Supporting entrepreneurs

The Industry Innovation Lab (IIL) is a technology-focused startup hub at Carnegie Mellon University Africa. The IIL supports startups that are developing and commercializing technology-enabled products aimed at addressing well-defined market needs with strong potential for profitability, inclusivity, and scale.

Through its 12-month Business Incubation Program, the IIL helps African tech startups transform proof-of-concept prototypes and preliminary market assessments into scalable, market-ready products and services. By the end of the program, participating startups are expected to have revenue-generating offerings and be well-positioned to secure additional investment for growth.

In addition, the IIL operates the TechSkills Marketplace Program which connects African startups with world-class talent. This program enables startups to host CMU-Africa students as interns between May and August, either on-site or remotely. To support this collaboration, CMU-Africa co-funds the internships together with the startups, helping cover the interns' compensation.

Business Incubation Program

TechSkills Marketplace Program

Capacity Building Program

Meet the team

Stanley Mukasa headshot

Stanley Mukasa

Associate Director of Entrepreneurship
CMU-Africa

Email
stanleym@andrew.cmu.edu

Read Mukasa's bio

Maria Mayanja headshot

Maria Mayanja

Program Manager
CMU-Africa

Email
mmayanja@andrew.cmu.edu

Read Mayanja's bio

Amandine Kayizari headshot

Amandine Kayizari

Techskills Marketplace Program Manager
CMU-Africa

Email
akayizar@andrew.cmu.edu

Read Kayizari's bio

Patricia Musiime's headshote

Patricia Musiime

Program Manager for the TechSkills Marketplace Internship Program
CMU-Africa

Email
pmusiime@andrew.cmu.edu

Read Musiime's bio

News about the IIL

TechSkills Marketplace Program bridges students and startups

By connecting students and startups through immersive internships, the TechSkills Marketplace Program by the Industry Innovation Lab gives students the hands-on experience they need as the next generation of entrepreneurs and tech leaders.

Pan-African Product Innovation Workshop unites innovators

Entrepreneurs and innovators from 19 African countries tackled real-world business challenges using human-centered design and rapid prototyping.

Harnessing artificial intelligence for maternal health

Sarah Moses (MSIT '25) is the co-founder of Afya Wave Ltd, a business incubated at the Industry Innovation Lab.

The Industry Innovation Lab boosts new tech entrepreneurs

Meet the 2025 cohort of entrepreneurs in CMU-Africa’s Industry Innovation Lab business incubation program.

A workshop on product innovation for African entrepreneurs

This summer CMU-Africa’s Industry Innovation Lab and CMU’s Integrated Innovation Institute held a 5-day product innovation workshop in Kigali, Rwanda.

Beyond engineering to entrepreneurship

The African Innovators Society at CMU-Africa empowers students to build various skills in entrepreneurship, form connections with other trailblazers, and make a positive impact in the world.

CMU-Africa Innovation Summit 2024

CMU-Africa’s Center for Inclusive Digital Transformation of Africa held their 2024 Innovation Summit earlier this year from January 24 to 26, hosting students from 17 different countries across Africa as well as from CMU’s own Tepper School of Business.

Inaugural forum connects Africa’s entrepreneurship ecosystem

CMU-Africa recently held its first entrepreneurship forum which brought together people from across the continent to discuss important challenges and opportunities for African entrepreneurs.