NBA Africa Triple Double Startup Accelerator Program
Credit: NBA Africa
With Africa’s digital economy on the rise and its young population rapidly growing, the continent is positioning itself as a global hub for innovation. By 2030, African youth are estimated to make up 42% of the world’s youth and 75% of Africa’s youth under 35, with huge potential to transform a range of industries, including sport and the creative economy. It’s hidden.
In an interview with Forbes.com ahead of the NBA Africa Triple Double Accelerator Demo Day in New York City, NBA Africa CEO Claire Akamanzi spoke at length about the program and highlighted the transformative power of Africa’s youth population. “Africa is made up of young people who are trying to make Africa better than what their parents experienced,” she said, adding that this vibrant energy could be harnessed for innovation and growth. I emphasized that it is very important.
Forbes.com also spoke with two of the accelerator’s 10 finalists to provide insight into their journey and the innovations they are bringing to the forefront.
Triple-Double Accelerator: Empowering young entrepreneurs through innovation
Developed in partnership with ALX Ventures, the NBA Triple-Double Accelerator aims to strengthen Africa’s sports ecosystem and support creative industries across the continent. The accelerator received an overwhelming 700 applications, from which 10 finalists from seven African countries were selected for the intensive mentoring program. Today, these finalists will pitch their products to a panel of international industry leaders at NBA Headquarters in New York City.
“This platform was created to help young people realize their ideas and bring them to market,” Akamanzi explained. “African youth are natural innovators. They just need the support to realize their full potential.”
Selected startups received rigorous coaching focused on honing their business models and preparing them for the global stage.
After the pitches, the committee will choose four winning companies. The four companies will receive financial support and additional mentorship, including participation in workshops and development programs facilitated by NBA Africa or its partners. This initiative aims to ensure that these startups not only survive in Africa, but also compete internationally and establish Africa as a hub of innovation in sports and creative industries.
(U.S. Trade and Development Agency Administrator Enoh T. Ebong and NBA Africa CEO Claire Akamanzi attend…(+)Triple Double: Launch of NBA Africa Startup Accelerator)
Credit: NBA Africa
Path to global impact: Criteria for success and NBA Africa’s vision
Triple Double Accelerator finalists were put through rigorous criteria, including the viability and scalability of their business models, their potential impact on Africa’s sports and creative ecosystem, and their ability to address the unique challenges facing the continent. rated based on.
“We want to give African startups the opportunity to come to the table and take their ideas to the next level,” Akamanzi said, emphasizing the company’s commitment to investing in talent and fostering long-term partnerships. She added: “The 10 finalists will receive preparation and organizational support, and the four winners will receive further guidance and funding.” This approach reflects NBA Africa’s vision to create sustainable, homegrown solutions for the continent’s growing sports community.
Vambo AI: Using technology to save African languages
Chido Dzinotywei, founder of Vambo AI, is one of 10 finalists in the program to pitch her… (+) product at Demo Day at NBA Headquarters in New York City
Credit: NBA Africa
One of the finalists is Vambo AI, a startup working to preserve and promote African indigenous languages through AI technology. Founder Chido Ginotiway spoke about her personal journey and the challenges that led her to launch this venture. “I’m very passionate about languages because I faced language-related challenges growing up,” she explained. “I had to repeat fourth grade because I was not fluent in English, the language of instruction. This was so that I wouldn’t be restricted in what I could do.”
This formative experience shaped her mission and motivated her to found a business focused on language education. “After completing my economics degree at UCT, I decided to start a business focused on teaching people both their native language and English,” she said. Vambo AI has since evolved into an AI-powered platform serving over 14,000 users. “Vambo AI is 1 year and 2 months old and covers over 40 African languages. This has allowed us to understand the specific needs of different communities.”
Dzinotyiwei articulated his vision for the future of the platform: “Currently, we are good at translation and text-to-text solutions, which means we can do audio subtitles and captions. But we are also expanding to speech recognition and speech recognition, making our solutions even more comprehensive. ” Her goal is to ensure that people with disabilities, such as the visually impaired, can participate in content such as sports in their native or acquired language.
The opportunity to participate in the NBA Africa Triple-Double Accelerator is extremely important to Vambo AI. “This experience helped me understand what it takes to serve global companies like the NBA and NBA Africa,” Ginotiwe said. “We hope to secure more clients at that level. This opportunity validates our efforts and contribution to the ecosystem.”
Vambo AI has grown to 14,000 users since its launch, and Dzinotyiwei emphasized the importance of long-term sustainability for their business. “We want our products to stay in someone’s business for the long term. We don’t want to raise money and sell them. We want to be sustainable for one or two people.” Towards this longevity ‘s focus underlines Vambo AI’s commitment to making a lasting contribution to Africa’s language technology landscape.
Doha, Qatar – February 28, 2024. Chido Dzinotyiwei, Co-Founder and CEO of Vambo AI, took center stage on Day 2 of Web Summit Qatar 2024 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile for Web Summit Qatar via Getty Images)
Sports File (via Getty Images)
Buzza: Transforming sports fan engagement and community building
In Nigeria’s thriving tech scene, Baza is emerging as a leader in sports technology under the guidance of 25-year-old Taofik Lawal. Inspired by the challenges he faced managing sports leagues in college, Taofeeq used his computer science background from Veritas University to create a digital platform to improve the operations of sports communities. “It was always difficult to manage points and assists during the league and there were conflicts,” Taofik recalled. “This experience sparked my idea to create a website to address these issues.”
Buzza’s success relies on an innovative approach to sports management that provides automated tools to help communities transition from traditional paper methods to a comprehensive digital platform. Taofeeq said: “Many sports communities in Africa lack access to automated tools, even though they want to improve. We are trying to change that behavior, but it will take time and We need training,” he said.
Joining the Triple Double Accelerator, which aims to foster sports technology startups in Africa, was very important to Buzza. Taofeeq expressed his gratitude for the opportunity and said, “We knew the accelerator would provide us with the insights to guide growth across the continent. “The experience was extremely valuable.”
Taofeeq Lawal, founder of Buzza, is one of 10 finalists to pitch ideas on Demo… (+) Day.
Credit: NBA Africa
The program helped Buzza refine its business model and connect with mentors who understand the intricacies of the sports technology industry. Taofeeq furthered his understanding and highlighted lessons from ALX’s founders who emphasized the importance of long-term vision and scalability. “It’s not just about solving today’s problems, but also about building solutions that are scalable. This perspective is critical as we look to expand Buzza’s reach.”
Buzza integrates gamification to enhance user engagement and foster deeper connections between athletes and the community. The revenue model has been adapted to suit the needs of the community, and Taofeeq said, “While we initially faced revenue challenges, we now offer businesses anywhere from $50 to $1,000 per year, depending on the size of the community.” “With the guidance of our mentors, we were able to convert free users to paid users.” . ” This adaptability allows Buzza to achieve sustainable growth in the competitive sports technology environment.
Currently, Buzza has 5,000 registered users and approximately 2,000 are active during the school year, although participation declines during the off-season. Taofeeq and his team are exploring strategies to maintain user interest throughout the year. As Buzza evolves, we prioritize fostering strong networks within the sports community. Taofeeq highlighted insights from industry leaders including NBA Africa Vice President Gbemisola Abudu, who highlighted the value of quality connections for growth. By prioritizing relationships, Buzza builds a strong community foundation that supports our long-term vision.
The role of technology in Africa’s growing sports ecosystem
The NBA Africa Triple Double Accelerator demonstrates the transformative power of technology to shape Africa’s sports landscape. From enhancing the fan experience to driving player engagement to enhancing sports management, technology is at the heart of this evolution.
Referring to BAL, Akamanzi emphasized the important role of digital innovation, saying, “Technology is integrated into everything we do, from delivering products on and off the court to enhancing the live sports experience. ” he pointed out. Startups in the accelerator are leveraging technology to create solutions to meet the burgeoning demand for sports and entertainment across the continent.
Initiatives like the Triple Double Accelerator enable young innovators to meaningfully contribute to Africa’s sports ecosystem. Akamanzi said, “Some of the solutions developed in the program focus on AI, event planning, and improving the live experience for sports fans.”
KIGALI, Rwanda – MAY 24: AS Duanes celebrates with fans after winning against Petro de Luanda on May 24, 2023 at BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda. Note to User: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that by downloading and/or using this photo, User is agreeing to the terms of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory copyright notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo Credit: Armand Lenoir/NBAE via Getty Images)
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Looking to the future: The future of triple-double accelerators
The triple-double accelerator shows great promise in expanding its impact to support more African startups in the global sports and creative sectors. Mr. Akamanzi outlined the future goals of the program: “We aim to make this an annual effort and continually improve our approach based on the insights gained this year.Inclusivity remains our top priority. We are committed to developing solutions that address technology access and infrastructure challenges and benefit society’ the broader African community. ”
In the rapidly changing world of sports technology, NBA Africa is not only joining the conversation, but empowering the continent’s youth to drive it forward. With their innovative platform and commitment to community engagement, they are poised to make a lasting impact on Africa beyond basketball.
As these startups take their first steps toward global impact, they not only represent their own aspirations, but also the innovative spirit of Africa. By supporting their journey, NBA Africa aims to inspire a new generation of entrepreneurs and ultimately establish Africa as a powerhouse of innovation in the sports and creative industries.
