What problems are Rwanda’s new top five startups solving?

The 2024 Hanga PitchFest showcased an array of startups, each with a unique solution to Rwanda's challenges. This year's top five winners provided fresh innovative ideas that leverage technology and community-centric approaches. ALSO READ: Cedrick Mupenzi of Sinc Today bags Rwf50m prize in Hanga PitchFest Hanga Pitchfest was introduced in 2021 as a tech start-up pitching competition designed to ignite and inspire innovation. Here are the top problems this year’s winning startups intend to solve: 1. Event management simplified for all Sinc-Today, a platform that enhances event discovery and management, enables seamless ticket purchasing and offers data-driven insights for organizers, addressing visibility issues and environmental waste, according to the founder. ALSO READ: A look at Hanga Pitchfest progress through the eyes of past winners Cedrick Mupenzi, the founder of Sinc, told The New Times that Sinc aims to empower underserved and underprivileged event organizers by providing professional tools to streamline event planning and management. “This platform(website) allows organizers to track data-driven analytics, connect easily with communities, and explore monetization options through subscriptions. Additionally, it benefits event attendees by enabling them to find events tailored to their interests, all on one accessible platform,” said Mupenzi. “We provide organisers with a rich dashboard portal that allows them to efficiently organize their events and we also have features like analytics and metrics which allows them to make decisions driven by data, own their data like sales, customers, and enables them to collaborate internally or externally.” For event attendees who are trying to look for events, instead of going through multiple channels to find an event that matches your interests, “or finding out that you just missed out on an event you might have wanted to attend, you can find all events on the website, and you can filter by your interests,” said Mupenzi. 2. Affordable assistive devices from recycled electronic waste Geuza is a startup dedicated to producing affordable assistive devices such as crutches, walkers, and prosthetics, from recycled electronic waste. The company’s mission is to empower persons with disability across Africa by providing eco-friendly, durable, and customizable solutions that enhance accessibility and mobility in low-income regions. ALSO READ: Hanga Pitchfest, a path to innovation-led opportunities Aline Nicole Uwamariya, the founder of Geuza, stated that 446,000 people with disabilities in Rwanda and 326 million across Africa lack access to assistive tools, which inspired the creation of the initiative. “Geuza utilizes electronic plastic waste like wires to create durable, eco-friendly devices embedded with IoT sensors, devices and gadgets to collect information such as temperature, light, motion, and sound. These sensors help users monitor their posture and mobility, reducing the risk of long-term physical complications,” said Uwamariya. “We are integrating sensors into our assistive devices to track safety and detect any issues. If a device is damaged and the user does not know, it could deform or distort your body over time. The technology will monitor movements and send data to healthcare providers, such as physiotherapists and prosthetists, who can identify and address problems before they worsen.” The sensors are embedded in the assistive devices like crutches, and connected to an application. This helps users maintain proper posture and movement, which is essential for those relying on these devices long-term, she noted. We aim to make these assistive devices affordable because the ones currently available locally are imported, and very expensive. Additionally, the wooden alternatives require annual replacement and can potentially distort the user’s body.” Uwamariya hopes to scale her startup’s production capacity from 350 to 2,000 units, per month, and making their devices more accessible across the continent. ALSO READ: A look at Hanga Pitchfest progress through the eyes of past winners 3. Affordable medical-grade ultrasound devices Afya Wave is a healthcare startup focused on bridging the gap in maternal healthcare by developing low-cost, medical-grade ultrasound devices for remote and underserved communities in East Africa. The user-friendly, portable ultrasound devices come equipped with an AI Assistant to support real-time image analysis and interpretation, catering to various levels of expertise. “Our mission is to reduce maternal mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa by empowering healthcare providers in remote areas with accessible, AI-powered ultrasound technology,” said Cedric Irambona, the founder of Afya Wave. Afya Wave’s technology enables grassroots healthcare providers to deliver essential maternal care services effectively, supporting better health outcomes in their communities. “Nurses and eventually grassroot health care providers will be trained to give services,” said Irambona. 4. Smart solution for plastic waste management Clenville is focused on improving plastic waste management through innovative solutions like the WeCollect App, which incentivizes users to separate recyclables. It aims to address the inefficiencies of traditional waste systems in Africa. The startup tackles plastic waste management by incentivizing communities to sort and sell plastic waste instead of disposing of it. Ewuket Tsegaw Alemayhu, the founder of Clenville, said that they incentivize the community, particularly businesses and households, “to sell us their plastic waste” instead of giving it to waste collectors or pickup trucks. Using our smart waste collection system, we encourage them to sort and set aside the plastics for us. The collected plastic is then sold to recycling companies, and plastic credits are issued to bottling companies globally,” said Alemayhu. Alemayhu said this model positions Rwanda as a potential hub for Africa’s plastic and carbon credit markets. The startup which currently operates in two provinces and the City of Kigali, he said, wants to expand operations across Rwanda and build the necessary infrastructure for broader collection efforts. 5. Affordable access to emergency medication Lifeline is a startup that offers a software platform designed to enhance access to emergency medications. By integrating in-house and third-party insurance with outpatient drug tracking, Lifeline addresses critical barriers such as accessibility of life-saving drugs. King Chukwumere, the founder of Lifeline, told The New Times that the software aims at providing affordable access to medication, as a patient does not need to go to physical pharmacies to get medicine. “Lifeline works with insurance companies and pharmacies to help patients obtain essential medicines at lower cost of subscription of the service. Lifeline can also support someone to find better options and increase your search efficiency,” said Chukwumere. “We also manage logistics 100 per cent but we do not affect the prices of medication. Users can access different pharmacies and the prices they set.” The company is eyeing partnerships with Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB) and major insurers in Rwanda, said Chukwemere.

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What problems are Rwanda’s new top five startups solving?