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Tag: AfriLabs

  • AfriLabs, NASENI join forces to boost Nigerian tech startups

    AfriLabs, NASENI join forces to boost Nigerian tech startups

    AfriLabs, a pan-African hub network, and NASENI, Nigeria’s National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, have joined forces to create an innovation lab to help young entrepreneurs and innovators across Nigeria bring new technologies to market and support long-term economic growth.

    The partnership between AfriLabs and NASENI to launch the NASENI Innovation Hub was announced during the 2024 AfriLabs Annual Gathering (AAG) held from November 5 to 8 in Cape Town, South Africa, with the hub officially launched on November 15, 2024.

    This collaboration shows innovation is crucial to economic growth and employment creation, especially in a rapidly changing world. The program aims to empower young entrepreneurs and promote technological advancement by combining the resources of both organisations.

    Read also: AfriLabs launches Connect Deal Room to facilitate local investment landscape

    Overview of AfriLabs and NASENI

    AfriLabs is a prominent network organisation that fosters innovation and entrepreneurship across Africa. It connects technological hubs, startups, investors, legislators, and other innovation ecosystem stakeholders.

    Currently, AfriLabs boasts an extensive network of 496 hubs spread across 261 cities in 53 African nations, making it one of the largest networks of its kind on the continent. This vast reach enables AfriLabs to facilitate knowledge sharing, collaboration, and resource mobilisation among diverse players in the tech space.

    On the other hand, NASENI is a Nigerian government agency dedicated to enhancing the country’s science, technology, and engineering infrastructure. Established to promote innovation and industrialisation, NASENI focuses on developing homegrown solutions that meet local needs while positioning Nigeria as a competitive player in the global technology landscape. The agency’s mission includes supporting research and development initiatives, fostering partnerships between academia and industry, and providing essential resources to innovators.

    The role of the NASENI innovation hub

    The newly launched NASENI Innovation Hub will offer Nigerian innovators, entrepreneurs, and startups vital infrastructure, capacity building, mentorship, and resources. This initiative aims to nurture innovative concepts, stimulate industrialisation, and strengthen Nigeria’s position in the global tech ecosystem. The hub will help young innovators turn their ideas into viable businesses by providing acceleration support, leading to job creation, increased technological exports, and enhanced economic productivity.

    Nanko Madu, Director of Programmes at AfriLabs, emphasised the importance of the partnership with NASENI: “Our partnership with NASENI represents a significant step toward nurturing Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem. Together, we are not just creating an Innovation Hub – we are building a pipeline for groundbreaking ideas that will shape Nigeria’s future industries and foster economic growth. We believe this collaboration will be key in scaling innovative solutions that address local challenges and have a global impact.”

    Read also: AfriLabs expands to new African cities countries

    “At NASENI, we are committed to transforming Nigeria into a global leader in technology and industrialisation. The establishment of this innovation hub marks a pivotal step in fostering homegrown solutions, nurturing local talent, and creating a dynamic ecosystem that will drive sustainable development through science and engineering.

    We believe that by empowering innovators and providing the infrastructure they need, we can fast-track industrial growth and economic diversification for Nigeria’s future,” said Khalil Suleiman Halilu, EVC of NASENI.

    The NASENI Innovation Hub will implement various programs to support the ecosystem. These include a global innovation return program for Nigerian researchers abroad, initiatives to empower women in engineering, a FutureMakers program for young talent development, an initiative for innovators tackling public sector challenges, and an acceleration program. Through these efforts, the hub aims to cultivate a robust environment that promotes the success of Nigerian innovators and startups.

  • AfriLabs launches Connect Deal Room to facilitate local investment landscape

    AfriLabs launches Connect Deal Room to facilitate local investment landscape

    AfriLabs, an organisation that supports innovation hubs, has established the AfriLabs Connect Deal Room (ACDR) in response to the pressing need to find, finance, and gain access to investible startups across Africa. 

    By facilitating connections between I got a housevarious ecosystem participants—including technology hubs, startups, investors, and more—AfriLabs aims to propel innovation and entrepreneurship across the African continent. Of its members, more than 430 are women.

    The ACDR, announced by AfriLabs at its 2023 Annual Gathering, is an initiative to provide investment funds access to a pan-African pipeline of investible and de-risked startups; it also seeks to simplify funding for innovative startups across diverse sectors in Africa. 

    Read also: African Energy Chamber (AEC) of Commerce request Investment in Energy

    The impact of the Connect Deal Room

    The Deal Room is a private pool where investors and funds can register their portfolio startups, fostering a dynamic investment ecosystem. By utilising AI, this pool facilitates more precise company matching according to criteria such as ticket sizes, industry of interest, and detailed specifications. 

    To top it all off, AfriLabs’ extensive network of more than 500 physical innovation and technology hubs in more than 250 cities across 54 countries makes it easy to provide additional resources to the startup founders who were involved with ACDR’s initiative and to encourage pan-African collaboration. 

    The ACDR has pioneer partners, including global venture capital networks like Renew Capital and International Accelerators, as well as business support tools and services like Silicon Valley in Your Pocket. 

    The AfriLabs Connect Deal Room is aimed at hubs with established startups looking to raise substantial pre-series, series a, b, or c funding to expand, according to Ajibola Odukoya, COO of AfriLabs. They have set up a pipeline of investors with an eye towards Africa. These backers are preparing to do business on the continent and are eager to partner with growing companies.

    One of the leading platforms on which the ACDR will run is AfriLabs Connect, which brings together the biggest community of innovation enablers in Africa. This initiative is a huge deal for Africa’s startup ecosystem and AfriLabs’ mission to promote innovation, collaboration, and long-term growth on the continent.

    More on what AfriLabs does

    Since its inception in 2011, AfriLabs has been actively working to foster innovation hubs and their associated communities in a number of African nations. These hubs, which are both physical co-working spaces and specialised offices, offer business, legal, and financial education, as well as other resources, to young people, innovators, entrepreneurs, and developers in Africa.

    They can help foster innovation and entrepreneurship in Africa by getting involved with these hubs and the communities around them. This will lead to increased economic growth and better social conditions across the continent.

    As an organisation, AfriLabs is steadfast in its dedication to doing the right thing for society and the environment. They work tirelessly to promote diversity, inclusion, and long-term success in Africa’s thriving innovation and technology sector.

    They welcome anyone with an open mind and a passion for innovation to join their dynamic community, which embraces diversity and inclusion.

  • AfriLabs expands to new African cities countries

    AfriLabs expands to new African cities countries

    AfriLabs, the largest pan-African association of innovation enablers, has stated that it will expand to the Kingdom of Eswatini and five other African cities. Matsapha, Zanzibar, Baidoa, Ota, and Musanze.

    This growth is a big step for AfriLabs, and it will help the organization reach its goal of making Africa a better place for innovation and digital economies. Entrepreneurs, startups, and innovators will be able to meet, work together, and get resources through the new hubs. They will also help people all over the world advocate for innovation policies and share what they know.

    Read also: Google Maps to assist electric vehicle drivers to find charging points

    AfriLabs new hubs are:

    Novation City in North Africa, Privilege Access and Eureka Geo in Central Africa, Cube Zanzibar, Thousand Hills Hub, Somaliland Innovation Zone (SIZ), Southwest Innovation Hub, and Kabarak University Innovation and Business Incubation Centre in East Africa, and Moolu Venture Lab, The Stalwart Hub, Platinum Hub, Ubulu Africa, Hebron Startup Lab, WAN-Hive Ghana, Green Tech Innovation, and Royal Science and Technology Park-Business Incubator (RSTP) in West and South Africa have all joined the AfriLabs association of hubs.

    Mayssa Mrabet, who is in charge of community at AfriLabs, is positive about the effects of this growth. She said, “We will keep growing, supporting, and recognising innovative ecosystems all over the continent.” “This is a very important step towards our goal of making Africa digital by 2030.” 

    The growth is a good thing for the digital economy in Africa. It will make the continent’s innovation ecosystem more linked and active, making it easier for digital startups and businesses to grow. 

    Said Suleiman, co-founder and director of Cube Zanzibar, Tanzania, said, “This partnership increases our impact by matching our island’s unique strengths with AfriLabs’ vision for a thriving African innovation landscape.”

    Mely Monique, the founder and CEO of Eureka Geo in Cameroon, says that joining AfriLabs is a unique chance for them to be a part of the African digital ecosystem and get access to many possibilities.

    The AfriLabs Annual Gathering is a great chance to learn more about this interesting project. From October 11–13, 2023, the event will take place in Kigali, Rwanda.

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    About AfriLabs

    AfriLabs is a social networking site for African technology startups and business centers that is run by a company in Nigeria. AfriLabs is a network that connects 300 organizations in 50 countries.

    Nailab Kenya, iHub Kenya, HiveColab Uganda, ActivSpaces Cameroun, and Banta Labs Senegal formed AfriLabs in 2011. The unveiling of iHub was the first AfriLabs meeting. AfriLabs became a Dutch foundation in 2012 and hired its first executive director in November.

    Indigo Trust and Hivos joined AfriLabs. AfriLabs set strategic goals and partnered with Microsoft Africa and the Rockefeller Foundation in 2013. AfriLabs joined the World Bank’s InfoDev virtual incubation programme and added five East African hubs.

    Berlin hosted AfriLabs’ second worldwide meetup in 2014. launched a digital job competition with the Rockefeller Foundation.

    AfriLabs launched its first collaboration challenge with Microsoft4Afrika and the hub sustainability challenge with AfriHive.