AfriLabs Releases 2024 Impact Report: Over 500 Innovation Hubs, 280,000 Lives Reached, and a $1 Trillion Vision for Africa’s Digital Future
AfriLabs Releases 2024 Impact Report: Over 500 Innovation Hubs, 280,000 Lives Reached, and a $1 Trillion Vision for Africa’s Digital Future In a year marked by economic headwinds and shrinking global venture funding, AfriLabs expanded its network to an unprecedented 514 innovation hubs across 53 African countries, directly reaching over 280,000 entrepreneurs, startups, and youth through groundbreaking programs. From AI to climate tech, gender inclusion to digital skills, the newly released 2024 AfriLabs Impact Report offers a data-driven, inspiring look at how Africa’s largest innovation network is not only bridging opportunity gaps — but laying the groundwork for a $1 trillion digital economy. This isn’t just a report — it’s a blueprint for Africa’s technological rise. With programs like RevUp Women, Talent4Startups, UNFPA, and Greenovations Africa, AfriLabs empowered thousands of startups and SMEs with funding, mentorship, and technical skills to solve Africa’s most pressing challenges. Its platforms and initiatives reached beneficiaries in all 53 African countries, driving sustainable development and economic inclusion. On the global stage, AfriLabs elevated Africa’s innovation voice at major events such as UNGA79, VivaTech, GITEX, and the Global DPI Summit, advocating for inclusive policy, AI ethics, and youth and women empowerment. These engagements not only amplified Africa’s digital priorities but positioned AfriLabs as a leading convener in the global tech ecosystem. Strategic partnerships with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Digital Africa, Intel, Meta, and the Mastercard Foundation enabled the expansion of initiatives like AfriLabs Connect — now linking over 7,000 ecosystem stakeholders — and the rollout of Amari, an AI-powered learning assistant transforming digital education across the continent. AfriLabs Executive Director, Anna Ekeledo, stated: “Africa’s brightest minds are not just participating in global innovation — they are leading it. This report is both a celebration of progress and a call to action for partners, policymakers, and investors to co-create a future where no innovator is left behind.” Looking ahead, the report outlines AfriLabs’ 2025 strategic priorities, including a bold Moonshot Goal of unlocking $1 billion in digital investment, advancing ethical and inclusive AI, expanding policy advocacy, and building future-forward innovation infrastructure. To explore the full scope of AfriLabs’ achievements and learn how innovation is shaping Africa’s future, Download the full 2024 AfriLabs Impact Report here: https://bit.ly/AfriLabs-Report-2024 About AfriLabs AfriLabs is the largest pan-African network of technology and innovation hubs, driving inclusive growth and digital transformation across the continent. With a mission to support the development of Africa’s innovation economy, AfriLabs connects hubs and stakeholders to enable collaboration, resource sharing, and knowledge exchange. For more information about AfriLabs, visit www.afrilabs.com. For media inquiries, please contact pr@afrilabs.com & comms@afrilabs.com
AfriLabs to Spotlight Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Building at Bridge Africa Summit 2025
AfriLabs to Spotlight Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Building at Bridge Africa Summit 2025 AfriLabs, the largest network of innovation and technology hubs across Africa, will participate in the Bridge Africa Summit 2025, hosted by the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) in Benguerir, Morocco, from July 17–19, 2025. The summit will convene influential voices from across the continent to reimagine innovation, responsibility, and action in shaping Africa’s development future. As part of the official programme on Friday, July 18, AfriLabs’ Chief Operating Officer, COO, Ajibola Odukoya, will join a high-level panel session titled “Unlocking African Entrepreneurship”, contributing to a strategic dialogue on how to create stronger enabling environments for entrepreneurship across the continent. The session brings together diverse actors from academia, ecosystem support organizations, and innovation policy to explore the systemic levers that can shift Africa’s entrepreneurial landscape from promise to performance. It will spotlight the roles of universities, government institutions, catalytic programs, and platforms like AfriLabs in building the architecture for scalable, inclusive entrepreneurship. “Across the continent, entrepreneurs are innovating in high-impact sectors, but without systems to support them, scale remains elusive,” said Ajibola Odukoya, COO of AfriLabs. “This conversation is about unlocking the real value of entrepreneurship through intentional collaboration, aligned investment, and infrastructure that grows with the entrepreneur.” Drawing from AfriLabs’ work with over 500 hubs in 53 countries, Ajibola will offer practical insights into how innovation ecosystems can: ➜ Facilitate meaningful access to finance and mentorship, ➜ Strengthen collaboration between education institutions and startup communities, ➜ Drive localized policy advocacy that removes systemic barriers to growth, ➜ Position Africa’s entrepreneurs to compete and lead globally. AfriLabs’ participation reinforces its mission to create interconnected, resilient ecosystems that support entrepreneurs from ideation to expansion. From capacity building and access to markets to influencing startup-friendly policy, AfriLabs serves as a continental enabler, fostering environments where African innovation can thrive and scale sustainably. The Bridge Africa Summit’s emphasis on co-creation and innovation aligns with AfriLabs’ vision of entrepreneurship not as an isolated act but as a system-wide effort, involving both public and private actors, local talent, and global partnerships. UM6P’s leadership in convening this dialogue reflects the growing consensus that innovation must be backed by strong research, talent development pipelines, and policy coherence. The university’s presence in global innovation corridors points to a future where African entrepreneurs engage with the world on equal footing. This critical conversation also builds momentum toward the AfriLabs Annual Gathering 2025, taking place in Nairobi, Kenya, from October 7–9. Under the theme “Africa’s Innovation Future: Policy, Partnerships & Progress,” the Gathering will be a pan-African platform to deepen these discussions and forge the partnerships required to realize them. “We are no longer asking whether Africa can innovate; we’re showing how it already is. What we now need are the systems that allow innovation to scale across borders, sectors, and generations,” Ajibola added. The “Unlocking African Entrepreneurship” session is a timely contribution to Africa’s broader development agenda, one that understands that entrepreneurship is not just about opportunity, but about the ecosystems that enable ideas to become industries. For more on AfriLabs’ work or to connect during the summit, reach out to comms@afrilabs.com or visit www.afrilabs.com.
AfriLabs to Drive Global Collaboration for Africa’s Innovation Ecosystem at the 5th India-Africa Entrepreneurship & Investment Summit in Nairobi
AfriLabs to Drive Global Collaboration for Africa’s Innovation Ecosystem at the 5th India-Africa Entrepreneurship & Investment Summit in Nairobi AfriLabs, the largest network of innovation hubs across Africa, will serve as a strategic partner and participant at the upcoming 5th India-Africa Entrepreneurship & Investment Summit, taking place in Nairobi, Kenya from July 17–18, 2025. The summit will convene key players from across India and Africa, including government leaders, investors, entrepreneurs, and ecosystem builders to explore new pathways for innovation, trade, and inclusive development. AfriLabs’ involvement reflects its commitment to strengthening cross-continental collaboration and unlocking global opportunities for African innovation hubs. Represented by our Executive Director, Anna Ekeledo, AfriLabs will spotlight Africa’s growing innovation ecosystem while advancing conversations around capital access, digital transformation, and sustainable growth. On Day 1 of the summit, Thursday 17th July 2025, Anna Ekeledo will speak on a high-level panel titled “Building Scale: How Government, Capital & Networks can enable the Next Generation of High-Impact Ventures,” scheduled from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. She will be speaking alongside Vipul Parekh, Co-Founder of BigBasket, and Dr. Tonny Mwansa, CEO of the Kenya Innovation Agency. The session will be moderated by Anirudh Damani. This conversation will explore the vital roles that networks like AfriLabs, policy frameworks, and investment ecosystems play in scaling transformative ventures across emerging markets. “This summit connects two dynamic regions shaping the future of innovation,” said Anna Ekeledo, Executive Director of AfriLabs. “Strategic partnerships like these open doors to new resources, connections, and possibilities that are critical for scaling African-led solutions.” AfriLabs’ engagement at the summit aligns squarely with its strategic vision, one that prioritizes global cooperation, resource mobilization, and innovation diplomacy as central levers for ecosystem growth. The summit provides a powerful platform for: Fostering bilateral and multilateral investment opportunities for African startups and innovation hubs Creating partnerships for shared programming, research, and knowledge exchange between Indian and African hubs Exploring green and digital economy synergies, with an emphasis on climate-smart innovation, digital public infrastructure, and inclusive growth Showcasing Africa’s innovation potential and the critical role hubs play in nurturing local talent, startups, and solutions With over 500 member hubs in 53 countries and the diaspora, AfriLabs brings a continent-wide lens to these conversations, ensuring that Africa’s grassroots innovation engines are at the forefront of shaping global development agendas. This participation also builds momentum toward AfriLabs Annual Gathering 2025, which will take place in Nairobi from October 7–9, 2025. The Annual Gathering is the largest pan-African convening of innovation hubs, development partners, governments, startups, and private sector players. This year’s theme will center on “Africa’s Innovation Future: Policy, Partnerships & Progress.” Together, these two major events signal Nairobi’s growing importance as a continental and global hub for innovation diplomacy and entrepreneurial exchange. With AfriLabs participating in the India-Africa Summit in July and convening the Annual Gathering in October, Nairobi stands out as a focal point for Africa’s innovation leadership in 2025. These convenings will catalyze partnerships, unlock investment flows and amplify the voices of Africa’s innovation ecosystem on the global stage,” added Anna As global challenges become increasingly interconnected, so must solutions. The 5th India-Africa Entrepreneurship & Investment Summit is a powerful demonstration of the potential of South-South cooperation, where shared priorities in digital transformation, youth empowerment, sustainability, and entrepreneurship become catalysts for inclusive growth. AfriLabs is committed to ensuring that African innovation hubs are in this dialogue but central players, solution architects, and collaborators in shaping a future that works for all. To learn more about AfriLabs’ work in strengthening Africa’s innovation ecosystem and explore opportunities for collaboration, visit www.afrilabs.com. If you’d like to connect with us during the summit or schedule a meeting, reach out via comms@afrilabs.com, we’d love to engage with you.
AfriLabs and Partners Convene Cross-Regional AU-AU Study Visit to Advance Africa’s Clean Energy Agenda
AfriLabs and Partners Convene Cross-Regional AU-AU Study Visit to Advance Africa’s Clean Energy Agenda AfriLabs, in partnership with leading institutions under the EMERGE Project, funded by the European Union, is set to host the AU-AU Study Visit in Nigeria on July 9, 2025, a strategic knowledge exchange initiative aimed at accelerating Africa’s transition to clean and sustainable energy systems. This visit brings together energy stakeholders from across the continent to share insights, showcase innovations, and co-create solutions tailored to Africa’s diverse energy landscapes. As part of the EMERGE Project’s commitment to strengthening African-led responses to climate and energy challenges, the study visit serves as a hands-on, immersive opportunity for pilot project owners, technical experts, and policymakers from Nigeria, Mali, Morocco, and Mozambique to interact directly with successful energy implementations. The goal is not only to observe but also to collaboratively build models that address regional disparities, resource gaps, and policy needs in the pursuit of energy equity and sustainability. The EMERGE Project itself is centered on equipping Africa’s policymakers, academics, entrepreneurs, and communities with practical tools and knowledge to expand clean energy access while promoting the sustainable use of natural resources. By integrating existing technologies, methodologies, and research into a co-designed toolbox and knowledge base, EMERGE is building strong, context-specific frameworks that reflect the realities of African ecosystems. The AU-AU Study Visit is a major milestone in this process as it seeks to translate theoretical approaches into grounded regionally informed strategies through peer learning and on-site exploration. The day-long agenda is designed to spark critical conversations around Africa’s energy future. It includes high-level presentations from key institutions such as the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), and Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), alongside interactive workshops that will unpack real-time challenges and innovations emerging from the pilot regions. Throughout the visit, participants will explore how Africa can localize clean energy technologies, unlock financing for green infrastructure, and strengthen policy environments that drive inclusive energy transitions. Crucially, this convening embodies the spirit of African solidarity. By bridging geographies and bringing together varied experiences, the AU-AU Study Visit creates space for mutual learning, trust-building, and the development of actionable strategies that respond to Africa’s urgent energy needs. The connections forged here — between institutions, communities, and countries — will be instrumental in shaping the continent’s clean energy trajectory and ensuring no region is left behind in the global push for sustainability. As AfriLabs and its partners continue to champion innovation ecosystems across Africa, the AU-AU Study Visit affirms our belief that Africa holds the answers to its own energy future and that those answers grow stronger when we learn, build, and act together. To learn more about our participation and the EMERGE project please contact Adaora Okolie at adaora@afrilabs.com
Building on Transformative Impact, RevUp Women Initiative: Nigeria Edition Launches at Lagos Startup Week 2025
Building on Transformative Impact, RevUp Women Initiative: Nigeria Edition Launches at Lagos Startup Week 2025 Following the success and impact of its inaugural cohort, the RevUp Women Initiative is proud to announce the official launch of RevUp Women Initiative: Nigeria Edition on July 11 during the 10th year Anniversary of Lagos Startup Week organized by Prime Startups. Launching the program in Nigeria represents a significant milestone in the initiative’s mission to empower women-led businesses through a combination of enterprise development, strategic mentorship, and access to funding. With it’s first edition now completed, the RevUp Women Initiative has proven that targeted investment in women entrepreneurs yields transformative results. The first edition supported 459 women entrepreneurs from 5 African countries—Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Cameroon, and the Democratic Republic of Congo—creating 2,426 jobs and providing access to critical resources, including training on business models, financial management, and digital tools; positioning them for sustained growth and long-term success. Ten participants were awarded $10,000 each in grants and accessed mentorship from a global community to support their growth. Building on this achievement, the RevUp Women Initiative: Nigeria Edition will support 150 women-led businesses in Lagos, Abuja, and Abia, with a focus on Agribusiness and E-commerce sectors, which are key industries for economic growth and innovation. The program’s participants will connect with successful women entrepreneurs, and six outstanding participants will be considered for grant funding, totaling $24,000 and distributed among the selected awardees. “We’ve seen firsthand how intentional support and access to the right tools and networks can shift the trajectory of women-led businesses, not just helping them survive but thrive. Through tailored capacity building, mentorship, and meaningful partnerships, we’ve watched ideas turn into impactful ventures. With this new phase, we are doubling down on both impact and inclusivity, ensuring that more women across Nigeria have the resources, visibility, and community they need to grow scalable, sustainable businesses and become key players in the innovation ecosystem.”— Nanko Madu, Director of Programs at AfriLabs “Small businesses represent 90% of all companies, and account for nearly 70% of both jobs and GDP worldwide. With such a large footprint, they are an integral part of our global economy’s fabric and can’t be overlooked,” said Chukwudi Onike, Program Officer, Visa Foundation. “At Visa Foundation, we are focused on empowering SMBs and entrepreneurs with access to capital, digital tools and financial skills to grow and thrive. Our partnership with AfriLabs helps us reach more entrepreneurs in need of support, including women entrepreneurs.” Applications for the Rev Up Women Initiative: Nigeria Edition will be open from July 11 to August 8, 2025. Interested participants are encouraged to visit the official website at www.revupwomen.com to stay updated and prepare for the application launch. The RevUp Women Initiative remains committed to supporting Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, with an ambitious long-term goal of supporting 50,000 women-led enterprises and creating over 152,000 jobs. With a strong foundation laid and an enthusiastic cohort of trailblazing women ready to step forward, this next edition promises to push boundaries and unlock even greater impact. About RevUp Women Initiative RevUp Women is an initiative dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs across Africa. Through mentorship, training, and access to resources, RevUp Women provides women with the support they need to start and grow successful businesses, driving economic growth and fostering gender equality. Learn more at RevUp Women. About AfriLabs AfriLabs is an innovation-focused organization established in 2011 to empower a community of innovation hubs and stakeholders across Africa. Our mission is to support these hubs in nurturing high-potential entrepreneurs, driving economic growth, and fostering social development across the continent. Through capacity building, financing, networking, policy advocacy, and reliable data provision, AfriLabs works to create a thriving innovation economy in Africa. Our goal is to equip entrepreneurs with essential skills and resources for sustainable development within the tech and innovation landscape. For more information about AfriLabs and the Rev Up Women initiative, visit www.afrilabs.com & RevUp Women For media inquiries, please contact pr@afrilabs.com & comms@afrilabs.com
Africa’s AI-Powered Innovation Revolution: Conditioned on Ecosystem Readiness
Africa’s AI-Powered Innovation Revolution: Conditioned on Ecosystem Readiness While the global conversation around artificial intelligence (AI) frequently centers on distant developments like chatbots emerging from Silicon Valley, robotic process automation transforming East Asia, or ethics dialogues convened in Geneva – a more deeply rooted and profoundly significant phenomenon is unfolding across Africa. Beneath the surface of these prominent international narratives lies a quiet yet urgent revolution situated at the dynamic intersection of innovation, snowballing youth ambition, and accelerating digital transformation. This movement transcends mere attempts to emulate Western technological advancements; it is fundamentally about actively shaping a distinctly African AI future. At the nexus of this transformative effort stands AfriLabs, the continent’s largest pan-African network of innovation hubs, which is actively redefining how technology, talent, and indigenous creativity can be effectively mobilized to address Africa’s most pressing and urgent challenges. Within the broader global discourse concerning AI and its potential for economic transformation, Africa is regrettably often framed as a latecomer or, worse, a passive recipient of solutions imported from elsewhere. This limiting perspective unfortunately obscures a far more critical and structural challenge: Africa’s innovation ecosystems currently suffer from insufficient support, inadequate funding, and persistent undervaluation within global AI conversations. The fundamental question is not whether Africans are actively engaged in building with AI – they demonstrably are. The crucial determinant lies in whether the underlying ecosystems designed to foster innovation can genuinely support this work and enable its scaling to achieve widespread impact. Analogous to the insidious drain of wealth through illicit financial flows that severely constrains public service funding, Africa’s digital future is being undermined by fragmented infrastructure, extractive technological partnerships, and the sustained export of local talent to global platforms that offer minimal reciprocal benefit. For the continent to truly reap the benefits promised by the AI economy, it must move beyond simply adopting existing tools; it is imperative that it actively shapes these tools, asserts ownership over its data, and establishes the foundational rules governing this new technological landscape. The potential for AI to profoundly transform Africa is indeed immense. Projections from PwC suggest AI could contribute a staggering $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030. However, without a deliberate and concerted effort to build foundational domestic capacity, Africa risks capturing only a marginal fraction of this value, while simultaneously exporting its invaluable data, talent, and creative potential to systems constructed far beyond its borders. Crucially, Africa possesses the world’s youngest population, experiences one of the fastest rates of mobile penetration globally and is witnessing a rising tide of dynamic tech entrepreneurs actively solving real-world problems in real time. This narrative is not one of inherent deficit, but rather one highlighting a significant missed opportunity that demands urgent rectification. AfriLabs, leveraging its extensive network comprising over 500 innovation hubs spanning 53 African countries, is diligently working to bridge this critical gap. It provides essential infrastructure, targeted training, crucial funding, and supportive policy advocacy specifically designed to place the creation and deployment of African solutions firmly into African hands. To speak plainly, Africa does not require generative AI tools primarily focused on mimicking celebrity voices or automating generic digital marketing tasks. What the continent genuinely needs, and what many of its visionary innovators are already actively developing, are AI-driven systems specifically engineered to: – Facilitate accurate diagnosis of diseases in remote rural clinics. – Optimize irrigation strategies for smallholder farmers to enhance yields and resilience. – Predict climate patterns with greater accuracy to protect vulnerable livelihoods. – Power comprehensive financial inclusion initiatives for the vast unbanked population. These solutions are not mere theoretical concepts; they are tangible realities already being developed and piloted within hubs across the AfriLabs network. However, their ultimate success hinges on factors extending far beyond the elegance of code. It relies fundamentally on establishing robust networks of trust, ensuring equitable access to necessary funding, guaranteeing reliable connectivity, and cultivating supportive regulatory environments – precisely the critical areas within which AfriLabs strategically operates. Much like the misleading narrative that portrays corruption as Africa’s single greatest developmental hurdle, the notion that Africa will effortlessly “leapfrog” into the AI economy solely on the strength of its mobile penetration is profoundly misleading. While it is true that African innovators have historically demonstrated remarkable capacity for leapfrogging technological stages, this narrative unfortunately obscures the persistent structural deficits that severely impede scaling efforts: unreliable internet connectivity, insufficient compute power, inadequate access to high-quality training resources, and extractive data practices perpetuated by external actors. Genuine leapfrogging will not materialize spontaneously within a vacuum. It must be deliberately engineered through intentional strategy, sustained investment, and a commitment to inclusive participation. This fundamental understanding underpins AfriLabs’ strategic focus, which extends beyond merely spotlighting individual innovations to actively supporting the complex systems that render innovation possible and sustainable. To achieve authentic and meaningful participation in the blooming AI revolution, Africa must proactively construct and safeguard its own digital sovereignty. This imperative necessitates: – Asserting ownership over and diligently protecting African data assets. – Training talent specifically for advanced AI development roles, moving beyond basic tech support functions. – Substantially strengthening innovation hubs by providing shared access to crucial cloud computing resources, establishing dedicated AI laboratories, and fostering widespread ethical AI literacy. – Developing and implementing regulatory frameworks explicitly designed to prioritize and safeguard long-term African interests. AfriLabs is already actively collaborating with a diverse range of partners across multiple sectors to decisively move in this direction. Through impactful initiatives such as Catalytic Africa and AfriLabs Connect Deal Room (ACDR) it is providing direct financial support to promising African startups and empowering local ecosystems to thrive, not as passive beneficiaries, but as assertive architects of their own digital futures. Governments across the continent bear a vital responsibility to act as proactive facilitators of this transformation. They must significantly invest in domestic research capabilities, actively support homegrown technological talent, and demand equitable terms from global AI companies operating within their borders. Concurrently, international partners must transcend superficial corporate social responsibility narratives and
Unlocking Africa’s Potential for Sustainable Growth through the Creative Industry
Unlocking Africa’s Potential for Sustainable Growth through the Creative Industry Africa’s creative industry serves as a dynamic and promising sector with the ability to drive significant economic growth, foster innovation, and create job opportunities across the continent. As Africa advances and adapts to current global trends, the creative economy is emerging as a crucial element in determining its future trajectory. Rich in cultural diversity and artistic expression, Africa’s creative industry not only instils a sense of pride among its people but also makes a substantial contribution to the continent’s overall GDP. According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the global creative economy was valued at approximately $2.25 trillion in 2021, with Africa’s share increasing steadily. Forecasts for 2024 suggest that Africa could account for as much as 10% of global creative goods exports by 2030, potentially totalling around $200 billion. This remarkable growth is largely fuelled by advancements in digital technology and an increasing global appetite for authentic African content. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the music industry has experienced an impressive 24% rise in revenue in 2024, establishing itself as the fastest-growing music market in the world. Artists such as Tyla have gained international attention, earning prestigious awards and highlighting the global appeal of African music. At the same time, Nollywood continues to thrive, generating an estimated $1.2 billion each year, while Netflix has invested over $175 million in African productions since 2016, significantly elevating the profile and reach of African narratives on a global scale. Leveraging Technology for Growth Technology plays a crucial role in the evolution of Africa’s creative industries. The rise of digital platforms has enabled artists and creators to reach global audiences, breaking down traditional barriers to entry. Streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music have opened new revenue streams for African musicians, while platforms like YouTube allow filmmakers and content creators to monetize their work directly. Moreover, the global export of creative services reached $1.4 trillion in 2022, marking a 29% increase since 2017. Africa is increasingly tapping into this trend, with digital tools empowering creatives to build personal brands, engage with audiences in real-time, and collaborate across borders. Unlocking Funding for Creative Ventures Despite the immense potential, access to funding remains a significant challenge for many creatives in Africa. Traditional financing models often overlook the unique needs of the creative sector, leaving many talented individuals without the resources to scale their ventures. Innovative funding models are emerging, including crowdfunding, venture capital, and partnerships with private sector players. Countries like Côte d’Ivoire and Zambia are leading the way with initiatives that support creative entrepreneurs through policy reforms and ecosystem development. Financial literacy and business development programs are also equipping creatives with the tools to navigate the funding landscape effectively. The Role of Events in Shaping the Creative Economy Events are instrumental in shaping Africa’s creative economy by fostering collaboration, sharing insights, and spotlighting innovation. One of the most anticipated gatherings this year is the AfriLabs Annual Gathering 2025 (AAG2025), happening from 7–9 October 2025 in Nairobi, Kenya, under the theme “Africa’s Innovation Future: Policy, Partnerships, & Progress.” Among the seven thematic tracks at AAG2025 is the Creative Economy Track, which focuses on the power of African creativity in the digital age. This track explores how African culture, art, music, film, and storytelling can thrive in the digital economy. It will cover key topics such as monetization strategies, the ethical use of AI in creative industries, and how innovation can coexist with cultural preservation and global influence. Learn more at www.afrilabsgathering.com. Additionally, the Africa Creative Economy Lens Forum, taking place from 28–31 August 2025 in Kigali, Rwanda, is another landmark event. AfriLabs Strategic Communications & PR Manager, Millie Abila, will represent AfriLabs on a panel exploring investment in Africa’s creative industries for sustainable growth. This panel will push the conversation beyond product creation, focusing on how African creatives can leverage technology, unlock funding, and build scalable, monetizable ventures. Together, these events are shaping the future of Africa’s creative industries by bringing together stakeholders from across the continent and beyond to collaborate, innovate, and invest. To connect with us at the Africa Creative Economy Lens Forum, please contact our communications team at comms@afrilabs.com.
Breaking Down Barriers for Entrepreneurs in Africa: AfriLabs at the 4th AU MSME Forum 2025
Breaking Down Barriers for Entrepreneurs in Africa: AfriLabs at the 4th AU MSME Forum 2025 The African innovation ecosystem will take center stage at the 4th Annual African Union Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSME) Forum, under the theme “Building Resilient MSMEs through Digital Innovation, Market Access & Affordable Financing for Africa.” The event, hosted by the African Union Commission (AUC) in collaboration with the Government of Nigeria, will bring together over 300 stakeholders to shape inclusive pathways for entrepreneurship across the continent. Among the high-impact sessions during this week-long forum, AfriLabs is set to participate in a critical conversation on “Breaking Down Barriers for Entrepreneurs in Africa: The Role of Technology (Incubation and Acceleration) Hubs.” The session is scheduled for Thursday, June 26th, from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM, WAT. Representing AfriLabs will be Nanko Madu, Director of Programmes, who brings a wealth of experience on how innovation hubs are supporting Africa’s emerging and growing entrepreneurial talent. The session will convene leading accelerators, incubators, and innovation enablers to unpack the vital role that tech hubs play in nurturing early-stage startups, especially in environments marked by limited funding, fragmented infrastructure, and constrained market access. The conversation aims to spotlight how hubs are anchoring Africa’s digital transformation by: Providing startups with access to training, mentorship, and funding opportunities Driving inclusive digital adoption among MSMEs Bridging local entrepreneurs with continental and global markets. Helping startups navigate regulatory hurdles and compliance challenges Promoting inclusive innovation by targeting women- and youth-led businesses. AfriLabs, with its network of over 500 hubs in 53 African countries, plays a critical role in enabling this transformation. Through its programs and advocacy, AfriLabs fosters an environment where African startups can scale and thrive. Set against the broader backdrop of the African Union’s strategy to empower SMEs, this session complements the forum’s focus on digital tools, intra-African trade, and structural financing. Delegates will engage with actionable strategies to: Mobilize public-private partnerships to fund entrepreneurial infrastructure Align hub efforts with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to promote intra-African commerce Embed environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles in entrepreneurial development Encourage joint policy-making efforts between governments and ecosystem enablers Highlight replicable success stories and data-backed outcomes of incubation and acceleration programs. As African economies look to MSMEs as the backbone of job creation and innovation, the forum’s agenda aligns closely with AfriLabs’ mission: to support the development of a knowledge-driven, innovation-led economy across the continent. AfriLabs invites ecosystem actors, investors, policymakers, and partners to join this vital session and explore how collaborative models can dismantle persistent barriers for African entrepreneurs. Event Details Date: Thursday, June 26, 2025 Time: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM (WAT) Venue: Abuja Continental Hotel, Abuja, Nigeria Speaker: Nanko Madu, Director of Programmes, AfriLabs To learn more about our participation, please contact Shaka Mutuku at shaka@afrilabs.com
The Rise of Deep Tech in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities
The Rise of Deep Tech in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities AfriLabs is increasingly focused on supporting innovation that not only addresses immediate challenges but also establishes a foundation for lasting change across Africa. In line with this commitment, we are looking closely at the rise of deep tech, an emerging area of science-based, engineering-driven innovation that is transforming sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, energy, and climate. Deep tech is not about quick solutions or popular apps. It focuses on meaningful, long-term answers grounded in cutting-edge research. This often pulls from areas like artificial intelligence, biotechnology, advanced materials, and robotics. Building these technologies requires time, teamwork, and bravery, but their ability to change entire systems is significant. Africa is at a crossroads where the scope and complexity of today’s problems are outstripping traditional development approaches. It takes innovative thinking to address the effects of climate change, gaps in healthcare delivery, and the need to feed expanding populations. Deep tech can help with this. Deep tech provides solutions that can be both significant and distinctively African, from AI tools that enhance diagnostic access in rural clinics to precision farming that assists smallholder farmers in adapting to unpredictable weather. These solutions are already being developed by innovators on the continent, who are creating indigenous technologies that take into account and understand local realities. At AfriLabs, we believe deep tech should play an integral role in Africa’s innovation future. That’s why we’re investing in dialogues, partnerships, and support systems that provide deep tech ventures with the space and resources they need to grow. Across our network of over 500 hubs in 54 countries, we are seeing a new generation of scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs asking bold questions and building prototypes that challenge the status quo. These innovators do not just want to copy global models; they are creating solutions that are specific to their context and based on African ingenuity. Whether it’s startups using machine learning to fight crop disease, labs testing sustainable materials, or biotech companies mapping African genomes, a quiet revolution is happening. Deep tech cannot thrive in isolation. It requires time, patient capital, and supportive environments such as innovation hubs, research centers, and policy roundtables where risk is accepted, failure is acknowledged, and cross-sector collaboration is promoted. The ecosystem is slowly evolving, but it still has a long way to go. Many deep tech ventures grapple with significant hurdles as they seek the robust infrastructure, sufficient funding, and clear regulatory frameworks they urgently need. Investors often remain hesitant, wary of committing to science-based startups that come with extended timelines and uncertain returns. Meanwhile, researchers find themselves isolated in silos, deprived of valuable industry partnerships and viable pathways for bringing their innovations to market. Compounding these challenges, the talented individuals who could drive this work frequently leave the continent in pursuit of more promising opportunities elsewhere. At AfriLabs, we are acutely aware of the gaps that exist within the innovation landscape, and we are passionately committed to bridging them. Our mission involves uniting vibrant hubs with leading research institutions, cultivating an enriching culture of collaboration between the public, governments and private sectors, and championing policy frameworks that nurture and propel advanced innovation across the continent. Through our initiatives, such as Catalytic Africa and the AfriLabs Connect Deal Room (ACDR), we are pioneering novel funding models that seamlessly blend grants, equity, and impact capital, tailored specifically for startups tackling complex, high-potential technologies poised to transform the continent. The trajectory of deep tech in Africa relies on our courage to support it with unyielding resolve. It’s a call to action that extends far beyond mere financial backing; it requires synchronized leadership, forward-thinking policies, and platforms that elevate African science and ignite the flames of knowledge creation. At the upcoming AfriLabs Annual Gathering 2025 in Nairobi, Kenya, deep tech will be a key priority. We are organizing sessions aimed at uniting startups, researchers, investors, and policymakers to explore how Africa can lead responsibly and competitively in emerging technologies. This moment represents more than just a chance to reconnect; it embodies our opportunity to architect Africa’s deep tech future according to our vision. For a comprehensive understanding of AfriLabs’ overall transformative initiatives in building a vibrant ecosystem, please visit our website www.afrilabs.com. To engage in the enlightening discourse surrounding the AfriLabs Annual Gathering 2025, we invite you to explore more details at www.afrilabsgathering.com.
7 Thématiques, 1 Avenir : Le AfriLabs Annual Gathering 2025 prépare la Renaissance de l’Innovation Africaine
7 Thématiques, 1 Avenir : Le AfriLabs Annual Gathering 2025 prépare la Renaissance de l’Innovation Africaine Réservez votre place dès maintenant pour le plus grand événement de l’innovation en Afrique ! La 10e édition de l’AfriLabs Annual Gathering (AAG) se tiendra à Nairobi, au Kenya, du 7 au 9 octobre 2025—célébrant une décennie d’innovation et de croissance de l’écosystème à travers le continent. Placé sous le thème « L’Avenir de l’Innovation en Afrique : Politiques, Partenariats et Progrès », cet événement marquant promet des réflexions de pointe à ne pas manquer. Bien plus qu’une conférence, l’édition 2025 du Gathering propose une expérience soigneusement conçue pour approfondir les discussions et susciter des actions concrètes à travers sept thématiques clés mettant en lumière les besoins et opportunités les plus urgents du continent en matière d’innovation. Ces thématiques incluent : Politiques, Données & IA en Afrique, qui explorera comment l’élaboration de cadres réglementaires adaptatifs et l’innovation en matière de politiques autour des données et de l’intelligence artificielle peuvent stimuler la croissance socio-économique de l’Afrique. Investisseurs & Investissements, qui facilitera des échanges directs avec des investisseurs mobilisés pour catalyser des capitaux en faveur d’une croissance fondée sur l’innovation, avec un accent particulier sur l’impact local. Genre et Inclusion, qui traitera de l’innovation inclusive axée sur l’équité, l’accès et la représentation pour tous, indépendamment de leur groupe social. Solutions pour les Hubs, qui mettra en lumière comment renforcer la résilience des hubs d’innovation en matière d’échelle, de durabilité et de transformation systémique pour maintenir leur impact dans l’écosystème. Économie Verte et Bleue, qui se concentrera sur l’innovation pour une Afrique résiliente face au climat et régénérative grâce à la ClimateTech et à l’éco-innovation. Économie Numérique Créative, qui permettra aux participants d’explorer la monétisation de la culture et de la créativité africaines à l’ère numérique, ainsi que les enjeux éthiques de l’utilisation de l’IA dans la création. Makerspaces, qui mettront en avant l’ingéniosité locale et les façons dont le mouvement de fabrication locale en Afrique peut évoluer des prototypes vers des produits adoptés à l’échelle mondiale. Au-delà des thématiques, l’AAG 2025 proposera des panels de haut niveau, masterclasses, événements de réseautage et expositions interactives qui ne se contenteront pas de susciter des dialogues, mais jetteront aussi les bases de solutions pratiques. Les participants auront également la primeur d’annonces clés et de partenariats stratégiques visant à mondialiser l’innovation africaine tout en favorisant un développement inclusif et durable. « Cette édition du Gathering n’est pas qu’une célébration – c’est un engagement renouvelé à façonner l’avenir de l’innovation africaine par la collaboration et l’action », a déclaré Anna Ekeledo, Directrice Exécutive d’AfriLabs. « Chaque thématique représente une lentille à travers laquelle nous analyserons le passé, répondrons aux défis actuels et concevrons des solutions concrètes pour l’avenir. » Que vous soyez fondateur de startup, décideur politique, partenaire au développement, innovateur en entreprise, universitaire ou acteur de l’écosystème, l’AAG 2025 vous offre une opportunité inégalée de vous connecter, d’apprendre, de co-créer et de guider l’innovation en Afrique. Rejoignez-nous à Nairobi et participez au prochain chapitre de l’histoire de l’innovation africaine. N’attendez plus – réservez votre place dès maintenant sur : https://afrilabsgathering.com/tickets À propos d’AfriLabs AfriLabs est le plus grand réseau de hubs technologiques et d’innovation à travers l’Afrique, engagé à promouvoir une innovation inclusive, l’entrepreneuriat et un développement durable. Grâce à la communauté, au renforcement des capacités et à la collaboration, AfriLabs soutient les hubs locaux pour amplifier leur impact et façonner l’avenir de l’innovation sur le continent. Pour en savoir plus, visitez : www.afrilabsgathering.com et www.afrilabs.com Pour les demandes médias : pr@afrilabs.com | comms@afrilabs.com