Grace Ashiru
An AI enterprise developed in Liberia is drawing global attention for enabling governments and public sector bodies to implement sophisticated artificial intelligence solutions without surrendering ownership or control of their data.
Surna Technologies, a company focused on sovereign artificial intelligence and cloud infrastructure, has secured a semifinalist position in Harvard University’s President’s Innovation Challenge, a highly competitive initiative that highlights impactful, student-driven ventures worldwide.
Selected from among thousands of initiatives backed by Harvard’s 13 schools, Surna’s inclusion elevates Liberia into a rare position of global visibility within the fast-growing domain of sovereign artificial intelligence.
The firm is founded on the belief that African nations should retain complete authority over their digital technology ecosystems. Surna prioritizes protected data control alongside the in-country creation and rollout of AI solutions, instead of depending on external cloud services and foreign technology firms for essential infrastructure.
Founder Hellen S. Momoh, a data science graduate student at Harvard University, explained that the initiative reflects a wider transformation in the way African institutions interact with and adopt advanced technological systems.
“If data is the new oil, Africa needs to operate its own refinery,” Momoh stated. “Through Surna, the foundational infrastructure is being created to ensure African institutions can harness and profit from their own intelligence.”
Surna’s advancement in the Harvard competition represents a significant achievement for Liberia, positioning the nation within a select yet expanding circle of African countries developing indigenous sovereign AI capabilities.
Analysts note that the company embodies a broader continental trend across industries from fintech to climate intelligence focused on creating, managing, and running digital systems within Africa for the benefit of African institutions.
Using Liberia as its initial testing ground, Surna aims to extend its reach throughout West Africa and the wider ECOWAS region. The company provides cloud infrastructure, national monitoring systems, and AI solutions spanning multiple sectors for both public and private organizations.
Harvard’s Innovation Labs characterized the semifinalists as the university’s most promising up-and-coming ventures, with the announcement of the finalists scheduled for March 2026.
If chosen as one of the five Open Track finalists, Surna will participate in a live competition for a portion of over $500,000 in funding.
For Momoh, the acknowledgment holds meaning that extends beyond the company alone.
“This achievement isn’t solely about Surna,” she stated. “It demonstrates that Liberia is capable of innovating on par with the world’s foremost institutions and competing in top global technology ecosystems. It marks the start of a new era for Africa’s digital future.”
