Meta has announced the winners of its Llama Impact Program Accelerator 2025 grants, highlighting Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, and Kenya among the top African countries selected. This accelerator initiative was designed to bring together some of Sub-Saharan Africa’s most promising founders who are utilizing Llama, Meta’s large language model, to address significant challenges in critical sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, public safety, and public services. The program serves as a testament to how innovation and cross-sector partnerships can help shape an inclusive AI future that reflects local realities and drives meaningful progress across the African continent, working in close collaboration with national ministries and local partners.

The program garnered immense interest, receiving over 1,400 applications from across the region. From this extensive pool, 40 startups were meticulously selected from the four featured countries: Nigeria, Senegal, Kenya, and South Africa. Over a period of six rigorous weeks, these participants engaged in tailored business sessions, designed to refine their go-to-market strategies and bolster their scalability. They also benefited from hands-on technical workshops led by Meta engineers and received invaluable mentorship from a diverse network of AI specialists, investors, and business coaches.

The accelerator program culminated in inspiring Demo Day events held in each of the participating countries. During these events, national winners were unveiled, collectively receiving $50,000 in funding. Beyond these initial awards, the top winners from each country are set to advance to the prestigious AI Summit 2025 in Dubai, scheduled for November 3rd to 4th, 2025. This international platform will offer them an opportunity to compete for additional regional funding of up to $100,000, further fueling their innovative ventures.

A crucial aspect of the program’s design is its comprehensive six-month post-program support phase. During this period, participating startups will continue to benefit from specialized workshops, early access to Meta’s cutting-edge tools and resources, and vital connections with investors. This ongoing support, which also includes business advisory and technical assistance, is strategically designed to help these startups refine, scale, and successfully bring their AI-powered solutions to market, ensuring their long-term impact and sustainability.

The innovative solutions developed by these winning startups vividly demonstrate the profound potential of AI in tackling pressing challenges within their respective communities. In Nigeria, MARMAR clinched first place with a $25,000 prize for its AI-native electronic medical record and mobile platform, aimed at eliminating medication errors in hospitals and homes. Purple Labs secured second place with $15,000 for MediSync, an AI-powered diagnostic tool designed to transform patient care. DAWN AI Study earned third place with $10,000, recognized for redefining inclusive learning through AI-powered early assessment and emotional-cognitive support.

From Senegal, Kajou emerged victorious in first place, receiving a $25,000 prize for its kSANTÉ platform, which delivers offline AI-powered e-learning specifically for community health workers. SamaCoach was awarded second place with $15,000 for promoting public health through AI-driven fitness and wellness programs. LOOKA Research, receiving $10,000 for third place, was acknowledged for bridging Africa’s data gap with its AI-powered market intelligence platform.

The winners from South Africa included eFama in first place, winning $25,000 for its AI-powered marketplace and fair-pricing engine that connects farmers and buyers. CatalyzU secured second place with $15,000 for its use of AI to align workforce skills and training with business goals. Four Minute Medicine, awarded $10,000 for third place, was recognized for employing microlearning and AI simulations to reduce medical errors in healthcare training.

Lastly, Kenya’s winners showcased diverse AI applications. DPE claimed first place with $25,000 for transforming public health communication through localized, AI-driven messaging. Esheria Ventures, securing second place with $15,000, is developing Kenya’s first multilingual “digital paralegal.” Neural Labs Africa rounded out the winners with $10,000 for third place, bridging diagnostic gaps through its AI-powered radiology and teleradiology tools.

Balkissa Ide Siddo, Director for Public Policy across Sub-Saharan Africa at Meta, lauded the program's success, stating: “The Meta Llama Impact Accelerator 2025 has been instrumental in fostering a new wave of AI innovation across Sub-Saharan Africa, in close collaboration with national ministries and local partners. We are incredibly proud of the solutions developed by these startups, which demonstrate the immense potential of AI to address critical challenges in healthcare, education, agriculture, public services, and public safety within their communities and beyond.” This initiative truly underscores Meta's commitment to empowering local talent and driving impactful change through AI across the continent.