Somalia’s first innovation tech hub is set to open in Mogadishu this September, supporting the growth of tech startups in the country.
The tech hub based in the country’s capital will be called iRise Hub, and will provide a co-working space, as well as research, incubation, and acceleration services for new startups, according to VenturesAfrica.
While connecting, collaborating and sharing ideas, Somali entrepreneurs at iRise Hub will aim to further develop the tech sector in the country through the growth of their startup ideas.
Abdihakim Ainte, the founder of iRise, says that the tech hub is a crucial part of Somalia’s efforts to become more globally competitive.
“It’s about rolling out some ecosystem in the country, and we feel that we need to establish this kind of innovation hub so that we can catch up with the rest of the world,” he told Quartz.
The tech hub’s name comes from the popular hashtag #SomaliaRising, which has been widely used on Twitter to express satisfaction with the country’s strides towards socioeconomic and political progress in recent years, Techcabal reports.
Tech hubs continue to drive innovation across Africa, with 314 hubs currently operational in 93 cities across 42 countries, according to GSMA.
In comparison with Somalia, South Africa is the African nation with the most tech hubs, with a total of 54 active tech hubs displaying the country’s leadership with regards to the African ICT revolution.
Somalia has had to negotiate a unique set of challenges to the development of a tech ecosystem in the country, according to AfricaNews.
Political turmoil, terrorists elements present due to an al Shabaab insurgency and limited internet access have been consistent issues for Somalian entrepreneurs to deal with, but the iRise Hub will be a step in the right direction for a country that is determined to reach new technological heights through the success of their startups.
