Hanga Pitchfest 2025, Rwanda’s flagship innovation competition, has announced the Top 25 startups advancing to the next stage of this year’s edition. Organized by the Ministry of ICT and Innovation in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the initiative continues to play a vital role in strengthening Rwanda’s startup ecosystem, empowering young entrepreneurs and driving the country’s digital transformation. Now in its fifth year, the competition remains a powerful platform that identifies and supports innovative businesses addressing some of the most pressing social and economic challenges across the country.
By providing mentorship, exposure and access to investors, Hanga Pitchfest helps entrepreneurs turn ideas into scalable ventures, contributing to Rwanda’s broader goal of building a knowledge-based economy driven by technology and inclusivity.
A Platform Nurturing Ideas into Impact
Since its inception, Hanga Pitchfest has evolved into more than just a competition. It has become a national platform that connects entrepreneurs with mentors, investors and policymakers, creating an environment where innovation thrives. Over the past five years, the initiative has supported more than 200 startups, helped create over 190 innovation hubs and catalyzed investments exceeding Rwf 600 million. These achievements highlight its role as a key driver of entrepreneurship and innovation across Rwanda.
This year’s edition brings together 25 promising startups whose ideas reflect the diversity and creativity of Rwanda’s business landscape. The Top 25 startups selected for the 2025 cohort include Agrotag Ltd, All Greens, Ambucycle, Ampere Vision Rwanda, AXK Insurance, Baho Nursebot, Baza Analytics, Epobox Powered by Mpost, Ingoda Technologies Ltd UDS, Insyt AI, Kesho Africa, Nabsil, Neem Company Limited, Pebla, Pickovo, Power Easy, Re-Banatex, Sentra, Sky 360, Smart Garage, Vesoko, Wekraft, Wesperr, Zazu Manufacturing Ltd and Hiba.
These ventures represent a wide range of industries, from agritech and health to energy, fintech and artificial intelligence. Each one stands out for its creativity, scalability and potential to make real-world impact. Their participation signals Rwanda’s continued rise as a hub for tech-driven solutions that not only serve local needs but also contribute to Africa’s broader innovation story.
To prepare for the next phase, the Top 25 founders will now take part in a four-week intensive boot camp designed to strengthen their business models, refine their products and polish their pitches. The training will include mentorship sessions, technical support and investor-readiness coaching, equipping participants for the final round of the competition. At the end of the program, ten startups will be chosen to compete in the final stage for top honors and investment opportunities.
Beyond the competition itself, this phase provides participants with valuable exposure to Rwanda’s wider innovation ecosystem. It allows them to connect with peers, potential partners and policymakers, relationships that often continue to grow long after the competition ends.
Shaping Rwanda’s Digital Future
The success of Hanga Pitchfest reflects Rwanda’s broader commitment to using innovation as a tool for economic development. Over the years, the program has become a symbol of how public and private collaboration can drive progress. Partners and sponsors continue to emphasize its importance in nurturing the country’s innovation capacity.
Aline Kabanda, East Africa Regional Director at Jasiri, highlighted that “entrepreneurship has the power to transform society,” noting that Hanga Pitchfest provides a crucial platform for innovators to develop solutions that improve lives. Similarly, the ICT Chamber recognized the competition’s ongoing impact, stating that it has been instrumental in “shining a light on innovators” and strengthening collaboration toward building a resilient digital economy. Choose Kigali also echoed these sentiments, stressing that cultivating entrepreneurial mindsets is key to sustainable progress across the continent.
What makes Hanga Pitchfest stand out is its inclusive approach. The initiative is not limited to urban areas but reaches across the country, encouraging innovation from all corners of Rwanda. Through its expanding network of hubs and partners, it connects startups with academia, investors and policymakers, creating a strong foundation for innovation-led growth.
By bridging the gap between young innovators and real-world opportunities, Hanga Pitchfest plays an essential role in shaping Rwanda’s digital future. It ensures that innovation is not just about technology but about creating meaningful change, empowering citizens to develop solutions for local challenges in agriculture, health, education and beyond.
A Journey of Innovation and Hope
As Hanga Pitchfest celebrates five years of empowering entrepreneurs, the 2025 edition stands as a testament to Rwanda’s growing influence as a center for innovation in Africa. The journey of these 25 startups is more than just a competition, it is a story of ambition, creativity and resilience.
Each team represents the spirit of Rwanda’s youth: determined, forward-thinking and ready to take on challenges with innovative ideas. Through this initiative, the Ministry of ICT and Innovation and its partners continue to create pathways for young people to transform their ideas into impactful enterprises.
As the Top 25 startups move forward to the final stages of the competition, they carry with them the hope and energy of a nation that believes in the power of innovation.
