Hanga Pitchfest Announces Top 45 Startups for 2026 Edition
AI Quick Summary
- Hanga Pitchfest, Rwanda's national startup competition, has selected 45 startups for the next stage of its latest edition.
- These 45 startups will proceed to a pitching phase and bootcamp to determine the top 25.
- Now in its sixth year, Hanga Pitchfest supports emerging businesses with mentorship, training, and funding.
- The competition has previously supported over 200 startups, facilitated 600 million Rwandan francs in funding, and created over 1,500 jobs.
- Notable selected startups include Tegabus, Afriinnox Ltd, Strettch Cloud, and Inzufinder, addressing various local challenges.
Hanga Pitchfest, Rwanda's national startup competition, has announced the 45 startups selected for the next stage of its latest edition. These ventures will now proceed to pitch their solutions, and bootcamp continuing the competition's focus on nurturing local innovation across various sectors and selecting the top 25.
About Hanga Pitchfest
Now in its sixth year, Hanga Pitchfest has established itself as a key platform for emerging businesses in Rwanda. The competition provides mentorship, training, and funding opportunities to help startups scale their operations and address local challenges.
In its previous five years, Hanga Pitchfest has supported over 200 startups, facilitated more than 600 million Rwandan francs in funding, and contributed to the creation of over 1,500 jobs within the ecosystem.
Last year's winner, RE-BANATEX, an eco-textile startup converting banana stems into fabric, received 50 million Rwandan francs (approximately $36,000 USD) and has since focused on scaling production and partnering with local farmers.
The Top 45 Startups
The recently announced top 45 startups represent a diverse range of industries, all working to solve specific problems within Rwanda. Among the notable selections are Tegabus, a platform designed to facilitate online bus ticket purchases, and Afriinnox Ltd, which aims to address challenges in livestock farming with solutions like Broodinnox and Agriinnox.
Also included are Strettch Cloud, identified as a prominent cloud startup in Rwanda, and Inzufinder, a platform assisting individuals in finding rental housing. Inzufinder was previously recognized in the Code for Impact program.
Next Steps and Impact
The selected 45 startups will now move forward to the pitching phase of the competition. This stage allows them to present their business models and solutions to a panel of judges, investors, and industry experts and a bootcamp through which we will get to know the top 25.
Hanga Pitchfest continues to play a role in Rwanda's innovation landscape, fostering an environment where young entrepreneurs can develop and implement solutions that contribute to the country's economic and social development.
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Cishahayo Songa Achille
Chief EditorCishahayo Songa Achille is a Rwandan software engineer and tech entrepreneur focused on democratizing digital skills. He is best known as the Founder and Managing Director of Techinika, an edtech firm established in 2020 to make complex technological advances accessible to the general public and build solutions for the biggest problems.
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