This Week in Tanzanian Tech [May 19-25]
SGR freight pricing, cow tech, AI meetup, and more
Hey there, welcome back to Atoms & Bits!
Last week (May 19—25), 37 new subscribers joined us on LinkedIn and Substack.
We also published a Substack-only article and one podcast episode. In total, our content received around 4,000 impressions.
That's just about us. But what happened in Tanzania's innovation ecosystem?
This newsletter covers:
i) An award-winning ed-tech startup.
ii) Major tech conference highlights.
iii) The impact of electric trains on logistics.
iv) Applications of information and communication technologies (ICT) in healthcare and agriculture.
v) Dar’s growing AI community.
There is more, too.
Read on below.
1. SmartDarasa Takes Home Two Awards
On May 24, Tanzanian ed-tech startup Smartdarasa received recognition at a Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) program in Nairobi, Kenya.
The startup enables students to visualize complex concepts and conduct virtual experiments on their smartphones or computers. It delivers interactive 3D and 2D simulations.
SmartDarasa's offline app, which is currently in development, uses augmented reality (AR) technology to address the lack of laboratory infrastructure and internet connectivity in many parts of Tanzania. It ensures uninterrupted access to quality STEM education for all students. A wait-list is currently open for the first 50 users.
Out of 84 participants from about 14 African countries, SD was named the "Best Design Thinking Project.” It also received the "People's Choice" award, for its potential to be acquired by Google.
That recognition comes after four weeks of intensive training in business and financial management. The edtech competed against 35 other companies in the business track. Thus showcasing the strength of Tanzania's educational technology sector.
YALI is a U.S. government initiative designed to empower young African leaders. Top participants like SmartDarasa may be eligible for a $50,000 grant from USAID to further their impact.
In 2022, SD was among 14 startups selected to receive a 37.3 Million (~USD 14,000) cash prize each, following the year's National Competition on Science, Technology and Innovation (MAKISATU). In 2023, it was voted among the top three Vodacom Digital Accelerator (VDA) startups.
2. Collaboration Helps Tech Startups Succeed
The 10th Innovation Week Tanzania (IWTz) concluded last Friday in Dar es Salaam. Since its inception in 2015, IWTz has been a platform for collaboration and knowledge exchange. Thanks to partnerships between UNDP and ecosystem support organizations in Tanzania.
This year's Week focused on driving Tanzania's economic competitiveness through innovation. It covered five key themes: digital transformation, green economy, human capital development, financial inclusion, and the blue economy & tourism. Participants explored each topic was through various sub-events held across different venues in Dar, Arusha, Dodoma, Morogoro, Mwanza, and Zanzibar.
Various speakers and organizations emphasized the importance of skills development and policy reform. Plus collaboration between the government, development partners, and startups to promote innovation. In addition, the role of universities in driving economic growth by translating research into practical solutions was discussed.
The event highlighted the growing importance of mobile technology and artificial intelligence (AI) in financial services, as well as the need to look beyond donor support for startup and innovation hub funding.
Several upstarts, including TemboPlus, Simplitech, and BizyTech, even had their executives speak on panels. Others, like Fiqra Academy (previously VijanaTech) displayed their products and services.
3. SGR Faces Temporary Setback Promises Better Logistics
The Tanzanian government is moving forward with plans to launch passenger and cargo train services on the standard gauge railway (SGR) between Dar es Salaam and Morogoro in June. Full service to Dodoma is expected by July 25.
This announcement comes despite a temporary work stoppage on the Makutupora-Tabora section of the railway due to unspecified reasons. It reflects the complexities of large-scale infrastructure projects.
The Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) has also released a pricing structure for the transportation of fruits and vegetables on the SGR.
TRC’s new cargo transit option could improve efficiency and cost reduction in agricultural logistics. It offers e-commerce and agri-tech startups a new way to improve their product distribution models and reach a wider market.
Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, and Morogoro (regions where the electric train will initially pass) have a combined population of 11.34 million people. That’s according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) 2022 census results.
I believe increased connectivity and accessibility can drive demand for location-based services, B2C platforms, and other digital solutions that serve travelers. The anticipated rise in passenger traffic may also create opportunities for startups focused on travel booking (like Otapp), hospitality, and tourism-related technologies.
Also, ventures that develop supply chain management software (like Ramani), cold storage, and last-mile delivery could benefit from the better efficiency and reduced costs associated with rail transport.
Founders should be adaptable and proactive. Respond to the emerging opportunities presented by electric train mobility in Tanzania.
I may have to do a cost-benefit analysis that compares the SGR to trucking. It could help businesses determine the most cost-effective mode of transportation. Let me know what you think in the comments.
4. TIC in Japan
Tanzania is attracting Japanese investment in key sectors like manufacturing, fishing, infrastructure, real estate, energy, mining, and tourism. A delegation led by the Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) is currently in Japan, meeting with potential investors and showcasing our country's economic potential.
The investment promotion mission began on May 26th and will continue until June 7th, 2024.
Why does that matter? Foreign companies often seek partnerships with local businesses for market entry and expansion. This mission provides a platform for startups to establish strategic partnerships and access to new markets.
Japan is the most technologically advanced country in the world, according to the U.S. News Best Countries rankings. So Tanzanian tech startups can learn from Japanese best practices to improve their products and services.
5. MUHAS Explores AI, Prepares for Innovation Week
The Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) recently held a well-attended webinar on the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in digital health products.
The event—hosted by the MUHAS’ Digital Health and Innovation Alliance—featured experts Jeff Eyet (CEO of Berkeley Innovation Group), Johan Müllern-Aspegren (from Capgemini), Dr. Judith Leo (a data scientist at NM-AIST), and Dr. Felix Sukums (an ICT lecturer at MUHAS). They shared insights and experiences on the risks and opportunities of AI in healthcare.
Building on that momentum, MUHAS is now preparing for its 4th Digital Health & Innovation Week, scheduled for November 11th-15th, 2024.
The event, themed "The Role of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in Advancing Digital Health Transformation," aims to encourage collaboration between businesses and governments in the development of ICT for illness prevention and management.
In Tanzania, Statista values the digital health market at $271.9 million in 2024. The digital fitness & well-being segment alone is expected to generate $172.4 million this year.
The average monthly revenue per user (ARPU) in our entire digital health market is estimated to be $19.98.
The Innovation Week will include health data analytics training, a health tech workshop for women and girls, the Zanzibar Digital Health Seminar, a forum, and exhibition.
MUHAS events demonstrate how Tanzania's #1 university is helping build a stronger national health tech ecosystem.
Perhaps we will see even more innovation in software as a medical device (SaMD), augmented reality (AR)-driven health education, and AI-powered diagnosis.
6. NM-AIST and University of Florida Awarded Grant to Improve Livestock Farming in Africa
The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST) in Arusha and the University of Florida (UF) have received a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) to help farmers raise more and better livestock. Three NM-AIST academics—Professor Gabriel Shirima, Dr. Issakwisa Ngondya, and Dr. Gladness Mwanga— are leading the project.
This is good news for livestock farmers (and consumers of cow products). Small dairy farmers and those who raise animals in open fields (pastoralists) will now use new advanced tools to increase on-farm productivity.
The BMGF project will also establish a center at NM-AIST dedicated to livestock farming innovation. It will work on developing and testing new solutions for African animal health, feeding, and breeding.
Prof. Shirima and his team will bring two unique tools that, if widely distributed, will benefit farmers across the continent.
These are:
(i) SmaXtec bolus. A small device that goes inside the animal's stomach and tracks what they eat, how they move, and even when they're sick.
(ii) Ceres tag. It attaches to the animal's ear and measures how much methane gas they release, which is important for the environment.
SmaXTec and Ceres are useful in many ways. For example, they can give pastoralists alerts if an animal is sick or needs attention. Also by knowing how much each cow is eating, farmers can predict how much milk they will produce. Livestock keepers will also be able to adjust their animals' food intake accordingly.
This all leads to more milk, meat, and money. It also helps to protect the environment.
NM-AIST and MUHAS play an important role in Tanzania's innovation ecosystem. Both are testing grounds for new technologies.
Startups and organizations that help startups (i.e., hubs/accelerators) can learn a lot from these universities. They can learn how to retain talented people. And get funds that are competed for globally.
7. Dar es Salaam's AI Community Gathers Again
The 8th Generative Artificial intelligence (AI) Community Meetup, hosted at the Stanbic Biashara Incubator in Dar es Salaam on May 25th, brought together a diverse group of startups, AI enthusiasts, developers, and professionals.
Tanzanian chatbots startup Neurotech organized the event, which was sponsored by Threefold’s Dunia Yetu project. Participants discussed "Streamlining Generative AI Model Deployment for Real-World Applications."
Previous gatherings focused on topics such as Swahili language models (on April 27), open source AI model development (in January 2024), and locally relevant generative AI trends (in July 2023).
The 8th GenAI meetup allowed attendees to network and learn about the field’s latest advancements. It was also well-attended. The event had 99 RSVPs and many more people showed interest via Twitter (X).
That same Saturday, Neurotech held a workshop on Sarufi in the Iringa region, which has a population of over 1.19 million.
Sarufi is a conversational intelligence platform that powers Azam Marine's booking experience and provides various offerings to other clients.
Thank you Isai for this piece. Help us compare the current prices of train logistics and comparison with trucks.