Tech incubators bring creative minds together with expert training and financing. (Photo: http://africandevjobs.com)
- Tech Incubators
There is no question that African is a hotbed for technology innovation. The opportunities are so numerous and the potential for profit so great that multiple technology incubators have sprung up in Africa to take advantage of them. iHub in Nairobi, is perhaps the most well-known incubator. iHub, has been the launchpad for over 150 companies, including Weza Tele, a financial services tech company whose $1.7m sale to South Africa’s AFB turned heads.
Dubbed the “Silicon Savannah,” Africa’s burgeoning technology start-up ecosystem is a brave new world for entrepreneurs and investors. The model is sure to generate big returns for those willing to invest in the infrastructure necessary to support sustainable growth in Africa. Beyond generating a wealth of new ideas for solving traditional problems facing the continent, the incubators’ more significant benefit is creating a fertile foundation for future innovators who are trained to think and ideate.
What’s next? The future for Africa is bright and getting brighter. As more attention is placed on Africans solving uniquely African problems, developing skills and solutions that can ultimately be exported to solve issues faced outside the continent, the impact of African innovation will be self-evident.
