Meta has announced the launch of the Llama Impact Accelerator program in Sub-Saharan Africa, in collaboration with national innovation agencies and ecosystem partners. This initiative aims to accelerate the development of impactful, open-source AI solutions built on Meta’s Llama platform.
The program is designed to support startups in creating scalable, socially relevant AI tools that align with regional development priorities—including agriculture, healthcare, safety and security, financial inclusion, education, and public service delivery. By empowering local innovators, the initiative seeks to broaden the adoption of open-source AI technologies across the continent.
A six-week accelerator will be hosted in Nigeria, Kenya, Senegal, and South Africa, providing selected startups with equity-free funding, technical training, hands-on mentorship, business advisory services, and access to local policy ecosystems.
Balkissa Idé Siddo, Public Policy Director for Sub-Saharan Africa at Meta, emphasized the region’s critical role in global innovation: “Africa is not just the future—it’s a present full of promise and potential. At Meta, we believe that open-source AI is key to unlocking this potential, by democratizing innovation and creating technology that truly serves the needs of diverse communities.”
The program is being implemented in partnership with key government bodies, including the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (Nigeria), the Ministry of Communication, Telecommunications and Digital Affairs (Senegal), the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy (Kenya), and South Africa’s Department of Public Service and Administration alongside the Centre for Public Service Innovation. Additional support is being provided by local incubators and training organizations.
Participants will benefit from technical resources and platforms to co-develop critical digital infrastructure while contributing to the formation of emerging AI policy frameworks. Each regional accelerator will conclude with a Demo Day, where teams will present their Llama-powered solutions to a jury of experts, policymakers, and industry stakeholders.
Selected teams will receive further funding and six months of post-program support to focus on product refinement, community engagement, and market expansion.
This launch underscores Meta’s continued commitment to fostering open innovation and supporting inclusive, sustainable tech ecosystems around the world—particularly in high-potential regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa.
