AI Pitch Competition
Event Report: Freetown Pitch Night(FPN) 2025
Organised by: Innovation Sierra Leone
Theme: AI for All Sectors (Education, Agriculture, Sustainability)
- 12th February 2025
- Limkokwing University Gallery
Event Overview
Introduction
The AI for All Sectors Pitch Event, a highlight of Freetown Innovation Week 2025, brought together innovators, industry leaders, and AI enthusiasts to explore how artificial intelligence is shaping critical sectors like education, agriculture, and sustainability. The event was organized by Innovation Sierra Leone and featured a diverse lineup of speakers, judges, startups and entrepreneurs.
Welcome Address (4:30 PM – 4:35 PM)
Before a proper start of the program, the Pitchers were asked to do a stage rehearsal in other to thrive, boost their confidence, and as well getting used to the stage and give a glimpse of what the pitch night was going to look like. They were given two minutes for each Pitcher to present their ideas. After the twelve minutes given to them, the program was then called to an order by the host of the event, Georgette Sheriff. Who ushers deserving praises to the father of Technology, the father of empowerment, the one only man who believes in youth and women empowerment who is no lesser person but Mr. Francis Stevens George, MD of Innovation Sierra Leone.
Opening Remarks (4:40 PM – 4:45 PM)
Speaker
Mr. Francis Stevens George
CEO/MD Innovation SL
Mr George provided insights into Innovation Sierra Leone’s mission and the importance of AI-driven entrepreneurship. Unleashing opening statement and overview of AI for all sectors Pitch Night. In his overview, he highlighted the milestone Innovation Sierra Leone has undertaken and the future plans they are putting in place to ensure a safe and secure innovative ground is built in Sierra Leone. He lamented the importance of Freetown Pitch Nights (FPN) and how it will impact them on their journey, encouraging and admonishing Pitchers to be firm, confident and believe in showcasing their solutions and keep doing their best when executing their best on stage, could not leave the stage without dashing appraisals to those who honoured his invitation, most specifically to GIZ representatives for staying intact with Innovation Sierra Leone from the start of all protocols of Prepping on the final stage of the pitch event. Go hard and sure as Tonight is for AI and leave the stage.
Keynote Address (4:50 PM – 5:20 PM)
Speaker
His Excellency Jens Kraus-Massé
German Ambassador to Sierra Leone
The keynote address highlighted the ethical considerations in AI deployment and its potential to drive sustainable development across various sectors. One key important admonishment he made was the emphasis on the act of respecting the basic human rights which are basically applicable to every sector, saying that irrespective of our being, race, and political indifferences that if an individual is bind to work in line with respecting human rights and revolutionizing different sectors, and its potential to drive sustainable development is undeniable. Reinstating that ethical consideration must be at the forefront of AI integration into this crucial domain. Bias and Fairness, calling on the attention of all individual here today that where there is biasness there is no positive result expected, saying that AI algorithms can inherit and amplify existing societal biases, leading to discriminatory outcomes, it is our responsibility to ensure a free bias and fair ecosystem to ensure inclusivity and AI development is inherited for our generation and the yet to come generation.
Special Presentation (5:20 PM – 5:35 PM)
Speaker: Representative from GIZ
Joseph Juana
Advisor EET Project, GIZ
The presentation covered GIZ’s support for innovation and sustainable technology in Sierra Leone. GIZ has been working in Sierra Leone since 1963 until the interruption of the war, and they later come in completing their mission in 2000. As their aim in improving education in order to improve quality education, agriculture, health and innovation led organization.
GIZ organization collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation to enhance health care services, concentrating on human resource management, data quality, decentralization, and epidemic prevention. GIZ is also working on implementing AI forestation and environmental problems that contributed to climate change that could help make information available to everyone. He made a promise that, since they have been involved from the start of the (prepping) on the pitching event they will make sure that they provide technical support to successful winners.
Introduction of Judges (5:35 PM – 5:45 PM)
By: Event Host
Ms. Geotte Sheriff
The panel of judges, comprising experts in AI and business, was introduced along with their roles in evaluating the pitches. In this session, our able elegant host Geotte Sheriff reigned pleasant of praises, highlighting different occupations and high positions they serve in.
She started acknowledging he presence of the German Ambassador His excellency Jens Kraus-Massie who happens to be the keynote speaker to occupy the front seat reserved for him, second by Mr. Madhusudan Mukerjee head of Institution College of Digital Excellence(CODE), third by Alpha Omar Leigh lecturer from Limkokwing University, followed by Ms. Hawa Yokie the Co-founder of Kamara Yokie Innovation Center (IKYIC) and to Mr. Colin Ogoofounder of Cristex Foundation to occupy a seat reserved for them.
Introduction of Judges (5:35 PM – 5:45 PM)
By: Event Host
Pitch Competition Guidelines (5:45 PM – 5:50 PM)
The event moderator outlined the competition format, including time limits for pitches and the Q&A session.
Pitch Presentations (5:50 PM – 6:50 PM)
Six entrepreneurs showcased their AI-driven projects, each presenting for five minutes, followed by a two-minute Q&A session with the judges. The pitches included: