Innovation Fund for ICT in Tanzania Awards First Grants

TANZICT and COSTECH launched an ICT Innovation Fund in Tanzania in late 2012 to address the current gap in funding for early stage start-ups to develop a prototype or pilot a service.

The first Calls for applications closed on 30 November 2012. A good response was received to this competitive Call with 25 applications submitted of which twelve were interviewed and six selected for funding with grants between 7,000 - 10,000 USD. The selection committee comprised of COSTECH and TANZICT staff and private sector representation.

The grant is focused on funding development of a prototype, technical work and technical skills but is not aimed at supporting the running costs of a start-up. It is a requirement that the recipient is hosted at an existing Incubator or Hub such as DTBI, TANZICT pre-incubatees, university incubator or KINU Innovation Hub that can provide mentoring and monitor their progress.

COSTECH hosted the award ceremony in the TANZICT Innovation Space for the first cohort of six grantees on 08 April 2013. Prof. Makame M. Mbarawa, Hon. Minister of Communication, Science and Technology presented the awards to

- Taha Jiwaji, Bongo Live

- Victor Augustine, Omnigrid

- Mustafa Suleimanji, Xcommodity

- Dickson Ng'ang'a, Zalego

- Guido Msita, Blackmark Corporation

- Godfrey Magila, Mobile Parliament

Fifty thousand euro was awarded in total to the first call grantees.

The next call for applications will be held later in 2013.