‘Africa Startup Accelerator’ is a new initiative designed to support early-stage startups in Africa, specifically in the sports and creative sectors. This program will provide mentorship and funding to help these companies grow, focusing on areas such as event management and ticketing, youth development, artificial intelligence (AI), and digital marketing. Managed by ALX Ventures, a well-known tech incubator, the accelerator will also handle the selection process for participating startups.
Startups wishing to join can apply on the program’s website by May 31st. From these applicants, the top 10 will be chosen to receive mentorship from NBA Africa, ALX leadership, and other corporate partners. These mentors will assist the startups with product development, business growth, and market strategies. A Demo Day will take place in New York City in September, coinciding with the United Nations General Assembly, where the startups will present their ideas to a panel of global industry leaders.
The panel will select four winning companies from the Demo Day, granting them financial support and ongoing mentorship. These winners will also have the chance to collaborate with NBA Africa and the Basketball Africa League (BAL) on various projects across the continent. The initiative was announced by NBA Africa CEO Clare Akamanzi at a Business Summit in Nairobi, with prominent U.S. officials in attendance.
“NBA Africa has consistently aimed to support the regional sports ecosystem, and Egypt is no exception,” said Mohamed Abdel-Motaleb, Vice President and Head of NBA Egypt. “Since opening our Cairo office, we’ve witnessed significant momentum and enthusiasm for the NBA and basketball in Egypt. Through the Triple-Double: NBA Africa Startup Accelerator initiative, we are thrilled to offer early-stage Egyptian startups more opportunities to impact Egypt’s sports ecosystem and creative industries.”
NBA Africa, a subsidiary of the NBA, is dedicated to expanding the basketball ecosystem in Africa through various initiatives, including the BAL, youth development programs, and corporate partnerships. With offices in multiple African cities, NBA Africa has a history of promoting basketball through events and media in all 54 African countries. The launch of the accelerator program underscores NBA Africa’s commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship within Africa’s sports and creative industries.
