Microsoft Corp is backing Nairobi-based startup Fastagger to roll out artificial intelligence (AI) tools that can run on basic smartphones without an internet connection, in a move aimed at expanding digital access and supporting small businesses across Africa.
Fastagger’s software allows AI models to operate directly on low-cost devices — a shift from traditional cloud-based systems that require reliable internet and high-end hardware. The company says its approach could help bridge Africa’s digital divide by making AI services usable in remote and low-bandwidth areas.
“Microsoft’s tools and the Africa Transformation Office team’s support have been game changers for us,” Fastagger Chief Executive Mutembei Kariuki said. “From Azure AI to GitHub, the ecosystem gave us everything we needed to move from concept to deployment quickly.”
Across Africa, poor connectivity and expensive data remain major barriers to adopting advanced digital technologies. The GSMA Mobile Economy Sub-Saharan Africa 2024 report projects mobile subscriber penetration to reach 53% of the population by 2030, but says affordability remains a key obstacle, with a 4G handset costing as much as 63% of the average monthly income.
Fastagger’s technology enables AI-driven tools to work offline, helping doctors in rural clinics with diagnostics, teachers with digital learning, and farmers with agriculture insights.
Fastagger is part of Microsoft’s Africa Transformation Office startup program, which provides technical mentorship and access to platforms such as Azure AI, IoT and GitHub. The startup has also received support from NVIDIA, Technvest and Cloudmania to accelerate product development and deployment.
The company’s AI business assistant, AUNI, is embedded in Safaricom’s M-PESA Business App, currently serving more than 2,500 micro and small enterprises using entry-level Android devices.
The app helps merchants automate marketing, track transactions, and run loyalty programs using AI. For a small monthly fee of between $1 and $5, users can analyze customer behavior, distribute digital coupons and access financial insights.
Africa accounts for 53% of the global mobile money market, valued at $1.7 trillion in 2024, with 1.1 billion registered accounts, according to industry data. Sub-Saharan Africa alone contributed $190 billion to regional GDP through mobile money activity.
Many small and medium enterprises depend on mobile transactions for their operations, but often lack access to digital tools for data management and customer retention.
Fastagger’s participation in the NVIDIA GenAI Accelerator and Microsoft’s startup ecosystem allows its technology to be deployed globally through Microsoft Azure.
“Fastagger’s model shows that the future of AI in Africa isn’t about catching up,” said a Microsoft Africa Transformation Office spokesperson. “It’s about building solutions that work locally and can scale globally.”
By enabling AI to function offline, Fastagger and Microsoft aim to make digital tools more inclusive across emerging markets, empowering small enterprises that form the backbone of Africa’s economy.
