“The development phase was an intense and immersive experience. Sleep became a luxury as we poured our energy into the project.”
– Moreen of Team StartRight
Our AI Hackathon, held in November 2023 was full of wonderful colours. d
First, the winning team was 3 amazing Nigerians who call themselves “The Hackathon Brothers” (read the live interview)
Now, we are spotlighting the 2 incredible Ugandans who took home the second prize of 1000 euros. Indeed the Tunga AI Hackathon was a huge success and a big win for Africans as Tunga launch them into the AI Tech space.
Sadly, we couldn’t hold a live interview with Martin Lubowa and Moreen Irungu of the StartRight Team.
Excitingly, they were able to share the inspiring story of their journey through the hackathon and in the AI Tech space.
Follow us as we meet these Amazing Ugandan Techies!
Q: How did you and your team meet?
Our team’s formation traces back to a hackathon organized by AL for Health Network and mDoc last year (2022). During this event, we collaborated on a winning project — a USSD application designed to empower medical professionals in disseminating health education. Notably, our journey was enriched by the mentorship of Kalebu G, who not only guided us but also played a pivotal role in sparking Martin’s interest in AI during a memorable late-night call. This connection has since flourished, leading us to work together on various impactful projects.
Q: What do you and your partner currently do?
Presently, Martin serves as a contract full-stack software and AI/ML engineer. He actively contributes to a telemedicine startup in Cameroon, engaged in finalizing a product that aims to provide healthcare access to over 30 million people in the Sahel region. Meanwhile, Moreen dedicates her professional endeavors to bioinformatics, exploring how technology can enhance public health outcomes.
Q: How did you and your team hear about the Hackathon?
“Martin, a proactive member of our team, discovered the Hackathon opportunity through LinkedIn. Recognizing the potential and relevance, he promptly shared it with me. Intrigued by the prospect, we collectively decided to embrace the challenge and participate”.- Moreen.
Q: Tell us about your skills, stacks, or experience as developers:
Moreen predominantly works with Python and R, bringing a complementary set of skills to our collaborative efforts. Martin’s skill set spans a diverse range of technologies, including Python, Django, Flask, JavaScript, Node, PHP Laravel, Rust-Actix, Docker, Kubernetes, and front-end development. On the AI side, he proficiently works with PyTorch and TensorFlow.
“Notably, Martin believes that the hackathon highlighted the incredible outcomes achievable through an unwavering and focused week of effort.”
Q: What inspired your solution?
The genesis of StartRight is rooted in the shared experience of the challenges developers face when embarking on new projects. The frustration associated with the complexity of the initial setup process led us to envision a tool that could make developers’ lives more enjoyable and, by extension, positively impact the broader developer community.
Q: Did you start working on the solution during the Hackathon or before?
The conceptualization of StartRight commenced a few days before the hackathon. During this pre-hackathon phase, we engaged in extensive mental and intellectual preparations. The actual development work kicked off when the hackathon officially started. It was a well-thought-out approach to ensure that our efforts during the hackathon were focused and aligned with our vision.
“By addressing the common pain points associated with project initiation, we hope to empower developers to channel their creativity and efforts into the core aspects of their projects, ultimately enhancing efficiency and project outcomes.”
Q: What was your experience working on the solution?
The development phase was an intense and immersive experience. Sleep became a luxury as we poured our energy into the project. There were moments of both frustration and joy, with occasional contemplation of alternative project directions. Despite these challenges, we maintained a sense of humor and camaraderie. Notably, Martin believes that the hackathon highlighted the incredible outcomes achievable through an unwavering and focused week of effort.
Q: What’s your team’s next step?
Building upon the foundation laid during the hackathon, our next steps involve refining and enhancing StartRight based on the valuable feedback received from the Tunga community. We are committed to implementing future enhancements, including Task Discovery and Thought Prompting, Advanced Test Tooling & UX Agent, Web Search Functionality, Language Model Support, Additional Language Support, and the development of a Web Interface for non-techies. Prototyping the current version with developers and companies is also part of our immediate plan. To achieve these ambitious goals, we seek mentorship and support, particularly in obtaining GPT-4 credits to improve our prototypes.
AI has the transformative power to uplift communities, bridge gaps, and address global challenges. We advocate for the wise, ethical, and purpose-driven use of this power.
Q: What are your thoughts on the future of AI in the tech industry?
Our perspective is that AI is not just the future but already an integral part of the tech industry. While acknowledging the groundbreaking potential, we emphasize the need for African developers to proactively engage with AI. Initiatives like Tunga’s hackathon play a pivotal role in providing learning opportunities. However, we underscore the importance of broader access to AI learning resources, as this remains a significant barrier for many African developers. Bridging this gap will empower developers to contribute meaningfully to the AI landscape.
Q: How do you see yourself and other African engineers participating in this groundbreaking technology?
We perceive ourselves as pioneers in pushing the boundaries of AI, not only in terms of technological advancements but also in maintaining ethical practices. Tunga’s role in spearheading this revolution among African developers is commendable. Our aspiration is to inspire other developers across the continent and worldwide to actively engage with AI, fostering innovation and positive impact.
Q: Any final words for AI enthusiasts?
As enthusiasts and contributors to the AI realm, we recognize the profound responsibility that comes with our passion. AI has the transformative power to uplift communities, bridge gaps, and address global challenges. We advocate for the wise, ethical, and purpose-driven use of this power. Martin aptly notes that AI is providing a leveled ground for global competition, emphasizing the need for governments and key stakeholders to embrace this opportunity. We are currently in the “Spring of the AI revolution”, and the urgency to adapt and participate is paramount to avoid being left behind. We call for collective support to ensure that AI learning resources are accessible to all developers, thereby fostering a collaborative and inclusive AI community.
Wasn’t that inspiring? 😁
This wonderful team has a lot of great ideas in their purview and this is what Tunga wants to do – unleash excellent African tech talents and give them access to global opportunities.
We have an entire community of 3000+ African software developers (January 2024) and several of them who have worked with our clients, have proven that excellence does indeed lie in Africa.
Looking to find AI engineers or engineers with competencies in any other aspect of software development?
Shoot us an email at hello@tunga.io or speak directly with our Sales Lead and CGO at bart@tunga.io
Let’s build transformational and profitable solutions and enterprises together!
