The upcoming Global Startup Award (GSA) Africa Summit, scheduled from 25 – 27 October 2023 at the Ethiopia Arts & Science Museum in Addis Ababa, is a monumental occasion for Ethiopia, a potential-laden country, signalling a significant milestone in the country’s entrepreneurial journey.
As we enter the Decade of Action, the GSA Africa platform seeks to showcase African world-changing innovation through a Sustainable Development Goal-aligned lens on the global and local stage.
Her Excellency, Ms Muferihat Kamil, Minister of Labour and Skills of Ethiopia will make an address on the first day of the summit. “We are witnessing an unprecedented era of innovation and entrepreneurship in Africa, where startups are emerging as powerful catalysts for economic growth and social transformation. This African Startups Summit serves as a testament to the immense potential and resilience of our continent’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. It brings together visionary minds and industry leaders who are dedicated to shaping the future of Africa through innovation. In this summit, we celebrate the groundbreaking achievements of African startups and provide them with a platform to showcase their solutions addressing the most pressing challenges we face. From fintech to agritech, healthtech to renewable energy, these startups are not only driving economic prosperity but also making a positive impact on communities across Africa.”
Her Excellency continues, “Together, we are shaping a future where entrepreneurship and technology converge to create sustainable and inclusive development for all. As we gather at the African Startups Summit, we are reminded of the extraordinary power that lies within collaboration and knowledge exchange. This event serves as a unique opportunity for startups to connect, learn from each other, and forge partnerships that transcend borders and industries. Through these collaborations, we can amplify our impact and accelerate the growth of the African startup ecosystem.
At this summit, we embrace diversity, recognizing that it fuels innovation and spurs creativity. We are committed to supporting startups from all corners of Africa, ensuring that they have access to the networks, resources, and mentorship needed to thrive. Together, we can create a vibrant and interconnected startup community that unleashes the full potential of African entrepreneurship and drives sustainable development across the continent.”
His Excellency, Dr. Belete Molla, Minister of the Ministry of Innovation and Technology, will also make an address at the summit and elaborate on the Ethiopian Homegrown Economic Reform Plan [HGER 2.0]. “The HGER 2.0 considers Youth and Innovation Driven Entrepreneurship (startups) as a powerful tool to drive economic progress and uplift our society. We aim to create an ecosystem that empowers startups to turn their ideas into a reality. With the revised national Science, Technology and Innovation policy, the Startup Act and Innovation Fund law, the upcoming National Ethiopian Startup initiative and the Addis Ababa Startups City Programme, the Ethiopian startup ecosystem has begun experiencing positive change. And, the energy and creativity of our startup community has started contributing to our nation’s economic growth and improved our position in the global sphere.”
His Excellency adds, “Africa, with its rich diversity and immense resources, is home to a growing population of young, talented minds who are eager to harness the power of technology and innovation-driven entrepreneurship to drive positive social, environmental and economic change. Hosting the Global Startup Awards Africa Summit accelerates the national startup ecosystem to rapidly connect to the global ecosystem.”
“We believe our African innovators are the next generation of leaders who can serve as continental and national assets to inspire the mobilisation of youth nations and leaders into the innovation economy and global readiness,” says Jo Griffiths, co-founder of the Global Innovation Initiative Group (GIIG), the exclusive rights holder to GSA Africa.
The winners’ journeys are tracked as demonstratable innovation to evidence the urgent need and opportunity to provide ‘real-world, tangible implementation’ and build new markets. The summit brings innovation learnings, case studies, insights, and aspirations together from a multi-country perspective to build innovation-based economies.
Just over 8,200 entries from 54 African countries were received this year, narrowing down to 71 regional winners across Africa. The event’s highlight, the awards ceremony, scheduled for 26 October at Friendship Park, will welcome GSA Africa’s extensive stakeholder network, including startups, government delegations, and like-minded investors. The final winners across 15 SDG-aligned categories will be recognised during this grand event.
The Summit has been made possible through a collaborative partnership between the Ethiopian Ministry of Labour and Skills (MOLS), the Ethiopian Ministry of Innovation and Technology (MInT), the Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI-Ethiopia) and GIIG.
Credit: Tech in Africa