Three Must-Watch African Projects Submitting to Cardano Project Catalyst Fund 15!
- Hiroshi Yokoyama
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
On Thursday, January 15 and Friday, January 16, 2026, we will host the Cardano Project Catalyst Fund 15 Pitch Fest on X (formerly Twitter) Spaces.
At this event, projects that balance social impact and the practical application of blockchain technology—with a focus on Africa and emerging markets—will present their pitches.
Here, we introduce three particularly noteworthy Africa-based projects scheduled to pitch during the event.
① Establishing a Cardano Hub in Nyiragongo, Democratic Republic of the Congo
This project aims to establish the region’s first physical Cardano Hub in the Nyiragongo area of North Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Background and Challenges
The Nyiragongo region in North Kivu Province faces severe infrastructure challenges, including unstable internet connectivity, frequent power outages, and limited access to computers.
While interest in Cardano has been steadily growing among local youth and students through past activities, the absence of a physical space to support learning and ecosystem participation has become a major barrier. The lack of basic infrastructure has prevented sustained engagement and skill development.
Solution and Activities
This project will establish the region’s first physical Cardano Hub within a local higher education institution, “ISTDR V.”
The hub will be equipped with five computers, a projector, solar panels, and battery systems, ensuring a stable power supply and internet connectivity over a six-month period. It will serve as a safe learning space for students and local entrepreneurs, offering workshops and mentoring on blockchain fundamentals and Cardano development.
Expected Impact
Within six months of launch, the project aims to provide training to at least 100 local residents and to build a community of more than 50 active members.
By opening a “gateway to the world” for a region that has long been left behind in digital innovation, the hub is expected to foster micro-projects that address local challenges and enable meaningful contributions to the global Cardano ecosystem in the future.
② “UrbanLink”: Transforming Commuting in Accra, Ghana with EV Carpooling
This project seeks to address traffic congestion and environmental challenges in Accra, Ghana, by building a scheduled carpool platform that combines Cardano-based transparent operations and evaluation systems with electric vehicles (EV buses), in partnership with the Japanese company Mago Motors. The service is designed to be usable with fiat currency.
Background and Challenges
In Accra, severe traffic congestion and unreliable public transportation impose daily stress and high costs on commuters. While existing minibuses are affordable, they are often overcrowded and unpredictable. Ride-hailing apps offer convenience but suffer from price volatility, making them unreliable for daily commuting.
Solution and Activities
“UrbanLink” is a scheduled carpool service that integrates the Cardano blockchain with electric vehicles. In partnership with Mago Motors Ghana, the project will operate 10-seater EV buses. Users pay in fiat currency, while transaction and rating data are recorded on the Cardano blockchain.
In addition, decentralized IDs (DIDs) will be issued to drivers, vehicles, and passengers. Mutual evaluations will be recorded on-chain, enabling a safe, transparent, and trustworthy community-based transportation system.
Expected Impact
During the pilot phase, the project targets 100 users and 200 trips. By engaging everyday users who are not familiar with cryptocurrencies, UrbanLink aims to demonstrate Cardano’s real-world utility—particularly its potential in RWA (Real World Assets)—while tackling urban mobility and environmental challenges.
③ Bringing Africa’s Massive “Cooperative Market” to Web3: The DCU Toolkit
This project aims to accelerate the adoption of RealFi by providing developers with a “Decentralized Credit Union (DCU) Toolkit”—including smart contracts and SDKs—to recreate and digitally transform Africa’s traditional savings groups (such as Chama) on Cardano.
Background and Challenges
Across Africa, strong traditions of community-based savings and fund management exist, exemplified by Chama groups in Kenya, where members pool, manage, and rotate funds collectively.
However, there has been a lack of standardized development tools to implement these models on blockchain. As a result, engineers have been forced to build systems from scratch each time, significantly increasing cost and complexity.
Solution and Activities
This project will provide a toolkit that enables easy deployment of Decentralized Credit Unions (DCUs) on Cardano. Features such as automated fund rotation (ROSCA), member voting, and membership NFT credentials will be packaged as audited smart contracts (written in Aiken) and SDKs.
This approach allows developers to build secure, low-cost financial applications tailored to local communities.
Expected Impact
Rather than focusing on a single application, this initiative aims to create reusable financial infrastructure across Africa. As the toolkit gains adoption, barriers to Cardano integration in savings groups and microfinance sectors will be reduced, accelerating the spread of RealFi grounded in real-world economic activity.
Cardano Project Catalyst Fund 15 Pitch Fest
This pitch event is a joint initiative by WADA Global, Power Learn Project, and Axcel Africa. Fund 15 has attracted a wide range of proposals that combine social impact with practical blockchain implementation.
Ahead of the voting period, this event offers a rare opportunity to hear directly from project owners about their business models and visions. We warmly invite you to join us.
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