Waziup

"Waziup connects technology and opportunity, empowering local innovators by fostering a vibrant African Edge AI and IoT ecosystem"

WaziLab (powered by Waziup e.V.) is building Africa's first integrated AI and IoT training and innovation infrastructure and ecosystem, connecting digital labs, research institutions, and startups through a virtual learning and prototyping platform, 'Learning by doing'. Founded by Dr.-Ing Abdur Rahim, an innovator, engineer and ecosystem builder specializing in IoT capacity building and digital transformation, the organization addresses one of Africa's key challenges – the fragmented access to technical infrastructure, training, and innovation ecosystems needed to build sustainable digital economies. WaziLab's hybrid digital infrastructure integrates Edge AI & IoT hardware with a virtual laboratory, AI & IoT course library, hardware simulation tools, and remote collaboration modules, enabling digital innovation hubs (DIHs), technical universities, and startups to co-develop scalable, market-ready affordable solutions. The platform supports blended learning, hands-on prototyping, and certification programmes, bridging the gap between research, entrepreneurship, and applied AI training. Backed by partnerships with African & European DIHs, and national vocational education centers (VETs) in Kenya and Tanzania, WaziLab's roadmap includes the deployment of hybrid digital labs, AI & IoT upskilling pipelines, and Africa–Europe startup acceleration networks supporting over 30 DIHs across the continent. With its focus on AI capacity building, IoT integration, and sustainable innovation, WaziLab is building the digital backbone for Africa's next generation of innovators – ensuring inclusive, scalable access to AI education, infrastructure, and entrepreneurship. In partnership with AI HUB for Sustainable Development, Waziup would like to promote WaziLab across Africa to ensure the local accessibility and availability of AI and IoT skills and capacity. This will empower local innovation ecosystems and tech communities to create impactful and responsible IoT and AI applications that are locally owned.