Tanzania startup’s device for rural mothers wins top prize

By Nhlanhla Muthe

Yvonne Baldwin, co-founder and CEO of Ele-vate AI Africa.

An AI-powered maternal care device designed for underserved African communities has taken top honours at the prestigious Women’s Innovation Factory Pitching Competition.

MamaMate, developed by Tanzania-based startup Ele-vate AI Africa, was crowned the winner at the ongoing 2025 AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva. It was recognised for its low-cost offline smart device built to support first-time mothers through the critical early stages of parenting.

At the heart of MamaMate’s innovation is a voice-assisted tool that tracks baby care routines, offers culturally relevant nutrition advice, checks on emotional wellbeing, and connects mothers to anonymous peer support, without requiring internet access. Designed specifically for rural areas with low literacy and limited connectivity, MamaMate runs on solar or USB power and communicates in local African languages.

Speaking after the win, Yvonne Baldwin, co-founder and CEO of Ele-vate AI Africa, highlighted that many African mothers feel overwhelmed and unsupported after giving birth. “MamaMate was born from that shared struggle and now we are using AI to provide comfort, knowledge, and care in the palm of their hands,” she said.

MamaMate beat finalists from Colombia and Spain, winning the opportunity to pitch again at the AI for Good Grand Finale later this year. The award comes with technical support from the Microsoft AI for Good Lab, mentorship from the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, and access to a global investor network.

Judges, including Cherie Blair and Juan Lavista Ferres, praised the solution’s inclusive design, offline functionality, and real-world impact. “AI only becomes meaningful when it solves problems people actually live with,” said Baldwin.

The co-founder and CEO of Ele-vate AI Africa stressed that with over 30 million women giving birth annually in Africa, and one in five experiencing postnatal depression, MamaMate tackles a massive health and wellbeing gap.

Balwin further revealed that the Ele-vate team is now preparing to scale operations across Tanzania and South Africa, expand their AI model “Birthright” into more languages, and build partnerships for local manufacturing and training.

“MamaMate isn’t just a product. It’s a revolution in care, powered by African women, for African women,” she said.