is this move important?
Since its start in 1998, DSE trading required licensed stockbrokers, with a minimum purchase of 10 shares per transaction. This model continues through traditional channels, while digital platforms have broadened access. The collaboration gives M-Pesa Tanzania's 10.3 million customers (as of June 2024) direct access to market data, trading, and portfolio tracking through their phones.
The DSE market, which typically operates Monday through Friday from 10:30 AM to 4:00 PM, has seen notable growth this year. Total market capitalization reached TZS 18.4 trillion billion by November 2024, up 1.11% from the previous week, while domestic market cap stood at TZS 12.3 trillion.
Vodacom Tanzania, itself listed on the DSE since 2017, reported strong metrics. M-pesa now processes over TZS 1 trillion in merchant payments monthly, while government payment transactions through 800 collection accounts grew 26.3% in value compared to last year. Small businesses received 60% of TZS 600 billion in short-term financing last quarter (Q2 2024).
“We are creating a future where anyone can participate in stock trading,” says Vodacom CEO Philip Besiimiere, “through democratization of access to the stock market using digital platforms.”
New investors on either the DSE mini-app 94 Hisa Kiganjani must register for a Central Depository System (CDS) account and PIN. Existing investors need to update their details with their National ID Number (NIDA).
2. Training Sessions Empower Entrepreneurs
The Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship recently entered a new training phase in Tanzania last week as its 2024 cohort engaged with industry experts.
The program hosted three focused sessions:
A fundraising masterclass by Serengeti Angels’ Rodrique Msechu on November 5
Strategic customer insights from Mwananchi Communications' Brand Manager Edson Sosten last Thursday
Henry Kulaya, a researcher, led an examination of systemic education change on November 7.
These sessions, which began October 21, build on the program's core training curriculum.
We view the Fellowship (launched in June this year) as Tanzania's second specialized business incubator. It builds on momentum from the PesaTech Accelerator (a fintech-focused initiative) that has graduated two cohorts.
Sahara Consult, which implemented PesaTech's first cohort with UNCDF and other partners, now leads Mastercard’s EdTech program, supporting ten local startups. Among them, Taifa Technovation Hub recently demonstrated the Fellowship’s rural impact focus by launching the first STEM makerspace in Iringa.
Other ventures in the cohort range from Mtabe's AI-powered SMS learning system for students without internet access to SmartDarasa's virtual laboratory platform.
The Fellowship represents Mastercard Foundation's largest EdTech commitment yet, with USD 6.58 million allocated for 2024 to support 94 African startups. That’s a huge expansion from its 2020 pilot that backed 12 companies with USD 40,000 each.
Through new five-year hub partnerships across Benin, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Senegal, and Tanzania, the program has evolved beyond its initial presence in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa.
This scale-up aligns with projected growth in Africa's education market from USD 224 billion in 2024 to USD 740 billion by 2030. In Tanzania, Sahara Consult is coordinating with Ndaki, INVESTIN, and the Serengeti Business Angel Network (S-BAN) to provide comprehensive startup support.
Mastercard’s goal to support 250 edtech ventures by 2030 connects directly to its mission of enabling 30 million youth employment opportunities. For Tanzania's education sector, this structured combination of funding, expert guidance, and investor access specifically targets the critical gap in rural education technology solutions.
3. Workflow Automation Startup Enters Education Market
Tanzanian AI company Sartify LLC unveiled new features of its document processing platform Docipro last week while expanding its education technology reach through TutorAI. The startup's AI-powered resume parser can now process documents with claimed 100% accuracy and sub-300 millisecond processing speeds, targeting HR departments and recruitment agencies.
Founded in January 2023 by CEO Michael Mollel (a University of Glasgow researcher) and Chief AI Officer Innocent Charles (a UDOM software engineering graduate), Sartify has built a client portfolio including Bosch, AwamuPay, and iPF Softwares.
The company operates in the USD 7.9 billion intelligent document processing market through its flagship product, Docipro, which offers specialized solutions for healthcare, legal, logistics, and education sectors.
Last week, Sartify's AI engineer Godfrey Enosh demonstrated TutorAI at Asumpter Digital School in Dar es Salaam, marking the company's entry into Tanzania's edtech market. TutorAI will soon provide personalized learning support for Form One to Form Four students across core subjects including mathematics, science, and English.
The startup has secured several compliance certifications, including ISO 27001, GDPR, SOC2, and HIPAA, for its data handling practices.
Sartify's expansion comes as African businesses increasingly adopt artificial intelligence for document processing and workflow automation. Its founding team brings together expertise from leading institutions:
Mollel holds a PhD from NM-AIST Arusha and has conducted research in Scotland, while Charles contributes experience from Neurotech Africa and the development of its Sarufi chatbot creation platform.
4. Tanzania's First All-Female Hackathon Sets $66K Innovation Fund
UNI-AID Africa announced a 24-hour female hackathon set for December 6-7 in Dar es Salaam, marking a key expansion of its STEM education initiatives. The event will bring together 100 young women in 20 teams to tackle challenges aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union's (AU) Vision 2063, with each challenge sponsored at USD 3,000.
The hackathon, requiring USD 66,000 in total funding, represents a strategic shift in addressing Tanzania's education gaps. Currently, over 50,000 students annually miss university opportunities due to limited spots, while 20,000 more settle for non-preferred courses. Through its broader initiative, UNI-AID aims to sponsor 1,000 Tanzanian girls for STEM studies in India, having already identified 500+ candidates with acceptance letters from five partner universities.
"This hackathon will launch a cutting-edge program benefiting almost all graduates in Tanzania, with opportunities extending beyond our borders," CEO Cypriano Kassase told Atoms & Bits on Saturday. The organization's model relies on youth ambassadors who drive awareness and fundraising, supported by structured leadership including a seven-member board of directors and advisory boards.
Participating teams will develop solutions ranging from AI tools for climate prediction to platforms connecting women with STEM mentors. Mainstream media partners, including BBC Swahili and VOA Swahili, are expected to cover the event, which features a documentary production budget of $5,000.
Going forward, UNI-AID plans to establish a financial cooperative (SACCOSS) for program beneficiaries and aims to replicate its model across Africa, targeting 1,000 girls per country. The organization envisions its first cohort of graduates in 2029 becoming sponsors for future students, creating a sustainable cycle of education support.
5. Tanzanian Storytelling Enters the Metaverse
Dar es Salaam-based Seede Group is expanding its immersive technology footprint through strategic partnerships and international technical collaboration.
It creates immersive experiences—tech that lets users step into and interact with digital environments—through virtual reality (VR) headsets, smartphone-based augmented reality (AR), and 360-degree video documentaries.
The extended reality (XR) studio has integrated VR/AR capabilities into the Animation Tanzania Film Festival (ATFF) 2024 while simultaneously advancing its medical training simulation platform through engagements with The Aga Khan University (AKU).
At GitHub Universe's 10th anniversary in San Francisco, Seede expanded its market potential through direct talks with key WebXR developers. A major technical partnership emerged from discussions with A-Frame creator Diego Marcos, whose open-source framework enables browser-based immersive experiences. This collaboration aligns with Seede's mission to make African storytelling more accessible through web-based XR technology.
The partnership with the ATFF demonstrates immediate practical applications. Local animators now access VR prototyping tools and real-time AR previews. That’s significantly transforming traditional production workflows. Festival attendees experienced interactive 3D character creation, showing growing interest in immersive content development within Tanzania's creative sector.
On the healthcare front, Seede's C-SECTION VR platform continues to gain traction. The medical simulation tool, developed in partnership with AKU and OnaStories Group, addresses critical training gaps in East Africa's healthcare sector. Early testing data shows reduced training costs and standardized evaluation methods across participating institutions.
And am blessed with this, New update opens up my mind
I appreciate your job brother....