AfricArena, the largest tech ecosystem accelerator on the continent, announced during its North Africa Summit in Tunis today, the launch of a new “Scale globally from Africa” Innovation Challenge in partnership with Viva Technology, the biggest startup and tech event. Three Seed African tech startups will be handpicked through this challenge, to travel to Cape Town to attend AfricArena 2021 on November 16-17th and the winner will have the opportunity to take full part into Viva Technology, on June 15-18 2022 in Paris and online and in a Tour of the French Tech ecosystem, by AfricArena.
Thursday 14 October 2021, Tunis – On the second day of its North Africa Summit taking place in Tunisia, AfricArena announced the launch of the “Scale globally from Africa” challenge in partnership with Viva Technology, open to high potential African Seed Startups wanting to scale globally.
High potential African Seed Startups from any sector and geography can apply here before October 28th. Three Finalists will pitch at AfricArena 2021 in Cape Town next November to compete for a package to participate in VivaTech 2022.
The two companies have been partnering since 2018 to promote and grow African Tech excellence and build bridges between European and African entrepreneurial and investor arenas. The partnership serves to build on the prominent feature of AfricaTech at VivaTech 2022 and the key theme of unlocking Africa as the next frontier for tech investments.
AfricArena annually sources and showcases through its series of AfricArena Summits across the continent Africa’s best startups and African innovation solutions to local and international investors looking for world-class talent. AfricArena Alumnis have raised over $250m since 2017.
“African tech innovation is globally competitive, and we are excited to continue our partnership with VivaTech, active since 2018, to showcase outstanding startups from the African continent to take part in one of the biggest tech conferences in the world,” states Bintou Adekoya, AfricArena Chief Operating Officer, who will accompany the delegation to VivaTech.”
“As part of our AfricaTech focus this year, we are thrilled to once again partner with AfricArena, a major and innovative player in the ecosystem development of the continent. Our partnership, and this challenge specifically, is aiming at supporting and promoting more startups from the African continent and paying tribute to the vibrant energy of Africa’s promising entrepreneurial ecosystem" added Laure Wybo, Chief Business Officer at Viva Technology.
AfricArena 2021 is taking place at the Old Biscuit Mill on 16 – 17 November 2021. To see updates from AfricArena and keep track of the AfricArena 2021 and Viva Technology, follow AfricArena on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
For more information on AfricArena’s 2021 programme, please visit: https://www.africarena.com/.
ENDS
For more information on AfricArena or this press release, please contact:
Crosby Hunda | +27 (83) 866 26 20| crosby@africarena.com
About AfricArena:
Cape Town based AfricArena is the largest tech ecosystem accelerator & deal flow platform in Africa. The 2021 AfricArena Summit edition will take place on 16 and 17 November 2021. The conference involves two days of conferences, aimed at creating links and opportunities between start-ups, investors and established companies, but also between the African continent and the rest of the world. AfricArena stands as a bridge between the international and African tech innovation ecosystems. It represents an opportunity to explore tomorrow’s trends, discover today’s best companies, start-ups and innovations, and to be inspired by the most disruptive ideas and people of the moment. After the success of its first three editions since 2017, AfricArena will return to Cape Town, and also run digitally via AfricArena Air, where delegates will hear from some of the tech scene's leading visionaries and start-ups will have an opportunity to pitch their innovative solutions to corporates and investors. To find out more about AfricArena, please visit: https://africarena.com/
About Viva Technology:
In just five years, VivaTech has become the biggest startup and tech event in Europe and is recognised worldwide as a powerful catalyst for business transformation, startup growth and innovation for the common good. Every year, VivaTech brings together in Paris the world's top business leaders, startups, investors, researchers and thinkers for a unique experience combining inspiration, networking and a showcase for innovation.
As of 2021, VivaTech has been enriched with a digital platform that brings together an even larger community of innovators. It has reached 119 million people worldwide, generated 1.7b views, and had brought together 130,000 visitors on-site and on-line, among them more than 13,000 startups, 3,000 venture capitalists and 1,300 journalists from 149 countries. The 6th edition of VivaTech will take place from June 15 to 18, 2022, in Paris and online worldwide.
More information available at https://portal.africarena.com/challenge/85 and @VivaTech.
Press contact : Laura Loustalot : lloustalot@vivatechnology.com
About the AfricaTech program by Viva Technology:
The AfricaTech program was launched by Viva Technology in 2017. It is about highlighting African innovation, and about showcasing specific initiatives from this booming tech ecosystem. Startups in the rest of the world can certainly draw inspiration from the way emerging African companies have leveraged frugal innovation and leapfrogging. AfricaTech is also about awards for African startups, and it's a way to highlight outstanding European initiatives for Africa.
Since 2017, VivaTech has welcomed more than 1000 startups from Africa and more than 160 African exhibitors. A total of eight countries had the chance to showcase their innovation and three presidents took part in the Event. Strategic partnerships are also established with key international organisations and corporations. In 2019, VivaTech hosted two startup challenges dedicated to Africa as well as one episode of the VivaTech Tour.
In 2022, VivaTechnology is launching the AfricaTech Awards, supported by IFC. It is a pan-African initiative that shines a spotlight on the startups and founders making the strongest positive impact for African citizens and societies. The goal: to identify and bring out the most promising startup solutions making a significant contribution to African growth across key sectors: Climate, Health, Finance. The AfricaTech Awards is more than a prize, it is a call to action!
Comments