SmartLab, known for connecting startups and corporations, renewed its partnership with Stanford’s Seed Spark Program for 2024. The initiative is designed to support early-stage entrepreneurs. This year's program could see a notable increase in participation, with 50 entrepreneurs selected compared to the 18 startups that graduated in 2023. Seed Spark provides a 5-month online curriculum focused on strategy, business acumen, and network expansion. Participants benefit from Stanford Graduate School of Business (SGSB) expertise, practical tools, and mentorship. To be eligible, founders should have a registered business and a minimum viable product. Seed Spark works through collaborators like SmartLab and does not take direct applications in Africa, Indonesia, or Southeast Asia.
Independent judges selected ten green Tanzanian startups (out of 14) for further support following the ClimAccelerator’s bootcamp pitch competition. These companies impressed the judges with their innovative solutions for environmental sustainability. The winners include: Africa Harvest (coconut husks into fertilizer), Coastal Biotech (seaweed into agricultural products), LIMA Africa (food waste to feed/fertilizer), EcoMilk Technologies (solar milking machine), Moto Poa (eco-friendly charcoal from rice husks), GET Robotics (agricultural automation), Flamingo Foods (rice production), and Makonda Renewables (wave-powered irrigation pump). ClimAccelerator is a global programme funded by the European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT). And implemented in Tanzania by Sahara Ventures, an innovation ecosystem builder.
The government mandated its new NeST e-procurement system for managing development project spending. The initiative aims to increase transparency and efficiency in grassroots-level initiatives, particularly in the health and education sectors. NeST (National eProcurement System of Tanzania) is a centralized, government-run digital platform launched in 2022. It streamlines various procurement tasks, including registration, tendering (bidding), contract management, and online auctions. This move is important since public procurement represents a considerable portion of Tanzania's economy. For example, in the 2019 audit, Tanzania's Controller and Auditor General (CAG) found that 185 local government authorities (LGAs) spent TZS 1.3 trillion on procurement-related activities. This pattern is common across Africa, where governments often spend over 10% of their GDP on buying goods, services, and infrastructure projects. Compared globally, Sub-Saharan Africa has a high percentage of its GDP tied up in government procurement, second only to South Asia. As a result, tech providers specializing in e-procurement, government tech, or secure transaction systems may find potential opportunities (through public-private partnerships) as NeST usage expands in Tanzania.
The Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) developed a new vaccine that protects tilapia fish against a major bacterial disease (hemorrhagic septicemia) that can cause devastating losses. The vaccine could have a huge market and commercial impact in Tanzania. Thanks to upcoming patent approval and domestic production. This will ensure consistent availability, potentially lowering costs over time. SUA’s vaccine expands Tanzania's tilapia farming capacity, making it an attractive market for support services (feed, equipment, etc.). It also has scaling potential. The vaccine project could lead to partnerships for further agritech and aquaculture research in Tanzania. So, I’ll monitor its rollout and keep you informed.
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) ranked Tanzania second in Africa for cybersecurity. This success is attributed to the Information and Communication Technologies Commission's (ICTC) focus on technology development and youth innovation programs. Plans are in place for regional and district-level IT centers to drive youth innovation. In addition, an artificial intelligence center is planned to train IT experts. The ICTC is also in talks with the ITU to create an East African IT innovation center. As a result, Tanzania’s improving digital environment suggests a growing demand for secure online services and tech-enabled business solutions. This could be particularly relevant for fintech, e-commerce, or any venture handling sensitive data.
Sahara Ventures and Serengeti Bytes co-hosted Graham Bednash, a former Google marketing director. He led a two-day workshop on branding, effective communication and organizational culture for businesses. Graham advised participants to use plain language over technical jargon. This approach, applicable in both English and Swahili, aims to maximize audience engagement. For instance, clear and concise pitches are important for startups seeking to capture investor attention. The workshop also featured Genos Martin, founder of the Tanzania Digital Awards.