BRAIN 5.0 has officially launched in South Africa, bringing together 10 DeepTech founders from six African countries for an intensive accelerator bootcamp focused on one clear goal: moving science from the lab into real markets and real investment conversations.
Now in its fifth edition, BRAIN has grown into one of the continent’s earliest and most consistent DeepTech accelerator programs. Built and refined over five years, it has worked hands on with African science based ventures, learning from each cohort and adjusting its model to meet the realities founders face. This latest edition strengthens its role as an investment and market readiness engine for African innovation.
The program is structured to help founders become investor ready and deployment ready at the same time. It combines a vertical Climate and Health curriculum, expert clinics, one on one coaching and ecosystem engagement designed around how products are actually deployed in African markets. The focus is practical. The goal is to ensure these startups can raise capital and scale solutions that respond to real needs.
More than 20 partners, investors, experts, corporates and MIT MBA students are participating in this edition. Their role goes beyond mentorship. They provide targeted input, honest feedback and cross continental connections that founders can continue to use long after the bootcamp ends. Over time, this growing network is strengthening the DeepTech community across Africa.
From a small pilot, BRAIN has expanded into multiple accelerator editions, ecosystem convenings across the continent, global immersion programs and more than 40 DeepTech startups accelerated. It has evolved into a connected ecosystem linking founders with mentors, investors and partners who believe in African science and its commercial potential.
South Africa was chosen as the host for this edition for a reason. It is one of Africa’s most advanced DeepTech hubs, with a strong research base, active startup networks and policy momentum supporting innovation. Being on the ground allows founders to engage deeply with the ecosystem and build relationships in a high intensity environment.
Health and Climate Solutions Built for Deployment
The 2026 cohort is verticalized around two tracks: Health and Climate. The 10 selected startups were chosen from hundreds of science based solutions across the continent. They come from South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Zambia, Tunisia and Zimbabwe. Their work spans deployable AI tools, connected devices, satellite data systems, advanced materials and biotech innovations.
In the Health track, six startups are building solutions that address access, diagnostics and system efficiency.
Nanosene (Pty) Ltd from South Africa is developing innovative polymer tools to help researchers and industry study complex biological targets. As Africa’s first bespoke polymer innovator and R and D partner, Nanosene is supporting global health research and accelerating drug discovery efforts. The company focuses on unlocking new possibilities in polymer science to advance life science discoveries.
Orígenes, also based in South Africa, develops infrared based cancer biomarker analysis. Its technology aims to enable rapid and reliable cancer diagnosis, supporting more accurate clinical decision making in cancer care.
From Zambia, Dawa Health is building an AI powered end to end platform to decentralize access to sexual, reproductive, maternal and neonatal health services. Founded in 2018, the company focuses on closing healthcare access gaps for women in underserved communities across Sub Saharan Africa. It operates in Zambia and plans to expand into Zimbabwe, Malawi and Tanzania.
Nigeria’s Betalife Health Service is developing Africa’s first AI powered digital operating system to track and manage critical medical supplies such as blood, vaccines and medicines. By connecting hospitals, blood banks and donors, the system improves efficiency, reduces waste and enables real time traceability.
In Kenya, Aurora Health Systems has built a DeepTech solution that combines hardware engineering, AI driven diagnostics and cloud analytics in a portable ECG monitoring device designed for low resource environments. The aim is to improve access to heart monitoring in settings where equipment and specialists are limited.
Also from Kenya, KPN Teleradiology operates an AI enabled, cloud based radiology platform. Established in 2019, the company supports hospitals and imaging centers with timely radiology reporting across CT scans, MRIs, X rays and mammograms. Its secure systems integrate with hospital platforms, expanding access to quality diagnostics across the country and beyond.
Climate Innovation Driving Sustainable Growth
The Climate track features four startups working at the intersection of agriculture, sustainability and digital systems.
Mycelium Innovations from Tunisia turns palm agricultural waste into eco friendly, compostable packaging using mushroom root structures known as mycelium. The solution offers an alternative to traditional plastics and expanded polystyrene foam, contributing to waste reduction and circular economy practices.
Kenya’s Rhea provides on site soil testing through its patented IoT powered Agripad device. By delivering instant and actionable soil data, the company helps farmers improve soil health, reduce input costs and increase productivity in a sustainable way.
In Nigeria, Riwe is building an AI powered climate resilience platform that combines satellite data with digital tools. The platform supports communities in preparing for climate risks by offering data driven insights.
Green Giraffe Zambia focuses on transforming African commodity value chains. Through its blockchain enabled platform, it connects smallholder farmers to buyers while ensuring compliance, traceability and ESG accountability at farm level. The model aims to strengthen ethical sourcing and improve access to international markets.
Across both tracks, the common theme is deployment. These are not research projects that remain in laboratories. They are science based ventures working to enter markets, secure customers and attract capital.
BRAIN 5.0 is supported by organizational partners AfricaGrow, AfricInvest Group, Dutch Good Growth Fund, Bpifrance and The Dot. Program partners include Stellenbosch University, CERI Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation in partnership with Mastercard Foundation, Steve Madden, MIT Africa, the MIT Executive MBA Program and LaunchLab as the local partner.
With this structure, BRAIN is not only running a bootcamp. It is strengthening a continent wide DeepTech pipeline. By combining science, capital and market access, the initiative is helping African founders turn research into viable businesses that can compete globally while solving local challenges.
