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Tag: Tech Hub

  • Rwanda Secures $7.5M for AI Hub from Gates Foundation

    Rwanda is making significant strides in the artificial intelligence sector, thanks to a substantial investment from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. ICT and Innovation Minister Paula Ingabire announced that the country has received $7.5 million to establish a dedicated AI Scaling Hub, a move that positions Rwanda as a key player in AI innovation on the continent.

    A Vision for AI in Rwanda

    Minister Ingabire, a graduate of MIT’s system design and management program and a computer engineering expert, brings a wealth of experience to her role. Her career has focused on developing Rwanda’s technology sector, including roles at the Rwanda Information Society Authority and the Rwanda Development Board. She was instrumental in creating high-value academic centers as a coordinator for the Kigali Innovation City Project.

    In her current capacity, Ingabire strategically guides policy, infrastructure, and partnerships to foster digital transformation and innovation. Her vision is to make Rwanda a leading digital hub across Africa, emphasizing inclusivity and cutting-edge technology.

    The AI Scaling Hub Initiative

    The $7.5 million grant from the Gates Foundation, awarded in April 2025, will be deployed over three years to build the Rwanda AI Scaling Hub. This initiative is designed to be a platform for scaling AI solutions, initially focusing on critical sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, and education.

    Minister Ingabire expressed excitement about the partnership, stating, “We’re excited about this partnership with the Gates Foundation around the AI Scaling Hub, designed to be a platform where we can scale AI solutions — starting with three sectors: health care, agriculture, and education.”

    Expanding AI Across the Continent

    Dr. Trevor Mundel, President of Global Health at the Gates Foundation, highlighted the foundation’s commitment, saying, “The Gates Foundation is proud to support the launch of the first AI Scaling Hub, in partnership with the Rwanda Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the Government of Rwanda. We look forward to continuing this effort with partners across the continent, working together to break down barriers to scale and help move promising AI innovation to impact.”

    Discussions are already underway to establish similar AI hubs in Senegal, Kenya, and Nigeria, indicating a broader continental strategy to leverage AI for development. This investment signifies a major step forward for Rwanda and the wider African tech ecosystem.

    What are your thoughts on Rwanda’s investment in AI? Share your insights in the comments below!

  • Tulsa Tech Week Launches, Highlighting Black Innovation

    Brooklyn native and tech founder Tariqua ‘Tai’ Nehisi is bringing her passion for innovation to Tulsa, Oklahoma. Having launched Organizely, an AI-powered workplace platform, Nehisi moved to Tulsa in 2023 through the Tulsa Remote program, drawn by the city’s burgeoning tech scene and its commitment to rebuilding Black Wall Street through technology.

    From Brooklyn to Tulsa’s Tech Scene

    Nehisi’s journey to Tulsa began with the Tulsa Remote program, which offers a $10,000 grant to remote workers relocating to the city. She saw immense potential in Tulsa, not only for her business but also for contributing to the city’s efforts to support Black and brown-focused tech companies. “I came at a time when there was a really great concerted effort to support the rebuilding of Black Wall Street through a technical lens,” Nehisi told AFROTECH™.

    While Tulsa has received significant investment, including $51 million from the Biden Administration’s Tech Hubs Program and a matching $49 million from the local philanthropic community, Nehisi noticed a lack of a central hub to showcase this growth. This observation inspired her to create Tulsa Tech Week.

    Making Tech Accessible and Visible

    Set to launch on September 22, Tulsa Tech Week aims to make connecting with the city’s tech ecosystem more accessible. The week-long event will feature sessions on crucial topics like leveraging AI for alternative capital, inclusive design principles, startup legal and financial expectations, and fundraising strategies with Silicon Valley Bank.

    Nehisi emphasized the importance of exposure and representation for everyone, from children to elders, and from the tech-averse to the tech-savvy. “The people… need to have exposure. Representation is key… You need to discover. But you have to know that there is so much wealth here,” she stated.

    Highlighting Tulsa’s Black Experience and Tech Talent

    Tulsa Tech Week boasts over 50 partners, including Langston University, Oklahoma’s only HBCU. This collaboration will amplify healthcare majors and highlight the “voices of Black people in Tulsa from the collegiate perspective.” Nehisi is particularly keen on showcasing the unique Black experience in Tulsa, acknowledging the city’s history with all-Black towns and its significance for Black Americans in Oklahoma.

    “I am not the voice of it. I am a voice,” Nehisi clarified, aiming to amplify the collective identity of Black Americans in Tulsa. Tulsa Tech Week will run from September 22-27, with registration open on the event’s website.

    Are you excited about Tulsa Tech Week? What tech trends are you most looking forward to learning about? Share your thoughts in the comments below!