LA
Lelapa AI
Verified
Johannesburg, South Africa · AI infrastructure
AI infrastructure Seed Founded 2022
artificial intelligence office tech

Overview

Lelapa AI is a company that specializes in developing artificial intelligence (AI) language models tailored for African languages and contexts. The company's primary focus is on addressing the challenges of AI in understanding and processing African languages, which are often overlooked in mainstream AI development.

The company was founded by Pelonomi Moiloa and Jade Abbott in 2022 and has its headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa. Lelapa AI aims to improve the accuracy and effectiveness of AI language models for multilingual contexts, where code-switching between languages is common.

Activities and products

Lelapa AI offers two main products: InkubaLM, an AI model designed specifically for multilingual African contexts, and the Vulavula API, a software application programming interface (API) for speech and language processing tasks. The company's products are focused on addressing the unique challenges of AI in understanding and processing African languages.

Stage and funding

Lelapa AI is currently at the seed stage, having raised $2.5 million from investors including Google and Radical Ventures. This investment will likely be used to further develop the company's products and expand its reach into the market.

Photograph: Jo Lin / Unsplash

Company details

Legal name
Lelapa AI
Website
www.lelapa.ai
Headquarters
Johannesburg, South Africa
Founded
2022
Sector
AI infrastructure
Funding stage
Seed

Verification

Verified profile
Reviewed by Aoife Kelly on 6 May 2026. Primary source: www.lelapa.ai. For corrections or removal, contact [email protected].