LocationsMining for Tomorrow: Africa’s Brightest Innovators Unveiled at timbuktoo MineTech Hub in Zambia
June 18, 2025
The inaugural cohort of ten startups has completed an intensive two-week bootcamp and is now embarking on a journey to scale their innovations and redefine the future of mining on the continent.
It was a day of celebration, energy, and bold ideas as Zambia unveiled the first cohort of the timbuktoo MineTech Hub, marking a powerful step forward in Africa’s mission to transform its mining sector through technology and youth-led innovation. Hosted at the National Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research (NISIR), the event brought together government leaders, UNDP officials, investors, and partners in the innovation ecosystem, all united under the theme “Mining for Tomorrow: Unveiling the Next Generation of Trailblazers.”
The MineTech Hub, part of UNDP’s groundbreaking timbuktoo initiative, is a launchpad for startups rethinking how mining can be done: safer, cleaner, and smarter. The inaugural group of ten startups, from Cameroon, DRC, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Nigeria, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, are tackling challenges with solutions ranging from AI-powered mine safety to digital traceability and eco-friendly mineral processing.
“When potential meets purpose, innovation takes place. That is what timbuktoo is all about. The solutions to the problems we face in mining are not going to be imported; they are going to originate from here in Africa, for Africa to change Africa,”— said Hon. Felix Mutati, Minister of Technology and Science, Guest of Honour, in his keynote address.
His sentiments were echoed by Mattias Naab, Director of the UNDP Regional Service Centre for Africa, who attended the event on behalf of Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa, UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Africa. Naab emphasised the importance of long-term investment in innovation and Africa-led solutions.
“This hub is more than just a building. It is a commitment, our collective commitment to innovation, sustainability, and our young people who will lead us into the mining of tomorrow. Technology is not just an enabler; it is the very engine of sustainable and profitable mining,” he said.
For nearly two weeks in Lusaka, the cohort immersed themselves in a bootcamp hosted by UNDP and NISIR and delivered by BongoHive. But this wasn’t your typical training; it was a testing ground for real-world impact. With guidance from experts and peers, startups sharpened their ideas, pressure-tested their models, and reimagined what responsible mining could look like.
“The MineTech Hub is not merely a programme. It is a launchpad where research meets industry, where ideas become enterprises, and where startups will challenge the status quo,” said Dr. Henry Kambafwile, CEO of NISIR.
Building on that vision, Eng. Kabwe Musonda, Chairperson of the NISIR Board, emphasised the institution’s commitment to creating the right environment for young innovators to thrive:
“We are embracing a future with renewed purpose. This is part of our transformation agenda to create environments where young innovators are not only trained and mentored but also empowered to design the next generation of technologies that will revolutionise Zambia’s, and Africa’s, mining sector.”
The bootcamp culminated in today’s Demo Day, where each startup pitched their vision to a high-level audience of policymakers, UN leaders, and investors. But it was more than a pitch; it was a collective statement of intent: that Africa can lead not just in mining resources, but in mining innovation.
“Africa holds over 30% of the world’s mineral wealth, yet so much of it is extracted without benefit remaining in the communities that bear it,” said Sinazo Charlotte Sibisi, Chief Investment Officer at the timbuktoo foundation. “You are not just engineers of technology; you are architects of impact.”
The inaugural cohort of ten startups, hailing from Cameroon, DRC, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Nigeria, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, are addressing key mining challenges with cutting-edge solutions, from AI-driven mine safety and digital traceability to sustainable mineral processing.
The journey doesn’t end here. The startups will now move into a four-week virtual acceleration phase, followed by a competitive incubation track for the top five, who will receive equity-free funding and access to further mentorship and product testing.
“We are entering an era where data, robotics, artificial intelligence, and sustainable practices are no longer buzzwords but essential tools for progress,” added Naab. “These startups are creating an envisioned mining ecosystem where operations are remotely managed, where environmental impact is minimised, and where worker safety is enhanced by intelligent systems.”
As the sun sets on Demo Day, one thing is clear: Africa’s mining future is no longer just underground; it’s being built above ground by its brightest innovators.
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