Launching of the new edition of Digital Africa, an innovation competition to take up the challenge of digital transition in Africa

Digital technology, a great accelerator of Africa’s development

Digital revolution is transforming the African continent. It’s an innovative catalyst that revolutionizes economies and societies. Ecology, energy, culture, education, artistic creation, governance, media: digital technology has a transversal and multiplying impact in all those key sectors. The objective is to offer a long-term support to the emergence of mature and solid digital ecosystems, catalysers of new economic opportunities.

« Innovation in Africa is showing extraordinary development, ecosystems are being structured, and startups are spreading across the continent. By promoting the links between French and African entrepreneurs today, our ecosystems are building a common future », David Monteau, La French Tech Director, Ministry of Economy and Finance.

A fully customized programme

All the startup winners of this second edition of the Digital Africa challenge will benefit from a high visibility and access an international network of partners, clients and investors.

The 5 African winning startups will be accompanied by the AFD through an “acceleration pack”, a customizable, technical and financial support up to a 30.000 euros value.

The 5 French winning startups will be accompanied by Bpifrance up to a 10.000 euros value support pack to strengthen their expertise and develop new opportunities on the African continent.

« For a young startup, Digital Africa offers a great opportunity to gain a continental and international visibility. » Dieu-Donné Okalas Ossami, E-Tumba, winning startup of the first edition of Digital Africa

What are the selection criteria?

For the second edition of Digital Africa, startups are invited to propose innovative projects linked to the following themes:

• Territory (urban challenge, rural transformation, Smart City,…)
• Citizenship (e-government, civic engagement, activism, alternative media,…)
• Knowledge and creativity (education, formation, creative and cultural industries,…)
• Environment and climate (green tech, clean tech, sustainable transportations, blue economy, renewable energies,…)

Deadline for startups to submit their projects on digitalafrica.afd.fr is the 22nd of October2017