A company created by Colbert Mbiada combines technological innovation with the promotion of local agro-industry.
Founded in 2022, Dev AI designs and manufactures agri-food equipment integrated with artificial intelligence algorithms. The goal of this industrial robotics and artificial intelligence engineer is to facilitate access to high-performance tools for those wishing to enter the agri-food sector, while supporting the vision of import substitution advocated by the President of the Republic.
The opportunity to bring his ideas to life came with Start-Up 237, the program that selects 100 promising startups in Cameroon. Dev AI was among the winners, with its vision of integrating artificial intelligence into the agro-industry. Since then, the company has begun designing intelligent machines: pasteurizers, giant sterilizers, and other devices tailored to the needs of local SMEs. “For example, our intelligent pasteurizer will allow small industries to package their products according to quality standards, thus facilitating their commercialization,” he explains.
The impact is already tangible, as demand for this equipment is constantly increasing, proving its relevance to the local ecosystem. Thanks to the support of the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF), Dev AI has acquired a state-of-the-art technical facility, capable of producing a wide range of agri-food machinery in-house.
Today, the company employs 18 people, including 8 women and 10 men, with backgrounds ranging from probationary level to engineer. “The engineers are mainly involved in design and administration, while the other profiles handle production on our assembly lines,” specifies Colbert. Always focused on the future, he continues to develop new equipment, with artificial intelligence as the technological core. “With our current technical facility, we now want to market our own intelligent pasteurizer.
It is a local solution that will reduce our dependence on imports. This equipment disinfects food products at high temperature, an essential step to guarantee their preservation and safety.” Before embarking on entrepreneurship, Colbert Mbiada had already distinguished himself with several innovative projects.
As early as 2020, he participated in projects to design artificial respirators, automatic disinfection gates, and hydro alcoholic gel dispensers. His final year project focused on a sign language translation device, designed to facilitate communication with deaf and mute individuals.
