The organisers of DEMO Africa have confirmed the 2015 edition of the startup pitching competition will for the second year in a row take place in Lagos, Nigeria, following its successful hosting in the city last year having relocated from Nairobi.
DEMO Africa, which will be co-hosted by Nigeria’s Ministry of Communication Technology, the country’s National Information Technology Agency and DEMO Africa in partnership with VC4Africa and Afrilabs, will take place on September 24-25 at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos.
As in previous years, 40 startups from across Africa will showcase their innovations on the DEMO Africa platform in front of potential investors, IT buyers and consumers, with the organisers saying it would again take place in Lagos as a result of the Nigerian government’s “endearing” support of the ICT sector.
“Notable moves include the recent announcement by the ministry to conduct a government-seeded IT innovation fund and committing US$9 million as seed capital. The ministry has also made direct contact with the alumni who have participated in various technology competitions with the aim of assessing their needs and providing various interventions,” DEMO Africa said.
Minister of communication technology Dr Omobola Johnson said: ‘’We are pleased that DEMO Africa will be hosted in Nigeria for the second time. DEMO Africa provides a veritable platform for young Nigerian and African youths to showcase their creativity and innovation and push Africa’s frontier in the global space.”
Harry Hare, executive producer of DEMO Africa, said the actions of the Nigerian government should be emulated across Africa.
“Efforts by young entrepreneurs are the sustainability upon which the future of generations in Africa rests,” he said.
The application platform for DEMO Africa will open in late February, with a series of pre-event contests in various countries set to take place as the beginning of the vetting process for startups.
