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Ecosystem Map

All Ecosystem Players

Startups, hubs, investors, universities and institutions shaping Zanzibar's future.

Showing 28 of 28 ecosystem players

Startup

Wasoko (now MaxAB-Wasoko)

Founded 2015 as Sokowatch; ranked #1 by Financial Times' 2022 Africa's fastest-growing companies list. Opened a Fumba Town hub as the anchor tenant of Silicon Zanzibar in 2022, but closed its Zanzibar operations in March 2024. Merged with Egypt's MaxAB in August 2024; the combined entity is now headquartered in Cairo. Included here as a former Zanzibar anchor company.

Formerly Fumba Town, Zanzibar (now HQ'd in Cairo, Egypt)· est. 2015
Merged (MaxAB-Wasoko)E-commerceLogistics
Association

Zanzibar Startup Association (ZSA)

Member-based organization bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, enablers and policymakers to grow Zanzibar's startup ecosystem.

Zanzibar City· est. 2022
Digital Services
Investor

Coprosperity Fund

Investment fund founded in 2024 focused on Zanzibar and East Africa, providing equity investment and hands-on mentoring to early-stage startups.

Zanzibar City· est. 2024
FintechDigital Services
University

State University of Zanzibar (SUZA)

Zanzibar's leading public university, established by Act No. 8 of 1999 and operational since September 2001. Home to a Computer Centre and School of Natural and Social Sciences driving ICT education and research. Absorbed the former Zanzibar Institute of Financial Administration (ZIFA) via a 2016 amendment.

Tunguu, Zanzibar· est. 1999 (operational 2001)
Digital ServicesAI & Data
Hub

Zanzibar Technology Business Incubator (ZTBI)

Government-backed incubation facility supporting technology startups with workspace, mentoring, and access to government innovation programs.

Zanzibar City
Digital ServicesFintech
Investor

Oaksvale Ventures

Active venture supporter and major sponsor of Zanzibar tech events. Provides funding and strategic support to promising startups across East Africa.

Zanzibar
Digital ServicesFintech
University

Zanzibar University

Zanzibar's first private university (1998), accredited institution offering programs in business, law, computer science, and Islamic studies.

Zanzibar City· est. 1998
Digital ServicesEdTech
University

Karume Institute of Science and Technology

Technical institute in Mbweni providing science and technology education, producing skilled graduates for Zanzibar's growing tech sector.

Mbweni, Zanzibar
Digital ServicesAI & Data
Startup

Ramani

YC-backed (W20) Tanzanian B2B supply-chain and e-commerce startup, streamlining procurement for businesses across East Africa. Raised a $32M Series A in November 2022. Headquartered in Dar es Salaam; a Silicon Zanzibar ecosystem partner, but not Zanzibar-based. Active as of 2026.

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Series AE-commerceLogistics
Accelerator

Aura Space Zanzibar

Innovation and acceleration hub providing workspace, mentoring, investment access and community to entrepreneurs building scalable businesses.

Stone Town, Zanzibar
Digital ServicesFintech
Government

Zanzibar Presidential Delivery Bureau (ZPDB)

Government body overseeing technology, data analytics and the digital transformation of Zanzibar's public sector services.

Zanzibar City
Digital ServicesAI & Data
Government

Zanzibar Ministry of Investment & Economic Development

Ministry that drove the 2022 Silicon Zanzibar launch. Investment promotion now runs primarily through the Zanzibar Investment Promotion Authority (ZIPA) under the Investment Act No. 10 of 2023. Note: the ministerial portfolio has since been restructured (as of 2025, former minister Mudrick Soraga is cited as Minister for Communication, Information Technology and Innovation) — verify current exact ministry name.

Zanzibar City
Digital ServicesFintech
Hub

Dunia Cyber City

Proposed 'Digital Free Zone' special economic zone on a 71-hectare site near Fumba Peninsula, led by Mauritius-based OurWorld in a joint venture with state agency ZICTIA (authorized November 2024, 30-year land concession). Land currently valued at roughly $70M, with a targeted commercial value of $1B within two years. As of early 2026, about 100 digital residents and 30 businesses have registered. Status: early-stage / under development, not yet fully launched.

Fumba Peninsula, Zanzibar· est. Proposed 2024; targeted 2026+
Digital ServicesAI & Data
University

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras - Zanzibar

India's first offshore IIT campus; classes began October 2023 at a temporary campus in Bweleo, with a 200-acre permanent campus planned. Offers BS and MTech degrees in Data Science & AI (plus MTech Ocean Structures and BS Chemical Process Engineering). Graduated its first MTech cohort in July 2025.

Bweleo, Zanzibar· est. 2023
AI & DataDigital Services
University

African School of Economics (ASE)

Premier economics and data science institution establishing presence in Zanzibar, contributing to research and policy development.

Zanzibar
FintechAI & Data
Corporate

Yas Tanzania (formerly Zantel)

Zantel (launched 1999) was acquired by Axian Group in 2022 and, following Axian's pan-African rebrand in November 2024, now operates as Yas Tanzania (merged with Tigo). Serves 30M+ customers across mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar with mobile, internet, and digital financial services.

Zanzibar City
TelecomDigital Services
Hub

Fumba Town

Coastal development on the Fumba Peninsula (149 acres, 1.5km seafront) by developer CPS Live/CPS Africa. Master plan targets 5,000 residential units at full build-out (over 700 phase-1 units completed by December 2024), integrating tech infrastructure for digital nomads and remote workers. Physical anchor of the Silicon Zanzibar initiative.

Fumba, Zanzibar
Digital Services
University

Zanzibar Institute of Financial Administration (ZIFA) — now part of SUZA

Formerly a standalone institution at Chwaka providing financial administration and management training. Merged into the State University of Zanzibar (SUZA) under a 2016 legal amendment and no longer operates independently; its Chwaka campus now functions under SUZA.

Chwaka, Zanzibar (SUZA campus)
Fintech
Startup

Coastal Biotech

Marine biotech/agritech startup producing seaweed-derived biostimulants to replace chemical fertilizers. Lead partner in the 2026 Blue Economy Climathon. Reported ~$20M seaweed-fertilizer project (2024).

Zanzibar (R&D in Germany)
AgriTechGreenTech
Startup

Mwani Zanzibar

Women-led ('Mwani Mamas') blue-economy startup producing seaweed-based skincare and cosmetics.

Paje, Unguja, Zanzibar
GreenTech
Startup

Wakawear

Upcycling fashion startup; Coprosperity Fund portfolio company (2025 investment).

Paje, Zanzibar
GreenTech
Association

Chako Zanzibar

Circular-economy social enterprise founded 2010, upcycling waste into products. Zanzibar's first WFTO-guaranteed member; partners with the TUI Care Foundation.

Zanzibar City· est. 2010
GreenTech
Hub

CUBE Innovation Hub

NGO-run incubator and coworking space in Stone Town running bootcamps, hackathons and startup competitions; network of 1,000+ entrepreneurs.

Stone Town, Zanzibar
Digital Services
Hub

Kokaya Space

Coworking space at Hifadhi Zanzibar, Mizingani Road.

Stone Town, Zanzibar
Digital Services
Hub

Migoz Pro Hub

Coworking and office-share space near Stone Town.

Magomeni, Zanzibar
Digital Services
Government

Zanzibar e-Government Authority (eGAZ)

Runs Zanzibar's digital public services and the National Blockchain Sandbox/Network. Director General: Said Seif Said.

Zanzibar City
Digital ServicesAI & Data
Government

Zanzibar ICT Infrastructure Agency (ZICTIA)

State telecom-infrastructure agency; joint-venture partner (with OurWorld) on the proposed Dunia Cyber City Digital Free Zone.

Zanzibar City
TelecomDigital Services
Government

Zanzibar Investment Promotion Authority (ZIPA)

Administers investment promotion and five Free/Special Economic Zones under the Investment Act No. 10 of 2023 (Fumba Zone, Micheweni FEZ, Amaan Industrial Park, Maruhubi Free Port, Airport Free Port). Reports ~458 approved projects worth $6.08B since Nov 2020.

Zanzibar City
Digital ServicesFintech

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