The Top 10 Startups of Hanga Pitchfest 2025: What do you know about them?
AI Quick Summary
- Hanga Pitchfest announced its top 10 startups, with five slated for elimination before the grand finale.
- These startups were evaluated based on their progress, value proposition, business model, market traction, technology use, and potential impact in Rwanda and beyond.
- Key innovations include healthcare solutions like Ambucycle's emergency medical motorcycles, Baho Nursebot's AI health screening, Ingoga Technologies' digital patient records, and Neem Company's diabetic foot care insoles.
- Sustainability and agriculture are addressed by NABSIL Grain Bank for optimal crop storage, Zazu Manufacturing's textile waste-to-concrete solution, and RE-BANATEX's banana stem fiber textiles.
- Business solutions feature Baza Analytics and INSYT AI, both democratizing data analytics with AI, and Sky 360, which uses drones for immersive real estate tours.
The Hanga Pitchfest finale took place on November 14, 2025, where RE-BANATEX was crowned the overall winner for its sustainable textile innovation.
The Top 10 startups of Hanga Pitchfest have now emerged. Founders were evaluated on how consistently they hit their milestones, the clarity and strength of their value proposition, the soundness of their business model, early signs of traction and customer adoption, creative use of technology, and the broader impact their solutions can have for Rwanda and beyond.
As we move closer to the finale, the competition tightens. This week, five more startups will be eliminated, and only the final five will take the stage at the Hanga Pitchfest finale. Here's a closer look at the ten startups that made it this far.
Healthcare Solutions Leading the Way
Ambucycle Ltd.
Healthcare
When emergencies happen, seconds count. Ambucycle brings emergency medical care directly to patients using motorcycles, a smart solution for Rwanda's roads where traffic can slow down traditional ambulances. Through their mobile app, patients can quickly connect with emergency medical providers who arrive on two wheels, ready to help. Beyond emergency response, the team is committed to building safer communities through first-aid training partnerships with different organizations. You can follow their life-saving work on Instagram.
Baho Nursebot by Innovahyper Technologies
HealthcareAI
Imagine walking up to a friendly robot that checks your blood pressure and weight in under 60 seconds, analyzes the results, and tells you if you need to see a doctor. That's Baho Nursebot. This solar-powered AI robot is designed to catch health problems early, especially in rural areas where healthcare workers are stretched thin. With 60 machines preparing to roll out across all 30 districts of Rwanda, Baho represents a practical approach to making healthcare more accessible. The innovation has caught the attention of UNDP and UNICEF, and you can learn more by following them on X.
Ingoga Technologies - Ubuzima Digital System
HealthcareAI
Healthcare data scattered across different systems creates confusion and delays. Ingoga Technologies tackles this with their Ubuzima Digital System, an AI-powered platform that brings all patient records into one secure place. Doctors can access patient history instantly, automate routine tasks, conduct telemedicine appointments, and make better decisions with real-time data. For a country building a modern healthcare system, having all medical information connected and accessible is transformative. The Kigali-based IT firm also offers solutions for vehicle and traffic management. Visit their website at ingoga-technologies.vercel.app.
Neem Company Limited
HealthcareWearable Tech
For people living with diabetes, foot problems can escalate quickly; sometimes leading to amputation. Neem developed a smart insole that acts as an early warning system. Embedded sensors continuously monitor pressure, temperature, and heart rate, detecting the early signs of diabetic foot ulcers before they become serious. The insole connects to a monitoring platform that alerts both patients and doctors when something looks wrong, giving them time to act. The company's mission is clear: no one should lose a limb to a preventable condition. Learn more at neemgroup.rw.
Climate & Agriculture Solutions
NABSIL Grain Bank
AgricultureFintech
Farmers often face a painful choice: sell their harvest immediately at low prices, or watch it spoil while hoping for better rates later. NABSIL Grain Bank offers a third option. Founded in 2024 and expanding across East Africa, they provide professional grain storage facilities with financing solutions built in. Farmers can store their crops in optimal conditions, maintain grain quality over time, and access credit while they wait for better market prices. It's a practical answer to reducing post-harvest losses and improving farmer incomes. Visit them at nabsilgrainbank.com.
Zazu Manufacturing Ltd.
Green TechConstruction
What happens to old clothes and textile waste? Usually, they end up in landfills. Co-founder Brenda and her team at Zazu Manufacturing found a better use: turning textile waste into concrete for pavement blocks. This innovation addresses two problems at once. Reducing landfill waste and cutting Rwanda's reliance on imported construction materials. As the country builds out its infrastructure, using locally-made, eco-friendly materials represents both environmental responsibility and economic sense. Check out their work at zazumanufacturingltd.com.
RE-BANATEX
Green TechFashion
Rwanda produces tons of bananas, and tons of banana waste. Founder Jonathan saw potential in those discarded stems. RE-BANATEX transforms banana stem fibers into soft, durable textiles by blending them with cotton. The result is eco-friendly fabric that supports local craftsmanship while reducing agricultural waste. Each piece of clothing or textile tells a story of innovation and sustainability, proving that green solutions can also be beautiful and practical. Explore their products at rebanatex.rw.
Business Solutions
Baza Analytics
Data AnalyticsAI
Data analysis shouldn't require a computer science degree. Baza Analytics built an AI-powered platform where teams can simply ask questions in plain language and get answers. Connect your spreadsheets, databases, or third-party tools, and let AI agents handle the complex data engineering work. Need to know sales trends? Want to understand customer behavior? Just ask. The platform enables real-time collaboration, making it easy for entire teams to explore data, generate reports, and make informed decisions together. Visit usebaza.com to see how they're democratizing data analysis.
Sky 360
Real EstateDrone Tech
Founder Adolph recognized that buying or renting property sight unseen is risky. Sky 360 uses drone technology to change how people view real estate. Instead of static photos, potential buyers get immersive 360-degree virtual tours and high-resolution inspections of properties from angles that traditional photography can't capture. Whether you're checking a roof's condition or exploring a property's surroundings, drone-powered tours provide the complete picture, helping people make confident decisions about major investments.
INSYT AI
Data AnalyticsAI
Co-founder Zannu Julius watched businesses struggle with complex analytics tools that required specialized skills. INSYT AI removes those barriers entirely. Their no-code platform lets anyone—from small business owners to corporate teams, query their data using everyday language and receive instant insights. No programming knowledge needed. No expensive business intelligence tools required. Just straightforward questions and clear answers that help businesses understand their customers and operations better. The platform turns data exploration from a specialist task into something accessible to everyone. Learn more at insyt.co.
These ten startups represent the diversity and ambition of Rwanda's innovation ecosystem, from saving lives with AI-powered health screening to building sustainable materials from waste, from making emergency care more accessible to democratizing data analytics. As the competition narrows to five finalists next week, each of these founders has already proven that Rwandan innovation can solve real problems with practical, scalable solutions.
The finale will determine who receives funding to take their solutions to the next level, but all ten have demonstrated the ingenuity and determination that defines Rwanda's tech future.
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