We are honored to be taking part in Mogadishu Tech Summit 2021. I would like to extend my gratitude to the EU that supported us in funding the MTS and a huge thanks to all the sponsors and the attendances for being part of this remarkable event, and especially the iRise team for making this possible.” - Fatuma Muhumed, UNFPA, Youth Team
Between 7-9 December 2021, iRise Hub held the third Mogadishu Tech Summit (MTS), in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, the Benadir Regional Administration (BRA), and a number of business and humanitarian sector partners, donors, and sponsors, including the European Union (EU).
The annual MTS event focuses on innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, and is a space where Somali techies, entrepreneurs, investors, and digital doers can connect with the rest of the globe. The summit's goal is to give Somali youth and innovators a platform to show off their business ideas, technological talents, and revolutionary solutions to potential investors, the government, the private sector, and the rest of the globe.
The MTS all about action, and brings new voices of young Somali tech entrepreneurs, developers, geeks, and coders, movers and shakers, and other tech giants, to the forefront to discuss and debate innovative solutions that will address – and aim to solve – Somalia's long-standing difficulties through real-time innovation, technology and entrepreneurship.
This year, over 5,000 people attended the conference to discuss long term-solutions, such as experts, panelists, academics, innovators, and representatives from the national, regional, and international communities. The theme of this year’s summit was “Strengthening Local Resilience for Inclusive COVID-19 Recovery and Growth”, focusing on health, education, economic development for employment.
The Khalid Innovation Award
The Khalid Innovation Award was launched in 2019 to commemorate the memory of 22 year-old aspiring entrepreneur Khalid Abdi, a former iRise beneficiary and recipient of a grant for his start-up Bulsho Bile. The Innovation Award was created to bridge the gap between the entrepreneurial efforts of Somali youth and access to funds. This year, over 30 youth startups applied from all over Somalia, with eight youth startups pitching their ideas throughout the summit.
The winner of this year’s Khalid Innovation Award was Thamaraat Business: a fresh fruits and vegetable delivery startup that takes fruits and vegetables from farmers directly to consumers with high-quality and low price.
IBIS Bank and Premier Bank commitment to host another pitching contest for the remaining seven startups who pitched their ideas, while iRise committed to hosting an investment night for the same.
UNFPA and the EU are proud supporters
UNFPA is a proud supporter of the MTS, contributing to the event in various ways, including planning committee participation and moderating panel discussions on the investment Climate in Somalia, opportunities and challenges.
The MTS is part of an EU project, in which support is provided to the business and entrepreneurship ecosystem in Somalia. The project aims to mitigate risks and contribute to peace and security in across the country. UNFPA provides a leadership role by supporting vulnerable youth in starting and growing their businesses and social enterprises.
The EU Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Somalia, Tiina Intelmann, closed this year’s summit by expressing her support for the dynamic and tech-savvy generation of Somalia and calling for public-private partnerships.
