TECH STARS (1006)
Like virtually every socio-economic sector, agriculture, a cornerstone of development in Africa, is undergoing a digital revolution. In Togo, a young entrepreneur has designed a tech tool to digitize the value chain for more efficiency in the sector.
Edeh Dona Etchri (photo), a Togolese entrepreneur, is the founder of digital marketplace E-Agribusiness and the CEO of CLIN SARL, the company behind the marketplace. He graduated from CFI Médias (France) in 2017 with a diploma in digital and citizen project management.
Through E-AgriBusiness, he seamlessly connects various stakeholders within the agricultural industry, with the platform being accessible through a website, mobile application, USSD solution, SMS, chatbot, or call center, accommodating users in multiple local languages. As of now, the application is active in Togo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cameroon, and Congo-Brazzaville.
E-AgriBusiness serves as a lifeline for farmers, helping them minimize crop losses, enabling optimal pricing, fostering technological and financial inclusion, increasing income, and ultimately improving living conditions. The solution also enables buyers to streamline product targeting and purchasing processes, enhancing efficiency in the agricultural supply chain. It is also a valuable ally for governments and development partners, aiding in implementing agricultural policies, offering relevant indicators, promoting financial inclusion, and contributing to poverty reduction.
In an interview with CIO Mag in 2020 on the reasons that prompted the creation of E-Agribusiness, Edeh Dona Etchri explained that pre-harvest market linkages empower farmers to minimize post-harvest losses, eliminate the threat of spoilage, and enhance income stability, thereby promoting household well-being and uplifting socioeconomic status.
Apart from his role as CEO at CLIN SARL, the entrepreneur serves as the Technical Director of the IT company Wassa Group Sarl and holds the position of the national president of the Togolese association Numérique Citoyen, since 2021. His first company, EDZEPROCOM INFO, founded in 2011, introduced E-orga, a system for securing tickets, banknotes, and documents in Togo. He also founded MIABETOGO MARKET, an e-commerce platform promoting business visibility, WassaSMS, an SMS platform facilitating communication for companies, and the Doomevi platform designed to foster participatory democracy.
In 2016, E-AgriBusiness earned him the first prize for innovative applications in Togo, followed by another first prize at the 2017 AgriPME hackathon. In 2019, the Togolese head of state conferred upon him the title of chevalier national de l'ordre de mérite agricole, and in 2022, he received an honorary doctorate from the European-American University.
Melchior Koba
Leveraging its extensive experience, robust network, and forward-thinking vision, StartUp Maroc plays a pivotal role in fostering the growth of entrepreneurial and innovative ecosystems in Morocco and across Africa. The organization empowers aspiring entrepreneurs to transform their ideas into impactful ventures that generate positive social change.
StartUp Maroc is an organization that promotes entrepreneurship in Morocco and across Africa. Founded in 2011 by a group of young Moroccan entrepreneurs, including CEO Zineb Rharrasse, the organization is dedicated to nurturing high-potential entrepreneurs and startups poised to reshape the country, the continent, and the world.
Its comprehensive approach to entrepreneurial support encompasses a diverse range of activities designed to empower entrepreneurs and startups. The organization's flagship initiative, the Startup Africa Summit, serves as a platform for fostering collaboration, exchanging experiences, and exploring investment opportunities. This summit highlights the transformative power of innovation and the diaspora in shaping Africa's future.
Its suite of comprehensive programs to empower entrepreneurs includes the StartUp Maroc Booster program. This flagship initiative focuses on strengthening startups through three key pillars: financing, acceleration/mentoring, and international exposure. The program carefully identifies and accelerates high-potential Moroccan startups, providing them with the necessary capital and guidance to thrive.
With a focus on the Mediterranean region, its MEDVENTURES program aims to accelerate job creation and foster innovation. The program empowers entrepreneurs and ecosystem players to connect internationally, enhancing their skills and fostering collaboration. MEDVENTURES brings together entrepreneurs, investors, companies, NGOs, and public and private initiatives supporting innovation, research, and economic development clusters in Europe and the Mediterranean region.
StartUp Maroc has extended its operations across 17 cities in Morocco, offering support to over 15,000 entrepreneurs at various stages of their entrepreneurial journey, from initial ideation to commercialization. The organization's coaching and support initiatives encompass training courses, acceleration programs, one-on-one support, mentoring, conferences, and pitch events.
With a network consisting of over 400 experts and mentors, it has successfully organized more than 100 activities. It is supported by a number of partners, including The Next Society, Founder Institute, Startup Nations, the Euromed University of Fez, Technopack, the International University of Agadir, the Moroccan Exporters Association (ASMEX), and Orange Corners.
Melchior Koba
He believes data can revolutionize businesses and societies. So, with his team, he develops tailored data solutions helping companies make more sense of their data.
Walid Kaâbachi (photo) is a Tunisian computer scientist and technology entrepreneur, currently serving as the Managing Director of Biware, a consulting and integration company specializing in data management and analytics solutions.
He founded Biware, in 2011, with his partner Amine Boussarsar. The company focuses on providing tailored solutions for customer insight, risk management, fraud and compliance, demand forecasting, and model analysis to companies across various sectors, including finance, telecoms, retail, energy, and utilities. It has two flagship solutions. The first, Credit Squares, targets credit institutions, leveraging statistical methods, data analysis, and advanced artificial intelligence to enhance operational and commercial efficiency. This solution facilitates informed decision-making and effective customer lifecycle management.
The second solution is Synapse-HR, designed to help companies connect, engage, and develop their staff. Customizable based on each customer's specific needs, it provides detailed reports and dashboards for data visualization. Additionally, it can seamlessly integrate with various third-party analytical tools depending on the company's requirements.
Walid Kaâbachi's academic background includes a master's degree in theoretical and mathematical physics obtained in 1994 from the Nabeul Preparatory Engineering Institute. He also holds a diploma in computer engineering from the Tunisian School of Computer Science in 1998 and a master's degree in business administration from South Mediterranean University in 2019.
His professional journey commenced in 1998 at Informatique Développement et Etudes (IDEE), a software provider for the banking industry. From 2005 to 2009, he served as a business intelligence manager at Business & Decision SA, an international data and digital consulting and engineering group.
In 2012, Walid Kaâbachi and his partner Amine Boussarsar were featured in the special November edition of Entreprise Magazine, which recognizes the 100 managers who have significantly contributed to the business landscape in Tunisia.
Melchior Koba
FSAT Labs provides a comprehensive suite of services, including incubation, open innovation, training, and startup acceleration, to nurture and empower entrepreneurs. Since its inception, it has fostered the continental and international success of numerous companies.
French South African Tech Labs (FSAT Labs) is a digital startup incubator and accelerator based in Century City, Cape Town, South Africa. Established in 2016 by Methys, a digital innovation and consulting firm, and the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda), it is committed to propelling early-stage digital startups across Africa.
Led by economic development and SME startup support expert Ndileka Zantsi, FSAT Labs provides a comprehensive ecosystem of support services for startups. The services include 400 square meters of dedicated space for startups to collaborate, innovate, and grow; equipping entrepreneurs with the digital skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the ever-evolving tech landscape; mentoring and coaching startups with personalized guidance and support throughout their journey; and tailored software development and research services to meet the specific needs of both enterprises and technology startups.
FSAT Labs offers two flagship programs to empower startups at every stage of their growth. Its six-month incubation program helps startups transform their ideas into businesses and get their first clients by providing workspace, mentoring, access to a network of experts and partners, and convertible loan financing. The program is divided into three phases. The first phase is the pre-incubation stage, a 4-week period during which the entrepreneur’s idea is validated. The second phase is the 6-month incubation period during which intensive support and guidance are provided. The last phase is the launch stage where startups are equipped to enter the market with confidence.
FSAT Labs also offers a 24-month acceleration program that propels startups to pre-seed or seed funding by offering comprehensive support, from mentoring to resources, throughout their growth journey.
Recognizing the importance of women's participation in the entrepreneurial world, FSAT Labs has established the Khwezi Lodestar Program, an initiative that aims to digitally develop 20 startups founded by women in each cohort. The program provides grants for software licenses and digital platforms, technical support, and mentoring led by accomplished businesswomen.
FSAT Labs has supported several startups, including Gamer's Territory, a technology hub to promote gaming in Africa; Lawyered Up, an African legaltech startup committed to accessibility, social impact, and gender equality within the legal industry; and HourlyRate, an AI-powered freelancing platform.
It is also supported by several organizations and institutions. These include Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), AfricArena, Old Mutual, French Tech Entrepreneurs Cape Town, Enrich in Africa, Silicone Cape Initiative and La French Tech.
Melchior Koba
Young Africans often dream of pursuing their higher education at international universities. But, they sometimes need more information, which makes them waste time and resources. In Madagascar, Tsanta Rakotoarimanga has developed a platform that connects students with mentors who provide guidance and support throughout their educational journey to address that issue.
Tsanta Rakotoarimanga (photo) is the founder and CEO of Mapwess, an online platform that helps students access quality higher education. He holds a bachelor's degree (2019) in finance from Université des Mascareignes in Mauritius and a master's degree in international strategy and management (2023) from Paris-Saclay University.
Driven by his own experiences navigating the complexities of studying abroad, Rakotoarimanga founded Mapwess in 2020 to empower African students to pursue their dreams of higher education at prestigious international universities. The platform connects students with experienced mentors who provide personalized guidance and support throughout their educational journey, from orientation and enrollment to settling into their new environment. With the platform, Rakotoarimanga aims to help 10,000 students realize their dream of studying abroad.
"The idea for Mapwess stemmed from our own challenges in preparing for our studies abroad," Rakotoarimanga explained. "We realized that many students face similar struggles, and we wanted to create a solution that would make the process more accessible and less daunting."
Prior to launching Mapwess, Rakotoarimanga established Dream Studio Agency, a student placement agency that successfully helped numerous young Africans secure placements at renowned institutions. He attributes his entrepreneurial success to the support he received from startup incubators like Orange Fab Madagascar and Zafy Tody, which provided him with valuable resources and mentorship in a context where entrepreneurship was not an easy task in Madagascar and financial institutions and private investors were not confident enough to back him.
Rakotoarimanga's dedication to empowering African students has earned him recognition and accolades, including the third prize in the national stage of the Orange Social Venture Prize in Africa and the Middle East (POESAM) in 2020. In 2021, he was selected as one of Africa's best young entrepreneurs for the Anzisha Prize. This year, he got the opportunity to represent Madagascar in the YALI (Young African Leaders Initiative) program for the Southern African region.
Melchior Koba
A fervent advocate for technological advancement, he has been instrumental in organizing numerous hackathons and innovation competitions across diverse technology domains. He has also founded a tech platform aimed at revolutionizing tourism in Africa.
Prince Youlou (photo) is a Congolese web developer and IT consultant. He graduated in Project Management (2010) and Computer Science (2011) from the IT Business Campus, further enhancing his skills with a certificate in information technology from Huawei University (in 2018).
In 2020, alongside Orion Massamba Wambert, Prince co-founded Niochi, where he serves as the CEO. Meaning "bee" in the local Lari language, Niochi is on a mission to make tourists feel at home when visiting African countries. For that purpose, the startup introduced a mobile app that empowers users to access detailed information on locations, public ratings, and satisfaction indexes for hotels, restaurants, and bars, helping them find the perfect spot.
Prince Youlou's motivation for Niochi stemmed from personal experiences: "Over the years, we've tried many tools and none of them helped us find the best spots in Congo and some of the African countries we've stayed in. That's how we decided to create Niochi, to give people access to detailed information on entertainment venues, accommodation, personal care, and wellness services across the continent," he explained in 2020.
Beyond Niochi, Prince has been actively involved in the tech community. Since 2015, he has been the president of Fongwama, an African community of free software developers. In 2019, he took on the role of leading research and development projects for UNDP Acceleration Labs.
His diverse experience includes serving as the project manager for SanteHack, a healthcare innovation hackathon for Equatorial Congo Airlines in 2016. He has also organized impactful hackathons such as Hack4Food –an initiative by the World Food Program (WFP)- in 2017 and Médiathon –an innovation competition in the information production and dissemination sector organized by the OIF– in 2018.
Melchior Koba
In the Republic of Congo, Yekolab aims to train the next generation of technological leaders in Africa. It incubates young entrepreneurs and introduces children to new technologies.
Established in February 2015 by ICT expert Max Bonbhel, Yekolab is a center of excellence and training in new technologies and emerging trades in the Republic of Congo. The center's primary mission is to transform the creative ideas of young Congolese individuals into viable and bankable businesses.
Yekolab offers comprehensive incubation and training programs, covering web development, mobile development, enterprise application development, embedded technology, and even programming for children. The center's Y-Incubateur program specifically supports young entrepreneurs, providing them with essential technical resources to thrive in an increasingly competitive market.
Beyond its incubation initiatives, Yekolab houses Y-Lab, a research center fostering technological innovation among Congolese creators. The center is also actively developing Yekolab for Kids, a training program designed for children aged 7 to 17. This program equips children with programming skills and the ability to build robots or automated machines. The 2022 edition of Yekolab for Kids graduated 73 children.
With centers in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire, Yekolab receives crucial technical and financial support from key partners, including the national telecoms regulator ARPCE, Airtel Congo, and JCertif a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting innovation through ICT.
Through its pre-incubation, incubation, and acceleration programs, Innov'Lab provides resources and support to Comorian entrepreneurs, contributing to economic growth and job creation in the country.
Innov'Lab, a business incubator established by the Union of Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Handicrafts of Comoros (UCCIA), is dedicated to fostering and supporting innovative project leaders across various sectors, including the social and solidarity economy, digital, agrifood, tourism, and the environment.
Founded in February 2017, Innov'Lab assists project holders in their endeavors to secure funding, navigate legal formalities, develop effective communication strategies, and enhance their management and accounting skills.
The incubator offers a comprehensive range of support programs tailored to the specific needs of aspiring entrepreneurs. Its pre-incubation program provides project holders with 10 days of intensive coaching or four months of ongoing support, enabling them to refine their ideas and gain valuable insights into the entrepreneurial journey.
Innov'Lab's incubation program, spanning two years, offers startups personalized guidance and mentorship, empowering them to develop their business concepts and prepare for market entry. Established companies can also benefit from Innov'Lab's accelerated growth program, which facilitates fundraising, branch expansion, and internationalization strategies.
Participants in Innov'Lab's programs gain access to a robust network of partners, including financial institutions and social enterprises, as well as various financing instruments. They also benefit from Innov'Lab's expertise in social media marketing and access to its network of mentors.
Innov'Lab provides a dedicated coworking space, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing among startups. The incubator also offers conference rooms equipped for meetings and professional events, creating a conducive environment for networking and business development.
Since its inception, it has successfully incubated over 60 companies, provided training and support to over 400 aspiring entrepreneurs, and organized more than 10 events. The incubator collaborates with a range of technical partners, such as Meck Moroni for credit facilitation, the SHINOON platform for crowdfunding campaigns, and ORTC for media coverage.
Melchior Koba
Climate change is one of the main issues currently facing the globe. In Rwanda, Ghislain Irakoze is actively engaged in contributing to the fight against that problem by spearheading the collection and recycling of electronic waste.
Ghislain Irakoze (photo) is a Rwandan entrepreneur, activist, and sustainability researcher. As the co-founder and CEO of Wastezon, a green technology company specializing in machine learning-based material tracking solutions, he is dedicated to fostering innovation in support of material circularity.
Ghislain Irakoze, born in Rwanda, has been passionate about waste management since he was a child. After he almost lost his friend in a landslide caused by waste, he decided to do something to help. In 2018, he founded Wastezon with Jacqueline Mukarukundo.
The company developed a namesake digital app that connects consumers, manufacturers, and recyclers to process electronic waste and other materials. Wastezon uses machine learning to identify materials, track them through the supply chain, and facilitate recycling. This helps to create value from waste and reduce environmental impact.
To date, over 500 tons of electronic waste have been exchanged on the app, which has helped to reduce carbon emissions by over 4,100 metric tons. Before launching Wastezon, Ghislain Irakoze and his team launched the “Recycle for the Environment” campaign supported by Samsung Engineering-Korea. They managed to transform over 20 tons of household plastics into useful products.
Ghislain Irakoze holds a bachelor’s degree in business and international commerce from The African Leadership University, which he earned in 2021. He began his professional career in 2018 as a manager of the Circular Economy Club in Kigali. In 2019, he became a researcher at the Youth Think Tank of the Mastercard Foundation. Two years later, in 2021, he joined Global Resilience Partnership as an innovation and scaling consultant. The following year, he became a World Wide Web Foundation Sustainable Access Fellow.
For his impact on climate and sustainability, Ghislain Irakoze has received recognition and awards. He was a finalist in the Innovate4Climate pitch competition organized by the World Bank in 2019 and reached the finals of the Young Champion of the Earth award from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 2020. He is also a finalist for the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Awards.
Melchior Koba
In Côte d'Ivoire, this incubator dedicated to streamlining the agricultural value chain provides comprehensive support to agricultural entrepreneurs from the conception phase to the successful implementation of their projects.
Established in 2016 by three entrepreneurs from the Ivorian diaspora and members of the Club d'Affaires Afrique-Monde (CAAM), Incub'Ivoir is a specialized incubator fostering innovative projects in the agricultural sector. It is headed by Hermann Christian Kouassi (photo, right), one of its co-founders.
The incubator was created to inspire, train, structure, and support potential entrepreneurs to become catalysts for change in their communities. It offers a comprehensive six-month incubation program, equipping beneficiaries with the resources necessary to bring their projects to fruition. To date, a total of 82 projects have successfully undergone incubation.
Additionally, Incub'Ivoir provides a three-month acceleration program, granting startups access to mentoring, investors, and other crucial support to help them achieve stability and self-sufficiency. This Acceleration Program currently supports 38 companies.
When a company becomes a part of Incub'Ivoir's support system, it joins a vast network that includes other companies, major groups, institutions, investment funds, public players, and civil society.
Incub'Ivoir has spearheaded various initiatives, including Environnement Startup, a project call caravan endorsed by the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF). This initiative provided support to ten project leaders in 2017-2018.
Another initiative, Speed Farmer –an acceleration program for agribusiness and foodtech entrepreneurs supported by the Netherlands– empowered ten entrepreneurs to enhance their skills in business management and product development in 2019.
With its diligent efforts, Incub'Ivoir has made a positive impact on the Ivorian entrepreneurial ecosystem, supporting over 120 structures and collaborating with 34 partners.
Melchior Koba
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Having observed the profound effect a small gesture can have on individuals living in rural Africa, the young Guinean residing in London decided to set up a platform, empowering diaspora members like himself to send airtime directly to their loved ones
Ibrahima Soumano (photo), a Guinean entrepreneur based in London and a graduate of Oxford Brookes University with a bachelor's degree in business administration, management, and operations (2005), serves as the co-founder and CEO of Senditoo. Originally known as Ozaremit, his platform was developed through collaborative efforts with his friend Takwana Tyranini. It primarily enables members of the diaspora to send airtime to their loved ones in their home countries.
The entrepreneur came up with the Ozaremit idea during a visit to his home country, Guinea, where he witnessed the profound impact even a simple gift like airtime could have on the local population.
Senditoo's services are characterized by their simplicity, speed, and accessibility through both a website and a mobile application. Users can effortlessly input the recipient's phone number, select the desired top-up amount, and make secure online payments. The chosen top-up amount is promptly delivered to the recipient's phone, confirmed via SMS.
Operating in over 140 countries globally, including 39 in Africa, Senditoo has expanded its services since 2020 to allow the diaspora to directly deposit money into mobile money accounts in Ghana, Guinea, Uganda, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Mozambique, Zambia, DR Congo, Zimbabwe, and Senegal. Additionally, the platform facilitates the payment of electricity bills for relatives residing in Zimbabwe.
In 2012, Ibrahima Soumano also founded Tafory, an Internet real estate search platform in Guinea. He served as the company's manager until 2016, the year Senditoo was founded.
Melchior Koba
TunisianStartups serves as a driving force for fostering entrepreneurship in Tunisia. It champions global connectivity, inclusion, education, and collaboration among players within the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
TunisianStartups, a Tunisian non-governmental organization (NGO) established in 2016, is dedicated to fostering a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem in Tunisia by bridging connections among its key players. Through a diverse range of activities and programs, the organization provides comprehensive support to startups, addressing their challenges in financing, collaboration, visibility, and lobbying. Additionally, it cultivates dynamic links between local and international ecosystems.
It is led by Amel Saidane, the founder and CEO of BetaCube, a company specializing in building and developing B2B startups in the fintech and mobility sectors. Amel Saidane is also the co-founder of Digital2Value, a platform dedicated to the digital transformation of SMEs.
TunisianStartups is committed to propelling the success of Tunisian startups on a national and international scale. To achieve this goal, the organization has launched several impactful projects. They include INVEST'I, a community that unites the diverse players within Tunisia's innovative entrepreneurial ecosystem through the international EuroQuity platform.
The organization also developed The Think Tank, a dedicated team responsible for crafting improvement proposals for decision-makers, inspiring effective public policies in the field of entrepreneurship. Its interactive platform Index quantifies and presents an accurate and relevant representation of Tunisia's startup ecosystem.
Demonstrating its commitment to gender inclusion in technology, the NGO has initiated the Women & Tech project, empowering and providing visibility to women entrepreneurs in this domain.
TunisianStartups also offers TS Academy, an educational program that provides capacity-building courses for entrepreneurs through individual training sessions and masterclasses. Additionally, its Link4INN initiative encourages open innovation and fosters collaboration between startups and companies from diverse economic sectors.
With over 600 startups registered on its Index platform, a participant base of over 2,000 at its events, and a thriving network of more than 30 active members, TunisianStartups has established itself as a driving force in Tunisia's entrepreneurial landscape. Its success is bolstered by the support of renowned partners such as GIZ, Invest for Jobs, Expertise France, and The Dot.
Melchior Koba
A seasoned entrepreneur, he has established several specialized technology companies, spanning both the education and service sectors, catering to individuals and businesses. His temtem ONE solution is designed to simplify the daily lives of its users.
Kamel Haddar (photo) is the founder and CEO of temtem ONE, an Algerian super-application aggregating several services to make life easier for users on a daily basis. A graduate of ESIEE-IT, he earned a master's degree in computer science in 2004 and a specialized master's degree in marketing from ESCP Business School in France in 2008.
His flagship startup, temtem ONE, was founded in 2018 as a digital gift card solution. Available in Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Senegal, Mali and Côte d’Ivoire, it enables the diaspora to purchase goods and services for relatives back in their home countries (thanks to the cashback function). It also enables businesses to motivate employees and partners through rewards available on the temtem ONE marketplace. It also connects users to services like car-sharing, mobile top-up, on-demand artisans and doctors, financial services, and shopping.
In addition to his role at temtem ONE, Kamel Haddar is the co-founder and president of the Algerian Talents & Leaders Association (ATLAS), established in 2010 with the goal of nurturing a new generation of leaders by providing Algerian students the opportunity to attend top business schools and connect with a supportive professional network.
In 2015, he founded CasbahTech, a startup studio that designs and develops innovative digital solutions in Algeria. Through that studio, he invested and has become a member of the board of Factory Digitale –an organization that remotely connects top African talent with European technical teams– the digital skills training company Code 213 and e-lerning platform iMadrassa.com.
Before venturing into entrepreneurship, Kamel Haddar worked between 2002 and 2005 at the technology company 3M, holding positions as a project manager and business analyst. Subsequently, from 2005 to 2012, he worked as a consultant in telecommunications, energy, and utilities for the independent consulting firm BearingPoint.
Recognized as a Young Leader for the U.S. State Department's International Visitor Leadership Program Alumni in 2013, Kamel Haddar was designated a Young Mediterranean Leader by the ASPEN Institute. In the same year, he participated in a seminar on responsible leadership in Cordoba, Spain.
Melchior Koba
UVU Africa stands as a steadfast champion of innovation and technological advancement across the African continent. Through its multifaceted programs and initiatives, the organization plays a pivotal role in shaping the continent's technological landscape.
UVU Africa, formerly known as Cape Innovation and Technology Initiative (CiTi), is a non-profit organization committed to shaping the future societies of Africa. Established in 1999 by Joshin Raghubar, with a current presence in South Africa and Rwanda, the organization officially changed its name in January 2023.
It collaborates with dynamic and ambitious talent, partnering with visionary organizations such as Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Google, Verifone, IBM, Amazon Web Services, and Microsoft. Together, they work towards designing and constructing inclusive, “future-fit” societies through innovation and technology.
Under the leadership of CEO Ian Merrington, UVU Africa is expanding its influence and footprint across the continent. The organization focuses on fostering inclusive growth in the digital economy through activities like business incubation, acceleration, skills development, and the establishment of specialized innovation clusters.
"UVU Africa will continue to design and build future-fit-inclusive societies through innovation and technology. We drive inclusive growth of the digital economy through business incubation, skills development, and key projects that catalyze open innovation and collaboration. We build future societies, today, across Africa," says Joshin Raghubar.
The organization implements various programs to achieve its objectives. The CapaCiTi Tech Career Accelerator, for instance, equips young South Africans with the resources needed to become fully-fledged digital citizens.
Through UVU Accelerate, the organization supports and trains entrepreneurs, offering a mentoring program, access to relevant networks, and funding opportunities. In 2019, UVU Africa introduced UVU Bio, a specialized biotech accelerator providing a platform for African entrepreneurs in the realms of science, business, and investment. Injini, specializing in education technologies in Africa, is a member of the UVU Africa group.
In addition, UVU Africa provides a range of facilities, including shared workspaces, meeting rooms, boardrooms, and event halls. It has an undeniable impact on Africa. The organization has empowered over 2,500 women through technological training for their businesses. Annually, it trains 1,000 unemployed young people in technology and essential skills and has supported 55 African edtech startups. Furthermore, UVU Africa has incubated over 60 companies in the bioeconomy. The organization's flourishing ecosystem comprises over 5,000 entrepreneurs.
Melchior Koba