The C4DLab at the University of Nairobi has rebranded its incubation and acceleration programme as the Africa Technology and Innovation Accelerator (AFTIA), claiming to be “forward-looking and radical”.
Disrupt Africa reported in March C4DLab, which launched in 2013, announced it was to function as an incubator-cum-accelerator after concluding a long review of its own activities and rethinking its business model. The university developed an incubation policy it said would allow it to better support young entrepreneurs.
The AFTIA programme is the brainchild of this policy, and will be driven by an entrepreneurial approach to product development that focuses mainly on disruptive innovations. It will focus especially on pre-incubation, early-stage acceleration, and growth-stage acceleration, supported by innovation ecosystem partners and faculty.
“Expected to benefit immensely are incubatees from within and outside the university comprising students, alumni, researchers as well as citizens overall,” C4DLab said.
Prior to admission for incubation, prospective candidates will have to submit their prototypes for vetting. The first call for applicants will take place on July 10, with incubation to last for a maximum period of six months. The first growth-stage acceleration call will be made in January next year, as will another call for an early-stage acceleration programme.
