Dear AfriLabbers,
September came with lots of opportunities for hubs, businesses and entrepreneurs within and outside the AfriLabs community. Catalytic Africa, a matching fund by the African Business Angels Network (ABAN) and AfriLabs that aims to strengthen African startups, innovation hubs, and angel investors while delivering impact results to institutional funders is still ongoing. Learn more and apply here.
As part of our continuous devotion to capacity development, AfriLabs Capacity Building Programme (ACBP) will hold physical workshops in 10 African Countries. The ACBP Physical Workshop will provide the opportunity to network with stakeholders across the African innovation ecosystem, attend the AfriLabs Annual Gathering 2022 and be taught by seasoned ecosystem leaders during the workshop. Application began in September and has closed for hubs in Zambia; other African countries can still apply until 28th October 2022. Learn more and apply here.
Global Center on Adaptation, African Development Bank, and Climate Investment Funds launched the second edition of the African Youth Adaptation Solutions #YouthAdapt Challenge, an annual competition and awards program for youth-led enterprises (50% women-led) as part of the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program YouthADAPT Flagship Program. The competition invites young entrepreneurs and Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in Africa to submit innovative solutions and business ideas that can drive climate change adaptation and resilience across Africa. Selected innovators will receive access to $100,000 each in grants among other benefits. Applications end at 11:59 pm on 4th October 2022. Apply here.
BongoHive, a consortium member of the AfriLabs Annual Gathering, took over the AfriLabs Annual Gathering page on Instagram for a day. They introduced themselves and talked about how they are excitedly looking forward to #AAG2022. Follow the official page of the AfriLabs Annual Gathering on Instagram @afrilabs_ag. If you haven’t, register for the #AAG2022 here.
6 Innovation teams from Eastern and Southern Africa were selected to join the UNFPA EUP HackLab boot camp. The boot camp is a lineup of activities, from capacity-building in business, technical and venture development skills to build from ideation to incubation stage, and connection to resources etc. The programme seeks to support targeted young innovators whose aspiring solutions can make impactful change for girls at risk of early pregnancies and seeks to end Early Pregnancy in East and Southern Africa.
To wrap up the month, Series 9 of the hubs learning week was held from 26th to 30th September 2022. It was an insightful week of learning about how to build, manage and grow successful startups. Keep your eyes out for Series 10!
That’s it for September!