Twenty innovative tech start-ups from Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa have arrived in London to take part in a two-week programme designed to help their business improve.
Selected from more than 400 applicants, the entrepreneurs will take part in the ‘Go Global Africa’ programme, designed to create a beneficial relationship with Africa to develop new tech which can solve local and global issues.
The twenty winners on the programme come from sectors including FinTech, healthcare, agritech and water management.
They will receive coaching from pitching experts and advice on scaling up from PriceWaterHouseCooper’s dedicated startup team and the Natwest Fintech Accelerator.
Nigeria and Kenya’s technology sectors are growing rapidly and generate more than ten per cent and 11 per cent of their respective economic output.
After the programme the start-ups will receive ongoing support from the UK’s International Tech Hub Network, which now spans three continents and has seven hubs.
They will act as Go Global champions and share the skills they have learned to mentor other firms in their countries.
“It is fantastic to welcome these talented entrepreneurs to the UK,” said Digital Minister Margot James.
“Africa is a vibrant and dynamic continent, with huge potential for growth, and the firms chosen for the first Go Global Africa programme see tech as a force for good in society.”
“I’ve no doubt they have the talent to play a transformative role in their country’s growth while also building connections for UK startups in new markets and highlighting Britain as the place to develop new technology.”