African Tech Startup Forum 2024: A first cohort of 160 Tech Startups showcasing the exceptional tech innovations emerging from 8 African countries; trained by industry leaders, networked with other startups, successful established businesses, and investors, narrowed down to a smaller cohort of just 20 stand-out firms to head out on a study tour to South Korea and attend the COME UP KOREA event in December 2024.
The African Tech Startup Forum (ATSF) is a pilot collaboration of 3 key international partners Catalyze, Ndarama Works, and Korea Startup Forum, supported by leading tech incubation training partner, UVU Africa. It is funded by the Korea Africa Economic Cooperation (KOAFEC) Trust Fund through the African Development Bank (AfDB)’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Lab.
ATSF is a Market Access and Acceleration Program designed to prepare, train, expose, and connect African tech ventures with local and international opportunities. The program takes place virtually and in-person, aiming to showcase the exceptional tech innovations emerging from Africa and provide them with the platform to thrive. Collaborating with experts from Africa and around the globe, will create an ecosystem that nurtures and boosts tech ventures.
One of the key objectives of the Forum is to seek out and highlight women-owned tech companies, with a goal to have at least 50% of the cohort be strong African women showing their incredible range of tech skills.
The incubation program, a cornerstone of the Forum, provides a nurturing environment for early-stage tech startups. Through this initiative, entrepreneurs gain access to specialised resources, mentorship, and collaborative workspaces, fostering the development of groundbreaking ideas and the transformation of concepts into viable products and services.
The B2B matchmaking platform within the Forum facilitates strategic connections between startups and established businesses. This creates a dynamic marketplace where innovative solutions meet industry needs, fostering mutually beneficial partnerships that drive economic growth and technological advancement.
Investor sourcing is another crucial facet of the Forum, connecting promising startups with potential investors eager to support groundbreaking ventures. By bridging the gap between entrepreneurs and investors, the forum plays a pivotal role in securing the funding necessary for startups to scale their operations and bring their innovations to market.
ATSF is currently in the intake stage, accepting applications for the inaugural cohort, comprising 160 outstanding entrepreneurs, including startups and Entrepreneurial Support Organizations (ESOs). Applications close on 10 May 2024. The second cohort of 20 businesses will be chosen from the first cohort and will advance their growth through a study tour to South Korea and attend the COME UP KOREA event in December 2024.
ATSF are still looking for applications from tech innovators from Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Morocco, Rwanda, and South Africa, in the following sectors (though other tech areas will be considered):
- AGTech
- FinTech
- HealthTech
- GameTech EdTech
- RetailTech
- GovTech
- BioTech
- OceanTech
- ServiceTech/IOT
- CleanTech
- E-ComTech
- CyberTech
You can apply here: https://africatechstartupforum.com/apply/
You can learn more on the African Tech Startup Forum here:
Website: https://africatechstartupforum.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/africatechstartupforum/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/africatechstartupforum
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/africatechstartupforum
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ABOUT THE PROGRAM PARTNERS
Ndarama Works is a regional African advisory consultancy and project management firm, co-founded in 2012 by accomplished Pan-African scholar-practitioner / businessman Dr. Golden Mahove and women’s economic empowerment advocate, Precious Nontsikelelo Mahove. With 25 years of experience in market systems development, agribusiness development, value chain analysis and multi-country projects supporting market linkages, our aim is to see you and your business thrive.
Catalyze is a leading engagement agency, specialising in international trade events and business matchmaking; creating and facilitating opportunities for companies in key industries to connect across the globe. Alongside our core team, we have built strong relationships with a variety of specialists that enable us to meet our clients’ needs; these include web developers, photographers, videographers, translators, animators, and more.
Korea Startup Forum (KSF) was founded in September 2016 with 50 Startups to support the continuous growth of startups and build a robust startup ecosystem advocating the common interest. In April 2018, it was reborn as an authorized nonprofit organization under the approval of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups(MSS). The KSF is the nation’s largest startup membership organization with active members of more than 2,246 Startups and partners. It runs various startup support programs, improving the business environment for its members.
UVU Africa work with bold and ambitious talent, and alongside visionary partners to design and build future-fit, inclusive societies through innovation and technology. A non-profit organisation, we are extending our impact and presence across Africa by driving inclusive growth of the digital economy through business incubation, acceleration, skills development and by creating specialised innovation clusters across the continent.
