Startup Wise Guys, one of Europe’s most well-known B2B startup accelerators, has started its first program in Africa. Startup Namibia and Key2Investors together organized the program, which is now in operation in Namibia. According to sources, Startup Wise Guys aims to expand its African operations to four more programs by 2022, with a particular focus on East and West Africa.
“The pandemic forced us to go digital with our programmes and we saw an incredible number of African startups interested in joining our programs remotely. Africa had been on our radar for some time, but distance and logistics made it difficult. Alongside our partners, we are now able to offer on-the-ground startup acceleration, supported and led through digital platforms. Our focus is on African countries where our capacity-building expertise for early-stage startups will make the biggest impact,” Cristobal Alonso, Global CEO of Startup Wise Guys, said about the company’s new programs in Africa.
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Here Is What You Need To Know
- As Nambia’s first experience with an international startup accelerator, the accelerator intends to boost entrepreneurship in the African country. The initiative was originally established in Namibia, according to Kirstin Wiedow, GFA Team Leader of StartUp Namibia.
- The accelerator program is now helping 24 local and selected company entrepreneurs over the course of three months. The accelerator focuses heavily on acquiring capital and learning the foundations of running a venture-backed company.
- Furthermore, the accelerator has a team of professionals in fundraising, sales, product development, finance, legal, and marketing. These professionals will provide vital insight to the selected participants, enabling them to advance their businesses.
“Although Namibia has a small population and market, we have thriving neighbouring markets which make the country a perfect launchpad to iterate ideas and scale into new markets across Africa. We believe that Namibia can offer a unique environment and ecosystem, which is why it is so crucial to build capacity with the support of the likes of Startup Wise Guys,” Alonso said.
- The accelerator’s participants were chosen based on their ability to innovate, market size, growth potential, and capabilities proven in past local programs. The bulk of attendees work in the fields of agritech, legal tech, and fintech.
- Startup Namibia, which was founded in 2020 with the goal of growing the country’s startup environment, has allegedly run many programs since its beginning.
Charles Rapulu Udoh
Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based lawyer who has advised startups across Africa on issues such as startup funding (Venture Capital, Debt financing, private equity, angel investing etc), taxation, strategies, etc. He also has special focus on the protection of business or brands’ intellectual property rights ( such as trademark, patent or design) across Africa and other foreign jurisdictions.
He is well versed on issues of ESG (sustainability), media and entertainment law, corporate finance and governance.
He is also an award-winning writer