Empowering women in entrepreneurship is not just a matter of equity, it is a strategic imperative for Africa’s digital transformation. Women entrepreneurs are building groundbreaking solutions across industries, and by investing in their growth, we are unlocking untapped potential that will drive economic progress and technological advancement across the continent. Showcasing African Innovation at the Global Stage Our presence at global events such as the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), GITEX, Global Startups Award and the Transform Africa Summit has further underscored Africa’s growing role in the global tech landscape. In addition to these gatherings, we participated at the Global Startup Awards Africa Summit, BIG 2024 (Bpifrance Inno Génération) in Europe, and the Annual Investment Meeting Congress in Abu Dhabi, as well as the Qatar Africa Business Forum and VivaTech, Paris. These platforms have enabled us to showcase the incredible talent and innovation thriving on the continent, while fostering vital connections with international partners. It is in these moments that we witness the tangible benefits of our work—how a hub in Lagos can seamlessly connect with investors in Silicon Valley, or collaborate with developers in Nairobi, driving meaningful partnerships that propel Africa’s digital transformation on the global stage. AfriLabs Moonshot Initiative Addressing Africa’s funding challenge However, our journey is not without challenges. Funding remains a significant hurdle for many of our Moonshot initiatives targeted at generating $1 trillion in the next decade. Yet, we remain undeterred, pushing forward with innovative strategies to bridge these gaps. Our advocacy work, which has resulted in nine Startup Acts, continues to shape policy environments that are more conducive to entrepreneurship and innovation. Africa’s Opportunity to lead AI revolution The emergence of AI technology marks a turning point in global innovation, and Africa must move even faster to remain competitive. Unlike past technological waves such as social media, where Africa largely played the role of consumers or content providers. AI now offers the opportunity for the continent to actively shape the entire ecosystem, from development and deployment to policy and commercialization. Recognizing this transformative potential, AfriLabs is placing AI at the core of our future efforts. In 2024, we hosted the Llama 3.1 Impact Hackathon in Kigali, Rwanda (October 8–10), an initiative funded by Meta and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation that called on over 100+ innovators from across Sub-Saharan Africa to create AI solutions addressing critical social challenges, including gender sensitivity and linguistic diversity. Complementing this initiative, our comprehensive AI reports such as the “Landscape Analysis of AI Startups in Africa” and the study on AI ethical policies offer unparalleled insights into the AI startup ecosystem and the ethical frameworks necessary for responsible innovation on the continent. Through strategic collaborations with partners including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Intel Corporation, and Digital Africa, AfriLabs is committed to advancing AI-driven innovation, bridging the digital divide, and ensuring that African innovators are not left behind in this revolution.
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