The AfricArena Grand Summit, held on December 6, 2024, in Cape Town, brought together over 100 tech startups from 31 African countries.
This vibrant event, co-hosted by notable partners like TotalEnergies and AWS Startups, showcased innovative solutions and celebrated the continent’s burgeoning tech landscape.
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Celebrating innovation
During the two-day summit, 45 startups pitched their ideas, with nine emerging winners across various categories. Each winner received $25,000 in AWS Activate credits.
The awards highlighted excellence in AI, fintech, and climate tech. OkHi from Nigeria won the Best AI & Deep Tech Startup Award, and Djoli from Ivory Coast took home the Agri Tech Startup Award.
Christophe Viarnaud, CEO of AfricArena, emphasised the importance of investing during economic downturns. “Now is the time to invest; Africa is not waiting for the future; we are shaping it,” he stated.
His reflections on the growth of venture capital in Africa were striking—funding has surged from $300 million in 2017 to over $2 billion in 2024.
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Voices of the winners
The summit also served as a platform for winners to express their gratitude. Roger Norton from OkHi shared how their recognition validates their mission to enhance address verification in underprivileged areas. “This award validates our ability to deploy technology in traditionally slow-moving industries,” he remarked.
Gaël Egbid, co-founder of Solimi from Togo, expressed her pride: “Being recognised as the Most Promising Entrepreneur means a lot to me and highlights Togo’s innovation.” Her emotional response underscored the significance of such recognition for her and her country.
The event celebrated individual achievements and fostered connections among investors, startups, and ecosystem builders.
Alderman James Voss of Cape Town highlighted the city as a leading tech ecosystem and stressed the need for partnerships that promote African-designed solutions to global challenges.
AfricArena has established itself as a vital platform for fostering investment opportunities and market access for tech founders across Africa. In just eight years, its alums have gained credibility within the global startup ecosystem, collectively raising over $850 million.
The event showed that African tech has a promising future. Recognition improves these firms’ visibility and stimulates others in the continent’s robust entrepreneurial ecosystem.