Make-IT attended the Afrobytes & Viva Technology (Vivatech) in Paris with start-up and hub delegations from Tunisia, Ghana, Nigeria and Rwanda from 15^th May until 18^th May 2019. At Afrobytes Conference, Make-IT supported the Ghanaian and Nigerian country booths and sponsored the networking reception at Station F, the world’s largest start-up campus. Ghana’s delegation of three start-ups was led by AB2020 from Accra and Nigeria’s three start-ups delegation was led by the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF). The Afrobytes conference creates a unique and focused environment where the African Tech industry can meet; pitch their solutions and network with European counterparts and investors. The conference is targeted at connecting francophone and Anglophone Africa start-ups and hubs with the European start-up ecosystem and investors. It celebrated its third edition at Station F in Paris this year with around 500 participants with around 50 investors, 250 start-ups and 50 corporates.

East Africa Com is a premier strategic event for telecoms, media, broadcasting & technology leaders in East Africa. The 2019 edition was held at Radisson Blu, Upperhill in Nairobi from 14th May 2019 to 15th May 2019. The event theme was “Accelerating digital transformation to strengthen East African economies”.

Make IT in Africa participated in this year’s event as the lead partner for AHUB East. AHUB East is the startup feature at East Africa Com. A networking space for inspiring tech-fueled startups, investors, large enterprises, MNOs, large incubators & accelerators, analysts and media.

NTW is Sub-Saharan Africa’s largest annual technology event for product makers – bringing various actors and influencers within the tech ecosystem to one space to exhibit the forefront of innovation and technology. ​Powered by ​Moringa School​, NTW will take place over 3 days and bring together over 1500 members of the technology ecosystem to exhibit the forefront of innovation.

The event theme, “​Technology in Africa: The Past, The Present and The Future” will delve into the evolution of technology in Africa, the various solutions being applied in the African context and the exciting opportunities yet to be capitalized on as we navigate the digital revolution.

On April 9^th, 2019, 150 partners of the Strategic Partnership Digital Africa (SPDA), came together for the network’s annual meeting in Berlin. Among the participants were more than 100 representatives from the corporate sector. The SPDA is a network linking more than 180 European companies with initiatives from the German development cooperation with the goal to initiate public-private cooperation in the digital sector in African countries. The network was founded in 2015 by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Breakout session hosted by Make-IT in Africa

In one of the breakout sessions, the discussion focused on the question of how European companies can cooperate with African digital entrepreneurs. Dr Jan Schwaab, Head of the Tech Entrepreneurship Initiative “Make-IT in Africa” presented the work of the programme, which supports more than 150 African digital companies to this date, and Sannssi Cissé, Head of Collaboration at GreenTec Capital Africa Foundation, a non-profit organization, promoting investment in African entrepreneurship. Moderated by Dr Schwaab and Cissé, the 28 participants discussed challenges and opportunities within the SPDA to enable German companies to successfully cooperate with young African digital entrepreneurs.

From April 1^st – 5^th, 2019, four Tunisian start-ups attended the “Hannover Messe” in Germany. The Hannover Messer (Hanover fair) is the world’s most important event dedicated to industry and increasingly focusing towards start-ups and industry 4.0. Hannover Messe features all key technologies and industry sectors: from R&D to industrial automation, information technology, industrial supply, production technologies and services, energy and mobility technologies It was an excellent opportunity for the Tunisian start-ups to connect with investors, business partners, innovators and potential clients through guided tours, exclusive B2Bs and a dedicated workshop.