GSA Africa Summit: Showcasing Africa’s start-up pioneers

Ethiopia’s entrepreneurial landscape is set to receive a significant boost as the Global Startup Awards (GSA) Africa Summit kicks off from Wednesday, 25 to Friday, 27 October at the Ethiopia Arts & Science Museum in Addis Ababa. This event marks a pivotal moment for the country, showcasing the nation’s potential and underscoring its position as a hub for innovative start-ups.

Under the theme “Innovating a Global Africa,” the GSA Africa Summit serves as a beacon for African innovation aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. The event aims to spotlight ground-breaking solutions emerging from the continent, bringing together visionaries and industry leaders dedicated to shaping Africa’s future through innovation.

Speaking ahead of the gathering, Muferihat Kamil, Minister of Labour and Skills of Ethiopia, emphasised the transformative power of start-ups in driving economic growth and social change across Africa. She highlighted the importance of collaboration, diversity, and knowledge exchange, stressing the need for a vibrant and interconnected start-up community in Africa.

Echoing her sentiments, Dr Belete Molla, Minister of Innovation and Technology, outlined Ethiopia’s commitment to fostering entrepreneurship through initiatives like the Ethiopian Homegrown Economic Reform Plan (HGER 2.0). He emphasised the role of start-ups in propelling Ethiopia’s economy forward and connecting the nation’s start-up ecosystem to the global arena.

Jo Griffiths, co-founder of the Global Innovation Initiative Group (GIIG), underscored the importance of African innovators as catalysts for continental and national progress, bridging the gap between traditional economies and the innovation-driven future.

The GSA Africa Summit received an overwhelming response this year, with over 8 200 entries from 54 African countries. These entries were narrowed down to 71 regional winners across Africa, who will compete in 15 Sustainable Development Goal-aligned categories. The pinnacle of the event, the awards ceremony scheduled for 26 October at Friendship Park, will celebrate the achievements of these start-ups in the presence of government representatives, investors, and stakeholders.

The summit, made possible through a collaborative effort between the Ethiopian Ministry of Labour and Skills, the Ethiopian Ministry of Innovation and Technology, the Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI-Ethiopia), and GIIG, features a dynamic program spread across multiple venues. The event offers a platform for start-up masterclasses, networking opportunities, pitching sessions, investor meetings, and insightful discussions led by prominent speakers from around the globe.

Although the summit’s attendee limit of 400 has been reached, a waitlist option is available for those interested in participating.

The GSA Africa Summit expressed gratitude to its partners, including UNICEF Ethiopia, Grant Thornton Ethiopia, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Wesgro Health, and The Loudhailer.

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