Amid fast-paced technological development worldwide, innovation has become a driving force for social progress. In Africa, Pangea Accelerator stands as a beacon of hope for budding entrepreneurs.

Co-founded in 2017 by Jonas Tesfu, Pangea Accelerator is a Norwegian acceleration program and investment platform that provides African start-ups support, mentorship, and funding.

Through mentorship, workshops, networking opportunities, and initial financing, Pangea Accelerator equips start-ups with the necessary tools to transform innovative ideas into impactful businesses. Currently, most of these actions are carried out in Kenya.

The accelerator develops several programs such as The Young Ventures Accelerator Program 2.0. Supported by GIZ, this program runs over six weeks, followed by a six-month mentorship session, and targets innovations or start-ups in the affordable housing sector located within a 70 km radius of the Nairobi metropolitan area.

The Pangea Scaleup Program, which is also a program of the accelerator, finds the best-expanding businesses and grows them from the seed phase to the Series A phase. It targets start-ups active in sectors such as fintech, health tech, logistics, agriculture, renewable energy, and other digital solutions.

Pangea Accelerator also produces other local acceleration programs based on key stages and focused on validation and scalability. It hosts a series of events centered on Africa's development, investment, start-up ecosystems, and policy.

The accelerator is supported by several national and international institutions, including Microsoft, The Factory, IKEA Foundation, Katapult Accelerator, AfriLabs, Innovation Norway, UK Kenya Tech Hub, and African Business Angel Network, among others.

Melchior Koba