Local startup WonderTree secured a spot as one of the first four grantees of the prestigious ‘GSMA Innovation Fund for Impactful Artificial Intelligence (AI)’, a major win for Pakistan’s tech ecosystem.
The GSMA officially announced the cohort today, marking a significant milestone for AI-driven development in low- and middle-income countries. Supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the fund targets innovations that create tangible socio-economic and climate impact.
This year’s selection process was fierce. The round received 625 applications from 40 countries across Africa, the Pacific, and South & Southeast Asia, making it the fund’s most oversubscribed round to date.
WonderTree: Transforming Therapy with AI
WonderTree’s selection highlights a critical gap in Pakistan’s healthcare infrastructure. Currently, over 1.5 million children with special needs in Pakistan lack access to specialised education and therapy. The country has only 550 registered institutions, most of which are concentrated in major cities. Consequently, high costs and travel difficulties leave many underserved.
WonderTree addresses this challenge head-on. The company leverages Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Augmented Reality (AR) to turn physical therapy and special education exercises into engaging, motion-based games. Designed specifically for children with mild to moderate motor and cognitive challenges, these games help develop essential social, educational, and motor skills.
With this new grant, WonderTree plans to scale its impact significantly. They will launch a mobile application of their AI-powered platform, making therapy more accessible, convenient, and affordable. Additionally, they will introduce Early Childhood Development (ECD) activities focused on cognitive, motor, and literacy skills.
Global Innovators: The First Cohort
Alongside WonderTree, three other international startups were selected for their groundbreaking work:
- Wiseyak (Nepal): This AI company is tackling the digital divide in Nepal. They are developing a multilingual (English-Nepali-Maithili) conversational AI to help banks, insurers, and agritech companies serve populations with low literacy or language barriers.
- Kola Market (Ghana): Focused on MSMEs, Kola Market uses AI to solve inventory and financing issues. Their platform offers sales acceleration and inventory optimisation via WhatsApp and SMS. The grant will help them integrate mobile money data for better credit scoring.
- Metaschool AI (Ghana): To bridge the urban-rural education gap, Metaschool AI provides personalised, curriculum-aligned tutoring. The fund will support their expansion to USSD/SMS channels for low-connectivity areas.
Support Beyond Funding
The GSMA Innovation Fund offers more than just capital. Over the next 18 months, these grantees will receive a comprehensive support package, including:
- Tailored venture building support to strengthen business models.
- Strategic partnerships with mobile operators and public sector organisations.
- Global visibility through GSMA events and publications.
The GSMA noted that more grantees will be announced in due course. For now, this stands as a proud moment for Pakistan’s HealthTech sector on the global stage.
