Yango Empowers Next Generation of African Tech Innovators

In Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, six teams showcased solutions they developed over a 12-week intensive program. These ranged from fare payment systems for informal buses to platforms connecting job seekers with remote work opportunities. The projects competed for $12,000 in prizes at the Yango Group’s Pan-African Fellowship Pitch Day.

The Yango Fellowship, which began in Zambia in 2024 and has since expanded across multiple African countries, aims to bridge a critical gap in digital skills development. With roughly one million young Africans entering the labor market each month and less than 25% pursuing STEM fields, the program seeks to unlock local talent while addressing real-world challenges.

“We’ve always wanted to do something in technology,” explained Shashi Singh, Director of Operations for Yango Ride MEA & Asia. “When we work in these countries, we see immense potential but limited access to opportunities. This fellowship is about connecting talented individuals with the resources they need to build meaningful solutions.”

The program’s curriculum covers essential skills like innovation, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy, culminating in teams developing prototypes for problems they encounter daily. Yango emphasizes this local focus because employees believe that those who live with a problem have unique insights into how to solve it.

“Building technology from the outside means missing critical context,” Singh noted. “Our fellows bring a depth of understanding that’s hard to replicate through short visits or market research.” This aligns with Yango’s broader strategy of prioritizing local presence and city-level expertise across its African operations.

The 2026 cohort placed particular emphasis on applied artificial intelligence, reflecting the growing importance of AI in solving complex challenges. With plans to invest at least $150 million into expanding across Africa next year, Yango views this fellowship as an investment in the continent’s future technology leadership.