Elijah Ntongai, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, has over four years of financial, business, and technology research and reporting experience, providing insights into Kenyan and global trends.

Three Kenyan startups, Solar Freeze, Farmer Lifeline, and Pollen Patrollers, have emerged among the ten finalists selected for the prestigious Qualcomm Make in Africa 2025 programme.

The trio was picked from a highly competitive pool of 435 applicants spanning 19 African countries.

Now in its third edition, Qualcomm Make in Africa programme supports deep-tech startups across the continent by offering equity-free mentorship, engineering support, and business coaching, among other resources aimed at accelerating innovation in connectivity, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things (IoT).

The selected startups will gain access to Qualcomm’s global engineering expertise, hardware platforms, and intellectual property (IP) guidance.

They will also be eligible for funding from the company’s Wireless Reach™ Social Impact Fund, with one standout startup receiving a grant and the others awarded stipends to support their growth.

“This year’s cohort of deep technology startups is a testament to Africa's burgeoning innovation landscape. These ventures are leveraging Qualcomm’s advanced technologies to revolutionize sectors like agriculture, climate change, healthcare, and transportation,” said Wassim Chourbaji, SVP and President, Qualcomm MEA & SVP, Government Affairs EMEA.

These three Kenyan startups now join a highly regarded alumni network of African innovators who have benefited from Qualcomm’s deep-tech acceleration model, helping them scale their businesses regionally and globally.

The 2025 cohort also includes startups from Nigeria, Tunisia, Benin, and Senegal:

These innovators were selected for their roles in addressing key development challenges such as climate resilience, clean energy, sustainable agriculture, health access, and mobility.

John Omo, Secretary General of the African Telecommunications Union (ATU), praised Qualcomm’s effort, noting the urgent need for ecosystem support.

“While ATU works to align policy and standards, real progress demands a broad coalition. We call on governments, academia, investors, and industry players to support these ventures and every initiative that puts African ingenuity first,” Omo stated.

Qualcomm is a global leader in advanced wireless technologies and intelligent computing through its platforms like Snapdragon® and Qualcomm Dragonwing™.

In other news, three Kenyan startups, Composi.it, Ustawi Nutrition Care, and Wable, have been selected to represent the country at the HICOOL Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Beijing in October 2025.

The nomination followed a strategic partnership between Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA) and China-based innovation platform HICOOL.

The collaboration was formalised through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed during the Silicon Savannah Startup Fair, aimed at boosting scientific, technological, and entrepreneurial ties between Kenya and China.

The partnership will enable Kenyan startups to participate in global competitions, benefit from incubation programs, and connect with international investors and innovators.

Source: TUKO.co.ke