An innovative Kenyan startup using artificial intelligence to make movement safer and more independent for visually impaired people has emerged as the overall winner of the Investor Pitch Arena at the Women in STEM Africa Summit 2026.
Provision Sight Africa, also known as Blindsight Africa Limited, founded by Victoria Mwaura, received Sh500,000 in seed capital after taking the top spot in the competition held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi.
The company is developing AI-powered assistive technology designed to provide smart navigation solutions for visually impaired people in Kenya and across East Africa.
The two-day summit, organised by Women in Technology and Innovation Africa (WITIA) in partnership with UNESCO, brought together government officials, academics, researchers, entrepreneurs, industry players and development partners to explore ways of strengthening Africa’s technology and innovation ecosystem.
Held under the theme “Discovering Talent. Driving Innovation. Shaping Africa’s Future,” the summit concluded with nine finalists presenting their innovations before judges, investors, venture capitalists, industry leaders and potential partners.
For Mwaura, the recognition represents both an achievement and an opportunity to take the startup’s work further.
She said the award validates the company’s efforts to harness AI in advancing independence and inclusion for visually impaired people.
The Sh500,000 seed capital, she added, will support Provision Sight Africa in strengthening its technology, expanding its reach and bringing its solutions to more users across Kenya and East Africa.
Innobid, led by co-founder and CEO Eliud Luutsa, finished second, while Tallycheck Limited, founded by Caesar Wamugo, Paul Chege and Emanuel Maina, placed third.
WITIA Programs Manager Wesa Sitati said the pitch competition was created to help close the gap between promising African innovations and the capital, markets, mentorship and partnerships required to turn them into sustainable enterprises.
According to Sitati, Africa has no shortage of talent or innovative ideas, but stronger connections between innovators and the resources needed to scale remain essential.
WITIA Founder and Chair Eunice Pohlmann also highlighted the importance of creating platforms where African women and innovators can present their ideas and attract investment.
The summit concluded with renewed calls for stronger collaboration among innovators, investors, governments, academia and industry to help promising startups move beyond the prototype stage and achieve wider impact.
WITIA reaffirmed its commitment to narrowing Africa’s gender and digital divide through initiatives including training, mentorship, internships and scholarships.
For Provision Sight Africa, the recognition marks another step toward a future where technology can help make mobility, independence and inclusion more accessible to visually impaired people across the region.
