A Kenyan startup has been selected among 10 innovators for the 2026 cohort of the Qualcomm Make in Africa Mentorship Programme, reinforcing Kenya’s growing influence in Africa’s deep technology ecosystem.
The startup, Zerobionic, is developing assistive robotics solutions aimed at enhancing independence and inclusion for persons with disabilities—addressing a critical gap in accessible technology both locally and across the continent.
Now in its fourth year, the programme forms part of the Qualcomm Africa Innovation Platform, which supports early-stage startups building transformative technologies in areas such as artificial intelligence, smart systems, and connected solutions.
Participants benefit from mentorship, business training, technical guidance, and intellectual property support to help scale their innovations.
The 2026 cohort was selected from more than 1,200 applications across over 45 African countries, underscoring the increasing competitiveness and sophistication of Africa’s innovation landscape.
Kenya’s inclusion in the programme highlights its position as a leading hub for technology and innovation, with startups continuing to develop solutions addressing real-world challenges in sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, and smart infrastructure.
Selected startups will receive hands-on mentorship, engineering consultation, and access to tools that support product development. They will also benefit from intellectual property training to better protect and commercialise their innovations.
At the end of the programme, participants will be eligible for funding opportunities through Qualcomm for Good, alongside stipends and support for patent filing.
Commenting on the announcement, Wassim Chourbaji, Senior Vice President and President, Middle East and Africa at Qualcomm, said the quality of this year’s cohort reflects the rapid growth of Africa’s innovation ecosystem.
“The quality and ambition of this year’s cohort reflect the rapid growth of Africa’s innovation ecosystem. Startups across the continent, including Kenya, are leveraging advanced technologies to develop impactful, scalable solutions. We are proud to support this next generation of innovators as they move from concept to real-world application,” he said.
The programme is implemented in partnership with the African Telecommunications Union, strengthening collaboration across Africa’s technology ecosystem.
Other startups selected for the 2026 cohort represent countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Namibia, and Zimbabwe, spanning sectors such as agriculture, water access, electric mobility, and smart infrastructure.
At the programme’s finale, one startup will receive a Social Impact Fund grant, while all participants will be eligible for a $5,000 stipend upon successful completion.
Qualcomm will also provide resources including product design guidance on Arduino AI platforms, business coaching, engineering consultation, and free intellectual property education through L2Pro Africa.
The full 2026 cohort includes startups such as Amperra Charging Company (Namibia), Anatsor Ltd (Nigeria), D-Olivette Labs (Nigeria), Mindora Corporation (Zimbabwe), MVUTU (Republic of the Congo), QualiKeeper Investments Ltd (Zambia), SafeSip (Tanzania), Sesi Technologies Ltd (Ghana), TWave Ltd (Uganda), and Zerobionic (Kenya).
