MICROSOFT INVEST IN THREE AFRICAN TECH STARTUPS

Microsoft has given grants to three technology start-ups to extend internet and electricity penetration in three African countries.

These startups are focused on solving the problem of lack of affordable internet access by using TV white spaces and promising last mile access technologies to unconnected and underserved communities.

The grant fund will provide financing, technology, mentorship, networking opportunities and other support to help scale their innovative new technologies, services and business models.

The three startups includes:

  1. Agsol : Focuses on innovations in agriculture and energy sector. They deliver a dual solution by linking productive agricultural machines with scalable solar power mainly deals with electricity generation from the sun and enables to power crop processing machines. The excess energy from their machines is used for lights, phone chargers and small appliances. Their machines are cloud connected and Microsoft hopes that their grant will enable them to be more efficient and offer energy to off-grid farming communities.They currently operate in Kenya.
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2. Mesh Power is based in in Kigali, Rwanda MeshPower’s solar powered nanogrids and smart metering systems provide affordable electricity to communities without access to energy.and has an internet connected PV DC microgrid providing 48 volts of DC energy to customers as a competitive price.Mesh Power and Coldhub operating in Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda respectively will benefit from the grants (for an undisclosed amount) to enable them push internet and energy coverage in rural areas, under the Microsoft Airband Initiative.

3. ColdHubs provides solar-powered walk-in cold rooms installed in rural markets to store and preserve perishable foods. Their technology eliminates loss of crops and increases farmers’ income.

We are super excited for this new opportunities.

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Innovation, Startups,Entrepreneurship, Technology, STEM stories across Africa.

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