La French launches second edition of Digital Africa

The second edition of Digital Africa startup competition and digital innovation to support sustainable development in Africa has been launched.

AFD, Bpifrance and La French Tech launched the second edition of the competition with the objective of offering 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 start-ups are spreading across the continent. By promoting the links between French and African entrepreneurs today, our ecosystems are building a common future,” said David Monteau, La French Tech Director, Ministry of Economy and Finance.

“Innovation in Africa is showing extraordinary development, ecosystems are being structured, and start-ups 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.

Digital revolution is transforming the African continent. It’s an innovative catalyst that revolutionizes economies and societies. Ecology, energy, culture, education, artistic creation, governance, and media: digital technology has a transversal and multiplying impact in all those key sectors.

“Digital innovation is abundant in Africa. Africans are making a technological leap that accelerates the emergence of the continent. Through Digital Africa, AFD supports emblematic start-ups of the digital African ecosystems, and fulfills its mission of development in the service of education and innovation, in the digital age. Development is now moving in both directions, between the two shores of the Mediterranean,” said Rémy Rioux, AFD Executive Director.

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. They will be part of a community that gathers the best talents of digital innovation in Africa and for Africa, in order to share experiences and good practices.

The 5 African winning startups will be accompanied by the AFD through an “acceleration pack”, a customisable, 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: Bpifrance Université training, networking and discovery trip to Abidjan and Cape Town with the French entrepreneurs’ community in the French Tech Hubs.

The first edition of the Digital Africa challenge, launched in October 2016, received more than 500 applications and rewarded 10 start-ups which convinced the judging panel on the potential impact of their innovation.

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

This year’s jury will consist of:

1. Pauline Mujawamariya, Director of the Innovation Prize for Africa – African Innovation Foundation;
2. Tidjane Deme, General Partner of Partech Venture;
3. Emeka Okofore, TED Global, for Africa;
4. Aissatou Sow, Director of Development in Africa, Intel Corporation;
5. Erick Young, CEO Greentec Capital Partners.