Hanga Pitchfest, Rwanda’s flagship innovation competition, has announced the Top 25 startups advancing to the next stage of its 2025 edition. Organized by the Ministry of ICT and Innovation in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the initiative continues to highlight the country’s growing ecosystem of tech-enabled entrepreneurs who are reshaping industries and empowering communities. Marking its fifth year, the event has evolved into a national symbol of creativity, collaboration, and opportunity for young innovators.
A Platform for Growth and Discovery
Since its inception, Hanga Pitchfest has provided entrepreneurs with a powerful platform to connect with investors, mentors, and policymakers. The competition not only spotlights groundbreaking technologies but also strengthens Rwanda’s vision of a knowledge-based economy driven by innovation and inclusivity. Over five editions, the platform has supported more than 200 startups, created over 190 innovation hubs, and catalyzed more than Rwf 600 million in investments, fueling the next generation of local innovators.
Meet the 2025 Cohort of Visionaries
The newly revealed Top 25 startups include Agrotag Ltd, All Greens, Ambucycle, Ampere Vision Rwanda, and AXK Insurance, among others. These ventures are tackling challenges across diverse sectors such as agritech, health, energy, fintech, and AI, embodying the depth and diversity of Rwanda’s entrepreneurial landscape. Each selected team demonstrated outstanding creativity, scalability, and potential for impact during the preliminary pitch sessions, earning their spot in the upcoming development phase.
Preparing for the Next Stage
The Top 25 founders will now participate in a four-week intensive boot camp designed to refine their business models and perfect their pitches. The program will equip them with mentorship, technical guidance, and investor-readiness training ahead of the final stage, where the Top 10 startups will be chosen to compete for the ultimate recognition. The experience will also expose participants to Rwanda’s broader innovation ecosystem, helping them build strategic partnerships that extend beyond the competition.
Voices from the Ecosystem
Partners and sponsors have underscored the event’s importance in strengthening Rwanda’s innovation capacity. “We believe in the power of entrepreneurship to transform our society, and Hanga Pitchfest calls for action for those seeking to build solutions that improve lives,” said Aline Kabanda, East Africa Regional Director at Jasiri. Similarly, the ICT Chamber highlighted that the program has “been shining a light on innovators” and fueling collaboration toward a resilient digital economy. Choose Kigali echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that nurturing entrepreneurial mindsets is vital for building sustainable progress across Africa.
Building Rwanda’s Digital Future
Beyond competition, Hanga Pitchfest serves as a key driver of Rwanda’s innovation agenda, bridging the gap between young innovators and real-world opportunities. With its expanding network of hubs and partners, the program continues to strengthen linkages between startups, academia, investors, and policymakers. Its inclusive approach ensures that innovation is not confined to urban centers but reaches communities nationwide, empowering citizens through technology and entrepreneurship.
As Hanga Pitchfest celebrates five years of transforming ideas into impact, its 2025 edition reaffirms Rwanda’s position as a continental leader in innovation. The journey of these 25 startups is more than a competition—it is a statement of ambition, creativity, and resilience. As they advance toward the finals, they carry forward a shared mission: to build scalable, sustainable solutions that redefine what’s possible for Rwanda and beyond.