University of Dar es Salaam Emerges Top on Tanzania’s Startup Revolution
By Zamda George, CMU
The University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) has solidified its position as a powerhouse of innovation and entrepreneurship, emerging as the top institution producing start-up founders in Tanzania, according to the newly released Tanzania Startup Ecosystem Status Report 2024.
The report, published by the Tanzania Startup Association (TSA) in collaboration with local and international partners, reveals that UDSM accounts for 19% of all known Tanzanian startup founders—the highest contribution by any higher learning institution in the country.
Drawing from data collected from over 198 startups and ecosystem players nationwide, the report spotlights UDSM’s pivotal role in nurturing entrepreneurial talent, catalysing innovation, and driving sustainable economic transformation.
It also underscores the importance of higher education in fostering entrepreneurship, revealing that over 85% of Tanzanian startup founders are graduates of national universities.
UDSM leads the pack, followed by Sokoine University of Agriculture (7.6%), Mzumbe University and the Institute of Finance Management (6.3% each), and the College of Business Education (CBE), Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT), and University of Iringa (each at 5.1%).
Prof. Nelson Boniface , UDSM’s Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research, attributed the University’s stellar performance to its strong academic foundation, vibrant alumni network, and strategic entrepreneurship programmes.
“These attributes have not only made us the leading producer of startup founders but have also positioned UDSM as a true national hub for innovation. We are proud to be at the heart of Tanzania’s economic transformation through entrepreneurship”, said Prof. Boniface.
UDSM’s anchoring role in the startup ecosystem
Prof. Boniface further emphasized the University’s growing influence, driven by partnerships with government, private sector, and development actors. These alliances, he noted, have enabled UDSM to provide a fertile environment for market-driven innovation and inclusive growth.
Widely recognised as a cornerstone of Tanzania’s innovation ecosystem, UDSM integrates entrepreneurship into its academic offerings, operates cutting-edge innovation labs and startup hubs, and supports research commercialisation and startup incubation.
A testament to its leadership, the University co-hosted the Tanzania Startup Week 2024 from December 16–20 at its main campus. As a key sponsor, UDSM played a central role in high-level policy dialogues, exhibitions, and investor-startup engagements, reinforcing its commitment to building a dynamic national innovation landscape.
About the Report
The Tanzania Startup Ecosystem Status Report 2024 is the TSA’s flagship annual publication, offering comprehensive insights into startup performance, investment flows, job creation, sectoral trends, and policy evolution.
The 2024 edition is based on extensive research, including surveys, interviews, and analysis of secondary data. More than 26 research assistants and 30 ecosystem experts contributed to the study, which covered both Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar with a special focus on emerging innovation hubs in Arusha, Mbeya, Mwanza, and Zanzibar.
From a baseline of 842 startups identified in 2023, the final report tracked data from 198 ventures. Key highlights include a 24% year-on-year increase in registered startups (totaling 1,041 in 2024), the creation of 138,453 jobs, and a notable concentration of founders aged 18–34, who make up over 75% of the startup ecosystem—most of them university graduates.
Figure above: University of Dar es Salaam leads in producing startup founders, according to the Tanzania Startup Ecosystem Status Report 2024. Source: TSA.
For more information and to download the full report, visit (https://www.tsa.co.tz)