This Week in Tanzanian Tech [Feb 9-15]
Agritech, biotech, plus tech jobs
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1. Innovation Week Returns with Future-Ready Focus
New details about Innovation Week Tanzania (IWTz) 2025 point to an expanded reach through satellite events across the country, extending beyond the main gathering at Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre (JNICC).
This year’s program, set for May 12-16, features Vodacom’s Future Ready Summit as its anchor event. Vodacom Tanzania’s Managing Director Philip Besiimire frames this partnership as part of a broader push to strengthen Tanzania's position in regional tech innovation.
IWTz 2025 focus areas reflect current priorities in Tanzania’s tech sector: smart urban development, digital job creation, and bridging the gap between research and commercial applications. COSTECH continues its long-standing role in connecting public and private sector innovators.
2. Selcom Makes Digital Banking Simpler
Selcom Microfinance Bank has introduced Selcom Pesa, a new initiative designed to drive digital financial inclusion in Tanzania. This innovative platform allows individuals and businesses to access a range of financial services, including payments, savings, and loans, all through a digital interface.
By leveraging mobile technology, Selcom is opening up new possibilities for economic empowerment. It is enabling individuals to manage their finances and participate more fully in the digital economy.
3. MazaoHub Wins at Africa Tech Summit
MazaoHub brought home the AgriTech Award from this month's Africa Tech Summit in Nairobi. The win places Tanzania's farming innovation on the continental map, showing how local solutions can compete at prestigious stages.
4. KilimoTech Ready to Back New Farm Innovators
The KilimoTech Accelerator is about to announce its newest group of agritech startups. The program helps solve small and midsize farmers’ problems through technical support and business advice. Nyika Venture, one of the selected startups, recently moved to the second round. The full list of chosen startups will be announced soon.
5. NIMR Explores Vaccine Partnership
Tanzania’s National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) hosted a delegation from the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), led by Dr. Jerome Kim, IVI Director General, to explore collaboration in clinical research and vaccine development.
Welcomed by NIMR Director General, Prof. Said Aboud, along with Dr. Nyanda Ntinginya, Director of Research Coordination and Promotion, and Dr. Bariki Mtafya, Acting Manager of NIMR Mbeya Research Center, the discussions centered on strengthening partnerships in vaccine research.
Held on February 10, 2025, in Dar es Salaam, the meeting aimed to drive advancements in biotechnology-driven vaccine innovation, contributing to improved healthcare outcomes in Tanzania and globally.
6. African Youth Talk Nuclear Tech
The recently concluded International Youth Forum on Nuclear Technologies highlighted the essential role of young people in shaping the future of energy solutions. The forum brought together young innovators from across the continent to explore nuclear technology's potential in addressing Africa’s energy challenges.
With nuclear energy increasingly seen as a reliable, clean alternative to traditional power sources, the forum allowed participants to collaborate and share ideas for sustainable energy development.
The event emphasized the importance of youth engagement in the energy sector, offering a platform for the next generation of scientists, engineers, and policymakers. Participants discussed the benefits of nuclear technologies in reducing carbon footprints and ensuring energy security for African nations.
Global Tech Updates
7. OpenAI Stays Independent
OpenAI's board has firmly rejected Elon Musk’s $97.4 billion offer to take control of the company. The proposal, backed by a group of investors, was seen as a way to ensure OpenAI’s continued mission of benefiting humanity through AI while remaining nonprofit.
This development is part of ongoing tensions between Musk and OpenAI over the company's direction. Musk, an early supporter, has expressed growing concerns about the direction of the organization, especially as it transitions further into commercial ventures.
While OpenAI has positioned itself as an entity for global good, the debate over its evolving structure continues, signaling a new chapter in AI governance.
8. Apple Plans Vision Pro Updates
Apple is gearing up to enhance its Vision Pro headset with a suite of new “Apple Intelligence” features in an upcoming visionOS update. The update—expected to arrive as early as April—will introduce advanced functionalities such as Writing Tools, Genmoji, and Image Playground, enabling users to engage with the device in more creative and interactive ways.
In addition to these core improvements, the update is also set to improve guest user capabilities, simplifying the process of sharing the Vision Pro with friends and family.
Powered by an M2 chipset and 16GB of RAM, the Vision Pro is already built to handle robust processing tasks. With this update, Apple marks its first foray into extending its proprietary AI—previously reserved for devices like the iPhone, iPad, and Mac—into the emerging AR/VR arena, emphasizing its commitment to innovating in spatial computing.
TECH OPPORTUNITIES
The Tanzania Startup Association (TSA) is seeking 11 leaders from the startup ecosystem to help shape Tanzania Startup Week (TSW) 2025, the country’s largest innovation and entrepreneurship event.
This is a voluntary leadership role for founders, investors, corporate leaders, policymakers, and ecosystem enablers who want to:
Contribute to the growth of Tanzania’s startup and investment landscape
Build connections with investors, business leaders, and policymakers
Drive key partnerships, funding opportunities, and policy discussions
Gain recognition as a leader in the ecosystem
JOB VACANCIES
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Jeshi la Zimamoto na Uokoaji
ICT Officer & ICT Security
Location: Dar es Salaam, Dodoma
CRDB Bank PLC
ICT Risk and Cybersecurity Specialist
Location: Bujumbura
Mkombozi Commercial Bank
System Administrator
Location: Dar es Salaam
Mkombozi Commercial Bank
ICT Security Officer
Location: Dar es Salaam
Afroil Investment Limited
ERP & Systems Integration Specialist
Location: Dar es Salaam
Wealth Capital Fund Limited (WeCF)
IT Technician
Location: Dar es Salaam
Architects and Quantity Surveyors Registration Board (AQSRB)
ICT Officer II
Location: Dodoma
Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA)
Security System Operator II (9 positions)
Location: Dar es Salaam, Dodoma
Inventions Technologies Company Limited
Pre-Sales Engineer for Fortinet
Location: Dar es Salaam
Inventions Technologies Company Limited
Server and Storage Pre-Sales Engineer
Location: Dar es Salaam