Browsing: Africa Tech Summit

• Africa continues to grapple with food insecurity exacerbated by climate change and inadequate access to financing for both startups and food producers alike.
• In response, innovators and bold entrepreneurs are going digital, devising modern solutions to enhance food production.
• At the Africa Tech Summit in Nairobi, agri-innovation startups Homemade by Dropp, Koolboks, Samalife, BWS, Hello Tractor, Seabex and ReNile shared their entrepreneurial journey and reasons why they need financing to create value for farmers and consumers.

A number of startups with a focus on digital agricultural innovation in Africa are seeking fresh financing to scale and accelerate their growth across the continent, which is currently under pressure to feed a rising population.

These startups are eyeing opportunities in climate smart agriculture in Africa, the new frontier for business expansion globally.

Currently, agriculture remains the continent’s largest industry and employer. The industry is, however, facing significant challenges across the value chain, …

• Small and Medium enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of the world economy, accounting for most businesses across nearly every region.
• In Africa, SMEs provide an estimated 80 percent of jobs across the continent, representing an important driver of economic growth.
• Credit constraints are a serious challenge for SMEs. Without reliable sources of working capital, SMEs are unable to make investments needed for growth, leading to stagnation.

According to the World Bank, Small and Medium enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of the world economy, accounting for most businesses across nearly every region. In Africa, SMEs provide an estimated 80 percent of jobs across the continent, representing an important driver of economic growth.

The global lender says Sub-Saharan Africa alone has 44 million Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) , almost all of which are micro.

“For these businesses to grow, create more jobs, and generate economic growth, they need access to …

Selected ventures will also be able to attend the full event, which will include three summits as well as a variety of workshops, discussions, and networking events.

To apply, startups must be African (have at least one African co-founder or be headquartered in Africa), be less than five years old, have a minimum viable product (MVP) with traction, have raised less than $1 million in external funding, and have a current “ask.”

Startups must be able to travel to Nairobi for the summit. The deadline for applications is January 31st, and they will be reviewed on a rolling basis. …