Kenyan startups Neural Labs Africa and Me-Nasoma have won the inaugural AI Academy Kenya Pitchathon, taking home $5,000 each in equity-free funding and Meta advertising credits.
The two firms beat eight other finalists at the event in Nairobi on Friday, hosted by Meta and Nairobi-based AI accelerator This Is Digital.
They have also been invited to pitch at Meta’s Regional AI Summit in Istanbul, Türkiye, on November 24.
Neural Labs Africa won with NeuralSight, an AI-powered tele-radiology platform that links health facilities with remote specialists and supports diagnostic reporting, including in areas with poor internet connectivity.
Me-Nasoma converts documents and web pages into audio in local languages through mobile, web and browser extension platforms, targeting students, professionals and readers who struggle to access written content.
The contest drew more than 400 applications.
“Our partnership with the government and local ecosystem partners is helping expand access to AI skills, tools and opportunities in Kenya,” said Sarah Muyonga, Meta’s public policy manager for East and Horn of Africa.
Meta has run similar AI Academy programmes in Nigeria.
“Our approach is to work with partners who understand their local ecosystems. By combining their expertise with Meta’s AI tools and mentorship, we can support innovators to build solutions that respond to real needs in their communities,” said Chinny Francis, policy programmes manager at Meta.
This Is Digital co-founder and chief executive Greg Wanjama said the contest connects local talent with technology, industry expertise and a wider stage.
“Our ambition is to help build an ecosystem where African innovators have the skills, tools and opportunities to turn promising ideas into solutions with lasting impact,” Mr Wanjama said.
The other finalists included HakiChain, an AI legal tool built on African law, and Sawazisha AI, a WhatsApp assistant that helps small businesses comply with the Kenya Revenue Authority’s eTIMS invoicing system.
Also in the final were O.C.A., which audits Social Health Authority (SHA) medical claims before submission, and TemboTrade, a sales, inventory and M-Pesa payments platform for small businesses.
The win comes as interest in locally built AI grows. A May 2026 study by Public First, commissioned by Meta, found that 81 per cent of online adults in sub-Saharan Africa believe AI products developed in the region will matter for economic growth.
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By Nixon Kanali
Tech journalist based in Nairobi. I track and report on tech and African startups. Founder and Editor of TechTrends Media. Nixon is also the East African tech editor for Africa Business Communities. Send tips to kanali@techtrendsmedia.co.ke.