African tech startups love AI. The technology that made headlines last year with his introduction of ChatGPT is trending all over the world.
Some parts of Africa, which have lagged behind other continents in adopting new technologies, are making steady progress in adopting AI, led by start-ups in South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria.
Companies in the three countries account for more than 90% of all foreign venture capital money flowing into Africa, according to the African Development Bank.
Also read: ChatGPT creators plan ‘App Store’ for custom AI chatbots
AI transforms business in Africa
Until recently, African founders tended to focus on enterprise AI apps, but many startups are beginning to leverage AI to engage directly with everyday users. Here are six AI-driven startups from Africa.
Great Fit AI
great fit South African company AI, founded by Shai Unterslak, is the first recruitment software to test the soft skills and cultural fit of software engineering candidates using Large Language Models (LLM), the technology behind ChatGPT claims to be.
Unterslak said more than 50% of rejections can be attributed to “difficult non-technical skills.” Generative AI offers an opportunity to collect more data points about candidates in a “fair and engaging manner,” he added.
The company’s flagship product, GreatFit Chat, guides candidates through a chatbot to solve coding problems. Doing so gives candidates the opportunity to show off their written communication and leadership skills.
“We are really at a tipping point in terms of what artificial intelligence can achieve for both individuals and businesses,” Unterslack said. His goal is to use large-scale language models to correct what he calls “bias in hiring.”
Aerial view of Cape Town, South Africa (Source: Shutterstock)
aero robotics
Another South African Startup aero roboticsis using artificial intelligence to transform agriculture, Africa’s largest employer, accounting for almost 45% of total employment as of 2020.
The platform uses aerial imagery, machine learning and advanced analytics to help farmers identify crop stress, nutrient deficiencies and other factors that can affect plant health.
Aerobotics also offers technology that allows growers to adjust the size of their fruit. By setting up farms on the platform, farmers will be able to immediately start sizing fruit using the company’s AI system, said to be able to measure fruits as small as 10 mm.
With the help of our AI technology that turns smartphones into digital calipers, grape growers can now capture images and compile data on fruit size 📱🍇 Laying a solid foundation for harvest season To get started, request a demo here: https://t.co/McUFHfwwkp pic.twitter.com/3WY12F9Ub1
— Aero Robotics (@aerobotics_intl) March 17, 2023
Farmers can use this data to pre-plan their harvest by assigning fruit to different markets based on size. Fruit marketers also benefit from knowing the expected peak numbers at harvest time, allowing them to optimize their export programs early in the season.
Since its launch, Aerobotics technology has measured the size of more than 2 million fruits. The company was originally founded in Cape Town and now he operates in 18 countries.
Night panorama of Nairobi, Kenya. (Source: Shutterstock)
Coco Networks
in Kenya, Coco Networks sells clean-burning ethanol cookstoves and cloud-based fuel delivery services that use AI to optimize product offerings.Christine Lagarde: Clean energy matters in the age of climate change blamed to promote global inflation.
The company implements an extensive network connected to the cloud.coco point” inside the local corner store. Points act as an accessible hub for consumers to work with prominent suppliers to receive goods and services.
Through this data, East African companies are using AI to research customer information and offer suggestions tailored to their cooking habits and product preferences.
apollo agriculture
Agriculture is a recurring theme as it is central to Africa’s economy, contributing about 35% of the continent’s GDP and supporting the livelihoods of half of the region’s 1.2 billion people. It’s no surprise that AI startups are particularly enthusiastic about this space.
apollo agriculture is a Kenyan online marketplace that gives farmers easy access to credits and inputs. The company uses satellite data, agricultural machine learning, remote sensing and mobile technology to assess crop health and provide custom advice to farmers.
Farmers can use the platform to apply for loans and purchase inputs such as seeds, fertilizers and pesticides. The platform also gives farmers access to weather forecasts, market prices and other resources.
Founded in 2016, Apollo aims to help farmers improve crop yields and profitability. It also helps farmers reduce the risk of financial loss. The company has raised $58 million from multiple investors, including the SoftBank Vision Fund and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.
Apollo Agriculture logo displayed in Times Square as part of Impact100, August 2022 – Source: apollo agriculture
Ubengwa Health
ubenwa is a company founded in 2017 by a Nigerian living in Canada. The startup uses AI to detect conditions like premature asphyxia (breathing problems) by analyzing how babies cry.
In a continent where 72 babies die for every 1,000 newborns from a variety of complications, new technologies could benefit millions. More than 2.5 million newborns die each year worldwide according to To the frontier of pediatrics.
Ubenwa has completed a $2.5 million pre-seed round in 2022, and the company plans to use the money to further validate the technology through clinical trials and develop a mobile app that is simple enough for parents to use.
“If your head hurts, you say you have a headache. Babies cry when their head hurts. They cry when their stomach hurts. The question is, ‘How can I improve my communication with my baby?’ It was,” Ubenwa founder Charles Onu told Techpoint. report.
Onu needs to convince parents how his AI technology works and if it can really save babies.
Introducing the Baby Cry Insights App!
Are you a new parent having trouble understanding your baby’s cries?
Download the Baby Cry Insights App
iPhone: https://t.co/9shRlCG7q2
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1/4 pic.twitter.com/gf719OeSCZ
— Ubenwa Health | Saving Newborn Lives (@ubenwa_ai) May 29, 2023
Cobo 360
Lagos base Cobo 360 is an artificial intelligence and web-based marketplace that connects shippers and carriers. It allows individuals and businesses to order or schedule pickups and track delivery of their shipments.
Founded in 2016, the company helps drivers, shippers and consignees manage their end-to-end transportation operations. Clients include Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, MDS Logistics, Fetswallet, Chisco and Ark Insurance Group.
propaganda Raised $31 million in funding round led by Goldman Sachs, Asia Africa Investment and Consulting and TLcom Capital Partners.
Link bridge in Lagos, Nigeria (Source: Shutterstock)
Cost Reductions Pull Businesses to AI
Rume Dominic, Founder of Digital Finance Platform Volemsaid that on the continent AI is in the formative stage.
“Education, infrastructure and policies are the main limiting factors for AI adoption in Nigeria,” Dominique, a Nigeria-based tech expert, told Metanews.
“However, the Nigerian government recognizes the potential of AI to contribute to human efficiency and solve difficult problems in various sectors such as education, healthcare, finance and agriculture. To this end, the government established the National Center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics in November 2020.”
Nathaniel Luz, CEO of Africa-Focused Crypto Platform flin capsaid companies are using artificial intelligence to “reduce costs” and increase efficiency. Ordinary people use AI to ‘connect with the rest of the world’ He said AI is a ‘lifeline’ that has created a ‘level playing field’ for Africa.
“Africa is going to have a massive use of AI and the possibilities are endless,” Luz predicted.
