• Malawian entrepreneur Tapiwa Kandiado founded SpaceAI to help businesses, development institutions and local communities integrate artificial intelligence into their operations.
• SpaceAI develops customized AI platforms, applications and infrastructure while providing training and advisory services to support long-term adoption.
• The company partnered with AfriLabs on the AI Bridge project between 2024 and 2025, strengthening its presence in Africa’s growing AI ecosystem.

Tapiwa Kandiado has emerged as a prominent figure in Malawi’s technology entrepreneurship ecosystem. She founded SpaceAI, a startup dedicated to helping businesses, development institutions and local communities adopt and integrate artificial intelligence into their activities.

Launched in 2024, SpaceAI specializes in embedding advanced technology tools into existing operational processes. The company develops customized platforms and applications designed to meet the requirements of multiple industries. In addition, SpaceAI deploys the technical infrastructure required to ensure the sustainable use of its solutions.

SpaceAI places capacity building at the center of its growth strategy. The company delivers training programs and advisory services that enable organizations to understand, adopt and manage emerging technologies effectively. Through this approach, SpaceAI aims to maximize the long-term impact of its innovations while helping clients develop internal expertise.

As demand for artificial intelligence solutions increases across Africa, many organizations continue to face challenges related to skills shortages and implementation capacity. Consequently, SpaceAI combines technology deployment with workforce development to improve adoption outcomes.

Among the company's most notable achievements is its participation in the AI Bridge project, which SpaceAI implemented in partnership with AfriLabs between 2024 and 2025. The initiative strengthened the startup’s visibility within Africa’s technology ecosystem and reinforced its role in promoting AI adoption across the continent.

Moreover, SpaceAI actively contributes to regional innovation initiatives and regularly participates in major African technology and innovation events. These engagements have helped the company expand its network and showcase its expertise in artificial intelligence integration.

A Career Focused on Technology and Social Impact

Kandiado has built her career around the intersection of technology, policy and social impact. She serves on the board of Creative Minds Foundation Africa (CMF AFRICA), a pan-African non-profit organization that aims to transform the lives of young people across the continent. She earned a bachelor's degree in Information Technology from the University of Malawi in 2016. More recently, she joined the research group of the Center for AI and Digital Policy between January and April 2026. The organization works to ensure that artificial intelligence and digital policies promote a more equitable, accountable and socially beneficial society.

This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum