The Africa Startup Festival (ASF) 2023 was a resounding success, bringing together over 10,000 attendees from 50 countries to celebrate the best of African tech innovation. The three-day event, which took place from November 9-11 in Lagos, Nigeria, featured keynote speeches from leading tech entrepreneurs and investors, panel discussions on the latest trends in African tech, and demo pitches from startups.
The ASF is an important event for the African tech scene, and as a startup with a mission to revolutionize the way goods are delivered in Nigeria, We had the opportunity to showcase our product to a global audience, connect with potential investors and partners, and learn from some of the brightest minds in the African tech scene.
The founder and CEO of Rodnav, Mr Frank Ogan had this to say following his return from Lagos. “Our attendance at the Africa Startup Festival brought a lot more insight into the need for problem-solving. the engagements with co-founders, spending their hard-earned resources to create and develop solutions to the problems we face in our everyday lives is admirable. we have now decided to create a more robust tech ecosystem in Rivers State. I’m stretching out my hand to everyone willing to come to join hands with me in coordinating the space to enable enhancement, outreach, and in-reach, as there is no one coming to save us, we have to save ourselves”.
Highlights of the ASF 2023
Several eye catching moments are worth discussing in the conference, some of which are:
Keynote Speeches from Leading Tech Entrepreneurs and Investors
The ASF featured keynote speeches from Flutterwave CEO and Co-founder Olugbenga Agboola, MTN Group President and CEO Ralph Mupita, and IFC VP for Africa Makhtar Diop. These speakers shared their insights on the future of African tech and the important role that startups play in driving economic growth and development.
Panel Discussions on the Latest Trends in the African Tech Space
The ASF featured panel discussions on a variety of tech-related topics, including the future of work in Africa, the role of tech in African development, and how to raise funding for an African startup. The panelists were experts in their respective fields, and they shared their insights and advice with the audience.
Startup pitches from over 100 African startups
Over 100 African startups participated in the ASF, pitching their products and services to potential investors and customers. The startups represented a wide range of industries, including FinTech, e-Commerce, EdTech, healthcare, and agriculture. The pitches were judged by a panel of experts, and the winning startups received prizes and mentorship opportunities.
