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AI StartUps Initiative showcases Mauritius’ drive toward digital economy and innovation
“Government will continue to support initiatives that encourage innovation, strengthen productivity and help our enterprises become more competitive.”
This was the gist of the speech made by the Minister of Industry, SMEs and Cooperatives, Mr Sayed Muhammad Aadil Ameer Meea, at the AI StartUps Award Ceremony held on Friday 08 May 2026 at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Public Service and Innovation.
The Minister of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation, Dr Avinash Ramtohul, was also present on the occasion alongside the Chairperson of the National Productivity and Competitiveness Council (NPCC), Mr Arshad Duymun and the Executive Director of the NPCC, Dr Vinaye Ancharaz.
Organised by the NPCC, the event celebrated the culmination of the AI StartUps Initiative, a national programme aimed at nurturing a new generation of technology-driven entrepreneurs and positioning Mauritius as a regional hub for artificial intelligence and digital innovation. The initiative attracted more than 157 aspiring entrepreneurs and resulted in the development of 19 AI-powered ventures ready to compete on regional and international markets.
Five outstanding teams were crowned winners and each received a cash prize of Rs 100,000 as seed funding together with incubation support to accelerate the growth of their startups. The winning teams are namely:
Mo Karyer by Mohammad Muzzammil Panchoo, Muhammad Ahsan Raza Panchoo and Mungroo Irshaad - A WhatsApp-based career guidance chatbot helping secondary and tertiary students explore career pathways and opportunities;
Study Hive by Yukta Ranjeet Emrith and Arokium Sheikh Waajid Hussein - An intelligent education ecosystem connecting students, teachers and parents through smart automation and real-time collaboration;
Vidante by Kevin Ikuzwe, Olivier Ishimwe and Keza Rukundo Stephy - An assessment platform designed to reduce teachers’ administrative workload while enhancing the quality of student feedback; and
ZilNutri Ltd – NutriRoute by Bhavna Seedam and Ejaz Allymamode, A nutrition and meal-planning platform helping users better manage their health and dietary needs.
Minister Ameer Meea highlighted the need for Mauritius to adapt to rapid global technological change, stressing Government’s commitment to building a modern, digital-driven industrial ecosystem based on innovation, automation and smart manufacturing.
He underscored ongoing support measures for SMEs and startups to move into higher value-added activities and improve productivity, while noting that national competitiveness depends on greater innovation and technology adoption.
The Minister also pointed to initiatives such as Manufacturing 4.0 and the Internet of Things for Productive Enterprises programme led by the NPCC, and recalled that the forthcoming Industry Policy—being developed with support from the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation—will aim to strengthen exports and further integrate Mauritius into regional and global value chains.
For his part, Minister Ramtohul highlighted Mauritius’ National AI Strategy and Fair Guidelines as key pillars for the responsible and sustainable development of artificial intelligence in the country.
He underlined the growing importance of AI across various sectors and stressed the need for innovation, collaboration and digital transformation to strengthen economic development and competitiveness.
The Minister also noted Mauritius’ potential to emerge as a regional leader in digital innovation through the development of local talent and stronger partnerships between Government, academia and the private sector. He further emphasised the importance of an enabling ecosystem that supports startups and young innovators in leveraging emerging technologies to address real-world challenges and contribute to national progress.
As for Mr Arshad Duymun, he highlighted that the initiative is helping startups to develop and scale innovative AI solutions while contributing to higher value-added activities and new growth sectors. He added that such projects are essential to strengthening productivity, entrepreneurship and competitiveness in Mauritius.
Dr Vinaye Ancharaz underlined that the programme is supporting the development of a resilient and future-ready workforce capable of harnessing AI for productivity and innovation. He reaffirmed the commitment of the NPCC to ensure that investments in artificial intelligence contribute to economic resilience and the country’s long-term development.
The AI StartUps Programme
Launched in October 2025 as a flagship initiative of the NPCC, the AI StartUps programme was designed as a comprehensive pipeline from ideation to incubation in line with the national AI for Mauritius strategy. The response exceeded expectations, with 157 registrations received against an initial target of 100 participants.
The programme unfolded across seven structured phases, including Design Thinking workshops completed by 94 participants, an AI Sprint organised in collaboration with the University of Mauritius and the submission of 18 business plans.
A total of 19 teams later pitched their AI-based solutions before a panel of assessors in March 2026. The initiative was further supported by 12 AI coaches from academia and industry, as well as a 17-member Technical Committee.
12 May 2026
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Topics: Information Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Innovation
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