• They protect a company’s brand identity and differentiate its products in the marketplace.
• IP remained a critical yet underutilized asset within the Tanzanian startup ecosystem.

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Dar es Salaam. When Innocent James started Soma Bags Tanzania in Mwanza, his dream was simple  to bring affordable, recycled solar school bags to the Tanzanian market.

Inspired by his parents, he began crafting each bag by hand, from school backpacks to travel bags, building a brand that quickly won the hearts of customers across the country and beyond. 

Within three years, Soma Bags had built a loyal following on social media and a solid reputation for quality.

But success came with an unexpected challenge

 One day, James received a call from a friend who had spotted Soma Bags on Instagram  except it wasn’t his business.The name was almost identical, but the phone number was different.

 “I was shocked. I didn’t even know I needed to register a trademark,” he recalls. 

By the time he approached the registration agency, the damage had been done. Customers were confused, and rebuilding trust took months. In 2022, he finally registered Soma Bags Tanzania as a trademark to protect his brand.

James’ experience is a familiar story in Tanzania’s growing startup scene. Across the country, young businesses are driving innovation in fields ranging from agriculture and technology to fashion and finance. 

They create jobs, inspire creativity, and contribute to economic growth. But many operate without protecting their most valuable asset, their intellectual property (IP).

Intellectual property refers to creations of the mind such as brands, logos, inventions, software, and creative works. 

These can be legally protected through intellectual property rights (IPRs), including trademarks, copyrights, patents, and industrial designs.

For startups, trade and service marks are especially important because they safeguard brand identity and prevent imitation in the marketplace.

Recycled solar bags made from cement sacks help students study at night, providing a light source powered by a solar panel. Photo | Idea For Good.

While some entrepreneurs ignore IP protection due to lack of awareness or cost concerns, others take action early and enjoy significant benefits.

In Dar es Salaam, Loth Makuza, Startup Lead of Rifaly, a digital platform connecting content creators, publishers, and consumers  registered the company’s trademark in June 2021. 

“As our brand grows, our CEO has started visiting different countries to attract investors. We needed to be taken seriously, and protecting our brand was key,” says Makuza.

Rifaly registered its trade and service marks with the Business Registrations and Licensing Agency (BRELA) and is now exploring protection across other African markets. 

With these safeguards, the startup is confidently expanding into other African and European countries.

Despite such success stories, the broader picture shows slow uptake. The Tanzania Startup Ecosystem Status Report 2024 by the Tanzania Startup Association (TSA) found that of 125 startups surveyed, only 14 (about 11 percent)  owned patents, holding a total of 87 registered patents.

This shows that while innovation and invention are present, the rate of formal intellectual property protection remains low compared to the overall startup population. These startups primarily operated in sectors like entertainment, digital marketing, e-commerce, and retail technology.

What happens when a startup lacks IP?

The risks of operating without IP protection can be severe. Kennedy Mmari, CEO of Serengeti Bytes, warns that businesses can lose brands they have worked hard to build. 

“Think of a fashion brand in Dar es Salaam, especially those operating online, which grows in popularity only to later discover that a different business had trademarked their name. They would have no legal grounds to fight, even though they had built loyal customer bases. And that would be painful, expensive, and disheartening. It’s something that could be avoided,” says branding expert Mmari.

Entrepreneurs often delay trademark registration due to misconceptions that it is costly, bureaucratic, or unnecessary until a business becomes profitable. 

The challenges don’t end there

Outdated laws and limited enforcement make matters worse. Tanzania currently lacks legal mechanisms to protect geographical indications or trade secrets, and enforcement can be inconsistent.

Although Tanzania’s Constitution guarantees IP ownership and protection, laws like the Trade and Service Marks Act (1986), Patents Registration Act, and Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act (1999) are not fully integrated into national entrepreneurship policy.

IP protection is overseen by agencies such as BRELA, the Copyright Society of Tanzania (COSOTA), and the Fair Competition Commission (FCC).

Change is on the horizon

Startup ecosystem stakeholders like TSA recommend working on the existing IPR issues to help startups take IP as serious matter by imposing a waiver for startups that intend to protect their IPRs. 

In alternative startups should be allowed to pay a lower range of fees for the registration processes. 

“There should be increased sensitization and practical knowledge of IPRs for startups. This will help the start-ups to integrate the IP assets into their business planning and strategy,” says a joint report between TSA and Breakthrough Attorneys issued November 20, 2023.

The report also insists start-ups should take seriously the issues around IP and to register their works at the outlined agencies/institutions to have guaranteed protection of their IP rights.

BRELA is working to bridge the gap by running IP awareness campaigns, seminars, and workshops, especially targeting startups.

“We issue a Certificate of Registration, giving startups exclusive rights to use the mark in Tanzania. We also assist in dispute resolution and work with enforcement bodies in infringement cases,” says Calvin Rwambogo, BRELA Legal Officer.

BRELA’s Online Registration System allows for easy trademark applications, and the agency advises startups to first conduct a trademark search to avoid conflicts.

They can also extend protection through the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) or internationally via the Madrid Protocol.

BRELA has set up an IP Management Unit and is redesigning its online system to make it more user-friendly.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade is developing a new national IP policy, which includes reduced registration fees for startups, legal aid support, and stronger integration of IP in entrepreneurship programs.

On a regional scale, ARIPO offers multi-country protection for startups aiming to scale in Africa.

President of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan has said that the government will implement strong strategies, including formulating policies to promote startups development in the country. She made the statement in Parliament in Dodoma on June 27, 2025, while concluding the proceedings of the 12th Parliament.

Rwanda as champion of IP in Africa

Tanzania doesn’t need to look far for inspiration. Rwanda has emerged as a continental leader in integrating IPRs into its startup ecosystem. 

The country streamlined its IP registration process, incorporated IP education into university curriculums, and introduced subsidies for early-stage companies. Now the country has become a thriving startup scene where ideas are not only born but protected.

As Tanzania’s innovation engine continues to roar, protecting ideas is no longer optional, it is essential. Without intellectual property protection, the country risks losing not only revenue but the very creativity that fuels its future.