How women are paving their own way through Africa's tech sector

The Africa Forward summit in Nairobi, co-hosted by Kenya and France, showcased women driving Africa’s tech sector forward, particularly in artificial intelligence. Shikoh Gitau, CEO of Nairobi-based tech lab Qhala, emphasized the lab’s focus on AI and digitization, stating their work impacts locally while influencing globally. Gitau announced a partnership with France’s Mistral AI to accelerate AI solutions tailored for African markets, including a bootcamp and incubator for Kenyan and East African startups. The agreement, signed last week, will provide technical support, mentorship, and venture-building resources to local startups. Mistral AI’s head of revenue for the Middle East and Africa, Mohamed Zouari, confirmed the collaboration aligns with France’s AI strategy for Africa, built through close ties with French government institutions. The summit also highlighted young African women entrepreneurs like Norah Kimathi, co-founder of Zerobionic, a startup developing humanoid robots from recycled plastics to translate spoken language into sign language for the hearing impaired. Kimathi, a 22-year-old award-winning innovator, described the technology as pioneering in Africa and stressed the importance of cross-sector collaboration to drive impact. Kimathi’s vision extends beyond Zerobionic, aiming to address global challenges like climate resilience and inclusive education through locally driven innovation. She praised the Africa Forward summit for connecting her with a diverse network of professionals across health, education, and aviation, enabling partnerships with Western nations and African peers. The initiatives underscore a shift from rhetoric to action, with European and African entities collaborating to foster tangible tech advancements. Gitau’s partnership with Mistral AI and Kimathi’s robotics project exemplify how African women are leveraging technology to solve regional challenges while positioning the continent as a hub for innovation.