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Kenyan AI Innovators Win US$10,000 At Inaugural Meta AI Academy Pitchathon

BY Soko Directory Team · October 19, 2026 09:10 am

Neural Labs Africa and Me-Nasoma have emerged as the two winners of the inaugural AI Academy Kenya Pitchathon, each receiving US$5,000 in equity-free funding and Meta advertising credits to accelerate the growth of their solutions.

The winners were chosen as African appetite for home-grown AI grows: 81% of online adults in sub-Saharan Africa say AI products developed in the region will matter for economic growth, according to a May 2026 study by Public First, commissioned by Meta.

Jointly built by Meta and This Is Digital, the Pitchathon brought together 10 Kenyan innovators developing AI-powered solutions to address real-world challenges across five sectors: healthcare, education and assistive technology, retail and commerce, legal services, and finance and tax compliance.

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Both winning teams have also been invited to pitch at Meta’s Regional AI Summit in Istanbul, Türkiye, on 24 November 2026.

Neural Labs Africa, represented by Tom Kinyanjui, won with NeuralSight, an AI-powered tele-radiology platform that connects healthcare facilities with remote specialists and supports diagnostic reporting, including in areas with limited internet connectivity.

Me-Nasoma, represented by Oscar Karuga, offers a solution that converts documents and web pages into audio through mobile, web and Chrome extension platforms. Its affordable, local-language approach supports students, professionals and readers who face barriers to accessing written content.

Speaking at the event, Barnabas Sang, Director ICT Field Services at the State Department of ICT and Digital Economy,Ministry of ICT and The Digital Economy, Government of Kenya, highlighted the importance of homegrown innovation in advancing Kenya’s digital economy.

Emphasising the partnership, Sarah Muyonga, Public Policy Manager for East and Horn of Africa at Meta, said, “Our partnership with the government and local ecosystem partners is helping expand access to AI skills, tools and opportunities in Kenya.”

“The AI Academy Pitchathon attracted more than 426 applications, demonstrating the strong interest among Kenyan innovators in using Meta’s AI technologies to solve real-world challenges,” she added.

Chinny Francis, Policy Programs Manager at Meta, asserted, “Across our AI Academy programmes, including in Nigeria and now Kenya, our approach is to work with partners who understand their local ecosystems. By combining their expertise with Meta’s AI tools and mentorship, we can support innovators to build solutions that respond to real needs in their communities.”

In conclusion, Greg Wanjama, Co-Founder and CEO of This Is Digital, said, “Our ambition is to help build an ecosystem where African innovators have the skills, tools and opportunities to turn promising ideas into solutions with lasting impact.”

He added, “The Pitchathon connects local talent with technology, industry expertise and opportunities to showcase their work on a broader stage.”

The finalists were evaluated by a panel comprising Chinny Francis of Meta, Greg Wanjama of This Is Digital, Isaac Hunja of Kaara Works, Barnabas Sang of the State Department of ICT, and Natasha Nalyaka of Strathmore University’s iLabAfrica.

The AI Academy Kenya Pitchathon marks a milestone in the partnership between Meta and This Is Digital to advance AI adoption and innovation across Africa.

Me-Nasoma team celebrating their $5,000 win alongside the Meta and This Is Digital teams at the inaugural AI Academy Kenya Pitchathon.

All ten finalists were celebrated for the quality of their work. The other eight were:

  • Solivia Data (AfyaEdge), an offline-first, solar-powered triage hub for clinics
  • HakiChain, an AI legal suite tailored to African law and data protection standards
  • Sawazisha AI by John Digital Solutions, a WhatsApp assistant that helps small businesses stay eTIMS-ready
  • Utter Africa, a browser-based communication platform for early-verbal and nonverbal children in Kiswahili and local languages
  • JuaFlow, which automates fragmented business workflows for enterprises and SMEs
  • Jackfruit Network, whose School Needs Recommender supports low-fee private schools
  • TemboTrade, a single platform for SME sales, inventory and M-Pesa payments
  • C.A. (Offline Claims Audit), an offline AI engine that audits SHA medical claims before submission

Read Also: Meta, This Is Digital Partner to Launch AI Academy Kenya for Local Talent