Founders to Watch: The Deep Tech & AI Pioneers Rewiring African Infrastructure

In the global AI hype cycle, much of the capital has flowed into Large Language Models (LLMs). But in Africa, the “IndexPrima Signal” for Q2 2026 points in a different direction: Applied Deep Tech. We are seeing the rise of founders who treat AI not as a toy, but as a “Digital Mechanic” and a “National Talent Engine.” Leading this charge are two founders who are turning “Artificial Intelligence” into “Economic Resilience.”

Rivoningo Mhlari (Rikatec): The “Digital Mechanic” for Africa’s Fleets

In South Africa’s high-stakes logistics corridor, the biggest threat to a company isn’t the competition—it’s Unplanned Downtime. Rivoningo Mhlari, the founder of Rikatec, has built the solution.

• The Tech Alpha: Rikatec uses AI and machine learning to provide Predictive Maintenance for vehicle fleets. By analyzing real-time data from vehicle sensors, the platform can predict a breakdown before it happens with up to 98% accuracy.

• The Economic Impact: For a logistics firm, a truck stuck on the N1 highway is a massive drain on capital. Rikatec’s AI reduces operational costs by up to 30%, turning maintenance from a “surprise expense” into a “managed variable.”

• The Q2 Catalyst: As fuel prices and inflation squeeze logistics margins in South Africa, Mhlari is moving into Predictive Fleet Life-cycle Management. Q2 will see Rikatec integrate with major insurance and financing hubs to offer “Usage-Based Premium” models.

Betelhem Dessie (iCog Anyone Can Code): The Architect of the Horn’s Talent Pipeline

As Ethiopia undergoes a historic opening of its telecom and tech sectors, the “Gold Rush” is on. But a gold rush is useless without the tools. Betelhem Dessie, a child prodigy turned tech titan, is the one building the tools—and the people.

• The Tech Alpha: Through iCog Anyone Can Code (iCog-ACC), Dessie is building the AI Talent Infrastructure of Ethiopia. Her work focuses on high-end coding, robotics, and machine learning training for the next generation of East African developers.

• The Strategic Signal: International partners—from Google to Safaricom—entering the Ethiopian market are realizing that “Local Talent” is their biggest hurdle. Dessie has become the Key Strategic Founder for any global entity looking to build a local R&D presence.

• The Q2 Catalyst: With the liberalisation of the Ethiopian economy hitting a fever pitch, watch for Dessie to launch a Pan-African AI Research Lab in Q2. This will move Ethiopia from being a “consumer” of tech to an “exporter” of AI solutions for the Horn of Africa.

The Signal: AI as an “Infrastructure Optimization” Tool

The real IndexPrima Signal here is Non-Discretionary Tech. * The Alpha: Startups that offer “nice-to-have” AI features are struggling. Startups like Rikatec and iCog-ACC, which solve Physical Infrastructure Gaps (maintenance and human capital), are seeing “Recession-Proof” growth.

• The Implication: In Q2 2026, the most valuable “Algorithm” in Africa is the one that prevents a generator from failing or trains 1,000 engineers to build the next national payment gateway.

Tradeoffs & Risks: The “Brain Drain” vs. “Hardware Debt”

• Talent Retention: For Dessie, the risk is the “Export” of the very talent she trains. If her top AI engineers are poached by Silicon Valley, Ethiopia’s “Talent Pipeline” becomes a “Talent Drain.”

• Hardware Interoperability: For Mhlari, the challenge is the sheer diversity of vehicle makes and models in Africa. Building a “Universal AI Mechanic” that can talk to a 20-year-old truck and a brand-new EV simultaneously is an engineering tightrope.

The Forward View: Toward “Sovereign Intelligence”

By the end of 2026, the work of Mhlari and Dessie will merge into a larger trend: Sovereign Intelligence. Africa is moving toward building its own AI models tailored to its own physical constraints—sparse data, aging infrastructure, and a booming youth population.

Deep Tech in Africa is about Survival and Scale. Whether it’s Mhlari keeping the wheels of commerce turning in South Africa or Dessie building the minds of the future in Addis Ababa, these founders are proving that the most powerful AI is the one that interacts with the Real World.

Index Report: Deep Tech & AI Watchlist Vitals

Sources & References

• The Mail & Guardian (Mar 2026): Predictive Power: How Rivoningo Mhlari is Using AI to Save South Africa’s Logistics Sector

• Ethiopia Insider (Mar 30, 2026): The Addis Opening: Why Betelhem Dessie is the Gatekeeper to Ethiopia’s Tech Future

• TechCabal Intelligence: Deep Tech in Africa: Why 2026 is the Year of Applied AI

• Quartz Africa: The New Guard: Meet the Founders Solving Africa’s Physical Infrastructure Gaps with Machine Learning