CAIRO, Egypt, April 29, 2024 -/African Media Agency (AMA)/- Open Startup (OST), a non-profit organization, serving as a hub for start-ups in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) , whose mission is to promote innovation and capacity building through entrepreneurship, education and intercultural exchange, is delighted to announce the successful conclusion of the first Pan-African Deeptech Bootcamp under the BRAIN initiative 3.0.
BRAIN (Bridging Research and Innovation) is an innovative program aimed at strengthening the capacity of scientists and entrepreneurs who tackle fundamental challenges by providing them with first-class opportunities. The bootcamp, held in Cairo, brought together 20 innovative Deeptech startups from 9 countries (Morocco, Tunisia, Uganda, Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, Senegal, Rwanda and Kenya) and various sectors – Agritech, Cleantech , Biotech, Healthtech, Energytech, Fintech and Comtech – for an intensive 6-day training aimed at driving cross-continental collaboration and innovation in Africa’s Deeptech landscape.
Throughout the program, participating entrepreneurs engaged in a dynamic journey of learning, networking and perfecting their pitches. An international team of experts from the United States, Europe and Africa guided them through a comprehensive curriculum. Educational sessions focused on turning scientific advances into successful businesses, mastering customer service techniques, integrating AI into business models, developing effective team management strategies , honing Deeptech-specific presentation skills, and solving various technical and business challenges.
Entrepreneurs also benefited from personalized mentoring and coaching sessions from MIT Executive MBAs and industry experts. These sessions provided them with tailored advice to strengthen their projects and refine their strategies. Additionally, the VC Clinics enabled entrepreneurs to present their projects to renowned investors, gain valuable feedback and hone their presentation skills, thereby propelling them towards excellence.
“Bridging the gap between scientific discovery and its real-world application is essential for Africa’s development,” says Yesmine Mansar, Program Manager at Open Startup. “The BRAIN 3.0 Pan-African Bootcamp aims to usher in a new era of innovation and progress across Africa by helping science entrepreneurs immerse themselves in an advanced ecosystem, network with experts and other entrepreneurs, and develop the skills needed to manage their businesses internationally. »
Jennifer Miles-Thomas, President and CEO of Urology of Virginia, expressed her gratitude, saying, “I’m here today at BRAIN 3.0, and it’s been an amazing experience. I have to say that the partnership between Open Startup, MIT’s Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurship, and MIT’s Sloan School of Management has changed our lives. We met people from seven different African countries, speaking multiple languages, and worked with startups at different stages of development. »
Beyond the training and mentoring sessions, the bootcamp further fostered a spirit of collaboration and immersion in the African DeepTech ecosystem. Entrepreneurs actively participated in discussions with government officials and industry leaders. They also took part in round tables on topics such as open innovation, investment in DeepTech in Africa, and other relevant themes. A roundtable from the American University in Cairo deepened knowledge, broadened participants’ horizons and provided a global perspective of the entrepreneurial landscape.
The program concluded with a final presentation session at the GrEEK campus. The 20 DeepTech startups presented their innovations in the presence of a jury. Nine startups – Reme-D.Inc, NextAV, ToumAI Analytics, APISentry, Fluorobiotech (PTY) Ltd, Doktorconnect, MSCAN Uganda, DeepLeaf, Viventis healthcare – have been selected for the next phase of additional training and mentoring, experience international immersion, access to an international talent pool, connections with investors and “soft landing” opportunities and the opportunity to compete for a scholarship worth USD 50,000.
The success of the BRAIN Bootcamp is the result of collaborative efforts. Renowned academic institutions, such as the Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurship at MIT, the Executive MBA program at the MIT Sloan School of Management, and Material Impact, have joined Open Startup in implementing this program. Funding was provided by key players such as AfricaGrow, Digital Africa and AfricInvest Group. The city of Cairo generously hosted the event, with valuable support from local partners such as Cultiv Ventures, CULTARK, Kamelizer Spaces, American University in Cairo (AUC), Campus GrEEK, 500 Startups, Tatweer Misr and the fund Climate Resilient Africa. These different contributions have been decisive, demonstrating a unified commitment to innovation on the African continent.
“The Pan-African BRAIN 3.0 Bootcamp was made possible thanks to the valuable support of our university partners, funders and local collaborators. Their commitment to promoting DeepTech innovation in Africa is inspiring, and we look forward to continuing these vital partnerships to empower the next generation of African entrepreneurs. », concluded Yasmine Mansar, program manager at Open Startup.
Beyond the bootcamp, the BRAIN initiative has made essential resources available to the DeepTech community, in collaboration with valuable partners.
- The DeepTech Roundtable’s White Paper consolidates the results of two days of the BRAIN Thought Leadership Roundtable.
- The DeepTech Mapping Study Report describes the landscape of over 300 DeepTech startups active in Africa, reveals the challenges and opportunities for DeepTech advancement in various regions, and offers strategic recommendations to improve innovation.
- The Interactive Dashboard integrates data collected in the study and offers dynamic exploration of DeepTech trends using interactive filters.
Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) for Open Startup.
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About Open Startup:
Open Startup (OST) is a non-profit organization that serves as a regional hub for start-ups in North Africa and the Middle East. OST’s mission is to promote entrepreneurship and innovation by providing access to resources, networks and mentorship across continents. Through its various programs, OST supports startups and entrepreneurs in the creation and growth of their businesses, thereby promoting economic growth and job creation in the region.
About BRAIN
Through Open Startup, BRAIN (Bridging Research And INovation) is a holistic program aimed at promoting DeepTech innovation in Africa while enabling scientists and entrepreneurs to solve fundamental problems and foster African ecosystems.
Source : African Media Agency (AMA)
2024-04-29 15:14:06
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