Technology is the catalyst that sparks change in any society. Throughout history there is one common theme, any country that experiences a technological revolution also enjoys a subsequent economic transformation. Happened in America, happened in Japan, happened with the Asian Tigers (Hong Kong, Singapore,South Korea, Taiwan). So it is no surprise that today most countries have been shelling out a considerable percentage of their budget to build and support Tech cities or hubs. These hubs are clusters of Technology companies, inventors, suppliers,investors and designers with the right infrastructure to flourish. Silicon Valley is one of the best known tech clusters in the world. With Venture capital in this northern California hub valued at over $11B. Boston boasts a similar Tech hub and other large world hubs can be found in France (Paris), Russia (Skokolvo city), India (Bangalore) and relative newcomers China (Beijing)
Africa has figured out the need for these tech hubs, and as a result there has been significant investment in various countries in Africa, from Tinapa Knowledge city in Nigeria to the the planned Konza City in Kenya and Botswana innovation hub. Africa is building for the technical revolution, and most major cities are building hubs for innovators to share ideas and build businesses
Below is a list of some of the Tech Hubs that we know about in Africa. If you know of more feel free to post them in the comments. The continent is changing rapidly, so as a result, this list will not be static, it will definitely be……………….Staying Mobile 🙂
Ethiopia
iceaddis is a University-based innovation hub, incubator and co-working space for communities. We contribute to Ethiopia’s economic growth by tightening the constructive interaction between researchers, developers, entrepreneurs, creative workers and customers and by promoting local technological solutions to the public.
South Africa
Business incubation – like the name suggests it has to do with business growth. South Africa is a country with massive potential and possibilities. That potential is recognised, and therefore Softstart BTI as well as other Incubators have been established to assist with this growth.
mLab Southern Africa (SA) is a mobile solutions laboratory and startup accelerator that provides entrepreneurs and mobile developers with the support they need to develop innovative mobile applications and services.
Botswana
The Botswana Innovation Hub is under development at a strategic location in Gaborone near the (SSK) International Airport and is to be a national center of excellence for innovation in key priority areas – being ICT, Mining Technology, Bio-Technology, and Energy/Environment. This is in line with the enhancement of Botswana’s international competitiveness and the prospects for economic diversification and downstream job creation.
Uganda
@The HUB Kampala is a collaboration space for creative, like-minded enterprising people. This unique workspace offers daily, weekly and monthly work and meeting space for freelancers, independent consultants, entrepreneurs, designers, artists, journalists.
Egypt
PlugandPlay is Egypt’s first company accelerator, targeted at finding, selecting, and accelerating the growth of next generation of high-impact technology entrepreneurs.
Tahrir² is all about helping young entrepreneurs to get their startups in real business world. we offer funding, mentor-ship , co-working area and productive atmosphere . We believe that everything is possible when brilliant minds are gathered in one place. Pushing up the economy by encouraging young talents is our main purpose, moving these talents from startup stage to professional stage is our profit and seeing our country’s development is our joy
Nigeria
Technology Incubation Center Minna was established on 21st April 1998. It became operational August, 1998 with six (6) incubation units and five (5) pioneering Incubates. Since establishment the Center has received the total of 141 application for incubation but only seventy have been incubated and thirty eight (38) graduated. Currently the center is monitoring five non-resident incubates within Minna Metropolitan.
CcHUB is Nigeria’s first open living lab and pre-incubation space designed to be a multi-functional, multi-purpose space where work to catalyze creative social tech ventures take place. The HUB is a place for technologists, social entrepreneurs, government, tech companies, impact investors and hackers in and around Lagos to co-create new solutions to the many social problems in Nigeria.
L5Labs offers its portfolio companies:
* Strategic management support & CEO Mentoring
* Financing
* Office space and other administrative support services
Some of our helpful relationships
MTN Nigeria
L5Lab has a relationship with MTN Nigeria to be enable portfolio companies launch and monetize mobile-related products via the MTN app store, premium SMS or other channels.
Ghana
The mFriday Lab combines teams of talented ICT developers, faculty members, and business school students from the public and private universities to identify challenges and opportunities, create appropriate projects, and launch successful companies for economic growth and sustainable jobs in Ghana.
Meltwater entrepreneurial School of Technology
The Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology – or MEST – was established in Accra, Ghana, through the non-profit Meltwater Foundation, with the aim of creating jobs and wealth locally in Africa by training young Africans to become software entrepreneurs. During the intensive two-year program at MEST, Entrepreneurs in Training (EITs) work with experienced business executives, university graduates and current MBA students from top universities worldwide to develop software applications and prepare them for launch in the global marketplace.
Ivory Coast
Our coworking space is a collaborative workspace where to meet passionate and professional web development, media, communication and others.
The objectives of this laboratory are many new technologies:
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Allowing workers , through the collaborative work to improve their expertise in their chosen field and to build a network of contacts ;
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Enable investors and project developers to find a suitable space for their projects, as well as skilled and competent resourcess;
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Provide event organizers a perfect setting for their events;
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Supporting freelancers and start-ups in their growth ( about it please consult the tab “Our community);
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At our level, create (and maintain) a dynamic innovation in the Ivorian web.
Liberia
iLab Liberia is a non-profit computer laboratory providing access to cutting-edge technology, expert IT assistance and a community leveraging technology for the good of Liberia.
Burkina Faso
Yam Pukri is an association dedicated to education, information and advice for new technologies. It exists since 1998 in Burkina Faso and undertakes numerous activities. These webs pages summarize its focus and its actions in Burkina Faso.
Kenya
It is part open community workspace (co-working), part vector for investors and VCs and part incubator. We also have a number of initiatives designed to build an ecosystem around the Kenyan tech entrepreneur: iHub Research, iHub Consulting, iHub Supercomputing Cluster, and the iHub User Experience (UX) Lab. We’re trying to create the place where seeds are planted and are easily found by the people with money to help them grow.
Fablab (fabrication laboratory or “fabulous laboratory”) is a workshop with an array of computer controlled tools with the aim to make “almost anything”. Here at the lab people meet to interact and share ideas as they work on their projects.