Ten African start-ups will pitch their innovative solutions to business leaders at the NBA Africa demo day at the NBA headquarters in New York City. The event, set for Wednesday, September 25, is the highlight of the “Triple-Double: NBA Africa Start-up Accelerator.”
This initiative, launched in April 2024, aims to boost Africa’s digital ecosystem and support the continent’s next generation of entrepreneurs.
The selected start-ups represent seven African countries and offer diverse solutions ranging from wearable payment technology to language translation platforms.
Four winning companies will receive financial support, mentorship, and access to development programs by NBA Africa and its partners.
Start-ups Aim to Transform Africa’s Digital Landscape
Clare Akamanzi, CEO of NBA Africa, praised the finalists for their talent and creativity. She noted that NBA Africa is committed to supporting the growth of start-ups on the continent.
“We congratulate the 10 deserving finalists who will showcase their innovative solutions at Demo Day,” she said. The winners’ innovations are expected to impact Africa’s sports and creative industries significantly.
The ten start-ups include Backrest from Rwanda, which offers WristWrist, a wearable technology for cashless payments at events.
Nigeria’s Buzza helps sports organizations digitize their operations and offers a platform for athletes to build their profiles. Festival Coins, also from Nigeria, provides a no-code event registration platform called Tix Africa.
Côte d’Ivoire’s Gara offers a gaming and comics platform that promotes local content, while Kenya’s HustleSasa supports live event services, including payment processing and merchandise sales. Naemo Global, from Nigeria, uses data analytics and AI for sports scouting through its Afriskaut platform.
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Innovation and Impact at the Forefront
Other finalists include Ghana’s Power to Girls Foundation, which empowers young women through a social connection platform.
Nigeria’s Salubata makes modular shoes from plastic waste, aiming to reduce the carbon footprint. Egypt’s UBR VR offers immersive virtual reality experiences with culturally relevant content.
Finally, Vambo Technologies from South Africa provides AI-powered language translation and learning services. It supports widely spoken and niche African languages, promoting digital inclusion across the continent.
These start-ups will compete for one of the four prize-winning spots, which will elevate their growth and further the impact of their solutions in Africa and beyond.