The World Economic Forum has announced its 2024 cohort of Technology Pioneers which includes four startups from Africa.
Details
The select group of 100 leading tech start-ups are focused on applying new breakthroughs in AI to develop clean energy solutions, healthcare innovation, and progress in biotech, space, and neurotechnology. These companies will contribute cutting-edge insights and expertise to the Forum’s global initiatives over the next two years and help scale their impact.
This year’s Technology Pioneers cohort includes start-ups from 23 countries, with a third led by a woman chief executive. With a record number of applications, the focus this year is on companies with technology that made significant breakthroughs and are now on explosive growth trajectories. These include nuclear fusion, biotechnology, quantum, and AI.
Selected African Companies
- BasiGo (Kenya), offers bus operators in East Africa electric buses as a more affordable and reliable alternative to incumbent diesel buses.
- Jetstream (Ghana), uses digitization and AI to simplify the process of transporting and financing import and export cargo through Africa’s supply chains.
- Kapu (Kenya), is building a new retail model for Africa’s mass market.
- uLesson (Nigeria), offering an expansive library of curriculum-aligned video lessons and quizzes for primary and secondary school students in Africa.
What They’re Saying
“The 2024 Technology Pioneers are revolutionizing industries on a global scale,” said Verena Kuhn, Head of Innovator Communities, World Economic Forum.
“These innovators are leveraging the most advanced technologies to drive the radical changes needed to confront the world’s most urgent challenges. We are excited to see how their groundbreaking work will enrich Forum initiatives and how they will contribute to building dynamic partnerships between the public and private sectors to solve these critical global issues.“
What Happens Next
The 2024 cohort will be invited to join Forum meetings and discussions throughout the year, bringing together leading stakeholders from the public and private sector. The first meeting will be the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2024, which takes place in Dalian, China, 25-27 June.
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