Sierra Leone’s development expert Sidi Saccoh had always heard about the potential of AI, but it wasn’t until he came across the story of Shamim Nabuuma Kaliisa, a pioneering African entrepreneur using AI to detect early cases of cancer in women in hard-to-reach places in Uganda, that he truly appreciated its value. He was inspired by her work and the impact it had on people’s lives.
Years later, as the chairman of the AI accelerator hub pitch competition at the London Tech Week: The AI Summit, Saccoh passionately shared the work that entrepreneurs like Kaliisa are doing to ensure that AI improves our lives. He saw many amazing companies pitch, but one startup stood out to him – Ecotone.
Founded by eMalick Njie, Ph.D, Ecotone is poised to leverage AI to better understand hereditary diseases and manufacture medication in record time. Saccoh was struck by Njie’s commitment to developing incredible products that save people’s lives in a timely and cost-effective manner.
Ecotone went on to be crowned champions of the AI accelerator hub pitch competition at the London AI Summit, and Saccoh wished them success in their fundraising. It was an eye-opening moment for him, a great opportunity to catch up with old friends and make new ones, but more importantly, a blessing to have a front-row seat to what the future could look like.
Saccoh thanked the judges’ panel for sitting through hours of pitching and the event organizers for the opportunity to chair this year’s pitch. He encouraged the other 30-something startups to keep killing it and urged his investor friends to check out Ecotone. Saccoh left the event feeling inspired and hopeful for the future of AI and its potential to improve people’s lives.
Read what he said
“I have always heard about the great potential of AI. However, it wasn’t until I came across the story of a pioneering African entrepreneur who uses AI to detect early cases of cancer in women in hard-to-reach places in Uganda that I began to appreciate its value.
Fast forward a couple of years later, the entrepreneur, Shamim nabuuma Kaliisa from Uganda, has consistently deployed a variety of AI use cases as she expands her company, Chil AI Group.
Today, as I took the stage as the chairman of the AI accelerator hub pitch competition at the London Tech Week: The AI Summit, I passionately shared the work that entrepreneurs like Shamim are doing to ensure that AI improves our lives.
While many amazing companies pitched today (30+ startups), one startup stood out—Ecoton.
Founded by eMalick Njie, Ph.D, a successful AI founder who exited his previous AI startup (the first AI company from the University of Colombia), Ecotone is poised to leverage AI to better understand hereditary diseases and manufacture medication in record time (AI medicine, as he puts it).
What struck me about Ecotone was the same thing that struck me when I first heard the story of Chil AI. Not only did I foresee a future of healthier living, but I also saw two entrepreneurs who are committed to developing incredible products that save people’s lives in a timely and cost-effective manner.
Congratulations to Ecotone for being crowned champions of this year’s AI accelerator hub pitch competition at the London AI Summit, and I wish you success in your fundraising.
It was an eye-opening moment for me, a great opportunity to catch up with old friends and make new ones, but more importantly, a blessing to have a front-row seat to what the future could look like.
To the amazing judges’ panel that sat through hours of pitching, thank you.
Joy Jack, Francesco Perticarari, Sanghamitra Karra, Cian Hughes, Sam Cleary, Craig Massey
To Tosin S. Abdul Ghaniyu. O S., and the entire team, thank you for an amazing event and the opportunity to chair this year’s pitch.
To the rest of the 30-something startups—keep killing it!
To my investor friends—check out Ecotone!”
Sidi is an empowerment, entrepreneurship development expert, author and speaker who has worked and executed multiple programs in ecosystems across Africa, Europe, and the Middles East.
Sidi has worked closely with international organisations like Seedstars, Cordsid SL, World Bank, World Health Organization, GIZ, Africa Business Heroes, HEC Paris, and Africa Development Bank, in different capacities – ranging from program manager, facilitator, mentor!Â
Sidi is a multiple award recipient and nominee and was recently an honourable mention at the Black Tech Awards in the UK and a finalist for the Great British Entrepreneur Award in the category of Entrepreneur for Good Award for the South East Region (GBEA is one of UK’s most prestigious entrepreneur awards that is supported by Sterling Bank).
He currently hosts a highly recommended weekly conversation with some of Africa’s most prominent VCs, entrepreneurs, policymakers and ecosystem builder at #ThePitchRoomAfrica – live podcast on Twitter space and distributed across all major podcasting platforms.