AfriLabs, a prominent pan-African association of innovation enablers specialised in supporting startups, has unveiled an expansion plan that includes the Kingdom of Eswatini as well as five additional African cities: Matsapha, Zanzibar, Baidoa, Ota, and Musanze.
This expansion marks a significant achievement for AfriLabs in its mission to foster high-scale innovation and digital economies across Africa. The new hubs established through this expansion will provide a platform for entrepreneurs, startups, and innovators to collaborate, access resources, and facilitate innovation policy advocacy and knowledge sharing.
Among the new hubs introduced by AfriLabs are Novation City in Morocco, Privilege Access and Eureka Geo in Cameroon, Cube Zanzibar in Tanzania, Thousand Hills Hub in Uganda, Somaliland Innovation Zone (SIZ) in Somaliland, Southwest Innovation Hub in Nigeria, Kabarak University Innovation and Business Incubation Center in Kenya, Moolu Venture Lab in Nigeria, The Stalwart Hub in Ghana, Platinum Hub in South Africa, Ubulu Africa in Nigeria, Hebron Startup Lab in Ghana, WAN-Hive Ghana, Green Tech Innovation in South Africa, and Royal Science and Technology Park-Business Incubator (RSTP) in South Africa.
Mayssa Mrabet, AfriLabs’ Director of Community, expressed optimism about the expansion’s potential impact, affirming the association’s commitment to nurturing, supporting, and celebrating innovative ecosystems throughout Africa. She emphasized that this expansion is a major stride toward the organization’s goal of achieving a digitally advanced Africa by 2030.
The expansion holds promise for enhancing the African digital economy, fostering a more interconnected and dynamic innovation ecosystem, and facilitating the growth of digital startups and businesses across the continent.
Said Suleiman, Co-founder and Director of Cube Zanzibar in Tanzania, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, highlighting how it aligns with AfriLabs’ vision and fortifies the innovation landscape in Africa. Mely Monique, Founder and CEO of Eureka Geo in Cameroon, welcomed the opportunity to be part of AfriLabs, recognizing its potential for tapping into the African digital ecosystem and accessing diverse opportunities.
Established in 2011, AfriLabs is arguably Africa’s largest advocate for digitization. The platform has been consistent in its support for startups in the continent, enabling innovation and promoting effective collaboration among stakeholders in the technology sector.
Those interested in learning more about this expansion and its initiatives can participate in the AfriLabs Annual Gathering, scheduled to take place in Kigali, Rwanda, from October 11-13, 2023. For additional information, visit the official event website: https://afrilabsgathering.com. This expansion holds the potential to shape a more vibrant and collaborative innovation landscape in Africa, fostering growth and progress in the digital sphere.
