Tech Hub can as a business breeding community where ideas and opportunities are nurtured for the greater good of society.
According to Roland Tritsch, VP of Global Engineering at Nitro, ‘Tech hub’ is a term we hear bandied about often but how is it actually defined? I’d be inclined to describe a tech hub as a type of ‘utopia’ where things happen faster, people are smarter and meeting investors is easier – as a result, space is created where ideas germinate and companies prosper.
Across the continent of Africa, Tech hubs are spring out spontaneously and as at 2018 report shows that there are over 443 active tech hubs in Africa with 50% of those hubs present in Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Egypt, and Morocco.
At the top of the list which includes countries with most tech hubs in Africa are South Africa 54, Egypt 28, Kenya 27, Nigeria 23, Morocco 15, Tunisia 15, Ghana 16 and Uganda 12.
Below are some of the top Tech hubs across Africa:
Co-creation Hub (Nigeria)
The CcHub is rated as being one of the few financially sustainable innovation hubs in Africa with an enabling environment provided where technologically driven minds come together to interact, research and share ideas that will make impacts and solve social problems in Nigeria.
Over the years, CcHub has been able to house over 65 Nigerian startups such as BudgIT, Wecyclers, Truppr, Genii Games, Lifebank, GoMyWay, Vacantboards, Findworka, Grit Systems, Mamalette, etc.
The has launched programs such as UBNInnovationChallenge, Giving4Good Challenge, Make-IT Accelerator, Pitch Drive, etc.
Silicon Cape Initiative (South Africa)
Silicon Cape initiative also called Silicon cape and it seeks to help startups navigates hurdles that affect most startups businesses starting from lack of connection to a global audience, lack of finance, little or no experience, etc. It also homes where ICT driven ideas are welcomed and nourished.
Silicon cape has launched notable programs with one of them being Africa-first 2021 strategic plan whose primary aim is to foster an accelerated relationship among tech startups in a dynamic ecosystem.
SwahiliBox (Kenya)
One major aim of SwahiliBox is to create an environment whereby entrepreneurs, investors, experts, etc. can come together and learn, share knowledge, research, have access to the latest information that will create innovative ways through which the country will be developed technologically.
SwahiliBox also seeks to empower young and technologically oriented individuals with the necessary tools in other to help them develop innovative ideas through networking, professional mentoring, and access to the local and international audience.
BongoHive (Zambia)
Bongohive aims to foster a close community within the local technology industry whereby startups are assisted in terms of creating an avenue where their skills will be exposed for better productivity and accelerated growth.
It also seeks to help young individuals attain their potentials in terms of creating innovative ideas through entrepreneurship in an enabling environment.
BongoHive has launched programs such as; BongoHive X (a student-focus entrepreneurship program), EdTech entrepreneurship Bootcamp (Building a startup that changes education across Africa), Launch Accelerator (accelerating your startup), etc.
GoDo Hub (Nigeria)
GoDo.ng is created to serve as a place where startups with creative imaginations and innovative minds can connect, interact, relate, share ideas and collaborate in a dynamic innovation-driven ecosystem.
GoDo.ng is also designed to create an environment whereby technologically driven ideas are recognized, supported and nurtured into bigger and better brands.
Their mission statement stresses the need to “establish globally-recognized technology and innovation-driven ecosystem in all sectors in Nigeria, where collaboration provides the enabling fuel for groundbreaking technological advancements while tapping into local talent, support entities, and international partnerships”.
Casablanca Hub (Morocco)
The Casablanca hub consists of young and passionate individuals with the sole aim of making impact technologically. It also serves as an interactive ground where entrepreneurs, AI researchers, visual artist, etc. meet and deliberate on how to use technology for the betterment of the country.
The Casablanca Hub has been able to carry out successful programs notable among them is the Green Casablanca Project which gathers citizens in public parks and advocated for additional green spaces in the city.
Creative Hub (Egypt)
This Egyptian hub offers an environment where entrepreneurs, designers, freelancers can meet up and discuss innovative ways of doing things. It is a ground where business ideas are developed, shared and nurtured.
Creative Hub has created an ecosystem whereby technologically driven individuals can connect and draw inspiration in other to learn new ideas, business opportunities, and creative networking.
