Meta AI Academy Kenya Pitchathon Awards Two Startups US$5,000 Each

Meta and This Is Digital have named Neural Labs Africa and Me-Nasoma joint winners of the inaugural AI Academy Kenya Pitchathon, awarding each startup US$5,000 in equity-free funding and support to develop their artificial intelligence solutions.

The competition took place in Nairobi on Friday, October 16, 2026, following more than 400 applications. Ten finalists pitched their products before a panel of judges, with the two winners also receiving Meta advertising credits and invitations to pitch at Meta’s Regional AI Summit in Istanbul, Turkey, on November 24.

AI solutions for healthcare and education

Neural Labs Africa won with NeuralSight, an AI-powered tele-radiology platform that connects health facilities with remote medical specialists. The platform supports diagnostic reporting and is designed to operate in areas with limited internet connectivity, helping facilities access medical imaging expertise where specialists may not be readily available.

Me-Nasoma took the second winning spot with a tool that converts documents and web pages into audio in local languages. Available through mobile, web and browser extension platforms, the solution serves students, professionals and other users who face difficulties accessing written information.

Both startups will receive funding without giving up equity, alongside advertising support and opportunities to present their solutions to a wider audience through Meta’s regional AI network.

Ten startups reached the final

The pitchathon attracted applications from Kenyan startups and independent developers building products or prototypes with Meta’s open-source AI models, tools or platforms.

The ten finalists represented several sectors, including healthcare, legal services, education and small business technology.

HakiChain presented an AI legal tool built around African law, while Sawazisha AI developed a WhatsApp assistant to help businesses meet Kenya Revenue Authority eTIMS invoicing requirements. O.C.A. focuses on auditing Social Health Authority medical claims before submission, and TemboTrade provides sales, inventory and M-Pesa payment tools for small enterprises.

The other finalists were Jackfruit Network, with its School Needs Recommender; Utter Africa; JuaFlow; and Solivia Data, which presented AfyaEdge.

Applications closed on September 30, and organisers announced the ten finalists on October 8. The final pitches took place at The Social House in Nairobi’s Lavington area. Participation was free, although teams were responsible for their own travel costs.

Meta expands AI support in Kenya

The competition forms part of Meta AI Academy Kenya, an initiative intended to expand access to AI skills, tools and opportunities. The programme brings together technology companies, local partners and developers to support the creation of AI products suited to local needs.

Sarah Muyonga, Meta’s public policy manager for East and Horn of Africa, said partnerships with government and local ecosystem organisations are helping widen access to AI skills and opportunities in Kenya.

Chinny Francis, policy programs manager at Meta, said the company works with partners who understand local markets to support innovators developing solutions for their communities.

Greg Wanjama, co-founder and chief executive of This Is Digital, said the competition connects local talent with technology, expertise and opportunities to reach a wider audience.

Meta has also run similar AI Academy programmes in Nigeria. The Istanbul summit will give Neural Labs Africa and Me-Nasoma an opportunity to present their solutions to a regional audience.

Local AI development gains momentum

The pitchathon comes amid growing interest in locally developed AI applications across sub-Saharan Africa. A May 2026 study by Public First, commissioned by Meta, found that 81% of online adults in the region believe AI products developed locally will be important for economic growth.

The finalists demonstrated how developers are applying AI to practical challenges, from improving access to medical expertise and learning materials to helping businesses manage compliance and daily operations.

For Neural Labs Africa and Me-Nasoma, the funding and advertising credits provide resources to develop their products, while the Istanbul invitation offers an opportunity to reach potential partners and gain exposure beyond Kenya.

The competition also gives Meta and its local partners a platform to identify developers building with open-source AI tools and connect them with resources that could help their products grow.