AfricArena launched its first Annual VC Unconference 2022, awarded 5 startups during its West Africa Summit in partnership with DER and AVCA in Dakar Senegal and showcased some of the best West & East African startups at the very first AVCA VC Day.
22+ startups across the West Africa region came to learn, network, and showcased their innovative Ideas to our ecosystem of Investors, Incubators, and Accelerators for a
chance to make it to the Grand summit taking place in Cape Town, South Africa in November 2022.
The summit, in partnership with DER and AVCA and supported by FMO, ITC and OIF, was attended by 250+ high-level investors, 22+ startups from the West Africa Region, as well as the elite of the continent’s ecosystem builders. 300+ In-person attendees and 1500+ virtual viewers joined us as we embarked on the journey of locating Africa's best disruptors.
South African-based AfricArena, which has established itself as a leading ecosystem accelerator and deal flow platform across Africa has since its inception in 2017, built a platform dedicated to supporting the creation of market access and investment opportunities for its ever-increasing community of founders, angels, corporates and VC investors.
FSATLabs Founders Bootcamp in partnership with Startupbootcamp AfriTech and 500 Startups
The Founders’ Bootcamp was a 1-day program that fast tracks founder knowledge in certain key areas that are often overlooked by other incubation programs. The program features teaching, workshops and networking with peers to empower startups to get the maximum amount of value in a short period of time.
Over 40+ speakers attended the two-day summit and hosted an array of Panel discussions, Fireside chats, and Keynotes with the aim of accelerating ecosystem participants' journey on the latest news in the African tech.
A word from our sponsors Délégation Générale à l'Entreprenariat Rapide des Femmes et des Jeunes - DER , represented by the General Delegate for Entrepreneurship Madame Mame Aby SEYE .
"I had the occasion to assist and participate in the closing of the AfricArena VC Unconference which happened in Sally for 3 days, where investors from all over the world had their attention focused on Africa. This is a special week for the investment in the region, especially in Senegal, where DER played a huge role in the ecosystem."
Amongst keynote and Fireside chats were Tidjane Deme, Mareme Dieng, Ben Marrel, Mohamed Karar and so much more.
Tidjane Deme kicking off day one of the West Africa Summit Tour with keynote insights into the Partech Report and releasing data that has never been seen before on the AfricArena Stage in Dakar. Watch Day 1 Here
AfricArena Launches its annual VC Unconference 2022 in Dakar Senegal
The week started with our VC unconference, which is our flagship VC event, that takes place in a very unconventional weekend format. Investors attending exchange ideas through spending time together, having fun, doing some work sessions and discussing the future of Africa Tech.
The main objective of bringing all these Fund managers is to create a mandate to try and remove all these very old regulations that are preventing the flow of money, IP, and skills. And if those three things happen, we will be able free the power and the creativity of the entrepreneur, in order to create a minimum of millions of jobs that we need on the continent.
The winner's circle most
Innovative Startup: Bizao (Ivory Coast) - CEO: Aurélien Duval-Delort
Best Emerging Entrepreneur: Yobante Express (Senegal) - CEO: Oumar Basse
Best Seed Startup: Survey 54 (Ghana) - Founder: Stephan Eyeson
Best Series A Startup: Crowdyvest (Nigeria) - CEO: Temitope Omotolani
Best Late Stage Startup: Gozem (Togo) - CEO: Raphael Dana
Most Attractive Investor: Founders Factory (South Africa) - MD: Bongani Sithole
Raphael Dana Best Late Stage startup comments on his experience at the West Africa Summit,
"It has been an amazing experience to pitch and exchange with all the best startups of the region. We are thrilled to win the Award for Best Growth Stage Start-Up in West Africa, and looking forward to coming back next year"
Watch Christophe Viarnaud the CEO of AfricArena give a wrap up on all the activities of the West Africa Summit Tour in partnership with DER and AVCA Here
" The AfricArena VC Unconference, the AfricArena West Africa Summit, and AVCA VC Day following AVCA's Annual PE Conference brought high value to the ecosystem and the future growth of Africa Tech,” says Christophe Viarnaud, Founder of AfricArena & CEO of technology firm Methys.
AfricArena & FSATLabs to host Learning Expedition & Viva AfricArena, the Major African Tech startup showcase event at Station F Paris preceding the 6th annual Viva Technology conference.
Prior to our Viva AfricArena event happening on the 14th of June 2022, the French South African Tech Labs offers an incredible opportunity to African-based corporates and investors willing to experience the booming startup ecosystem across France and Europe.
AfricArena will be turning the largest startup incubator in the world, Station F, into the stage of African tech entrepreneurship. Over 40+ startups from Seed to Growth Stage will spend the day pitching to foreign markets and showcasing the best Africa Tech has to offer.
Book your tickets today
FSATLabs learning expedition: Here
Access to the Viva AfricArena Pitching Event at Station F: Here
Startups wanting to Apply to our AfricaRise Program Apply: Here
For any questions or clarification on this press release, reach out to the Media Lead: Nathaniel@africarena.com.
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About AfricArena:
Cape Town-based AfricArena is the highest impact tech ecosystem accelerator & deal flow platform in Africa. Going into its sixth year, AfricArena has operated in three key spheres that underpin Africa’s economic landscape: tech startups, corporates, and investors (i.e. angel investors, VCs, corporate VCs, and other institutional investors). Through open innovation challenges, in partnership with corporations, AfricArena has brought together these 3 spheres, to foster co-investment and collaboration that can move the economies and people of the continent forward. The 2022 AfricArena Grand Summit, preceded by 4 regional Summits in Johannesburg, Dakar, Tunis and Nairobi, will take place in Cape Town in November 2022. AfricArena aims 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. To find out more about AfricArena, please visit: https://africarena.com/
ABOUT DER: The role of the DER/FJ is to help boost Senegalese entrepreneurship, which is the main occupation of its population. Thus called, in its action for entrepreneurship in Senegal, to demonstrate efficiency in the mobilization of resources and in its methods of intervention and flexibility in its procedures for access to financing, the actions of the DER are consistent with the aims of the Emerging Senegal Plan (PSE), a repository of Senegal's economic policies and programs up to 2035, with regard to the creation of wealth, inclusion and the active participation of populations in growth and territorial equity.
ABOUT AVCA: The African Private Equity and Venture Capital Association is the pan-African industry body that promotes and enables private investment in Africa.
ABOUT ITC: Financed by Canada, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands Trust Fund IV, the #FastTrackTech project is implemented by the International Trade Centre. Thanks to a targeted coaching and training offer, the #FastTrackTech project, since October 2019, is committed to digital entrepreneurs who aspire to international growth in Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Mali, Rwanda, Tanzania and Zambia.
ABOUT OIF: OIF has for a long time supported, accompanied and inspired young people with digital projects in the French-speaking world to undertake and innovate. Thanks to numerous programs providing mentorship, inspiration and technical support, the OIF has one objective: to encourage young innovators to move from a simple idea to an innovative project.
ABOUT FSATLABS: The French South African Tech Labs is an early-stage business incubator helping digital startup founders move from concept to customer.