The Industry Innovation Lab (IIL) is a technology-focused startup hub at Carnegie Mellon University Africa. The IIL supports startups that are developing and commercializing technology-enabled products that address well-defined market opportunities with potential for profitability, inclusivity, and scaling.
The IIL offers a 12-month business incubation program designed to help African tech startups develop scalable, market-ready products and services. Startups enter the program with a proof-of-concept prototype and a preliminary market assessment. By the end of the program, the goal is for these startups to have a revenue-generating product, well-positioned to attract the additional investment needed for scaling.
The IIL also operates a tech skills marketplace that connects African startups with world-class talent. Through this program, startups can hire CMU-Africa students as interns from May to August, with the option for in-person or virtual work. CMU-Africa co-funds the internship alongside the startup to support the intern's compensation.
CMU-Africa Industry Innovation Lab incubatee and alumni startup, HOVA AI, secured second place at the 2023 Hanga Pitchfest in Kigali, Rwanda. The company, co-founded by Arsene Muhire (MSIT '23), provides real-time sales, inventory, and customer behavior data, as well as predictive analytics for small and medium-sized businesses in Africa. The win came with a $20,000 USD prize.
2023-2024 incubatees
Spiral Tech: Delivers two energy metering products to detect energy theft and lower total cost of ownership of energy meters respectively. This will help micro utilities become more sustainable by maximizing their profitability and breaking even multiple years faster.
WeEducate: Offers personalized tutoring services for primary and secondary students in Rwanda. Aimed to provide customized learning materials to every student, tailored to their specific needs and delivered by expert tutors and industry professionals. Also provides real-time monitoring tools to assess students' progress and performance.
DFTR: DFTR is a financial management tool that empowers small and informal businesses with effective management, improved access to finance, and increased accountability. With features such as daily transaction analysis, debt and credit tracking, debtors reminders, inventory tracking, and 7-day sales predictions based on machine learning.
NORA: Nora provides a convenient and accessible platform to users, offering a secure way to conduct financial transactions while leveraging data to enhance the overall customer experience. Nora allows users to send and receive money, pay bills, purchase goods and services, manage their finances, know their customers, broaden businesses' customers and access credit and insurance services on their mobile phones.
Watch a short video about IIL incubatee, Inter Connect Point
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Get involved in the IIL
Contact us to get involved in the IIL. We welcome partnerships with organizations, corporations, and startups. You do not need to have a Carnegie Mellon affiliation.