Digital Humanism Summer School holds startup showcase

Patricia Raffaele

Oct 29, 2026

Graduate students from across the African Engineering and Technology Network (Afretec) spent a week participating in the second Digital Humanism Summer School, culminating in a competitive showcase featuring nine teams and their startups — all ventures based on principles of digital humanism. The week was organized by Carnegie Mellon University Africa (CMU-Africa) and Web Alliance for Regreening in Africa (W4RA) Research.

The summer school curriculum is guided by “The Vienna Manifesto on Digital Humanism” drafted by international researchers in 2019. Digital humanism challenges people to investigate the relationship between humanity and technology, improving our understanding of how technology can be designed and used in ethical, beneficial, and inclusive ways. Doing so requires interdisciplinary discussion and collaboration, involving perspectives from both engineering and technology-related fields and the social sciences and humanities.

  • Group photo
  • Two people talking
  • People listening to lecture
  • Group working together

    • The startup showcase, led by CMU-Africa’s Stanley Mukasa, associate director of entrepreneurship, was held in Ghana at Central University, Christ Temple Campus. The startup showcase translates the abstract ideals of the manifesto into knowledge in a real-world setting. The success of the showcase was reflected in the evaluation, which noted the hackathon “connected Digital Humanism principles with practical innovation across all teams.”

    Throughout the week, teams worked under the guidance of mentors, while also attending lectures in digital humanism. Teams chose among themes, based on principles of digital humanism, for their startups as they prepared to compete in the showcase, an event similar to a hackathon. At the end of the week, teams presented their startups and competed for a cash prize of $50,000 USD in front of an audience which included investors and incubators.

    Students presenting at podium

    Nkata, the winning team of the showcase. Team members included Brandone Fonya, Martha Kachweka, Sally Mussanga, Damlare Olatunji and Jack Odunga.

    Nkata, the winning team, developed a startup with the theme “Communities, Culture & Digital Futures,” focused on creating a community-owned platform for preserving African cultures and language, The team focused on enabling communities to teach, share, sell and earn from cultural knowledge. Team members included Brandone Fonya, Martha Kachweka, Sally Mussanga, Damlare Olatunji and Jack Odunga.

    Other teams included:

    Pocket Money: A mobile platform helping small traders track sales and financial records

    • Theme: public systems and digital inclusion
    • Team: Rose Kimu, Ntung Landon, Anne Muchiri Certifarm

    Trusted landmark/certification approach for agro-farmers: Approach for agro-farmers to increase trust across the supply chain

    • Theme: communities, culture, and digital futures
    • Team: Elizabeth Apuseyine, Augsutine Aduku, Eunice Esi Essuman, Dominic Edeh, Gabriel Hwogerwerf, Richmond Nii, Addotey Nubuor

    Afwohub: Agricultural platform connecting farmers, buyers, and transport providers to reduce post-harvest loss and transport costs.

    • Theme: public systems and digital inclusion
    • Team: Idris Muhammed, Jerimiah Dosu, Mohammed Abubakari Sadic, Philemon Ayambita, Edward Ajayi, Isiah Chiaira

    MOSAIC: AI-powered accessibility framework for Deaf and hard-of-hearing citizens using digital public services.

    • Theme: public systems and digital inclusion
    • Team: Mouhamed Diallo, Seynabou Badji, Fatou Ndoye, Marwan Salam, Rinal Mohamed
    CRAIS: Contextually relevant agricultural intelligence system-lightweight/offline, voice assistance, sign language and agroecological support
    • Theme: digital community, public systems and digital Inclusion
    • Team: Bekalu Tadale, Frehiwot Gebrekrstos Girmay, Erwin Nanyaro, Mary Onguko, Maxwel Odira, Ruth Osukuku, Serkalem Negusse

    AfriAcess: AI-assisted accessibility testing for bank, fintechs, and digital services, combining AI review with testing by persons with disabilities

    • Theme: public systems and digital inclusion
    • Team: Ojo Ilesanmi, Roseline Ogundokun Peace Falola, Oyinkansola Akinwunmi, Eric Iradukunda, Daniel Acqual

    DiaDial: Low-tech multi-channel diabetes support using USSD/SMS, IVR/Voice, and community health workers across Rwanda, Uganda, Ghana, and Nigeria

    • Theme: public systems and digital inclusion
    • Team: Yvette Tuyambaze, Nansubuga K Hellen, Ronald Kato, Sunday Peter Afolabi, Maureen Owusu-Addae
    AKWAABA: Mobile tourism platform connecting visitors with verified hotels, restaurants, transport, sites, markets, guides, artisans and other services.
    • Theme: communities, culture and digital futures
    • Team: Frances Sea-Ditoh, Wilhelm Nomu Kuta, Gideon Ali, Dodzi Gloria, Morian Smith, Samuel Agyel Osei, Kwabena Turkson