Angela Baker on Qualcomm’s Commitment to Innovative Startups

Qualcomm continues to be a leader in technological innovation, committed to global growth and sustainability. Together with our ecosystem partners, we create opportunities designed to promote innovation and societal advancement.

The Qualcomm® Make in Africa (QMIA) program, now in its third year, mentors early-stage startups using technologies such as 5G, Edge-AI, Compute, and IoT. This initiative offers business coaching, engineering consultation, hardware platforms, and intellectual property guidance to help startups scale their impact and drive technological progress across Africa.

QMIA leverages the energy and creativity emerging from Africa’s tech scene. Across the continent, there is a growing wave of entrepreneurship fueled by technological advancements, increased internet penetration, and a young generation eager to drive change.

In April 2024, we announced the first winner of the Qualcomm® Wireless Reach™ Social Impact Fund. This fund, provided by Qualcomm Incorporated through its Qualcomm® Wireless Reach™ initiative supports startups in scaling their societal and market impact. Since 2006, Wireless Reach has demonstrated how advanced technologies can achieve the development goals of governments and communities globally. Our objective is to develop innovative solutions that enable individuals to reach their full potential and enhance the quality of life in communities.

– Angela Baker, Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer, Qualcomm Incorporated

Our first QMIA winner, Ecorich Solutions Limited, is a female-founded organization, based in Nairobi, Kenya. The company has developed the Wastebot, a smart food composter using AI and IoT to convert organic waste into affordable, high-quality fertilizer for small-scale farmers. Ecorich Solutions is integrating Qualcomm technology into its product, accelerating their deployments in Kenya, enhancing soil health, increasing farm yields, reducing methane emissions, creating jobs, and promoting sustainable agriculture.

In December 2024, we announced the next Social Impact Fund winner from the second cohort of QMIA start-ups: Aurora Health Systems from Kenya. The company developed a portable electrocardiogram (ECG) device, that Qualcomm Technologies will help equip with LTE connectivity, enabling remote data transmission of ECG data to healthcare providers, even in rural areas. This technology helps patients with cardiovascular disease receive timely and accurate care, ultimately saving lives.

The remaining 18 startups from the 2023 and 2024 cohorts have also received stipends and patent filing incentives to continue their growth. In collaboration with Adams and Adams, the continent’s leading law firm, a free and online eLearning course (L2ProAfrica.com) has been developed to educate innovators about intellectual property law and filing procedures in select African countries. These startups and innovators have showcased novel uses of technology to address community needs, demonstrating the incredible potential of African entrepreneurs.

– Angela Baker, Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer, Qualcomm Incorporated

Qualcomm supports innovation and entrepreneurs worldwide, including in India, Taiwan, Vietnam, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore. Through incubators and mentorship programs, we promote advanced 4G and 5G connectivity, AI at the edge and IoT for early-stage startups.

Qualcomm is committed to inspiring future inventors and enhancing the global tech ecosystem. Together, we can create a future where technology serves as a powerful tool for societal transformation and economic growth.