Who WE ARE
Embarking on its seventh year, AfricArena holds a special position, engaging in three vital areas that shape Africa's economic scene: tech startups, corporations, and investors, including angel investors, venture capitalists (VCs), corporate venture capitalists (CVCs), and other institutional investors.
In collaboration with corporations, AfricArena orchestrates open innovation challenges with the goal of uniting these three spheres. The aim is to encourage shared investments and collaboration, propelling the economies and well-being of the continent forward. This approach reflects AfricArena's commitment to fostering a dynamic ecosystem where startups, established companies, and investors join forces for mutual growth and advancement in Africa's economic landscape.
AFRICARENA JOHANNESBURG SUMMIT 2024
This year, as we go into our seventh year, we’re kicking off 2024 with our first summit of the year, the two-day AfricArena Johannesburg Deep Tech, Enterprise & Green Economy Summit 2024.
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Join us in the heart of South Africa’s economic capital and watch over +20 startups pitch their tech ventures to local and international investors and be a part of powerful, engaging conversations about Africa’s booming tech ecosystem, and network with investors, venture capitalists, limited partners, general partners, ecosystem builders, government and policy makers.
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Each year, the AfricArena Team tours the continent to source Africa’s top tech startups in each of Africa’s four regions, Southern Africa, East Africa, West Africa and North Africa, giving over +20 startups from each region an opportunity to pitch in the Open Innovation Challenges on an African and global stage and showcase their highly scalable ventures to an audience of over +250 local and international investors. This year, as part of our international scaling out tour, we will be going on an AfricArena roadshow to the UK, France, Germany and the US where we will showcase the best of Africa’s tech startups in these regions.
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Our two-day summits this year will follow the same format as their predecessors from previous years with an AfricArise Bootcamp bringing startups a powerful readiness and networking tool as they make their way to the summit.
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At the end of each year, the regional winners convene in Cape Town at the annual AfricArena Cape Town Grand Summit pitch battle which decides the overall best AfricArena tech startups winners in each Open Innovation Challenge.
The State of Tech in Africa 2024
The State of Tech in Africa 2024 Report
What are the innovations and investment trends that defined the tech African ecosystem in 2022 and what does it look like going into 2023.
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The report delves into the state of tech innovation in Africa, the most dynamic sectors, the main challenges & opportunities for the startup founders, how corporations utilize open innovation approaches, the investment landscape and much more
Africarena grand SUMMIT 2023 Highlights
introducing AfricArena Open Innovation Programs
Is your startup ready to step beyond the ordinary and champion innovation for a brighter future?
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Gathering the diverse pan-African tech community for our third event in one of South Africa's vibrant cities, we're in search of the most innovative startups across the continent. We extend an invitation to join one of our ten Open Innovation Challenges.
introducing AfricArise 2024
Rise, Raise and SCALE with AFRICARISE
AfricArise is a virtual pan-African startup investor network platform that connects startups and investors.
It is an annual program aimed at supporting startups to scale internationally through mentorship, webinars, coaching and investment deal support.
Supporting African startups to showcase, raise funding, and scale internationally​​
CONNECT
Connecting founders with investors and corporates
STRENGTHEN
Strengthening the international traction of
Africa's most innovative tech startups.
Promote
Promoting the African Tech ecosystem and its opportunities.
Attract
Attracting both entrepreneurs and investors to Africa.
THESE ARE THE MOST EXCITING TIMES FOR AFRICA, IT IS NOT MERE RHETORIC OF AFRICA RISING; SO MUCH IS REALLY HAPPENING AND SO MUCH IS CHANGING.
Irene Ochem
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF)