State of Play report highlights evolution of tech ecosystems in Africa
Beginning with an overview of the general growth trends within the continent, the report highlights the youthful population and the bias towards innovation and entrepreneurship and sets the stage for a deep-dive into the key technology and innovation activities that are driving the continent forward.
Several perspectives are presented within the report to identify key catalysts for growth and explore industry-specific opportunities for development across the continent’s main geographic regions. The publication also utilises first experience testimonials and op-ed pieces from key stakeholders along the technology and innovation value chain to highlight a number of relevant opportunities.
The regional summaries in the report allow for the diversities of Africa’s major regions to come to the fore. Overview summaries and country-specific analyses are presented to offer specific insights into the major opportunities across the continent. At the national level, the report also presents the policies and environments that foster or hinder the growth of technology and innovation.
Finally, the report presents the Silicon Valley ecosystem through the lens of direct African engagements and examines the critical success factors of the Silicon Valley ecosystem as compared to innovation ecosystems in Africa. It celebrates the incremental success of African startups in Silicon Valley and highlights a variety of stakeholders that have successfully engaged the investor networks in Silicon Valley.
“This publication represents an aggregation of data and research from a variety of sources. It provides a regional and sectoral assessment of the leading entrepreneurial ecosystems on the continent, as well as industry perspectives offered through a selected network of specialists that have authored sector specific essays as contributors,” says Stephen Ozoigbo, CEO, ATF.
Harry Hare, executive director of Demo Africa comments: "It has been said in some quarters that Africa cannot innovate itself out of its own problems. A statement that attracted both praise and criticism in equal measure. It is a known fact that Africa faces many challenges, but my view is that all these challenges provide entrepreneurial greenfield opportunities that the continent’s technologists and innovators are now exploring more than ever before, and investors are taking note. This report highlights some of these opportunities and celebrates a number of uniquely African innovations."
The report is free to download and will be presented to global audiences across a variety of events and summits over the next few months. Under ATF’s leadership, Lions@frica will also be convening a number of technology salons in Silicon Valley to discuss the key outcomes of the report and support the implementation of key recommendations.
To download a copy of the report, go to www.africa.co/stateofplay.
