Tech

African startups invited to pitch at this month’s Africa Tech Festival in Cape Town

Published

2 weeks ago

November 10, 2024

African tech startups have been invited to make their pitches at the Africa Tech Festival which will take place in Cape Town, South Africa, from November 12 to 14.

The invitation will afford selected startups the opportunity to pitch their business, connect with funders, and meet potential customers, according to James Williams, the Event Director of Africa Tech Festival.

In a statement announcing the offering, Williams said the Africa Tech Festival, including anchor events AfricaCom, AfricaTech, AfricaIgnite, and AI Summit Cape Town, is the largest tech and digital connectivity conference and exhibition in Africa, attracting hundreds of exhibitors, more than 450 speakers and more than 15,000 delegates.

“This year’s edition, the 27th, takes place on November 12-14 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), with AfricaIgnite the flagship event for founders, investors, and key players in the tech ecosystem, supporting market access and investment opportunities for the continent’s startups,” he stated

“Africa Tech Festival is all about providing a platform for stakeholders from across all spheres of Africa’s technology arena to connect, collaborate, and drive innovation.

“It is wonderful to see how AfricaIgnite has grown since first being included in the Africa Tech Festival line-up. This year sees the highest attendance by founders and venture capitalists to date, reflecting the effectiveness of the platform in growing Africa’s startup ecosystem.

“Delegates can look forward to a stellar range of speakers, and sponsorship by established brands like Collective 54 and SAP for Scaleups,” said Williams.

He added that a pre-event “Founder and Investor Day” will enable founders to learn from and network with experienced entrepreneurs, while the “Matchmaking Programme” offers a chance to connect with potential venture capitalists.

“Opportunities to exhibit in the event’s startup marketplace will allow founders to increase brand visibility and connect with potential customers.

“Presented in partnership with the Startup World Cup and powered by Pegasus Tech Ventures, the AfricaIgnite Pitch Competition presents an opportunity for innovators to showcase their ideas to potential investors and partners in a live pitch.

“The winner will advance to next year’s Startup World Cup Grand Finale in the United States, where they will compete for a $1 million investment prize alongside the best startups from around the globe.”

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Tech

Tanzania to host 6th Ocean Innovation Africa summit in February

Published

15 hours ago

November 20, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, has been selected to host the sixth edition of the Ocean Innovation Africa (OIA) summit from February 24-28, 2025, as a flagship event within Regenerative Ocean Week.

The Ocean Innovation Africa is set to be Africa’s most significant platform for Ocean Innovation conservation, and sustainable development in the blue economy. OIA2025 will be co-organised with leading partners, including IUCN, GIZ, OceanHub Africa, Catalyze and the Ocean-Climate Platform.

With the theme, “Science-to-Solution”, the Regenerative Ocean Week will present a line-up of sessions designed to bridge the gap between scientific research, business innovation, policy, and community engagement.

According to the organizers of the event, it will bring together African ocean innovators, investors, researchers, policymakers, and community leaders to explore practical solutions that can be applied across the continent.

“These include the OIA Pitch Competition, which is a platform for Africa-based startups and entrepreneurs to showcase breakthrough ideas in ocean-impact solutions, allowing them to connect with investors and industry leaders and emphasizing Africa’s role in driving sustainable ocean initiatives,” the organizers said in a statement.

Tech

Orange Egypt earmarks $52.7m to support African startups

Published

2 days ago

November 19, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Orange Egypt has earmarked the sum of $52.7 million to support African startups in what is going to be the largest investment to drive a youth-focused tech revolution.

According to the company, the mammoth investment will see over 40 startups benefitting from the funds, with most of them being Egyptian companies.

‘It’s a boost for Egypt’s growing entrepreneurial ecosystem and a step closer to cementing its spot as a top startup hub in Africa,” the company said in a statement.

The investment is coming on the heels of the telco signing a deal with the Egyptian government to roll out the second phase of its 5G licensing.

The statement noted that with Egypt’s startup game already strong and ranking as the third most funded country in the MENA region, “the numbers speak for themselves.”

“In 2022, Egyptian startups closed 143 funding deals worth nearly $766.7 million, outpacing the $606.79 million raised the year before.

“Plus over 2,100 startups employing more than 50,000 people, the country’s ecosystem is one of the top 10 emerging startup hubs globally.

“The Egyptian government is all in on this. And since launching initiatives like Egypt Ventures in 2017, they’ve been backing startups to drive innovation and growth in the tech space.

“Orange Egypt’s latest move only adds fuel to this already blazing fire, paving the way for more opportunities and a stronger startup culture across Africa,” it added.