AfriLabs community clocks 370 hubs across 52 African Countries as 23 new members join
As we approach the AfriLabs Annual Gathering in October, we are excited to announce the admission of 23 new hubs from every African region to the AfriLabs network. We are now 370 member hubs in over 200 cities. The AfriLabs mandate has not changed over the years – building a thriving innovation economy in Africa, powered by our community – and more than ever, we are committed to empowering innovation support structures across the continent. We are always happy to welcome hubs in Africa and the diaspora who share the same dream of building the digital and innovation economy because we believe that the change we want will come when our community is a representation of all African countries and hubs. The new members admitted this quarter include: – TechFarm Hub, Koforidua, Ghana, RFC Foundation (Reach for Change), Accra, Ghana, BRAVE Foundation, Accra, Ghana, STRAT-CORE Plus, Niamey, Niger, Cabinet Hub Zinder, Zinder, Niger, Alpha Blue Foundation, Jos, Nigeria, Vatebra Tech Hub, Lagos, Nigeria, Senator Abiru Innovation Lab (SAIL), Lagos, Nigeria, Application Laboratory, Abuja, Nigeria, Gambia Tech, Banjul, Gambia, MUSODEV, Bamako, Mali, Yeesal Agri Hub, Thies, Senegal (French) and Adei Technology Hub, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. “It is still day one at AfriLabs. This is not because we have not grown over the years but rather because we believe there’s a lot more to accomplish. We welcome these new members to the AfriLabs network. I encourage them to connect with older members and get the collaboration ball rolling!” Ajibola Odukoya, AfriLabs Chief Operating Officer said. “We are thankful for our admission into the AfriLabs network. This will help us rise higher and learn from other similar organizations on the continent. RiseUp Social Enterprise is Ethiopia’s largest rural youth skills development organization and the second biggest hub in the country. We are creating an open ecosystem for young people to build a pathway to a better economy. We are fighting poverty and creating equality for the less privileged ones in our community – those affected by disasters and the impact of climate change. Thank you again for this opportunity. We are excited to work, partner and reach more with the AfriLabs community.” said Usama Mohamed, Executive Director, RiseUp Social Enterprise, Ethiopia, one of the newly admitted members. Other new members include Einstein Rising, Kampala, Uganda, La Plage Factory, Port-Louis, Mauritius, RiseUp Social Enterprise, Jigjiga, Ethiopia, Weirah Digital Technologies Institute WDTI, Garowe, Somalia, Impacc Social Ventures, Nairobi, Kenya, Hub Un Jour Nouveau, Goma, DR. Congo, Wiki Startup, Tunis, Tunisia, Startup Factory, Cairo, Egypt, Synergy Ltd, Lilongwe, Malawi and ZAFY TODY, Antananarivo, Madagascar. Andréa Zafitody LI-SAI CHIMENTO, Founder of Zafy Tody also commented on their expectations as a hub joining the network “As an incubator supporting young Malagasy entrepreneurs in Tech, Zafy Tody is truly excited to be part of the AfriLabs network. We look forward to our incubated startups scaling their venture horizons across Africa, gain more business expertise and financial support.”
AfriLabs community expands into a new country – Mauritania and adds 27 new members
In our continuous drive to support local innovation communities, AfriLabs has welcomed 27 innovation hubs into our network. This takes the largest pan-African network of innovation enablers from 320 hubs in 51 African countries to 347 hubs in 52 African countries and over 200 cities. We recently marked our 10 years anniversary, celebrating our strides, reflecting on our journey and planning for the future. The growing interest by hubs across the continent to join the AfriLabs network is a good sign that we are getting some things right. We are happy to have these organisations align with our vision to build a thriving innovation economy in Africa. At AfriLabs, we believe that to scale support for innovation across the continent, local innovation ecosystems must be empowered with access to funds and knowledge, and be given the platform to collaborate with each other. That’s why we are relentless in our call for more hubs to join us. The new members admitted this quarter include: PAUWES Entrepreneurship Hub (Algeria), Afkar (Tunisia), Hadina Rimtic (Mauritania), Founders Factory Africa, (South Africa), Grid Innovation and Incubation Hub (Rwanda), MCI Media Hub (Uganda), StartHub Africa (Uganda), Founder Square Ventures, (Kenya), Ifakara Innovation Hub (Tanzania), Eko Innovation Centre (Nigeria), The Nest Innovation Technology Park Ltd (Nigeria), Iba Ajie (Nigeria), Renaissance Innovation Lab (Nigeria), Blue Sapphire Hub (Nigeria) and FutureLabs (Nigeria). “We take our admission process very seriously. Every hub being admitted into the AfriLabs network has shown that they are catalysts for innovation and entrepreneurship in their respective communities.” Moetaz Helmy, AfriLabs Board Chair said. “We have heard and watched over the years the excellent work done by AfriLabs to push the bounds of entrepreneurship in Africa to create a thriving continent. We are excited to join this vast network of supporters of innovation. We believe AfriLabs will equip us with the necessary tools to continue this great work in our community.” said Ayuk Etta, Executive Director of Mountain Hub, Cameroon about their admission. Other new members include: InnoHub (Ghana), Impact Hub (Côte d’Ivoire), KMindz (Cape Verde), Chad Innovation Hub (Chad), Sahel Green Hub (Chad), Silikin Village (DR. Congo), Kinshasa Digital (DR.Congo), Kobo Hub (DR. Congo), Mountain Hub (Cameroon), Team@solutions (Cameroon), The Workshop (Congo) and Société d’Incubation Numérique du Gabon (Gabon). “I am pleased that we are now part of AfriLabs. This will enable us to collaborate with hubs across the continent and contribute our quota to developing enterprises, increasing funding for startups and driving employability in Africa. AfriLabs is the most prestigious community of tech hubs in Africa and we are proud to take our place amongst the continent’s elite.” Edwin Ajogun the Country Director of Eko Innovation Centre commented about the centre joining AfriLabs.
La communauté AfriLabs se déploie dans un nouveau pays – la Mauritanie et compte 27 nouveaux membres
Dans le cadre de nos efforts continus visant à soutenir les communautés d’innovation locales, AfriLabs a accueilli 27 hubs d’innovation dans son réseau. Ainsi, le plus grand réseau panafricain de facilitateurs d’innovation passe de 320 hubs dans 51 pays Africains à 347 hubs dans 52 pays Africains et plus de 200 villes. Nous avons récemment fêté notre 10e anniversaire, où nous avons célébré nos progrès, examiné notre parcours et planifié l’avenir. L’intérêt croissant des plateformes du continent à rejoindre le réseau AfriLabs est un bon signe car cela prouve que nous sommes sur la bonne voie. Nous sommes heureux de voir ces organisations se rallier à notre vision de bâtir une économie de l’innovation florissante en Afrique. Chez AfriLabs, nous pensons que pour accroître le soutien à l’innovation sur le continent, il faut doter les écosystèmes d’innovation locaux d’un accès aux fonds, aux connaissances, et leur donner la possibilité de collaborer les uns avec les autres. C’est pourquoi nous ne cessons de demander à d’autres hubs de nous rejoindre. Les nouveaux membres admis ce trimestre sont PAUWES Entrepreneurship Hub (Algérie), Afkar (Tunisie), Hadina Rimtic (Mauritanie), Founders Factory Africa, (Afrique du Sud), Grid Innovation and Incubation Hub (Rwanda), MCI Media Hub (Ouganda), StartHub Africa (Ouganda), Founder Square Ventures, (Kenya), Ifakara Innovation Hub (Tanzanie), Eko Innovation Centre (Nigéria), The Nest Innovation Technology Park Ltd (Nigéria), Iba Ajie (Nigéria), Renaissance Innovation Lab (Nigéria), Blue Sapphire Hub (Nigéria) et FutureLabs (Nigéria). “Nous prenons notre processus d’admission très au sérieux. Chaque hub admis dans le réseau AfriLabs a prouvé qu’il était un catalyseur de l’innovation et de l’entrepreneuriat dans leurs communautés respectives.” Moetaz Helmy, Président du Conseil d’Administration de AfriLabs, a déclaré. “Nous avons entendu et observé au fil des ans l’excellent travail réalisé par AfriLabs afin de repousser les limites de l’entrepreneuriat en Afrique pour créer un continent prospère. Nous sommes ravis de rejoindre ce vaste réseau de défenseurs de l’innovation. Nous pensons qu’AfriLabs nous fournira les outils nécessaires pour poursuivre ce travail remarquable dans notre communauté”, a déclaré Ayuk Etta, Directeur Exécutif de Mountain Hub, au Cameroun, à propos de leur admission. Parmi les autres nouveaux membres figurent : InnoHub (Ghana), Impact Hub (Côte d’Ivoire), KMindz (Cap Vert), Chad Innovation Hub (Tchad), Sahel Green Hub (Tchad), Silikin Village (RD Congo), Kinshasa Digital (RD Congo), Kobo Hub (RD Congo), Mountain Hub (Cameroun), Team@solutions (Cameroun), The Workshop (Congo) et la Société d’Incubation Numérique du Gabon (Gabon). “Je suis heureux que nous fassions désormais partie de AfriLabs. Cela nous permettra de collaborer avec les hubs à travers le continent et de contribuer notre quota au développement des entreprises, à accroître le financement des startups et à stimuler la création d’emploi en Afrique. AfriLabs est la plus prestigieuse communauté de hubs technologiques en Afrique et nous sommes fiers de faire partie de l’élite du continent”. Edwin Ajogun, Directeur National de l’Eko Innovation Centre, a déclaré par rapport à l’adhésion du centre à AfriLabs.