Why tech innovators from Africa need more backing

Technology innovators from the African continent need more support in order to fulfill their potential of transforming progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals, said Tom Kinyanjui, co-founder and CEO of Neural Labs Africa, a medical technology company that uses artificial intelligence to improve medical imaging diagnosis.

Over the years, investment and support for technological innovators from African countries and other emerging economies has improved, he said, but there is still a substantial journey ahead.

“Tech entrepreneurs are pivotal for driving transformative change and achieving the SDGs more effectively and sustainably, especially because they accelerate innovation by harnessing cutting-edge technologies,” he added.

A lack of trust in experimental technology and the perception that Africa is a risk are among the many challenges faced by tech startups such as Neural Labs, Kinyanjui shared.

The Kenya-based organization launched in 2021 and uses computer imaging and artificial intelligence to diagnose certain diseases, such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, and emphysema, in real time, with the aim of improving access to diagnostics. As it stands, almost half of people around the world don’t have access to diagnostics, with low- and middle-income countries in Africa particularly affected.

As a result of an investment from the UNICEF Venture Fund, Neural Labs has been able to begin testing the efficacy of the technology by partnering with hospitals to run clinical trials. More funding like this needs to be available within emerging economies so that those with lived experience of the issues can design new innovations and lifesaving technologies, Kinyanjui added.

Sitting down with Devex, he explained the challenges of being a tech entrepreneur in Africa right now, and how the sector can better support the next generation of health care technology providers.

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

What is the role of tech entrepreneurs in the SDG era?

I believe technology has the potential to create sustainable solutions. [Tech entrepreneurs] can play a role in enhancing effectiveness and efficiency, simply by doing data-driven decision-making and optimizing resources. They can also be very helpful in terms of promoting sustainable business models and green technologies, fostering inclusivity and equity, and bridging the digital divide gap. Tech entrepreneurs can play a crucial role in ensuring that digital [resources] are also more affordable and accessible.

How would you describe the current level of investment and support to young tech innovators and entrepreneurs living in emerging markets?

For funding opportunities, there is a rising number of venture capital funds, angel investors, and accelerator programs. There's also a rising ecosystem development and policy infrastructure as well. However, there are challenges around awareness and accessibility to some of these programs. Trust and perception issues, especially when it comes to investing in Africa, are also a huge challenge. Mentorship and capacity building will also need to be increased.

What has your experience of developing an AI solution in an emerging market through Neural Labs been like?

What we experienced at first was difficulty in access to funding, although we were able to get funding from hackathons.

Also accessing quality, region-specific medical data has been one of the most significant challenges. Unlike more developed regions where there is data infrastructure which is robust, many parts of Africa are often fragmented and it is difficult or almost impossible to access data. This is because we do not have adequate infrastructure for data storage and processing.

Another challenge is the talent pool. Unlike our colleagues, especially in the East and the West, which keep up to date in terms of technology, our talent still lags behind when it comes to technology.

To navigate some of these challenges, we're working on building partnerships and localized solutions to solve local disease burdens, as well as [looking at ways of improving] talent development, and of course, community engagement.

What more do you think could be done to better invest in young tech innovators’ talent and initiatives in a context such as Africa?

I think the first thing to do would be to invest in entrepreneurial education and classes. ... That would be very helpful for growing the entrepreneurial mindset. Training, mentorship, and access to networks can significantly enhance the capabilities of young innovators. Also, access to diverse funding mechanisms from hackathons, incubators, and accelerators.

Strengthening both the digital and physical infrastructure would be very helpful. This includes things like access to the internet, power supply, and even modern working spaces. Mentorship and networking would also go a long way in helping entrepreneurs to meet experts who have been on this journey before.

In addition, I think open-source technologies offer a very good place in terms of development, so we could have other developers come in and share more insights. That's … when rolling out becomes easier because anyone with access to, for instance, the GitHub repository, is able to deploy tech solutions and reach a larger number of people within the continent, making it easier to roll out solutions.

What impact might such investments and support have on the health-related SDGs?

Access to funding and technical support will enhance diagnostics and treatments, for instance, through machine learning and AI as well as personalized medicine, which is the future that we hope for. It could also contribute to strengthening health systems and developing digital infrastructure in the health care space. All of this would lead to increased efficiency and cost-saving, a better supply chain, and enhanced patient engagement.

What role did the UNICEF Venture Fund play in supporting Neural Labs and how helpful was this?

The most important thing that UNICEF did was mentorship, especially in guidance and expertise. They helped shape our strategic direction, both technologically, health care-wise, and also impact-wise.

Another thing that was really good in terms of mentorship was skills development, especially focusing on aspects of business and technology, data management, market strategies. This really equipped our team with skills and insights, as well as access to funding.

Dig into Roots of Change, a series examining the push toward locally led development.

This piece is produced in partnership with the UNICEF Office of Innovation as part of our Roots of Change series. Click here to learn more.