VODACOM YATANGAZA WASHINDI WA MSIMU WA 3 WA VODACOM DIGITAL ACCELERATOR

Kutana na washindi watatu bora wa Msimu wa 3 wa Vodacom Digital Accelerator: Lusekelo Nkuwi, Frank Mussa, na Rose Funja! Ubunifu wao—GO GO App kwa msaada wa dharura barabarani, Mkanda Salama kuzuia kuvuja damu nyingi baada ya kujifungua, na AltitudeX kwa kuboresha kilimo kwa kutumia ndege nyuki (drones).

Dar es Salaam, 11 Julai 2024 – Vodacom Tanzania Plc imetangaza Wajasiriamali chipukizi (Startup) zilizoibuka vinara wakati wa kuhitimisha msimu wa tatu wa Programu yake ya Vodacom Digital Accelerator ijulikanayo kama Demo Day. Tukio hilo limeshuhudia mafanikio ya kipekee likiwa na washindi saba baada ya kukamilisha mafunzo ya uwezeshaji kwa muda wa miezi mitatu ambapo hatimaye wamepatikana washindi watatu.

Ikiwa katika msimu wake wa tatu, programu ya mwaka huu ilipokea maombi kutoka zaidi ya 200 kutoka kwa Wajasiriamali chipukizi ya 200, ambapo ilichagua Wajasiriamali 20 waliokidhi vigezo ikiwa na lengo la kuziboresha kimawazo na huku ikizisaidia kuhakikisha zinakidhi mahitaji ya watumiaji. Baada ya mchujo, zwalichaguliwa washindi 7 ambao waliwekwa chini ya uangalizi kwa muda wa miezi mitatu kwa ushirikiano kati ya Vodacom Tanzania, Huawei kutoka China na MassChallenge ya Marekani.

Tukio la mwaka huu, lililofanyika kwa kushirikiana na taasisi mbalimbali, liliangazia ukuaji, upeo na utofauti wa taasisi za Tanzania na kuonesha mustakabali mzuri wa mfumo wa teknolojia.

Mwaka huu taasisi bunifu saba bora ni pamoja na; MITz Kits, Afya ya Mnyama, Mkanda Salama, Go Go App, SAB Biomanufacturers, Altitude X na Makonda Renewables. Washindi hawa walianza safari ya miezi 3 kupitia warsha, vikao vya ushauri na hivi karibuni ziara ya kujifunza huko Shenzhen, China, wakipata uzoefu wa teknolojia ya kisasa na mtandao wa 5G, ikizalisha mawazo chanya kwa ajili ya Tanzania mpya.

Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa Vodacom Tanzania, Philip Besiimire, alielezea, "leo, tunasherehekea uvumbuzi, vipaji na mustakabali wa Wajasiriamali chipukizi nchini. Wajasiriamali hawa saba wameonesha kwamba suluhisho la changamoto zetu lipo ndani ya uwezo wa vijana wetu, na tunajivunia kuwa sehemu ya ukuaji wao. Nawapongeza washindi wote na kuwatakia mafanikio mema. Soko liko tayari kupokea kile mlichokivumbua; twendeni tukalete mabadiliko."

Besiimire alisisitiza dhamira ya Vodacom Tanzania ya kusaidia Wajasiriamali chipukizi kwa kuwakutanisha na Wataalamu wa sekta mbalimbali kutoka ndani na nje ya Tanzania, mafunzo, ushauri, mitandao ya washirika na huduma za M-PESA. Vodacom inaamini katika kuleta suluhisho mbalimbali zitakazopatika na kusaidia kila mtu, ikiwa ni pamoja na watu wenye ulemavu, na hivyo kuhakikisha kwamba uvumbuzi unanufaisha jamii nzima.

Pamoja na uzoefu wa kimataifa kutoka China na mazoezi kwa vitendo yaliyotolewa na Mass Challenge ya Marekani, taasisi saba zilipambana vikali kwa kutoa maelezo ya kusisimua mbele ya majaji ili kutetea mawazo yao ya kibunifu yenye kuleta tija kwa jamii ambapo mwishoni walipatikana washindi watatu ambao ni Rose Funja wa Altitude, Frank Mussa kutoka Afya Lead na Lusekelo Nkuwi, mwanzilishi wa GO GO App.

Frank Mussa, mmoja wa washindi na mwanzilishi Mwenza wa Afya Lead, anasema, "Tangu mwanzo wa safari yetu ya uvumbuzi, tulikabiliana na changamoto nyingi, lakini kwa nia thabiti na msaada wa ushauri kutoka VDA, tumejenga msingi imara wa biashara. Nimefurahishwa sana kushinda tuzo hii na ninatazamia kutekeleza nilichojifunza ili kuleta mabadiliko chanya katika jamii yangu."

Pia, washindi hawa watatu watapata fursa ya kusafiri kwenda Marekani mwezi Septemba mwaka huu. Wakiwa huko, watakutana na washauri mbalimbali pamoja na wawekezaji ili kuendeleza biashara zao, na kupata maarifa zaidi kwa ajili ya bunifu yao.

Eric Rodriguez kutoka MassChallenge, alisema, "Ni heshima kushirikiana na Vodacom Tanzania katika programu yao ya Vodacom Digital Accelerator. Kujitoa kwa vijana hawa huku wakionesha ubunifu wa hali ya juu ni kitu kikubwa na kinachotia moyo sana. Tumewaunganisha na washauri wa ndani na nje ya nchi ili kusaidia safari yao ya kuwa wabunifu mahiri. Tuna hamu ya kuona jinsi wajasiriamali hawa watakavyoendelea kuvumbua na kuleta maendeleo kwa taifa lao."

Besiimire alihitimisha, "Mfumo wa ubunifu hapa nchini, uko tayari kwa ukuaji na mabadiliko. Mwaka huu pekee, tulipokea maombi zaidi ya 200, ambapo tulifanikiwa kufanya kazi na wajasiriamali 20 katika hatua ya kwanza, na baadaye washindi saba, hivyo unaweza kuona msukumo wa vijana wetu katika sekta ya ubunifu. Nawaalika makampuni mengine na wawekezaji kuangalia soko la Tanzania. Kuna vipaji vingi sana ambavyo vinahitaji kuamshwa. Kumbuka, huu ni mwanzo tu. Endeleeni kuvumbua, kuvuka mipaka, na kuleta bunifu ambazo zitakuwa na manufaa kwa Tanzania na jamii nzima kwa ujumla."

About the Vodacom Digital Accelerator (VDA)

Started in 2019 by Vodacom Tanzania, the Vodacom Digital Accelerator (VDA) Program aims to support early-stage and growth-stage startups with disruptive products and services that have the potential to scale, leveraging on global partnerships and expertise to provide startups with invaluable resources, mentorship, and exposure. A 6-month tailored program that caters to the specific needs of the startups providing access to tools and in-kind funding that will empower them to grow into profitable, revenue-generating businesses.

About Mass Challenge

Founded in 2009 in Boston, MA, MassChallenge’s mission is to equip bold entrepreneurs to disrupt the status quo and create meaningful change.

MassChallenge connects startups, experts, corporations, and communities to grow and transform businesses and economies. We do this work because entrepreneurship is a uniquely vigorous force in driving progress against humanity’s greatest challenges, creating opportunity for individuals, and generating jobs for our economy. We work across sectors to drive a stronger future through collaborative innovation and support all founders whether they fit or break the traditional venture mold.

About Huawei

Founded in 1987, Huawei is a leading global provider of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices. We have 207,000 employees and operate in over 170 countries and regions, serving more than three billion people around the world. We are committed to bringing digital to every person, home and organization for a fully connected, intelligent world.