AfriLabs and Intel host early-stage deep-tech investors’ roundtable in Kenya
On the 27th and 28th of July 2022, Intel in partnership with AfriLabs and African Business Angel Network held discussions on Early-Stage Deep-Tech Investing across Africa in Nairobi, Kenya. It was an interactive hybrid event involving a diverse group of early-stage investors in deep-tech who shared insights and learnings within the African context. The session provided a deep dive into the pillars of the transformation and the emergence of Deep Tech in Africa, and discussions focused on the importance and role of the Deep Tech sector in economic development. The sessions also interrogated the role early-stage funding plays in this sector. In attendance across the 2-days event was Dr Bienvenu Agbokponto Soglo, Director, Government Affairs Africa and IGA CTO Liaison (PE), Intel Corporation, Nekesa Were, Director of Strategy AfriLabs, Snehar Shah, CEO, Moringa School, Tim Dagori, Board Member Association of Startup and SME Enablers of Kenya, Philip Thigo, Senior Director for Africa, Thunderbird School of Global Management, H.E. Thomas Wimmer, Acting Ambassador to Kenya, Federal Republic of Germany, Hon. Ms. Maureen Mbaka, Chief Administrative Secretary at Ministry of ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs, Republic of Kenya, Fadilah Tchoumba, Secretary-General, African Business Angel Network – and other top stakeholders. “At AfriLabs, we believe that world-class African hubs nurture innovators and entrepreneurs capable of competing and standing out globally. We have made our work the training and funding hubs, working with them to influence national innovation policies and offering hubs African innovation data to aid their work.” Nekesa Were said during her welcome speech. “Like anything worth doing, we cannot do this alone. This is why partnerships like the one we have with Intel matter.” “Supporting digital entrepreneurship and tech start-ups in Kenya means bringing down barriers through the entire ecosystem, including those related to connectivity, payment systems, data protection, financial inclusion, and logistics. This is why entrepreneurs and female founders need comprehensive support structures that provide them with capacity building, affordable credit, and facilitated access to new markets.” H.E. Thomas Wimmer, Acting Ambassador to Kenya, the Federal Republic of Germany on why support for deep-tech startups in Kenya and Africa is relevant. “According to the World Bank, deep tech companies bring transformative technology from the lab to the market in addition to democratised research infrastructure. Increased available funding has led to the rise of deep-tech companies globally, including in emerging markets and Africa, Kenya to be specific should follow suit.” Ms. Maureen Mbaka, Chief Administrative Secretary at the Ministry of ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs, Republic of Kenya also commented on why understanding how to support deep-tech startups is important. She also congratulated AfriLabs and Intel on their partnership. Dr. Bienvenu Agbokponto Soglo, Director, Government Affairs Africa and IGA CTO Liaison (PE), Intel Corporation in his opening remarks spoke about Intel’s mission: “Technology will play a critical role in building a digital future that is equitable, accessible, and inclusive for all. That is why Intel launched its new RISE strategy and 2030 goals. Through this strategy, Intel strives to create a more responsible, inclusive, and sustainable future, enabled through its technology and the expertise and passion of its employees.” Another highlight was a hybrid workshop for deep-tech startups in Kenya and across Africa. The participants were introduced to Intel Ignite and Intel OneAPI programs. The session was facilitated by Dr Bienvenu AGBOKPONTO SOGLO, the Director, Government Affairs Africa & EMEA CTO Liaison, and a Principal Engineer at Intel Corporation, Mrs. Kate Hach, Head of Program at Intel Ignite’s accelerator in Munich and Mr Ralph Wargny, Leads the Intel’s oneAPI global virtual startup accelerator program for early-stage software innovators in AI, HPC, graphics.
Intel and AfriLabs collaborate to support the African Deep Tech Startup Ecosystem
AfriLabs is excited to announce that we have partnered with the global manufacturer of advanced integrated digital technology platforms, Intel to gain a deeper understanding of the African deep-tech startup ecosystem and identify pathways in which Intel can extend their support to deep tech startups on the continent. The startup scene in Africa has experienced incredible growth in recent years, and this is partly a result of several significant interventions by stakeholders to enable entrepreneurship and innovation in local ecosystems. AfriLabs and Intel’s collaboration hopes to sustainably build on the work done and set a framework for future interventions. “To give more impactful support to the startup ecosystem in Africa, we need to consider specialised capacity building. Different kinds of startups need different kinds of support, and the AfriLabs partnership with Intel explores learning more about how we could better support deep tech ventures. I am particularly excited about this collaboration and how it would lay the foundation for deeper interactions between the ecosystem and big global tech players like Intel.” Anna Ekeledo, Executive Director, AfriLabs said during her opening remarks. At the official partnership agreement signing ceremony on the 24th of May, 2022, Intel was represented by Maurits Tichelman, Vice President SMG & GM EMEA Territory, Intel (virtual), Dr Bienvenu AGBOKPONTO SOGLO, Director, Government Affairs Africa and EMEA CTO Liaison, Intel (onsite), Kate Hach, Head of Program, Intel Ignite’s accelerator (virtual) and the Emerging Markets Director for Government and Education of Intel Corporation, Mr Sven Beckmann (virtual). “As part of our desire to support the African Startups Ecosystem, Intel is looking to learn from and harvest new technology disruptions that will help position Intel’s Business in Africa in areas such as Healthcare, Fintech, Agriculture, E-commerce, Mobility, Hardware/IoT that are enabled by Intel Technologies.” said Maurits Tichelman, Vice President SMG & GM EMEA Territory, Intel during the signing ceremony. “It is in this regard, that we are signing a collaboration agreement with AfriLabs” he continued. Anna Ekeledo, Executive Director of AfriLabs, Daniel Chinagozi, Member of the AfriLabs Board, Ajibola Odukoya, AfriLabs COO, Nekesa Were, Director of Strategy, AfriLabs, Felista Aku, Partnerships Manager at AfriLabs and other members of the AfriLabs team represented the AfriLabs. A cross-section of high-level local and regional innovation ecosystem key players was also present. The partnership will leverage AfriLabs’ pan-African reach to map startups and ecosystem stakeholders and provide recommendations for future modes of collaboration that will ensure continuous deal flow and establish a presence for Intel. Dr Bienvenu AGBOKPONTO SOGLO, Director Government Affairs Africa & EMEA CTO Liaison, Intel also spoke about the organisation’s ambition: “As Intel looks ahead to the next decade, our ambitions and opportunities have never been greater to unleash the power of data and help advance integrated corporate responsibility strategies in which companies use collaborative models to drive increased value creation and societal impact.” A prominent outcome of this partnership is that African startups in deep-tech will be introduced to Intel programs: Intel Ignite and Intel OneAPI for startups. A hybrid workshop focused on these programs was held after the signing ceremony with several startups from across the continent in attendance. Stay tuned as we share more about the activities of this partnership and how you can be a part of it. For more information, reach out to Felista Aku at felista@afrilabs.com.