A landmark event, the African Tech Startup Forum 2024, is set to highlight 160 pioneering tech startups from eight African nations. These startups will partake in a comprehensive training program and networking opportunities with industry leaders, established businesses, and investors. A select group of 20 exceptional companies will then embark on a study tour to South Korea and attend the COME UP KOREA event in December 2024.
The ATSF is a groundbreaking initiative supported by a trio of international collaborators: Catalyze, Ndarama Works, and the Korea Startup Forum, with UVU Africa as the tech incubation training partner. The Korea Africa Economic Cooperation (KOAFEC) Trust Fund, administered by the African Development Bank (AfDB)’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Lab, provides financial support for this endeavor.
The program is designed as a Market Access and Acceleration Program, aiming to prepare and connect African tech ventures with opportunities both locally and internationally. The ATSF operates through virtual and in-person sessions to promote the exceptional tech innovations of Africa and assist them in achieving success on a global platform. The collaboration with experts across the world is set to cultivate an ecosystem that fosters the growth of tech ventures.
Emphasizing inclusivity, one of ATSF’s primary goals is to spotlight women-led tech enterprises, aspiring for at least half of the participants to be African women showcasing their extensive tech expertise.
The incubation program is a fundamental component of the Forum, offering early-stage tech startups a supportive environment. Here, entrepreneurs can tap into specialized resources, mentorship, and co-working spaces, which are essential for nurturing innovative ideas and transforming them into market-ready products and services.
The Forum includes a B2B matchmaking platform, which is instrumental in creating strategic alliances between startups and well-established businesses. This intersection fosters a vibrant marketplace, where innovative solutions can fulfill industry demands, leading to partnerships that propel economic growth and technological progress.
Connecting startups with potential investors is another key aspect of ATSF, ensuring that innovative projects find the funding they need to expand operations and enter the market.
Currently, ATSF is in the process of recruiting applicants for its first cohort, which will consist of 160 inspiring entrepreneurs and Entrepreneurial Support Organizations (ESOs). The application period concludes on 10 May 2024. From this group, 20 businesses will be selected to further their development through a study tour to South Korea and participation in the COME UP KOREA event in December 2024.
The Forum is seeking tech innovators from countries including Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Morocco, Rwanda, and South Africa. The focus is on sectors such as AGTech, FinTech, HealthTech, GameTech, EdTech, RetailTech, GovTech, BioTech, OceanTech, ServiceTech/IOT, CleanTech, E-ComTech, and CyberTech, although other tech areas are also welcome.
- AGTech
- FinTech
- HealthTech
- GameTech EdTech
- RetailTech
- GovTech
- BioTech
- OceanTech
- ServiceTech/IOT
- CleanTech
- E-ComTech
- CyberTech
About the Program Partners:
Ndarama Works is an African advisory consultancy and project management firm, founded by Dr. Golden Mahove and Precious Nontsikelelo Mahove, dedicated to market systems development, agribusiness, value chain analysis, and facilitating market linkages to promote business success.
Catalyze is a premier engagement agency that specializes in international trade events and business matchmaking, fostering opportunities for companies to connect worldwide. Its network includes a host of specialists ranging from web developers to translators, ensuring diverse client needs are met.
The Korea Startup Forum (KSF), a nonprofit organization sanctioned by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS), is the largest startup membership organization in Korea. Founded with 50 startups, it now has over 2,246 members and offers various support programs to enhance the startup ecosystem.
UVU Africa, a non-profit organization, works with ambitious talent and visionary partners to build inclusive societies through innovation and technology. The organization promotes digital economy growth in Africa by providing business incubation, acceleration, skills development, and innovation clusters across the continent.
