Bluechip Technologies has acquired Nigerian artificial intelligence startup YarnGPT, a move that highlights growing efforts by African companies to build AI products designed for local markets.

The announcement was made by Bluechip Co-founder and CEO Kazeem Tewogbade during the third edition of the Bluechip Data and AI Summit in Lagos on June 10. The news generated excitement among participants gathered to discuss the future of AI on the continent.

Founded by University of Lagos graduate Saheed Azeez, YarnGPT developed a text-to-speech model that reads content in Nigerian-accented English and indigenous languages including Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa. Azeez first came into the spotlight after finishing as first runner-up at the Bluechip Data and AI Hackathon in 2023.

For Nigeria’s technology sector, the deal represents an uncommon path from hackathon recognition to acquisition. It also shows that African startups are increasingly creating solutions rooted in local languages and cultural realities.

Tewogbade said Bluechip will continue to develop new products and pursue acquisitions that strengthen its existing technology ecosystem, which includes Bluechip Data Platform, Cribro, BluPrime and CashComplete.

Africa’s AI opportunity

The summit, themed “The Future, Now: AI-Driven Transformation for Africa,” brought together technology leaders, investors and entrepreneurs to examine how artificial intelligence could shape Africa’s economic future.

Speakers included Rosanne Werner of XCelerate IQ, Ventures Platform’s Kola Aina, TVC Communications CEO Victoria Ajayi, Kickoff Africa’s Fola Olatunji-David and Intent HQ Chief Revenue Officer Jonathan Woolf. Discussions centered on AI infrastructure, product development and the adoption of AI across businesses.

Bluechip Co-founder Olumide Soyombo said Africa’s biggest advantage remains its young and growing talent base. “We are not going to build trillion-dollar data centres in this market in the next couple of years, but we have something others do not have, and that is talent,” Soyombo said.

Aina added that African companies have opportunities beyond competing directly with global AI giants. He said investments in infrastructure, connectivity and AI-enabled businesses could create long-term value across the continent.

Bluechip expands its AI ambitions

Founded 18 years ago by Soyombo and Tewogbade, Bluechip Technologies has grown into a pan-African IT and systems integration company with operations in nine countries and more than 50 corporate clients.

Headquartered in Lagos, the company works with governments and major businesses in sectors including banking, telecommunications and consumer goods, helping them use data, cloud infrastructure and artificial intelligence.

The YarnGPT acquisition marks Bluechip’s push beyond AI-enabled services into AI product ownership.

Speaking during a press briefing, Tewogbade encouraged founders to build products that complement larger technology ecosystems and remain open to partnerships and acquisitions.

For Africa’s emerging AI industry, the deal offers another example of how locally developed innovation can find commercial backing while addressing challenges unique to African markets.