Start-Ups

A New Image of Africa_X Spaces conversation series

In September 2024, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF) launched “A New Image of Africa – The X Spaces Conversation Series”, an initiative aimed at reshaping perceptions of African entrepreneurship and fostering meaningful discussions about the continent's innovation potential. The virtual event held on October 17, 2024, from 18:00 to 20:00 CAT, brought together thought leaders and startup founders to discuss key issues such as early-stage challenges, artificial intelligence (AI), and funding for startups across Africa.

The event featured three back-to-back expert talks and a pitch competition, where three entrepreneurs presented their innovative ideas, with the winner receiving a $500 prize. The initiative was part of FNF’s broader mission to support African entrepreneurs by providing valuable insights, creating networking opportunities, and connecting them with potential resources.

The project, which ran from September 15 to October 25, 2024, underwent a strategic shift early on. Originally intended as three separate virtual talks, organisers decided to consolidate the discussions into one impactful evening to maximise audience engagement and amplify the project’s influence. This change allowed for a more focused and comprehensive experience for participants, bringing together a wider range of voices in one session.

The pre-event process focused on selecting a diverse panel of speakers from across Africa, representing different regions and industries. This diversity was a key aspect of the initiative, as it sought to challenge stereotypes about African entrepreneurship and highlight the innovation happening across the continent. The final panel included:

The event also saw an enthusiastic response from the African entrepreneurial community. Originally aiming to register 50 startups, the project ended up with over 110 entrepreneurs signing up to the A New Image of Africa database, reflecting the high level of interest from across the continent. Marketing efforts included targeted campaigns on platforms like X, LinkedIn, and Facebook, with Facebook proving particularly effective, reaching nearly 500,000 users.

On the evening of October 17th, the virtual event was hosted on X Spaces and moderated by Itu Mamasedi. The three expert-led discussions covered vital topics for early-stage entrepreneurs:

• Challenges Facing Early-Stage Companies, led by Eric Thimba, focused on the specific difficulties African startups encounter during their early phases and strategies for overcoming these obstacles.
• How AI is Powering Startups and Small Team Productivity, presented by Jean-Patrick Ehouman, explored how AI can boost efficiency for startups with small teams, enabling them to compete in larger markets.
• Growth and Scale Funding for African Startups, led by Cleola Kunene, highlighted the various funding opportunities available to startups and how they can leverage public-private partnerships to scale their businesses.

The event attracted significant attention, with 203 participants tuning in live. Despite technical issues causing temporary disruptions, including parts of the event not being recorded, the level of engagement remained high. The pitch competition, which followed the panel discussions, attracted 133 live listeners and was viewed by 938 users after the event.

The pitch competition showcased three innovative African startups:

• Kitty Kara(Ghana), an AI-assisted platform that helps users identify potential health issues based on menstrual symptoms.
• Sizawena (South Africa), a platform founded by two sisters that connects users with qualified artisans for home improvement projects, simplifying the process of booking services online.
• Coffee (Côte d'Ivoire), an AI-enabled platform that provides English learners with a robotic speaking partner to practice conversational skills, currently in the ideation phase.

After a round of judging, Sizawena was declared the winner. The judges were impressed by the startup's clear articulation of the problem it aimed to solve and its innovative approach to connecting users with artisans. The winning pitch stood out for its strong market understanding and potential for growth.

The A New Image of Africa initiative successfully achieved its goal of promoting African entrepreneurship and innovation. By bringing together a diverse group of speakers and startups, the event provided valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing African entrepreneurs today. With over 110 startups registered in its database and hundreds of participants engaged in the virtual discussions, the initiative highlighted the continent’s entrepreneurial energy and potential.

Through this project, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom reaffirmed its commitment to supporting African entrepreneurs and fostering a more positive global image of the continent. The  New Image of Africa event not only showcased the innovation happening across Africa but also contributed to building a stronger, more connected entrepreneurial ecosystem.