Two Kenyan startups developing artificial intelligence solutions for healthcare and education have won a combined Sh2.6 million at the inaugural Meta AI Academy Kenya Pitchathon, earning an opportunity to showcase their innovations at a global summit in Türkiye next month.
Neural Labs Africa and Me-Nasoma each received US$5,000 (about Sh645,000) in equity-free funding, alongside Meta advertising credits to help scale their solutions. They will present their innovations at Meta’s Regional AI Summit in Istanbul on November 24, 2026.
The competition, held in Nairobi on October 16, attracted more than 426 applications from innovators seeking to use artificial intelligence to address real-world challenges.
Neural Labs Africa, led by Tom Kinyanjui, won for NeuralSight, an AI-powered tele-radiology platform that connects healthcare facilities to remote specialists, helping improve access to diagnostic services in areas with limited internet connectivity.
Me-Nasoma, founded by Oscar Karuga, was recognised for its tool that converts documents and web pages into audio in local languages, making written content more accessible to students, professionals and readers facing barriers such as visual impairments or low literacy levels.
The pitchathon was organised by Meta in partnership with Nairobi-based AI accelerator This Is Digital. Ten finalists presented AI-powered solutions across five sectors: healthcare, education and assistive technology, retail and commerce, legal services, and finance and tax compliance.
The two winning innovations target challenges in access to specialist healthcare and inclusive education, particularly for underserved communities.
Growing interest in homegrown AI
The wins come amid growing confidence in Africa’s capacity to develop artificial intelligence solutions for its own markets.
A May 2026 study by Public First, commissioned by Meta, found that 81 per cent of online adults in sub-Saharan Africa believe AI products developed in the region will be important for economic growth.
“Homegrown innovation is critical to advancing Kenya’s digital economy, and platforms that nurture local talent help the government deliver on its digital transformation agenda,” said Barnabas Sang, Director of ICT Field Services at the State Department of ICT and Digital Economy.
Sarah Muyonga, Meta’s Public Policy Manager for East and Horn of Africa, said the partnership was part of the company’s commitment to expanding opportunities for AI development in Kenya.
“Our partnership with the government and local ecosystem partners is helping expand access to AI skills, tools and opportunities in Kenya,” she said.
Muyonga said the number of applications demonstrated strong interest among Kenyan innovators in using Meta’s AI technologies to solve practical challenges.
Chinny Francis, Meta’s Policy Programs Manager, said the AI Academy model was designed to work with partners who understand local needs and innovation ecosystems.
“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,” he said.
Greg Wanjama, co-founder and chief executive of This Is Digital, said the accelerator aimed to equip African innovators with the skills, tools and opportunities needed to turn promising ideas into solutions with lasting impact.
Eight other finalists recognised
The other eight finalists also showcased solutions targeting challenges across different sectors.
They included Solivia Data’s AfyaEdge, an offline-first, solar-powered triage hub for clinics serving off-grid communities; HakiChain, an AI-powered legal suite tailored to African law and data protection standards; and Sawazisha AI by John Digital Solutions, a WhatsApp assistant designed to help small businesses comply with the electronic tax invoice management system (eTIMS).
Other finalists were Utter Africa, a browser-based communication platform for early-verbal and nonverbal children using Kiswahili and local languages; JuaFlow, which automates business workflows for enterprises and small and medium-sized businesses; and Jackfruit Network, whose School Needs Recommender helps low-fee private schools improve planning.
The remaining finalists were TemboTrade, a platform combining SME sales, inventory management and M-Pesa payments, and O.C.A. (Offline Claims Audit), an offline AI tool designed to audit Social Health Authority medical claims before submission to help reduce fraud and delays.
The finalists were evaluated by a panel comprising Francis, Wanjama, Isaac Hunja of Kaara Works, Sang and Natasha Nalyaka of Strathmore University’s iLabAfrica.
The pitchathon marks a further step in Meta and This Is Digital’s partnership to promote AI adoption and innovation across Africa.
For Neural Labs Africa and Me-Nasoma, the next step is the November summit in Istanbul, where they will present their solutions to an international audience of investors, policymakers and technology leaders.
