East Africa Com returns to Nairobi in April

Promising start-up founders are set to descend on Nairobi, Kenya this April for East Africa Com, a premier technology, telecommunication, media, and broadcasting event that returns after a three-year hiatus.

The event on Tuesday, 25 and Wednesday, 26 April is billed as a perfect platform to showcase Africa’s technology and start-up talent, and bring together the region’s tech leaders, telecom C-suite executives, senior regulators, and government officials. Over 50 industry heavyweights will take to the event’s stage to share their insights.

The tech start-up ecosystem in Africa is booming, and the event will delve into highly time-sensitive topics, from exploring topics around the 4IR to combating cyber-attack threats, and the war for talent. One of the sessions will feature East African operators discussing novel routes to delivering meaningful connectivity to underserved areas.

The event’s highlight is the dedicated one-day platform, AHUB East, which brings together the region’s most inspiring start-up founders under one roof on 26 April. The platform will guide the discussions with an inspiring mix of entrepreneurs, investors, and other experts, including Gibson Kawago, founder at WAGA Tanzania, John Kamara, founder at AFAYREKOD, Jay Katatumba, investor director at Africa50, or Stephen Ogweno, CEO at Lifesten Health.

Beyond knowledge-sharing, AHUB East will also help unlock new business opportunities by fostering connections between founders and investors.

Speaking on the upcoming event, Tom Cuthell, event director at East Africa Com, said, “We are delighted to return to Nairobi and support the growth of the region’s tech ecosystem. East Africa Com has a proven track record of bringing together senior decision-makers from the region’s tech, telecoms, and media industries, and we are looking forward to facilitating meaningful discussions around the most pressing issues facing the industry.”

The tech start-up ecosystem in Africa has witnessed a significant increase in funding, with a total of $1.3 billion raised in 2020 alone. However, access to funding remains a major challenge for most start-ups, and events like AHUB East play a crucial role in connecting founders with potential investors.

Investors are also keen on the African tech start-up ecosystem. Speaking on the growing interest, Maya Horgan Famodu, founder of Ingressive Capital, a venture capital firm that invests in African start-ups, said, “There is a growing number of investors who are interested in African start-ups, and it’s been exciting to see more people pay attention to the African start-up ecosystem over the past few years. There’s a lot of potential here, and I think we’re going to see a lot more interest in the future.”

AHUB East will also feature a pitch competition, where 10 start-ups will pitch their ideas to a panel of judges. The winner will receive a prize package worth $5 000, which includes a business mentorship package and access to potential investors.

The event will also host an exhibition space where start-ups can showcase their products and services to potential customers and investors. This is an excellent opportunity for start-ups to increase their visibility, generate leads, and secure new business opportunities.

On the evening of 25 April, the East Africa Com Awards will honour and celebrate the best and brightest in the region driving digital transformation. The awards will recognise and celebrate companies and individuals who have made significant contributions to the region’s tech ecosystem.

East Africa Com is also an excellent opportunity for start-ups to connect with potential investors, network with industry leaders, and learn from experts in the field. This, as start-ups play an increasingly crucial role in driving innovation and economic growth in the region.

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