NBA Africa recently spotlighted the next wave of entrepreneurial talent by announcing the 10 finalist startup companies from five African nations selected for the highly anticipated second edition of the NBA Africa Triple-Double Accelerator. Launched last year, this initiative aims to bolster the continent’s burgeoning technology ecosystem and nurture the next generation of African entrepreneurs.
The excitement is palpable as these 10 startups gear up to pitch their innovative solutions to a distinguished panel of international industry leaders at a Demo Day scheduled for Friday, December 5, at Carnegie Mellon University Africa (CMU-Africa) in Kigali, Rwanda. This event is set to serve as a launchpad for new ideas that could significantly impact the sports and creative industries.
In a testament to the accelerator’s growing prominence, CMU-Africa has joined the program as an Official Partner. As the only U.S. research university with full-time faculty, staff, and operations in Africa, CMU-Africa brings invaluable expertise and resources to the table. Additionally, ServiceNow—a cutting-edge AI platform designed for business transformation—will also play a pivotal role as an Official Partner. Their Now Assist and AI agents are expected to significantly enhance the experience for participating startups, facilitating smarter and faster organizational processes.
ALX Ventures, a leading technology incubator dedicated to empowering African tech entrepreneurs, will once again operate the program, ensuring that these initiatives are driven by nurturing talent and innovation. The 10 finalists were chosen from over 700 applications, showcasing a remarkable diversity of ideas and entrepreneurs committed to enhancing their communities through technology.
During the Demo Day, the ambitious startups will compete for the chance to win not just financial support, but also the opportunity to participate in CMU-Africa’s 12-month Business Incubation Program. This program, part of the university’s Innovation Hub, is specifically designed to guide startups through the challenging transition from proof-of-concept to scalable, market-ready products and services, thereby transforming their visions into reality.
The selected 10 startups—Athlon Technology (Egypt), Atsur (Nigeria), CoLab (South Africa), Contestify (Nigeria), Fitclan (Egypt), Novate (Morocco), ProPath Sports (Kenya), Reborn (Morocco), Safia Health (Kenya), and SongDis (Nigeria)—bring a rich array of innovative solutions to the table. Each startup has its unique focus, from healthcare technology to sports analytics, demonstrating the vast potential of the African tech landscape.
Clare Akamanzi, the Chief Executive Officer of NBA Africa, emphasized the exceptional caliber of this year’s applications, noting the remarkable talent and creativity that young African entrepreneurs exhibit. “These startups represent the bold spirit of innovation rising across the continent—where creativity meets purpose, and ideas have the power to scale beyond borders,” she stated, highlighting the critical role that the sports and creative industries play in Africa’s ongoing development.
Reflecting on the inaugural edition of the program, last year saw four prize-winning companies—Festival Coins (Nigeria), Salubata (Nigeria), HustleSasa (Kenya), and UBR VR (Egypt)—awarded financial support and mentorship. The success of these startups underscores the importance of initiatives like the Triple-Double Accelerator in forging pathways for African entrepreneurs to thrive.
