UK govt’s Go Global Africa 2019 to support Kenyan, Nigerian, SA startups

Are you running a tech startup in Kenya, Nigeria or South Africa that is solving pressing local issues? Then you might stand to benefit from 14 days of mentorship, workshops and networking in the UK — through the British government’s newly launched Go Global Africa 2019 programme.

The programme forms part of the UK Government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) new International Tech Hub Network and is run in partnership with the British High Commission in Kenya, Nigeria and Kenya.

Through the Go Global Africa 2019 programme, DCMS is looking to support post minimum viable product (MVP) startups in healthtech, fintech and agritech whose respective countries that are solving local issues.

Applications for the programme close on 30 January and judging panels are scheduled to take place between 7 and 14 February.

Go Global Africa 2019 aims to support post minimum viable product (MVP) startups in healthtech, fintech and agritech that hail from Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa and are solving local issues

The two-week programme — which will take place in the UK between 23 March and 4 April — aims to equip participants with networking expertise as well as the exposure they need to make a difference in their respective communities.

Startups selected for the programme will be able to attend what the British High Commission in South Africa said in a statement last Friday (11 January) will be a wide array of specialised workshops, intensive innovation sessions with market leaders and tech incubators, as well as networking opportunities and meetups with London’s tech and startup communities.

Workshops will among other things cover such topics as presentation skills, cybersecurity, fundamentals of negotiation, user experience (UX) design, artificial intelligence (AI) and data management regulations.

In addition, participants will also take part in three to four innovation sessions with leading UK-based corporate accelerators and incubators. The goal of these sessions is to highlight opportunities and models to partner with corporates for acceleration, piloting, investment and joint ventures with corporates in participant’s home countries as well as in the UK.

At the end of the programme, participating founders will get an opportunity to showcase their startups and achievements to an invited audience.

After the conclusion of the all-expenses paid programme — travel costs, accommodation and meals are all covered — participants will have access to mentoring sessions, follow-up meetings, and a network of other entrepreneurs from around the world.

Startup founder who submit applications will have to create a 60-second camera facing video pitch — which they will have to upload on YouTube — that explains their product and value proposition, as well as how they expect the Go Global programme will benefit their startup and local community.

Thereafter, applicants will have to fill out this Google Form before midday on 30 January.

Learn more about the programme here and check out this pdf for more information on eligibility criteria and workshop curriculum.

Featured image: City skyline and the Thames, London, Greater London from DCMS blog