Kenya’s agritech startup Farmer Lifeline has been named the 2025 winner of Qualcomm’s Wireless Reach Social Impact Fund, as the U.S. chipmaker marked the completion of the third edition of its Make in Africa startup mentorship programme.
Qualcomm Technologies Inc said the equity-free programme supported 10 early-stage startups from Kenya, Tunisia, Nigeria, Benin and Senegal, selected from more than 400 applications across 19 African countries.
The startups are developing technology-enabled solutions across healthcare, agriculture, climate resilience and mobility, using tools such as artificial intelligence, 4G and 5G connectivity, robotics and the internet of things, Qualcomm said.
Farmer Lifeline was selected for its solar-powered devices that scan fields for pests and crop diseases and send alerts directly to farmers’ mobile phones. As the Wireless Reach winner, the startup will receive funding and technical support to help scale its technology, the company said.
“This year’s cohort has demonstrated incredible ingenuity, transforming complex challenges into scalable, tech-driven solutions,” said Elizabeth Migwalla, vice president for international government affairs at Qualcomm Incorporated.
John Omo, secretary general of the African Telecommunications Union, said partnerships that support African innovators are critical to translating policy work on spectrum management and standards into economic and social impact.
Qualcomm said all 10 finalists will receive stipends to support business development and protect their intellectual property, including access to its L2Pro Africa training resources.
The company added that applications for the 2026 Make in Africa startup mentorship programme are now open on its website.
