Victoria Mwaura Leads Blindsight Africa to Victory at WITIA 2026 Pitch Arena

Victoria Mwaura, founder of Blindsight Africa Ltd, proudly holds the Sh500,000 prize after winning the WITIA 2026 Pitch Competition with her innovative assistive technology for people with visual impairment.

By: Gladys Karuga.

Blindsight Africa Ltd has emerged the overall winner of the Women in Technology and Innovation Africa (WITIA) 2026 Pitch Competition, securing a cash prize of Sh500,000 to support the development and expansion of its assistive technology for people with visual impairment.

The company, led by Victoria Mwaura, impressed the judging panel with its smart glasses and companion technology designed to help people living with visual impairment better understand and navigate their surroundings.

The technology uses smart glasses together with a mobile application or companion device to capture information from the user's environment and relay it through audio. The system can describe scenes, read information, identify signs and provide guidance on obstacles, offering users greater independence in their daily activities.

Speaking after being declared the winner, Mwaura said the recognition was significant because it was helping bring greater attention to technology developed specifically for people with visual impairment.

“I’m so happy that finally this is getting a spotlight and not just for personal interest but mostly because this is bringing impact into the space of vision-impaired persons,” she said.

Mwaura said the Sh500,000 prize would be directed towards refining the product, developing models that are better suited to African users and manufacturing about 70 additional devices to expand testing and build traction.

The technology has already undergone testing with the Kenya Society for the Blind, with Blindsight Africa now seeking to broaden the testing environment to schools, workplaces and other settings.

“We want it to now be tested in schools, in different workspaces and see how adaptable it is, and even make a change in the life of someone with visual impairment,” Mwaura said.

The WITIA Pitch Arena was part of the two-day Women in STEM Africa Summit, held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi on September 3 and 4. The summit is being held under the theme “Discovering Talent. Driving Innovation. Shaping Africa’s Future.” 

The competition provided startups and innovators with an opportunity to present their solutions before judges, investors and other ecosystem players. According to WITIA, the Pitch Arena was designed to connect promising founders with capital and potential investment opportunities, with the winning venture receiving Sh500,000 to support growth. 

Judges considered several factors in determining the winners, including the problem being addressed, market validation, traction, the strength of the business model and the potential of the solution to reach the market.

Innobid, led by CEO and co-founder Eliud Luutsa, finished second and received bonds worth Sh50 million to strengthen its platform connecting women- and youth-led businesses with markets and financing.

Innobid's platform uses artificial intelligence to help enterprises identify relevant procurement opportunities, understand complex tender requirements and prepare competitive submissions. The company also provides financing linkages to help businesses overcome challenges such as working-capital requirements and bid-bond demands. 

Luutsa said the recognition would allow Innobid to scale its solution and expand its support for small businesses seeking procurement and financing opportunities.

“We were lucky to come out of the pitching as number two and, of course, we were able to win 50 million worth of bonds that will be integrated into our platform to help women entrepreneurs as well as youth entrepreneurs to access markets and financing,” he said.

He also described the summit as an opportunity for entrepreneurs to build partnerships and connect with ecosystem enablers, rather than simply competing against one another.

Luutsa called for greater support for initiatives that increase women's participation in technology and entrepreneurship, arguing that investment in women entrepreneurs can have wider benefits for families and communities. He also encouraged women who were unable to attend this year's summit to participate in future editions and take advantage of opportunities to build networks, develop products and grow their businesses.

Tallycheck Ltd took third place after demonstrating strong market validation, a clear understanding of its technology and supply chain, as well as the ability to adapt its technology to different use cases.

Playbus was also recognised for delivering the best pitch, with judges highlighting its effective presentation, ability to capture the audience and adherence to the allocated time.

The competition brought together innovators working across areas including artificial intelligence, creative technology, agritech, transport and education technology, giving founders an opportunity to showcase technology-driven solutions while engaging investors, partners and other players in Africa's growing innovation ecosystem.

The WITIA summit itself brought together policymakers, technology leaders, entrepreneurs, educators, investors, researchers, students and development partners. The official programme also featured discussions on artificial intelligence, digital transformation, manufacturing, mentorship, leadership and opportunities for women and girls in STEM. 

WITIA says its wider mission is to equip African women with the skills, resources and opportunities needed to participate meaningfully in technology and innovation, while helping address the gender gap in the sector. 

The results of the Pitch Competition have therefore placed assistive technology, inclusive entrepreneurship and African-built digital solutions at the centre of the summit's push to strengthen the continent's innovation ecosystem.