Multinational software company Microsoft has joined forces with two technology hubs, the iHub and m:lab consortium, in a bid to boost technology development across East Africa.

According to Microsoft, the partnership, which forms part of its recently launched 4Afrika Initiative, plans to help startups in the region grow skills and build businesses with Microsoft technologies.

The initiative also plans to offer East African communities increased access to software and a means through which startups could access capital investment.

iHub is an innovation hub for Kenya’s technology community that comprises an open space made available for technologists, investors and tech companies.

Meanwhile, m:lab is a consortium of four organisations that aims to identify, nurture and help build sustainable enterprises in the knowledge economy.

Together, they actively support the growth of entrepreneurs in Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Somalia and Southern Sudan.

“Microsoft sees tremendous potential in African youth, developers and entrepreneurs, and we see this collaboration with iHub and m:lab as an excellent way to quickly and directly engage with these critical communities,” said And Fernando de Sousa, general manager Microsoft Africa Initiatives.

He added, “It is our hope that this collaboration will help many more African startups become strong players in the information and communication technology sector at a global scale.”

Managing director and founder of iHub, Erik Hersman, concluded, “We are very pleased to establish this cooperation with Microsoft, spanning the iHub ecosystem, to enable us to provide tech community members with great programmes that can help them develop innovative new software products, establish their businesses and reach new markets.”

Last month, iHub also announced its partnership with chip-maker Intel, in a move aimed at growing the Kenyan tech community.

Earlier this year, Microsoft unveiled its 4Afrika initiative and smartphone launch. The 4Afrika initiative plans to place ‘tens of millions of smart devices’ in the hands of African youth, and bring one million African small and medium-size enterprises online.