15 June 2022 Microsoft hosted a virtual roundtable panel discussion about digital transformation in agriculture for food security in Africa. The roundtable explored how accelerating digital transformation in agriculture is leading to agritech developments that have a tangible positive impact on food security in Africa. With agriculture sustaining up to 70% of Africa’s livelihoods, Microsoft is…
The 1000 learners in the first cohort of Power Learn Project’s flagship program – “One Million Developers for Africa” Scholarship Program (#1MillionDevs4Africa) to teach 1 million young people and empower them with ICT employable skills – have been announced. The cohort was chosen via a thorough screening and panel selection procedure, which was preceded by…
ABUJA; JUNE 11, 2022: Nigerian Software Testing Qualifications Board (NGSTQB), a member board of the International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB), has announced the date and theme for its first Webinar. NGSTQB invites stakeholders in the Nigerian software ecosystem to a one-day Webinar under the theme: ‘The Role of Software Testing in Nigeria’s Digital Economy. Register here to participate….
The GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize is now accepting applications from African agri-tech firms. The prize aims to uncover Africa’s finest young agri-food entrepreneurs and will pay US$50,000 in cash to each of the two winners. The GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize honors agribusinesses that advance agriculture and food via technology, creativity, and enthusiasm. The organizers are looking for…
The ShelterTech Sub-Saharan Africa accelerator program, run by the global non-profit Habitat for Humanity, is now accepting proposals from entrepreneurs with scalable solutions to today’s affordable housing concerns. ShelterTech is an affordable housing innovation platform that works across sectors, industries, and geographies to support and grow cutting-edge products and services that can help low-income households…
The fifth batch of innovators, ventures delivering digital AT or using digital to expand access to AT products or services, has been unveiled by Innovate Now, Africa’s Assistive Technology (AT) Accelerator. The digital AT and entrepreneurship initiative, led by Global Disability Innovation Hub (GDI Hub), is a collaboration between GDI Hub, ICT Norway, Norad, and…
The second cohort of the Black Founders Fund for Africa has accepted applications, according to Google for Startups. Google has extended its financial commitment to eligible businesses by investing an additional $1 million. For this cohort, Google for Firms will invest $4 million in 60 qualified black-founded startups in Africa. The Black Founders Fund Africa…
The World Economic Forum (WEF) has chosen six African digital startups among the 100 most disruptive Technology Pioneers of 2022, companies that are changing industries ranging from healthcare to retail and beyond. The WEF Technology Pioneers are early to growth-stage firms from around the world that are using new technologies and innovation to revolutionize business…
Eko Innovation Centre, one of the leading tech hubs in Nigeria, curators of events like Art of Technology Lagos, and The Lagos Smart Meter Hackathon amongst others, together with GDM Group, Nigeria’s leading marketing and innovation company is changing the narrative around innovation in media and marketing. To achieve their goal of creating lasting and innovative solutions…
The SAB SHARP Awards, created in collaboration with the SAB Foundation, are aimed at innovators and social entrepreneurs with creative ideas or prototypes that empower women in at-risk communities. The SAB SHARP Awards are seeking for ideas that help these women become economically self-sufficient or address challenges like Foetal Alcohol Syndrome and gender-based violence. Applicants…
The FT x Cardano Blockchain Challenge is looking for companies who are working on Cardano or are interested in using the Cardano blockchain technology and ecosystem, and will provide selected companies with access to a bootcamp and accelerator program. The FT x Cardano Blockchain Challenge is a collaboration between Cardano’s Project Catalyst, a community and…
Startups with creative solutions that assist tackle the ocean’s overexploitation, pollution, or climate change concerns are encouraged to apply for the OceanHub Africa accelerator program’s third cohort. OceanHub Africa, based in Cape Town, has supported 16 African ocean-focused startups in various sectors of the Blue Economy, including aquaculture, fisheries, shipbuilding, marine renewables and biotechnologies, coastal…
Unicorn Group, an investment firm, has launched its fourth entrepreneur incubation program, which is open to startups from a variety of countries for the first time. Unicorn Group is a pan-African investment firm that seeks out innovative ideas, startups, and early-stage companies in Africa’s technology and technology-enabled sectors that have the potential to become unicorns….
The Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) prize competition has announced a new Community Lead and ScaleUp Program to provide ABH applicants and finalists with more enhanced mentoring and networking opportunities. Now in its fourth year, applications for the ABH grant are now open in both French and English, and the competition has already attracted talented entrepreneurs…
Nigeria’s first marketing and media hackathon, dubbed MarkHack 1.0, has been established by Eko Innovation Centre, a growth and development hub for startups and entrepreneurs in Nigeria. The luncheon, which took place at D’Podium Event Centre in Lagos, was attended by innovators, entrepreneurs, policymakers, marketers, and media professionals, as well as many more from across…
Grindstone, a South African business accelerator that provides selected companies with access to a structured entrepreneurship development program, is now accepting applications. The Grindstone Accelerator is a structured entrepreneurial development program co-owned by VC fund manager Knife Capital and Thinkroom Consulting, with primary funding from the SA SME Fund. Grindstone Ventures, a ZAR100 million (US$6.5…
Applications for the fourth year of the Africa Business Heroes (ABH) prize program are now open in English and French. ABH annually awards a share of a US$1.5 million grant to ten outstanding African entrepreneurs. The fourth annual edition of the Jack Ma Foundation’s flagship philanthropic program highlighting and celebrating Africa’s entrepreneurial excellence, “Africa’s Business…
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and International Telecommunication Union (ITU) have launched the Innovations to Empower Women and Girls Challenge to help scale innovative solutions that can help disrupt inequalities and advance women’s and girls’ empowerment. The Innovations to Empower Women and Girls Challenge, the UNFPA’s first joint innovation…
The LHoFT Foundation has chosen ten African fintech startups to participate in CATAPULT: Inclusion Africa: Special Edition in Dubai, which aims to encourage companies focused on financial inclusion. CATAPULT: Inclusion Africa, created by the LHoFT Foundation, aims to make a real difference in Africa’s financial inclusion by providing education, insight, and connectivity to participating firms…
The future of both media & marketing depends on the ability to meet increasing ROI demands and continually adapt to new marketing tools, media philosophies, and channels. However, the rate of change in the media & marketing industry is slow paced but the challenges seem to be multiplying and everyone is faced with the same…
On September 16, 2021, we launched the #Digitalforall Challenge, a free digital skilling initiative and competition designed to drive young people’s engagement in the digital economy across Nigeria, with the goal of equipping Nigerian youths with skills to enable equal access to technology-centric decent work and economic opportunities. It is a sub-program of Microsoft’s Emerging…
Eight more African startups have been confirmed as participants in the renowned Silicon Valley-based Y Combinator accelerator’s W22 batch, bringing the total to 23. The W22 batch of the Y Combinator program is currently underway and will conclude with a demo day next week, having played a role in the early days of companies such…
Following the launch of the Irish Tech Challenge South Africa, South African tech startups now have the opportunity to gain international exposure and access to global markets. The Irish Tech Challenge South Africa, a collaboration between the Irish Embassy in South Africa, the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), and…
The Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL) has opened applications for its Innovating Justice Challenge 2022, which seeks innovations aimed at preventing or resolving a justice problem for a large number of people, including small and medium-sized businesses. HiiL is looking for justice innovators from Africa and the Middle East, specifically Ethiopia, Jordan, Kenya,…
The 4th Industrial Revolution Incubator, a South African platform for SMMEs, will present its solutions at the fifth edition of the Internet of Things Forum Africa (#IOTFA2022). The conference will address transformational IoT trends and will investigate the benefits of IoT in key industries. IOTFA 2022 will bring together over 600 delegates and 30 speakers…
Katapult, based in Norway, has collaborated with the Tony Blair Institute (TBI) for Global Change, Norrsken, and Smart Africa to launch the Katapult Africa Accelerator Programme, which will aim to accelerate and invest in agri-tech and climate-tech startups. The Katapult Accelerator, based in Norway, has invested in a number of African startups and launched spin-offs…
Startupbootcamp AfriTech and Telecel Group have chosen 11 African startups to participate in the second edition of the Africa Startup Initiative Programme (ASIP), which provides funding and support to participants. Startupbootcamp AfriTech was founded in 2017 as the first pan-African startup accelerator backed by multiple corporations. Disrupt Africa announced in March of last year that…
Mercy Corps, a global humanitarian organization, has established a $1 million Crypto for Good Fund to test and support blockchain-based solutions for people who are low-income and/or unbanked. “We are excited to partner with visionary founding teams to identify, test, and prove the potential of crypto and web3 to improve financial access for the world’s…
The Internet of Things Forum Africa will be held for the fifth time on March 29 and 30, 2022, at the Maslow Hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa. IoT Forum Africa 2022, hosted by IT News Africa, is shaping up to be bigger and better than ever, with an exciting lineup of visionaries, thought leaders, and…
Twelve African tech startups have been chosen for the first cohort of the FAST startup accelerator, which was developed by Microsoft in collaboration with Flapmax to strengthen and scale Africa’s digital ecosystem. The 12-week FAST programme, which starts next week, brings together startups from six different countries and nine industries, chosen from over 800 applications…