The iVenture Startup Cup Final

Finalists KARAA and Lya Dietitian App pitched their ventures to a distinguished panel of judges:

  • Jones Kizihira, COO, Tap & Go Rwanda

  • Prof. Isidore Bikoko, Manager, CIE Intellium (Cameroon)

The feedback delivered during these sessions became actionable roadmaps toward investment, refinement, and scale.

The Launch of Africonnect 2.0

One of the defining moments of the Kigali Safari was the official launch of Africonnect 2.0 — a bold continental initiative designed to:

  • Strengthen connectivity across African ecosystems

  • Enhance collaboration between innovation hubs

  • Unlock new opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors

  • Accelerate Africa’s digital transformation

This launch marked a turning point in how Africa’s innovation networks organize, collaborate, and grow.

The Power of Relationships

Beyond the stages and sessions, the true value of Kigali revealed itself in the connections forged.

AfriLabs members from every region of Africa converged — exchanging ideas, forming partnerships, planning cross-border initiatives, and committing to a shared future of collaboration and impact.

This is the invisible infrastructure of Africa’s innovation economy — trust, relationships, and shared ambition.

Kigali & Africa’s Business Heroes: A Continental Launchpad

The Safari’s momentum extended into the Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) ecosystem — the Jack Ma Foundation’s flagship entrepreneurship program supporting Africa’s most impactful founders.

At the 6th ABH Summit & Grand Finale, themed:

“A.I. — African Innovation, Insight & Impact,”

Kigali once again demonstrated why it is fast becoming Africa’s global entrepreneurship capital.

ABH Impact at Scale

Since its launch:

  • 27,267 entrepreneurs supported

  • $7M prize pool (up from $1M)

  • $252M+ revenue generated

  • $153M+ investment raised

  • 123,000+ jobs created

The 2024 Top 3 African Business Heroes:

  1. Henri Ousmane Gueye (Senegal) — EYONE | $300,000

  2. Dr. Salma Bougarrani (Morocco) — GREEN WATECH | $250,000

  3. Alexander Odhiambo (Kenya) — Solutech Limited | $150,000

And in a landmark announcement, Kigali was selected as the home of ABH until 2028 — cementing Rwanda’s role as a continental entrepreneurship hub.

Kigali Edition — iVenture Innovation & Investment Safari

Accelerating Africa’s Digital Economy from the Heart of the Continent

If Nairobi represents the governance backbone of Africa’s innovation movement, Kigali represents its beating heart.

From 11–14 October 2023, the iVenture Innovation & Investment Safari arrived in Kigali, Rwanda, during the AfriLabs Annual Gathering, under the theme:

“Accelerating Africa’s Digital Economy.”

For three days, Kigali became the epicenter of Africa’s entrepreneurial future — bringing together founders, investors, ecosystem leaders, policymakers, and innovators from across the continent for high-impact dialogue, hands-on learning, and relationship-building that continues to shape Africa’s innovation trajectory.

Where Capital, Innovation & Talent Converge

The AfriLabs Gathering delivered:

  • High-level panel discussions

  • Deep-dive workshops

  • Startup exhibitions

  • Investor engagement sessions

  • Unmatched networking across Africa’s innovation community

At the center of it all stood the Start Investment Pitch Track, one of the most anticipated and influential tracks of the entire Gathering.

iVenture Africa had the honor of moderating this flagship investor track — a platform designed to prepare high-potential African startups for capital readiness and growth.