Mathieu Bécue, attaché for innovation at the French Embassy, says that the Yei Start in France programme, which YEi South Africa falls under, was founded in 2005 as an accelerator for science startups looking to develop and grow their businesses in France and Europe.
The French Embassy then launched Yei South Africa in 2016 in partnership with the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA). The goal was to provide South African startups with the opportunity to develop and grow their businesses in France.
South Africa is currently the only country on the African continent to benefit from this programme. The French Embassy, together with TIA, have now sponsored 3DIMO, Raphta and Ubiquity to participate at the AI Expo Africa 2020.
The expo is Africa's largest AI, robotic process automation and data science trade-focused show and conference. The event will be held as a virtual event between Thursday, 3 September and Friday, 4 September.
3DIMO has developed an automated livestock data analytics and modelling platform. Raphta offers world-class pioneering computer vision, facial recognition and imaging technology.
Additionally, Ubiquity AI has over six years commercial experience in natural language processing as the first data-at-rest social analytics consultancy in Africa and the Middle East. The startup has developed Simone, a chatbot, which it claims to be the world's first debt intermediator.
The Yei 2020 cohort were initially meant to travel to France for a two-week-long immersion trip, which includes training sessions, networking and one-on-one meetings. According to Bécue, these were designed to allow each laureate to benefit from a customised business network and connections to the best resources in Europe. The trip has now been postponed to October because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
3DIMO co-founder Nneile Nkholise says the YEi South Africa programme has helped her realise the potential that her company has to create relationships in the French market.
Nkholise adds that France has been investing heavily in creating a thriving AI community and creating opportunities for non-French tech companies to establish businesses in the country.
"Although there have been delays in us fully experiencing the opportunities of YEi programme, due to Covid-19 pandemic, I'm thankful that I have been given an opportunity to be part of the AI community in South Africa and France," Nkholise says.
"It will benefit the sustainable growth of our company and help transform society using emerging opportunities from AI technology," she adds.
Raphta founder Tshidiso Radinne says that the YEi South Africa programme has catapulted his firm into a 'global AI startup, and has assisted the company in executing its Europe, Middle East and Africa expansion plan by establishing a presence in France.
"We have a core focus on fundamental and applied research in cutting edge areas, such as the combination of quantum imaging and machine learning, and our research partnerships with leading French universities through the YEI are vital to our research ecosystems," concludes Radinne.
For more information, visit www.aiexpoafrica.com. You can also follow the AI Expo Africa on Facebook, Twitter or on Instagram.