The request was filed on Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
Apple is seeking an order preventing OpenAI, former Apple engineer Chang Liu, and former Apple executive Tang Tan from accessing, using, acquiring, or disclosing what it says is proprietary company information during the litigation.
The technology giant is also asking the court to allow expedited discovery, including the production of documents and sworn testimony, to determine whether its confidential information has been misused.
Apple filed the lawsuit last month, accusing Liu and Tan of taking confidential company information before joining OpenAI.
The company alleges that the information relates to its hardware technologies and could be used to accelerate the development of competing artificial intelligence devices.
According to the court filing, Apple believes that without immediate intervention, it faces the risk of irreparable harm because the alleged trade secrets could be used to strengthen a competitor in the fast-growing AI hardware market.
OpenAI has denied Apple’s allegations, saying it neither possesses nor has any interest in Apple’s confidential information.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the company described Apple’s request for a preliminary injunction as unnecessary and said the lawsuit is based on incorrect claims.
OpenAI added that it has strict internal policies prohibiting employees from bringing or using confidential information belonging to former employers.
The company also published emails and text messages that it says support its position and demonstrate that it has acted appropriately throughout the hiring process.
The legal dispute comes as major technology companies race to develop AI-powered consumer devices, a market expected to become increasingly competitive in the coming years.
Apple argues that safeguarding its trade secrets is essential to protecting its innovation and maintaining a competitive advantage, while OpenAI maintains that it has not used or obtained any confidential Apple information.
The court has not yet ruled on Apple’s request for a preliminary injunction, and the broader trade secrets lawsuit remains pending.
Apple has sought preliminary injunction against OpenAI in trade secrets lawsuit
The announcement was made on July 30, 2026, during the launch of the company’s new Voice over LTE (VoLTE) technology, which will enable customers to make voice calls using the 4G internet network.
The new technology is expected to improve voice communication services by providing clearer high-definition (HD) voice quality, faster call connections, and allowing users to continue accessing reliable 4G internet services while making calls.
MTN Rwanda introduced VoLTE after becoming the first telecom company to launch 5G internet services in Rwanda in May 2025.
Elijah Iragaba, MTN Rwanda’s Chief Technology Officer, said that one year after introducing 5G services in Rwanda, the technology has expanded to various parts of Kigali and Musanze District in the Northern Province.
“When we launched 5G internet, we initially focused on Kigali. Today, I can say that the service is available in many parts of the city. We have also expanded it to Musanze District as part of efforts to support tourism development and provide residents with faster and more reliable internet connectivity,” Iragaba said.
He added that the telecom is preparing to extend 5G coverage to more areas across the country, including secondary cities outside Kigali.
“Although 5G internet is currently concentrated in Kigali and Musanze, we have plans to expand it to secondary cities such as Rubavu, Rusizi, Nyagatare, and Rwamagana,” he said.
Currently, Rwanda ranks third in Africa in terms of internet speed and is among the top 16 countries globally, according to available internet speed rankings.
Data analysis also shows that the number of people using smartphones capable of supporting 5G technology continues to increase annually, growing by between 10% and 15%.
MTN Rwanda Chief Technology Officer Elijah Iragaba says the company plans to expand 5G internet services to secondary cities around Kigali.
For HarakaPlus, a transit-tech startup born in Rwanda, that everyday experience sparked a bigger question about how technology can help people move through cities with greater confidence.
Founded by Millicent Kariuki, CEO and co-founder, alongside Bilen Gebremariam and Germain Rwibutso, HarakaPlus uses real-time bus tracking and passenger-demand data to help commuters plan journeys while giving transport operators insights to improve efficiency.
Since launching its minimum viable product in 2025, the platform has been accessed by nearly 2,000 users, with close to 500 people using it repeatedly each day.
The company’s journey from a local idea to being selected among the innovators shortlisted for the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation in 2026 offers lessons for entrepreneurs seeking to turn practical challenges into solutions with wider potential.
HarakaPlus was co-founded by Millicent Ruguru Kariuki (pictured), Chief Executive Officer, alongside Bilen Gebremariam, Chief Operating Officer, and Germain Rwibutso, Chief Technology Officer.
Building on Kigali’s mobility progress
HarakaPlus emerged in a city that has already invested heavily in improving public transport and advancing its smart city ambitions.
The founders were not seeking to replace existing systems, but to complement them by using data to strengthen the connection between commuters, operators and the services they rely on.
“HarakaPlus was born from a problem that all three of us co-founders have experienced personally. Although we come from different backgrounds and grew up in three different African cities, we all shared one common experience: spending too much time waiting for public transport without knowing when it would arrive,” Kariuki told IGIHE.
“When we moved to Kigali, we saw many of the same challenges. While Rwanda has made tremendous investments in modernising public transport and building one of Africa’s leading smart cities, there was still an information gap between commuters and transport operators,” she added.
The gap was not necessarily about the availability of transport, but about access to information. Passengers wanted to know when buses would arrive, while operators needed better insights into passenger demand and route performance.
“We discovered that this wasn’t simply a transport problem; it was a time problem. Every unnecessary minute spent waiting is time taken away from work, school, family or running a business,” she said.
That understanding shaped HarakaPlus’ mission of using data to make public transport more predictable.
The startup uses real-time bus tracking and passenger-demand data to help commuters plan journeys while giving transport operators insights to improve efficiency.
From an idea to the Africa Prize stage
The platform allows commuters to track buses in real time and estimate arrival times, while transport operators receive data that can support better planning and service delivery.
The approach earned HarakaPlus a place among 16 innovators shortlisted for the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation, making it the only startup from
Rwanda in the 2026 cohort
The shortlist features innovators working on solutions across sectors including healthcare, renewable energy, agriculture, education and mobility.
For Kariuki, the programme came at a critical stage as HarakaPlus worked to grow from a promising idea into a sustainable company.
“We applied to the Africa Prize because we recognised that building a transformative mobility company requires much more than funding. We were looking for world-class mentorship, investor readiness support, engineering expertise and access to a network of people who have successfully scaled impactful businesses,” Kariuki explained.
Through the eight-month programme, HarakaPlus has received training, mentorship and exposure to experts across Africa and the United Kingdom.
A major highlight was learning from transport systems abroad, including the UK, where the team observed how technology, operators and public institutions collaborate to improve mobility.
Since launching its minimum viable product in 2025, the platform has been accessed by nearly 2,000 users, with close to 500 people using it repeatedly each day.
A journey still underway
Although HarakaPlus has already reached the shortlist stage, the Africa Prize journey is not over.
The company remains in contention for the final stage, where the overall winner will receive £50,000, while three finalists will each receive £10,000 and another innovator will receive £5,000 under the One-to-Watch category.
Kariuki said winning the top prize would help accelerate HarakaPlus’ growth by supporting product development, expanding the engineering team, strengthening partnerships with transport operators and supporting expansion into other East African markets.
However, she stressed that the programme’s value extends beyond the competition itself.
“Beyond the formal programme, becoming part of a community of innovators solving real challenges across Africa has been incredibly inspiring,” she remarked.
Opening doors for Rwanda’s innovators
The Africa Prize is now accepting applications for its 2027 edition, inviting engineers and innovators across sub-Saharan Africa to submit solutions with the potential to create social or environmental impact.
Applicants must be developing scalable solutions with a clear path towards commercialisation. Software-based innovations must demonstrate a functional minimum viable product and user traction, while hardware solutions require working prototypes.
For Kariuki, innovators should not wait until they believe their ideas are fully developed before seeking opportunities to grow.
“You don’t need to have everything figured out before applying. The Africa Prize exists to help innovators grow,” she said.
Applications for the 2027 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation opened on July 13 and will close on September 8, 2026.
“The Africa Prize community continues to grow and each year we’re seeing increased engagement from innovators across the continent, reflecting the depth and diversity of engineering talent in sub-Saharan Africa. This year, we’re focused on building new connections in regions where awareness of the Prize is still growing, to broaden our reach and support even more innovations with the potential to scale and make a lasting difference,” Meredith Ettridge, Associate Director, International, at the Royal Academy of Engineering.
The Africa Prize programme, now in its 13th cycle, has supported more than 180 businesses from 24 countries.
Interested applicants can find more information and submit their applications at africaprize.raeng.org.uk.
Tracking rent payments, managing lease agreements, maintaining properties, and communicating with tenants often require either a physical presence or the support of a trusted third party.
To address these challenges, Aristide Shema, a young Rwandan entrepreneur based in Wrocław, Poland, developed DomLift, a digital platform that enables property owners to manage their real estate from anywhere in the world.
In an interview with IGIHE, he discusses his background, the inspiration behind the platform, and his vision for the digital transformation of Rwanda’s real estate sector.
IGIHE: Could you briefly introduce yourself and tell us about your academic and professional background?
Shema: My name is Aristide Shema. I was born in Gisozi, Kigali. Even after leaving Rwanda to pursue my studies and career abroad, I have always remained deeply connected to my country. That attachment has inspired me to stay engaged with Rwanda’s challenges and to think about how I could contribute to its development, even while living thousands of kilometers away.
I studied International Business with a specialization in technology at WSHiU – Academy of Applied Sciences in Poznań, Poland. Today, I work as an IT Support Engineer at Hemmersbach on the Thales Alenia Space project, while based in Wrocław.
This experience has allowed me to combine business management skills with technology expertise, a combination that proved invaluable in building DomLift.
IGIHE: How did the idea for DomLift come about?
Shema: Several factors inspired this project. First, President Paul Kagame’s consistent call for young Rwandans to embrace innovation and develop solutions that address the country’s challenges has always inspired me.
At the same time, I became interested in the real estate sector. The figures speak for themselves: Rwanda currently faces a housing deficit of more than 200,000 units, a number projected to reach nearly 310,000 by 2032. I realized there was a genuine need to modernize property management.
I have always been passionate about real estate. However, I did not have the financial resources to invest in property myself. So I told myself that if I could not contribute as an investor, I could still contribute by building a technological solution that supports those who already invest in the sector.
IGIHE: How did you turn that idea into a working platform?
Shema: I trained myself in software development through online courses for more than nine months. After that, I designed and developed DomLift entirely on my own, from the very first line of code to the platform’s launch.
For me, it was a way to contribute to the development of Rwanda’s real estate sector without having investment capital. I wanted to create a tool that genuinely makes life easier for landlords, property managers, and tenants.
IGIHE: Who are the people working with you to make this possible?
Shema: I am fortunate to have my co-founder, Landry Rudasingwa, by my side. He is originally from Nyakabanda and holds a degree in Hydraulic Engineering earned in China. He is currently pursuing a degree in International Business in Poznań, Poland.
He also works as an Integration Engineer at Jitterbit while serving as DomLift’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO). His technical expertise plays a vital role in the continued development of our platform.
IGIHE: How does DomLift work in practice?
Shema: DomLift operates through two connected portals: one for landlords and property managers, and another for tenants.
Everything starts with onboarding. Property owners register their properties and individual units, then assign tenants to each unit. From that point onward, every piece of information related to that property is stored in one centralized place.
Rent can be paid through MTN Mobile Money, Airtel Money, bank transfers, or even cash. Regardless of the payment method, every transaction is automatically recorded, allowing landlords to instantly see who has paid without having to reconcile payments manually.
When maintenance is needed, tenants submit repair requests directly through their portal. The landlord receives a notification, assigns the work, and tracks the request until it is completed.
We have also integrated an internal messaging system that allows landlords and tenants to communicate directly within the platform, eliminating the need for scattered WhatsApp conversations.
One of the features we are particularly proud of is the property inspection system. Landlords can carry out detailed inspections using photographs, notes, checklists, and electronic signatures, creating a reliable record of each property’s condition over time.
This feature becomes especially valuable when an owner wants to sell a property, increase its rental value, or apply for bank financing.
DomLift also generates financial reports that help landlords analyze the performance of their property portfolio. We are currently developing even more detailed reports for each individual unit so owners can track income, expenses, and occupancy history separately.
Our goal is to provide a solution that works equally well for an individual managing a few rental units as it does for a company managing hundreds of properties.
IGIHE: How long has DomLift been available?
Shema: The platform has been publicly available for just over two months. Despite being relatively new, we are already seeing encouraging growth, with between 60 and 150 active users. Our goal is to continue expanding this community and support even more property owners in managing their real estate.
IGIHE: On which platforms is DomLift available?
Shema: DomLift is available on the web as well as through native Android, iPhone, and iPad applications. Users can download it free of charge from Google Play and the App Store. Automatic updates ensure that everyone always has access to the latest features and improvements.
The idea is simple: to allow someone to manage their property portfolio from Kigali, Brussels, London, Toronto, or anywhere else in the world directly from a smartphone or computer.
IGIHE: What is your vision for the coming years?
Shema: Our ambition is for every landlord and property manager to have access to a professional property management system.
We want to go beyond simple rent collection. By providing reliable data, the platform helps property owners analyze their investments, prepare bank financing applications, and make informed decisions when expanding their portfolios.
We also aim to serve professional property management companies. In the long term, our ambition is to expand DomLift across the East African Community after strengthening our presence in Rwanda.
IGIHE: What message would you like to share with Rwandans, especially those living abroad?
Shema: I want to tell Rwandans that technology offers an incredible opportunity to contribute to the development of our country, wherever we may live.
DomLift was born from that belief. We want to provide a modern, reliable, and accessible solution that simplifies property management while helping owners make better investment decisions through accurate data.
Our ambition is to build a platform that will support real estate investors not only in Rwanda but eventually across East Africa.
Aristide Shema i sthe founder of DomLift, a digital property management platform.Landry Rudasingwa, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of DomLift.
Starship lifted off from the company’s Starbase facility in the U.S. state of Texas at about 5:52 p.m. Central Time. Shortly after launch, SpaceX confirmed stage separation. The Super Heavy booster splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico as scheduled, according to SpaceX.
The Starship upper stage completed its ascent burn and was coasting through space. It later deployed 20 next-generation Starlink V3 satellites. SpaceX said the flight test would provide critical data as it prepares to expand the Starlink constellation.
During the mission, Starship successfully ignited one of its Raptor engines while in space, testing a maneuver needed for future orbital missions. It also performed a banking maneuver to simulate the final approach for a future return and catch attempt at Starbase.
About one hour and five minutes after liftoff, Starship completed the flight test with a scheduled splashdown in the Indian Ocean, SpaceX said.
The mission continued testing the upgraded Version 3 Starship and Super Heavy vehicles, which made their debut during the previous flight test in May.
The launch was originally scheduled for July 16 but was delayed twice due to technical issues and weather conditions.
SpaceX’s mega rocket Starship lifts off for a test flight from Starbase, Texas, Friday, July 24, 2026. (AP)
Gates was received at the facility by the Minister of Health, Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, and the Minister of ICT and Innovation, Paula Ingabire, alongside other senior government officials.
The visit formed part of Gates’ trip to Rwanda, during which he has been engaging with government leaders, health workers, innovators, and researchers to better understand the country’s development model and explore how technology can further improve people’s lives.
During the visit, officials showcased the NHIC as the nerve centre of Rwanda’s healthcare system, where health data from across the country is centralized, processed, and analyzed in real time to provide a comprehensive picture of the nation’s health.
According to officials, the center has already delivered tangible improvements within its first year of operation by enabling health authorities to “shift from reactive to proactive decision-making”.
The Ministry of Health said insights generated by the platform have helped reduce patient waiting times across health facilities, improve emergency dispatch and ambulance response, strengthen disease surveillance and containment, and support more targeted allocation of healthcare resources.
Looking ahead, Rwanda plans to expand the center’s capabilities toward predictive health intelligence with support from partners, including the Gates Foundation. The next phase will focus on anticipating disease outbreaks, issuing intelligent early-warning alerts, and preventing health threats before they escalate.
By consolidating health data from across the country and applying advanced technologies, the ministry said the NHIC is strengthening Rwanda’s ability to provide high-quality, efficient, and responsive healthcare.
The National Health Intelligence Center was officially launched on April 3, 2025, on the sidelines of the Global AI Summit on Africa by Health Minister Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana and Minister of State Dr. Yvan Butera, together with fellow African health ministers and development partners.
Located at the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA) headquarters in Kiyovu, the facility brings together medical doctors, data scientists, software developers, and programmers to analyze information collected from communities and health facilities nationwide.
Gates’ visit to the NHIC came a day after he met President Paul Kagame to discuss strengthening the Gates Foundation’s long-standing partnership with Rwanda. According to the Office of the President, their discussions focused on strengthening collaboration in health, agricultural transformation, artificial intelligence, and digital public infrastructure in line with Rwanda’s national development priorities.
Since arriving in Rwanda, Gates has also toured the TKMD syringe manufacturing plant in Rwamagana District, visited Mwulire Health Centre, and met community health workers to gain deeper insight into Rwanda’s primary healthcare system.
The Gates Foundation has worked with Rwanda for more than two decades, supporting programmes in healthcare, agriculture, nutrition, and innovation. Earlier this year, Rwanda became the first beneficiary of the Horizon1000 initiative, a $50 million artificial intelligence programme launched by the Gates Foundation in partnership with OpenAI to help African countries use AI to strengthen healthcare delivery.
During the visit, officials showcased the NHIC as the nerve centre of Rwanda’s healthcare system, where health data from across the country is centralized, processed, and analyzed in real time to provide a comprehensive picture of the nation’s health.The Ministry of Health said insights generated by the platform have helped reduce patient waiting times across health facilities, improve emergency dispatch and ambulance response, strengthen disease surveillance and containment, and support more targeted allocation of healthcare resources.The visit formed part of Gates’ trip to Rwanda, during which he has been engaging with government leaders, health workers, innovators, and researchers to better understand the country’s development model and explore how technology can further improve people’s lives.
“All countries should take a people-centered approach and develop AI for the positive and for good. We should ensure that AI is an important driver for shared prosperity and common security,” Xi said while addressing the opening ceremony of the 2026 World AI Conference (WAIC) and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai.
China is a global leader in AI development. In 2025, its core AI industries were worth over 1.2 trillion yuan (about 176.6 billion U.S. dollars), while the number of AI enterprises nationwide exceeded 6,200.
The country’s open-source large AI models have been downloaded more than 10 billion times in total, continuing to create new and broader opportunities for global cooperation in AI innovation.
The world has entered an unprecedented period of active innovation on AI technologies, Xi said in his keynote address. He raised questions about how humans can get along with thinking machines, how security can be ensured when algorithm is part of decision-making, how ethical challenges by technologies can be tackled through adaptive governance, and how AI for all can be realized when the divide keeps widening.
“These questions demand serious consideration and real answers from the whole international community,” he said.
Xi stressed the need for adhering to the principles of openness and win-win and boosting innovation-driven development, strengthening risk-awareness and ensuring that AI is secure and controllable, encouraging inclusiveness and promoting mutual learning between civilizations, and advocating solidarity and improving global governance.
“We should jointly oppose overstretching the national security concept in the field of AI and placing one country’s security over that of others,” he said.
The important role of the United Nations should be recognized in global AI governance, Xi noted, calling for enhancing alignment and coordination on AI development strategies, governance rules and technical standards.
“We must carry out extensive international cooperation and help Global South countries with capacity building to bridge the AI and digital divides, promote sustainable development, and prevent creating new historical injustice in AI,” he said.
As a responsible major country, China is always committed to providing international public goods relating to AI, said Xi, who proposed the Global AI Governance Initiative in 2023.
The country has also provided Chinese solutions for global AI governance through various efforts, including the launch of the AI Capacity-Building Action Plan for Good and for All and the AI Plus International Cooperation Initiative.
“AI development should not be a solo performance by a single country, but a symphony of international cooperation,” said the Chinese president.
The establishment of the WAICO, Xi said, is a major move by China to answer the call of the Global South and unite the international community together to promote vigorously AI development and governance. “It will be an important milestone in the history of AI development,” he said. Twenty-nine countries have signed the agreement on the organization’s creation as its founding members.
To further advance global AI capacity building, China will provide developing countries with 5,000 opportunities in AI training and seminar programs in the next five years, Xi pledged.
China will develop international AI application cooperation centers with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the League of Arab States, the African Union, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS. It will also enable 30 countries to use the AI-powered meteorological warning system, known as MAZU, to safeguard homes around the world, Xi said.
China has hosted the WAIC annually since 2018 as a key platform to forge global AI partnerships to unlock AI’s benefits for all. Themed “AI Partnership for a Brighter Future,” this year’s event includes more than 140 forums, bringing together 1,400 guests from home and abroad.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres delivered speeches at the opening ceremony.
Speaking highly of China’s contribution to advancing global AI governance, they said the opportunities and challenges brought by AI know no borders and should be seized and addressed by all parties.
They expressed confidence that the WAICO will play an important role to this end.
Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 2026 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai, east China, July 17, 2026. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)
The startup, which has established its regional operating base at Norrsken House in Kigali, will travel to San Francisco and London in October to participate in the FINCA Ventures Final Celebrations and Pitch Event, where it will compete alongside other leading African startups developing solutions to expand financial inclusion.
Launched in 2023, ChatCash has developed APOMA, an artificial intelligence-powered conversational operating system that enables businesses to create fully automated digital storefronts within messaging applications such as WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook.
Instead of directing customers to external websites, the platform allows users to browse products, ask questions, negotiate prices and complete purchases without leaving the chat conversation. Merchants can also manage inventory, process payments and track sales from the same interface.
“Our platform turns WhatsApp into a fully automated digital storefront in six minutes,” John Sakala, the startup CEO, told IGIHE. “Customers can browse, negotiate and pay securely without ever leaving the chat thread.”
The recognition by FINCA Ventures comes as the startup accelerates plans to grow from Rwanda into other African markets.
Launched in 2024, the FINCA Ventures Financial Inclusion Prize supports early-stage African startups developing scalable technologies that improve access to financial services for underserved communities across Sub-Saharan Africa. The competition offers equity-free grant funding of up to $100,000 per category, alongside technical assistance and access to international investors.
This year’s finalists were selected through a competitive process that evaluated startups on innovation, commercial viability and their potential to drive financial inclusion.
Rwanda as regional launchpad
Sakala says choosing Kigali as ChatCash regional headquarters aligns with Rwanda’s ambition to become a leading financial technology hub through the Kigali International Financial Centre (KIFC).
The company is currently working with the National Bank of Rwanda on licensing and sandbox integrations that would enable its payment infrastructure to connect directly with mobile money operators, commercial banks and Rwanda’s national payment switch, RSwitch.
It is also pursuing partnerships with local banks and fintech companies, including DDIN, to accelerate adoption of its conversational commerce platform.
According to the company, nearly 3,900 merchants in Rwanda have already joined its waiting list ahead of the commercial rollout.
“We’ve established our regional headquarters in Kigali because we believe Rwanda offers the right regulatory environment and innovation ecosystem to scale financial technology across Africa,” Sakala said.
Bringing informal businesses into the digital economy
ChatCash argues that its platform addresses one of Africa’s biggest barriers to digital commerce by allowing businesses to operate entirely through messaging platforms that many merchants already use daily.
Rather than requiring websites, expensive hardware or specialised e-commerce software, businesses can create AI-powered storefronts through simple instructions while customers complete purchases inside familiar chat applications.
The company says this approach is particularly relevant for small and informal businesses that often rely on low-cost smartphones and social messaging to communicate with customers.
By digitising transactions and automatically recording sales, ChatCash believes merchants can build verifiable transaction histories that may improve their ability to access formal financial services, including bank credit.
“Our goal is to help businesses move from informal cash transactions into the formal financial ecosystem without changing how they already interact with customers,” Sakala said.
Expanding from Kigali base
As ChatCash scales across Africa, Rwanda serves as its regional headquarters and strategic launchpad for growth. From its Kigali base, the startup plans to expand into Ghana and Nigeria, where it says more than 100,000 small and medium-sized enterprises have already expressed interest through strategic partnerships.
The company also aims to facilitate seamless cross-border payments by leveraging its planned licensing in Rwanda alongside partnerships with regional payment providers such as Onafriq.
According to Sakala, the long-term vision is to enable users in different African countries to send and receive payments natively within a single chat conversation, eliminating many of the complexities associated with cross-border transactions.
He described the FINCA Ventures recognition as an important validation of both the company’s technology and Rwanda’s growing position as a hub for fintech innovation.
“Being selected among the top global fintech finalists is a huge validation,” he said. “It shows that startups building from Rwanda can create globally competitive technology, and the exposure we’ll gain in San Francisco and London will help us scale conversational commerce across Africa.”
The startup was previously selected for the Visa Africa Fintech Accelerator, gaining access to mentorship, product development support and Visa’s global investor network.
The FINCA Ventures recognition adds to a series of milestones that have elevated ChatCash’s profile within the global fintech ecosystem. The startup was previously selected for the Visa Africa Fintech Accelerator, gaining access to mentorship, product development support and Visa’s global investor network. It has also joined the Microsoft Azure AI Cloud Partner Program, giving it access to enterprise-grade artificial intelligence and cloud infrastructure to scale its APOMA platform.
Earlier this year, the company showcased its technology at The Pitch Dubai and has secured partnerships and support from organisations including Bitrix24, ZB Bank Innovation Hub, Darena Ventures, and the US-Africa Trade Commission as it prepares for broader expansion across the continent.
Sakala says choosing Kigali as ChatCash regional headquarters aligns with Rwanda’s ambition to become a leading financial technology hub through the Kigali International Financial Centre (KIFC).
A graduate in International Business with a specialization in Modern Logistics from WSG University (Wyższa Szkoła Gospodarki) in Poland, he currently works for Thales Alenia Space, a Franco-European company specializing in satellite and space technologies.
In an interview with IGIHE, Kevin Ishimwe spoke about the creation of Gerayo App, a mobile application he co-founded with Shema Aimé César, 24, from Nyarugenge, along with other Rwandan students living in Poland.
Designed to facilitate bus travel in Rwanda, the application aims to make public transport more accessible, predictable, and efficient for commuters.
An idea inspired by life in Poland
According to Kevin Ishimwe, the idea for Gerayo App emerged after observing the efficiency of Poland’s public transport system.
“As students living in Poland, we saw how transport applications make daily commuting easier. They allow users to know exactly when a bus, tram, or train will arrive, helping them avoid long waiting times at stations. We believed that introducing a similar system in Rwanda could further modernize public transport and make it more efficient and reliable,” he explained.
The knowledge gained through studies in international business, logistics, and modern technologies helped transform the idea into a practical solution tailored to Rwanda’s realities.
An application that helps users plan their journeys
Launched recently, Gerayo App enables passengers to plan their trips before leaving home.
Available free of charge on both the App Store and Google Play Store, the application provides essential information such as bus schedules, available routes, transfer options, and the exact locations of departure and arrival bus stops.
“If you do not know when your bus will arrive or which route to take to reach your destination, Gerayo App provides that information. The application also suggests connecting routes when a journey requires more than one bus,” Ishimwe said.
Thanks to these features, users can better organize their daily travel and significantly reduce the time spent waiting at bus stops.
An innovation covering Kigali’s entire bus network
One of Gerayo App’s main strengths is its ability to centralize information related to Kigali’s public transport network.
The application displays bus routes operating across the city, bus stops, and scheduled arrival times. It also informs users about possible delays and helps them quickly identify the best options to reach their destinations.
“Our goal is to enable users to know exactly when their bus will arrive, where their bus stop is located, and what options are available to reach their destination,” he said.
The application also helps passengers identify the necessary connections to reach a particular destination, a feature that is especially useful for people who are not yet familiar with Kigali’s transport network.
More than 1,500 weekly users
Just two months after its launch, Gerayo App has already received an encouraging response from the public.
According to Ishimwe, the application currently records more than 1,500 active users every week.
Feedback from users has been overwhelmingly positive.
“Many users tell us that the application helps them avoid being late for work or school. Others appreciate not having to spend time searching for bus stops or waiting without knowing when the next bus will arrive,” he explained.
Some users also say the application helps them manage their time more effectively and plan their journeys with greater confidence.
Ambitions to expand services
The developers of Gerayo App aim to continue improving the platform by strengthening collaboration with institutions responsible for public transport as well as with the City of Kigali.
“We would like to work more closely with stakeholders in the public transport sector and with the City of Kigali to improve data quality and provide users with a faster and more reliable service,” Ishimwe explained.
The team also hopes to establish a partnership with the Tap&Go system, allowing users to access and manage their accounts directly through the application.
In addition, Gerayo App’s developers are exploring the possibility of integrating a digital ticket payment solution within the application. This feature would allow passengers to pay for their journeys even if they have forgotten their Tap&Go card or have not had enough time to top it up before the bus arrives.
Beyond Kigali, the team is already considering the gradual expansion of its services to other parts of Rwanda.
“We are currently exploring opportunities to extend our services to different provinces across Rwanda so that more citizens can benefit from this technology and better plan their daily journeys,” Ishimwe told IGIHE.
This ambition reflects the team’s vision of making Gerayo App a nationwide reference platform for public transport.
A solution designed for all users
The creators of Gerayo App believe the application meets the needs of different categories of users.
For professionals, it helps prevent delays to important meetings through better journey planning.
For students, it reduces the risk of missing classes or examinations due to transport uncertainty.
For visitors and tourists, it makes it easier to explore Kigali and use the public transport network like a local resident.
“Your bus. Your route. Your time,” summarizes the Gerayo App team.
Driven by Kevin Ishimwe, Shema Aimé César, and other young Rwandans trained in Poland, this innovation demonstrates how technology can improve citizens’ daily lives and contribute to the modernization of public services in Rwanda.
Already available on the App Store and Google Play Store, Gerayo App continues to evolve with the ambition of becoming a national reference in public transport information and mobility services across Rwanda.
Kevin Ishimwe, Managing Director of Gerayo App, is part of the team behind the public transport application.Byiringiro Ishimwe Etienne, IT Director at Gerayo App, is part of the team driving the application’s technology development.Shema Aimé César, Chief of Operations and Marketing at Gerayo App, is among the team members developing the platform.
The National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) received the Innovative Project for Impact Award for its AI-Assisted Coding of Multilingual Job Descriptions for Faster Employment Statistics project, which uses artificial intelligence to classify job and economic activity descriptions in Kinyarwanda, English and French.
The AI-powered tool is designed to accelerate the processing of Labour Force Survey data by automating the coding of job descriptions, a critical step in producing employment statistics. The innovation is expected to improve efficiency, reduce processing time and strengthen the production of timely official statistics for policy and planning.
The award was announced during Innovate for Impact 2026, a programme under the AI for Good platform by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) that identifies and supports AI solutions developed to address real-world challenges. The 2026 edition recognised 59 projects selected from nearly 400 global submissions.
The AI for Good Summit highlighted projects demonstrating how artificial intelligence can be applied to practical challenges, particularly in areas where scalable and resource-efficient solutions can deliver meaningful impact.
NISR’s project was among innovations recognised for its ability to address local needs while offering a model that can be adapted to other contexts. The use of multilingual AI is particularly significant in environments where language diversity can create challenges for data processing and digital services.
The project was developed under the first cohort of the Data Science Capacity Building Initiative (DSCBI) through collaboration with the Ministry of ICT and Innovation, the Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA), the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences – Rwanda (AIMS Rwanda), Mastercard, and Cenfri. The initiative aimed to strengthen data science capacity and support the adoption of advanced technologies in addressing development challenges.
NISR said the recognition reflects the Government of Rwanda’s visionary leadership and commitment to leveraging artificial intelligence to strengthen the production of official statistics.
The award comes as Rwanda continues to expand its focus on responsible AI development and adoption. President Paul Kagame attended the AI for Good Global Summit 2026 in Geneva, Switzerland, in his capacity as Co-Chair of the newly launched AI for Good Global Commission.
Addressing heads of state, technology leaders, investors and development partners, President Kagame called for greater investment in infrastructure, skills development and accountable governance to ensure AI benefits communities worldwide.
“We must be intentional about designing, funding, and governing AI so that it can reach its full potential,” Kagame said last Wednesday.
He identified access to computing infrastructure, connectivity and reliable energy as key priorities, alongside the development of skills needed for an AI-driven economy and governance frameworks that promote trust and transparency.
President Kagame also highlighted Rwanda’s practical applications of AI, including the Health Intelligence Center, which uses real-time health data and artificial intelligence to support disease prediction and policy decisions.
In June 2026, Rwanda’s Cabinet approved the establishment of the National Artificial Intelligence Agency, which will coordinate AI development, innovation, investment, adoption and governance as part of the country’s digital transformation agenda.
The AI for Good Global Summit, organised by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), continues to serve as a platform for showcasing AI solutions that advance inclusive development. Rwanda’s recognition at the summit demonstrates how locally developed technologies can contribute to global efforts to use artificial intelligence for social and economic progress.
The National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) received the Innovative Project for Impact Award for its AI-Assisted Coding of Multilingual Job Descriptions for Faster Employment Statistics project.The award was announced during Innovate for Impact 2026, a programme under the AI for Good platform by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) that identifies and supports AI solutions developed to address real-world challenges. The 2026 edition recognised 59 projects selected from nearly 400 global submissions.
