Jumpstart to debut at GSMA’s Mobile 360 series – Africa conference

The GSMA today announced that a new event dubbed Jumpstart is set to be debuted at the 2015 Mobile 360 Series – Africa conference.

The announcement was made through a statement on a press release, where the new event was described as a double billed occasion.

“Jumpstart is a new event at Mobile 360 – Africa that will bring together the mobile industry with entrepreneurs and start-ups from across Sub-Saharan Africa. The event will combine a keynote session and an energetic pitch stage with an informal networking reception.”

The Start-Up Pitch Platform will feature six to eight exciting, early-stage entrepreneurs and each will give a brief five-minute pitch to a panel of operators and to the audience.

The pitch session will be followed by an informal networking reception for participants and the audience. The ‘Call for Pitch Submissions’ is now open to all start-ups interested in pitching at this new event offering.

The GSMA also announced that MTN will again be the Platinum Sponsor for the event, which will take place 7-9 October at the African Pride Crystal Towers Hotel and Spa in Cape Town and will comprise thought-provoking keynote addresses, fireside chats, pitch sessions and panel discussions. In addition to the main conference, Mobile 360 – Africa will incorporate additional programmes that highlight the initiatives and activities undertaken by the GSMA Mobile for Development programme, as well workshops focusing on key policy and regulatory issues for the region.

“The mobile industry is playing a key role in driving digital, financial and social inclusion in many African countries by providing access to quality information and services, and Mobile 360 – Africa will convene key stakeholders to examine the practical steps needed to overcome critical roadblocks in technology, governance, business models and investment,” said Michael O’Hara, Chief Marketing Officer, GSMA.

“Sub-Saharan Africa has been the fastest-growing mobile market over the last five years, both in subscribers and connections, and our research shows that it will remain so through to at least 2020. It is an exciting and vibrant time in Africa and this dynamic and diverse market will be reflected across the entire Mobile 360 – Africa agenda.” 

With the overall event theme of “Accelerating Social and Economic Empowerment”, each session will tackle a different aspect of the empowerment story.

Keynotes and sessions will delve into subjects such as “The Power to Connect: Providing Access for All”, “The Power to Discover: Local Content and Digital Literacy”, “The Power to Borrow, Save and Spend: Building the Mobile Financial Ecosystem”, “The Power to Innovate: Growing Start-Up Ecosystems and Cultivating Entrepreneurship” and much more.

The full conference agenda is available here.