By: Kanto
Kai Okanta
The Ethiopian Artificial
Intelligence Institute, Addis Ababa University and the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP) have completed a two-week bootcamp designed to
strengthen the capacity of artificial intelligence startups operating at the
minimum viable product (MVP) stage.
The programme was
established through the AI Unipod, a joint initiative by the three institutions
aimed at supporting startups developing AI-based solutions and helping them
advance their technologies and businesses.
Speaking at the completion
ceremony, Deputy Director General of the Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence
Institute, Dr Taye Girma, praised the innovative ideas developed by
participating startups and said the concepts demonstrated potential for
practical application.
Girma assured the startups
that the Institute would provide the necessary support to help them develop and
implement their solutions.
UNDP Ethiopia representative
Dr Samuel Doe said the startups completing the programme demonstrated the
potential of artificial intelligence to address social and economic challenges.
He said UNDP would continue
strengthening its cooperation with the Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence
Institute and other partners to support the development of the country’s AI
ecosystem.
Participants said the
two-week training provided them with technical knowledge and practical
experience that would help them advance their work in the technology sector.
The graduating startups also
had the opportunity to showcase their products and services, demonstrating the
applications they have been developing through their AI ventures.
The AI Unipod initiative
forms part of broader efforts to build the capacity of Ethiopia’s emerging AI
startup ecosystem and support entrepreneurs in transforming innovative ideas
into practical solutions.
