What they do: Netagrow is an agri-tech startup using AI + IoT to help smallholder farmers make data-driven decisions. F6S+2Zambian Agribusiness+2
Impact: Farmers get real-time insights on soil health, pests, diseases, and crop management. Zambian Agribusiness+1
Backing: Supported by the UNDP Accelerator Lab and Zambia’s Mukuba UniPod. UNDP
Agrarian AI / Netagrow (Project)
Very closely tied to Netagrow, but often framed under UNDP’s “Agrarian AI” initiative, which underscores how AI + data can transform agriculture and food security in Zambia. UNDP+1
Ignitos Space
What they do: Use satellite imagery + AI to give farmers actionable insights on their land (soil type, water content, crop suitability). TechCabal+1
Impact: Helps resource-poor farmers (even without smartphones) make precision farming decisions, saving costs and improving yields. TechCabal
Accessibility: Offers USSD-based interface so farmers without internet or advanced devices can still benefit. TechCabal
Tensai AI
What they do: Based in Lusaka, they build AI solutions across sectors (legal research, education, job matching, retail) that are locally relevant. tensaitech.org
Impact:
Legal: AI summarises Zambian case law, making legal research more accessible. tensaitech.org
Employment: An AI-driven job-matching platform with CV builder and skills-assessment. tensaitech.org
What they do: Griene Tech-Fix offers a portfolio of tech products, including Griene-AI, a platform for automating business content creation and workflows. BusinessBeat 24+1
Other services: They also run event ticketing (Ticket-EL), e-learning (G-LMS), web hosting, and more. BusinessBeat 24
Impact: Helps small businesses, event organizers, and education providers streamline operations and save on resource costs. BusinessBeat 24
Sprout Tech ZM
What they do: A young tech company (founded 2023) in Lusaka focusing on software, AI, chatbots, and payment systems. F6S
Impact: While specific product details aren’t all public, their mission centers on “next-generation tech that empowers people to excel” — likely enabling digital transformation, customer service automation, and AI-driven business tools.
BongoHive AI Lab
What it is: Not a startup per se, but a hub / lab launched by BongoHive to stimulate AI innovation in Zambia. BongoHive+1
How it helps:
Research & development: Projects in healthcare, education, agriculture, financial services. BongoHive
Training & capacity building: They offer programs to build AI skills among Zambian entrepreneurs. BongoHive
What they do: According to F6S, this company collects data (from youth engagements via “Varsity Guild”) to produce insights around education, career, business, and well-being. F6S
Impact: By analyzing youth data, they can build tools (potentially AI-driven) that help young people make better life decisions / career choices.
Jabaricom
What they do: An “AI-powered workspace for professional services firms” in Lusaka — automates document management, monthly client requests, and work record compilation. F6S
Impact: Reduces administrative burdens in auditing, tax, payroll, and compliance, freeing up professionals to focus on more strategic work.
TechMasters Zambia Ltd
What they do: Listed as a top AI company in Zambia. F6S
Impact: While publicly available detailed products are scarce, being a longstanding tech company (since ~2013) suggests they may be providing training, software solutions, and possibly AI services for local businesses. They could act as a bridge in the ecosystem, helping other startups access AI.
Why This Matters for Development in Zambia
Agriculture: Startups like Netagrow and Ignitos are using AI to tackle critical challenges in farming — smallholders get access to insights that were previously out of reach.
Education: Tensai AI’s personalized learning solutions can help students learn at their own pace, improving education equity.
Legal & Employment: AI in legal research (Tensai) and job matching can democratize access to professional services.
Business Efficiency: Griene-AI and Jabaricom help SMEs and professionals automate repetitive tasks, lowering costs and improving productivity.
Innovation & Skills: The BongoHive AI Lab plays a key role in building the AI ecosystem, training local talent, and incubating new AI-driven ideas.
Challenges & Opportunities
Limited Visibility: Some AI startups in Zambia are under-reported; more media coverage could help.
Access to Funding: Early-stage AI companies often need capital, and local funding for AI may still be limited.
Regulatory Framework: There’s a need for policies to guide ethical AI — Zambia’s national AI strategy (2025–2027) highlights this. mots.gov.zm
Infrastructure: Reliable internet, data infrastructure, and power remain challenges in some regions.
