Working together to create an inclusive tech-ecosystem — the Digital Ecosystem Mapping Tool
Startups in Rwanda often rely on personal networks alone, with limited collaboration and high risk of duplicated effort. Innovate Rwanda — the DigiCenter's digital ecosystem mapping tool — is built to fix that.
he African technology and startup ecosystem is still in its infancy, and good practices are still pioneering. Some African nations are leading the way and advocating for more technology startups in the region — subsidised internet, low taxes on ICT equipment, dedicated innovation policy. Yet most of Africa's tech startups face the same challenge: access to capital for growth. They lack funds for research and development, labs for tech transfer, or a development-inclusive environment. They need a solution that supports knowledge transfer and access to financial resources.
A digital directory for the tech-ecosystem
In Rwanda, the Digital Ecosystem Mapping (DEM) tool — *Innovate Rwanda* — now offers a solution. The platform serves as a digital directory for IT companies and investors. It fosters collaboration between tech startups, innovators, investors, innovation hubs and development partners. On one hand, Innovate Rwanda promotes Rwandan startups to the world. On the other, it brings the world back to Rwanda through potential foreign investment, letting investors easily find companies to work with — local projects and export-ready solutions alike.
Originally, the Rwanda Development Board initiated the project through the Kigali Innovation City (KIC) programme. The DigiCenter then offered its support along with JICA, the ICT Chamber and RISA to develop the system. After the first phase, the DEM tool was posted on the Leverist platform to gain international attention for scaling. Through leverist.de, a partnership with Deloitte Netherlands was set up for the next development phase. This initiative is especially significant to the DigiCenter because Deloitte Netherlands offered to support the project pro bono.
New partners on board — Deloitte's data analytics experts
Within the scope of the partnership, 10 experts from Deloitte are applying their expertise in data analytics and technical documentation to support the platform development team. Their work involves understanding the business requirements, showcasing examples to visualise the data, and advising on best practices and lessons learned.
The DigiCenter's clear aim is to have a positive impact on the Sustainable Development Goals through digital solutions. Having experts refining the system creates an even bigger impact. "We can only achieve the SDGs through collaboration. The digital ecosystem mapping tool is a platform that encourages collaboration of development partners, start-ups, innovation hubs and investors — the entire community," says Nasser Kanesa, Solutions Expert at the DigiCenter. "We would have had to spend a gigantic amount of time and money trying to refine the system on our own. Now we are getting the essential support and expertise from Deloitte."
Outlook
The partnership runs for seven months in total. A future collaboration on other projects is far from impossible, says Joep from Deloitte: "That was actually even a better match than what I had hoped for in the beginning. All the projects by GIZ, especially in Rwanda, are spot-on in that area. Eventually, we might collaborate on future projects."
— From the field
