The Ministry of ICT & Innovation has unveiled a new national digital platform designed to strengthen the country’s innovation ecosystem by connecting startups with investors. The platform dubbed ‘Innovate Rwanda’ was launched by the Minister of ICT & Innovation Paula Ingabire at the Inclusive FinTech Forum 2026, where policymakers, investors, and entrepreneurs gathered to explore the future of financial innovation and inclusive finance on the continent. ALSO READ: Rwanda launches Digital Public Infrastructure strategy to power citizen services, AI The platform aims to provide a centralised hub where entrepreneurs can easily access information about funding opportunities, innovation programmes, and organisations supporting startups across Rwanda. According to Director General of Innovation & Emerging Technologies at the ICT ministry Esther Kunda, the platform was developed to address a persistent challenge faced by early stage entrepreneurs of navigating the innovation ecosystem without clear information on where to find the right support. “When someone is starting a company in Rwanda, they often struggle to identify who can support them in developing their idea, whether it is a research institution, an innovation hub, or a potential investor. The ‘Innovate Rwanda’ platform is designed to bring all that information together in one place,” she explained. ALSO READ: Digital finance offers path to wealth creation in Africa - experts The digital platform maps key players across the startup ecosystem, including incubators, accelerators, investors, development partners, and startups operating in different sectors. By bringing this information together, developers of the platform hope it will help entrepreneurs better understand the opportunities available to them, from research support at the ideation stage, to funding for scaling businesses. The platform also aims to support organisations that provide incubation programmes, training, and mentorship by allowing them to see what other ecosystem players are offering. According to officials, the visibility could help reduce duplication of services and encourage support organisations to design programmes that address existing gaps in the market. “Many organisations are supporting entrepreneurs, but sometimes they end up offering similar programmes because there is limited information about what others are doing. With better data, organisations can identify missing services and design support programmes that respond to the real needs of entrepreneurs,” Kunda said. ALSO READ: What will shape Rwanda’s next phase of financial inclusion? The platform will also enable startups to identify which investors are funding businesses in specific sectors such as energy, fintech, or agriculture, as well as understand the types of companies investors are looking to support. “Early-stage founders will be able to see investors that specialise in seed-stage funding, while more established startups can identify investors interested in scaling companies that already generate revenue,” she noted. “The platform also provides insights for investors, who can view startups operating in Rwanda, the programmes they have participated in, and indicators such as job creation and growth potential.” The platform is expected to complement existing regulatory and technological frameworks aimed at encouraging innovation and cross-border growth by enabling innovators, investors, and ecosystem organisations to easily discover one another and collaborate. By improving access to information and strengthening connections within the ecosystem, officials hope the platform will help startups grow faster and position the country as a launchpad for African innovation.
