Tag: Startups

• 10 Finalists From Five African Countries Will Pitch Their Products to International Industry Leaders on Dec. 5 in Kigali
• Carnegie Mellon University Africa Joins as Official Partner of the Program

NBA Africa (www.NBA.com) today announced the 10 startup companies from five African countries that have been selected as finalists as part of the second edition of NBA Africa Triple-Double Accelerator (https://apo-opa.co/48kJsem), which the league launched last year to support the continent's technology ecosystem and the next generation of African entrepreneurs.  The 10 finalists will pitch their products to a panel of international industry leaders at a Demo Day at Carnegie Mellon University Africa (CMU-Africa) in Kigali, Rwanda, on Friday, Dec. 5.

NBA Africa also announced that CMU-Africa has joined as an Official Partner of the program, which is open to early-stage African startup companies that develop solutions in the sport and creative industries.  CMU-Africa is the only U.S. research university offering its master's degrees with a full-time faculty, staff and operations in Africa. 

ServiceNow – an AI platform for business transformation whose Now Assist and AI agents help organizations deliver faster and smarter experiences at scale – also serves as an Official Partner of NBA Africa Triple-Double Accelerator, while ALX Ventures – a leading technology incubator that provides the continent's tech leaders with access to the skills and tools to launch and scale their startups – is once again operating the program.

The 10 startups, which were selected from more than 700 applications, will pitch their products to a panel of international industry leaders who will choose five winners to receive financial support and the opportunity to join CMU-Africa's 12-month Business Incubation Program as part of its Innovation Hub, which helps African tech startups transform proof-of-concept prototypes and preliminary market assessments into scalable, market-ready products and services.

Below are the 10 startups that will compete for the five prize-winning spots:

• Athlon Technology (Egypt) (https://AthlonTechnology.com/) aims to leverage accessible mobile technology and AI to provide video analysis for amateur and budget-constrained sports teams while addressing a market gap with a user-friendly, hardware-light solution.  
• Atsur (Nigeria) (https://apo-opa.co/4pxsTCH) leverages blockchain technology to promote investment in African art and support artists and art communities.
• CoLab (South Africa) (https://apo-opa.co/3XiPvek) is a platform that brings together creatives, entrepreneurs and industry professionals, providing a space to connect, manage projects and bring ideas to life.
• Contestify (Nigeria) (www.Contestify.io) is an all-in-one platform that streamlines contest management, offering real-time judging, transparent scoring and instant payouts. 
• Fitclan (Egypt) (https://Fitclan.co/) is a digital fitness hub that leverages a flexible subscription model for individuals and corporate clients. 
• Novate (Morocco) (www.Novate.ltd/en) offers a unique, immersive virtual reality (VR) football viewing experience with features such as seat selection, camera switching, social voice chat and live stats. 
• ProPath Sports (Kenya) (www.ProPathSports.com) revolutionizes athlete discovery in Kenya with data-driven talent identification; its iSTEAM program covers all aspects of talent development.
• Reborn (Morocco) (https://RebornSportsTech.com/) offers comprehensive performance indicators that give athletes deep insights into their physical condition and on-field performance, essential for identifying strengths, areas for improvement, and optimizing overall performance. 
• Safia Health (Kenya) (https://SafiaHealth.com/) offers personalized training regiments that integrate fitness, recovery and mental wellbeing tracking into a unified platform, offering value to athletes and coaches. 
• SongDis (Nigeria) (www.SongDis.com) provides comprehensive digital distribution and services tailored for African independent artists and labels. 

“The quality of this year's applications reflects the incredible talent and creativity among Africa's young entrepreneurs as well as the important role that the sport and creative industries are playing in the continent's development,” said NBA Africa CEO Clare Akamanzi.  “These startups represent the bold spirit of innovation rising across the continent – where creativity meets purpose, and ideas have the power to scale beyond borders.”

Last year, four prize-winning companies – Festival Coins (Nigeria), Salubata (Nigeria), HustleSasa (Kenya) and UBR VR (Egypt) – were awarded financial support and mentorship as part of the inaugural edition of the program.

Contact:
Chumani Bambani
NBA Africa Communications  
cbambani@nba.com
+27 65 548 1031

Fans can follow:
NBAAfrica on Facebook and YouTube
@ nbaafricaofficial on Instagram
@ NBA_Africa on X
@ theBAL on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.

About NBA Africa:
NBA Africa is an affiliate of the National Basketball Association (NBA), a global sports and media organization with the mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball.  NBA Africa conducts the league's business in Africa, including the Basketball Africa League (BAL), and has opened subsidiary offices in Cairo, Egypt; Dakar, Senegal; Johannesburg, South Africa; Lagos, Nigeria; and Nairobi, Kenya.  The league's efforts on the continent have focused on increasing access to basketball and the NBA through youth and elite development, social responsibility, media distribution, corporate partnerships, NBA Africa Games, NBA Stores, the BAL, and more.

NBA games and programming are available in all 54 African countries, and the NBA has hosted three sold-out exhibition games on the continent since 2015.  The BAL, a partnership between the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and NBA Africa, is a professional league featuring 12 club teams from across Africa that concluded its fifth season in June 2025.

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As the world faces unprecedented water scarcity, with more than 2 billion people lacking access to safe drinking water and global demand expected to exceed supply by 40% by 2030, Saudi Arabia will host one of the world's most influential gatherings dedicated to water innovation and sustainability.

The Innovation Driven Water Sustainability Conference (IDWS 2025) will take place 8–10 December 2025 at The Ritz-Carlton, Jeddah, under the esteemed patronage of HRH Prince Khalid Al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Governor of Makkah Region. Organized by the Saudi Water Authority (SWA), IDWS 2025 will convene global leaders, policymakers, innovators, and industry pioneers to address the planet's most pressing water challenges and accelerate the transition toward a secure and sustainable water future.

A centerpiece of the conference, the Global Prize for Innovation in Water (GPIW) will recognize and fund breakthrough solutions that reimagine how the world produces, treats, and reuses water. The GPIW stands as the largest water innovation prize in the region and among the most significant globally. The prize bridges science, entrepreneurship, and impact; connecting innovators with investors, implementers, and networks to transform ideas into real-world applications. Winning projects will gain financial support and operational backing to pilot and scale their technologies within the Kingdom and beyond.

Returning for its second edition, Miyahthon (The Water Innovation Hackathon) invites young innovators, startups, technologists, and entrepreneurs to co-create scalable solutions spanning the entire water cycle, from production and reuse to digital transformation and efficient management. The program offers hands-on mentorship through virtual and in-person bootcamps, supported by sector experts, and provides winning teams the opportunity for incubation and commercialization. The Miyahthon will also feature a dedicated investor track designed to connect participating teams with potential funders and strategic partners to fast-track their market-ready innovations.

As part of its commitment to capacity building, the Water Academy will launch a series of advanced professional development programs in partnership with London Business School and 15 international training institutions.
These courses are designed to empower Saudi and Arab professionals with expertise in water management, sustainable leadership, and organizational innovation, strengthening the sector's human capital and competitiveness.

IDWS 2025 will host specialized technical workshops focusing on emerging technologies, regulatory frameworks, financing models, and sustainability strategies. The program will also feature the presentation of peer-reviewed scientific papers, highlighting the latest academic and practical advancements in water resource management.

A major highlight of the conference is the international exhibition, which will feature cutting-edge technologies and newly launched products across water treatment, desalination, and resource management. Several new solutions will be unveiled for the first time in the region. Participating organizations include Siemens, ABB, Saudi Services for Electro Mechanic Works (SSEM), Saudi Investment Bank, ACWA Power, KSB, the Local Content & Government Procurement Authority, and Toray, underscoring their collective commitment to advancing a sustainable water future for the Kingdom.

The core conference will convene panels, keynote sessions, and networking forums addressing critical water priorities. IDWS 2025 will showcase a stellar global lineup of thought leaders, including (but not limited to):

• H.E. Vera Eiro, President of WAREG (European Water Regulators), who is advocating for sustainable water governance across 27 European states.
• H.E. Dr. Mansoor Al Hinai, Chairman of the Authority for Public Services Regulation in Oman, a regional leader in integrated utility and sustainability regulation.
• Ben Tarbell, Co-Founder & CEO of Ebb Carbon, a pioneer of carbon removal through ocean based alkalinity technology.
• Gustavo Saltiel, Lead Water and Sanitation Specialist of World Bank, a global authority on sustainable water access and sanitation policy.
• Michael Toh, Managing Director of Singapore Water Association, who is an architect of Singapore's global water innovation ecosystem and NEWater strategy.

This diverse roster reflects IDWS's ambition to include water sector luminaries, innovation drivers, and decision makers from government, finance, academia, and the private sector.

Mr. Mehaideb Saleh Al Mehaideb, Chairman of the Supervisory Committee of the Innovation Driven Water Sustainability Conference, said: “Through the Innovation Driven Water Sustainability Conference, the Kingdom reaffirms its global leadership in advancing sustainable water management. IDWS embodies our shared vision to harness innovation, technology, and collaboration to ensure long term water security. By convening the world's brightest minds and honoring breakthrough solutions through the Global Prize for Innovation in Water, we are creating a legacy of impact that extends well beyond our borders”

As part of its mission to raise public awareness and inspire creative engagement, the Saudi Water Authority will launch the “Water Content Creators Award” during IDWS 2025. This national initiative aims to encourage media creativity and empower content creators across the Kingdom and beyond to enrich Arabic-language content about water sustainability. The award seeks to elevate societal awareness about the critical role of water in sustainable development while promoting creative storytelling that reinforces environmental responsibility and supports the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. The competition includes multiple tracks such as Innovation in Water, Saudi Water Through the Eyes of Its People, Community Engagement, Awareness and Conservation, Water Security, and Knowledge-Based Content, welcoming submissions from individuals and organizations alike.

Interested participants are invited to register for free before October 31, 2025, via the official conference website: https://IDWSC.com/

Media Contact:
Yazeed Alnwaiser – Public Relations
Saudi Water Authority
yalnuwaysir@swa.gov.sa

Lama Alqasem, PR & Communications Executive
Tahaluf
marketing@idwsc.com

About the Saudi Water Authority (SWA):
The Saudi Water Authority (SWA) is the national regulatory and strategic body responsible for overseeing, developing, and sustaining the Kingdom's water sector. Established to align with Saudi Vision 2030, SWA ensures the efficient management of water resources across the Kingdom through integrated planning, regulation, and innovation. SWA's mission is to guarantee water security and sustainability by driving transformation across the entire water value chain; from production and distribution to treatment and reuse, while enhancing operational efficiency and service quality. The Authority plays a pivotal role in enabling collaboration between the public and private sectors, fostering research and innovation, and implementing world class standards that advance environmental stewardship and economic resilience.

About IDWS:
The Innovation Driven Water Sustainability Conference (IDWS) is the Gulf region's premier gathering aimed at accelerating sustainable water solutions through investment, policy, innovation, and cross-sector collaboration. It convenes global leaders, innovators, academics, governments, and private sector actors to catalyze real impact. Over its editions, IDWS has hosted hundreds of speakers, drawn thousands of participants, and elevated the visibility and scalability of cutting-edge water technologies internationally.

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Tech leaders, policymakers, and innovators took the spotlight on the second day of Africa Tech Festival 2025 (https://AfricaTechFestival.com/), turning discussions on ethical AI, inclusive investment, and human-centred leadership into a blueprint for Africa's digital future. Across the festival's stages, private and public sector stakeholders alike shared a commitment to driving innovation that is responsible, equitable, and rooted in African values.

A key highlight of the day was UN Assistant Secretary-General and Chief Information Technology Officer, Bernardo Mariano Junior, pledging the UN's support for Africa's AI journey. In his virtual keynote titled Governing AI in Africa – Building Trust through Contextual and Ethical Leadership, he underscored the need for African-led frameworks that prioritise transparency, accountability, and inclusion in the development and deployment of AI. Mariano noted that Africa's cultural and linguistic diversity makes it a proving ground for ethical and inclusive technology, and called for Africa to shape, not merely adopt, global AI norms and develop technology that serves humanity in the spirit of ubuntu.

Entrepreneurship and financial inclusion took centre stage at AfricaIgnite, where Odunayo Eweniyi, Co-Founder of PiggyVest and General Partner at FirstCheck Africa, shared tips on building sustainable ventures during the Lessons from a Top Founder on Building Success session. She reflected on PiggyVest's decade-long journey to democratise savings and investment for millions of Nigerians, emphasising that user trust, transparency, and regulatory collaboration are the cornerstones of long-term success in fintech. The session highlighted how responsible innovation can expand access and foster financial resilience across Africa's rapidly growing digital economy.

The festival's focus on youth and leadership was highlighted at Tech, Talent and the African Youth Dividend, featuring rugby legend and philanthropist Tendai “The Beast” Mtawarira in discussion with Marcia Mahlalela (Ascendants Media Group). Drawing parallels between sport and entrepreneurship, the conversation highlighted discipline, resilience, and mentorship as key ingredients in shaping Africa's next generation of leaders. Reflecting on his journey from sport to social impact through the Beast Foundation, Mtawarira noted that leadership also means investing in others, empowering youth, and leaving organisations stronger for the future, including using technology to advance careers and improve social circumstances.

Addressing a key issue affecting many African countries, the AfricaCom fireside chat Connectivity Empowering Africa's Future – Why Rural Matters focused on the transformative power of digital infrastructure in underserved areas. Tumi Chamayou-Sekhukhune (MTN South Africa) and Dion Jerling (Connect Earth) examined how expanded connectivity continues to unlock economic potential and drive social inclusion across rural communities.

Continuing the discussions on the key role of women in Africa's tech ecosystem, panellists Nirvani Dhevcharran (The Foschini Group), Zandile Mposelwa (Zandile Mposelwa Consulting), and Nikita Thakrar (Included VC) discussed the need for sustained investment in women-led ventures and equitable representation in decision-making roles. The session, titled Leading from the Front - Women Shaping Africa's Tech Future, underscored that inclusive leadership is essential for sustainable growth, while highlighting successful women-designed tech innovations.

Reflecting on the day's programme, Kadi Diallo, Portfolio Manager for Africa Tech Festival, said, “Day Two showcased the power of inclusive investment in people, diversity, and potential. Whether through ethical AI governance, connectivity, or leadership, Africa's innovation story continues to be defined by those building a digital future that leaves no one behind.”

Framed by the festival's central themes of responsible innovation, inclusive investment, connectivity for development, and policy harmonisation, Africa Tech Festival 2025 continues to celebrate the strength and creativity of the continent's digital ecosystem across its four flagship programmes: AfricaCom, AfricaTech, The AI Summit Cape Town, and AfricaIgnite.

About Africa Tech Festival:
Now in its 28th edition, Africa Tech Festival 2025 will take place from 11 to 13 November 2025 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), bringing together more than 15,000 technology leaders, policymakers, investors, startups, and visionaries. The Festival encompasses four anchor events:

• AfricaCom – The continent's largest telecoms and connectivity event
• AfricaTech – The hub for technology, innovation, and enterprise growth
• AfricaIgnite – Driving growth and impact in Africa's startup ecosystem
• The AI Summit Cape Town – Where commercial AI comes to life

With over 500 speakers, 300 exhibitors, and extensive networking opportunities, Africa Tech Festival remains the continent's most influential gathering for those shaping Africa's connected future.