NBA Africa, a key affiliate of the National Basketball Association (NBA) dedicated to managing the league’s operations across Africa, including the Basketball Africa League (BAL), has recently unveiled the 10 startups from seven African nations chosen to present their innovations at a pivotal demo day on September 25. This event marks the culmination of the Triple-Double accelerator program.
In May, Innovation Village announced the opening of applications for the Triple-Double accelerator, a program designed to nurture early-stage African startups by offering cash prizes and comprehensive support. Managed by the tech incubator ALX Ventures, the initiative targets startups in Africa that are creating solutions within the realms of event management and ticketing, youth development, artificial intelligence (AI), and digital marketing, specifically within the sports and creative sectors.
The selected startups have been meticulously paired with mentors from NBA Africa, ALX, and other corporate entities, receiving tailored guidance to enhance product development, business expansion, and market entry strategies.
These 10 startups are set to pitch their innovative solutions at the NBA headquarters in New York City on September 25. A distinguished panel will then select four winning companies to receive financial backing and mentorship opportunities, including access to workshops and development programs offered by NBA Africa and its affiliates.
The cohort features four startups from Nigeria: Buzza, which provides digital solutions to enhance sports organizations’ operations; Festival Coins, offering a customizable, no-code event registration and ticketing platform; Naemo Global, creators of a proprietary scouting software powered by data analytics and AI; and Salubata, which manufactures modular shoes from recycled plastic waste.
Joining them are Rwanda’s Backrest, introducing WristWrist, a wearable technology for cashless payments at events; Ivory Coast’s Gara, a platform for video gaming and comics aimed at promoting digital entertainment experiences across Africa; and Kenya’s HustleSasa, which supports live event services including payment processing and attendee management.
The list is rounded off by Ghana’s Power to Girls Foundation with its My Power App, a mentorship platform for young girls and women; Egypt’s UBR VR, offering immersive virtual reality experiences; and South Africa’s Vambo Technologies, which develops digital language technology for real-time translation and content creation.
NBA Africa CEO Clare Akamanzi expressed admiration for the talent and creativity displayed by all applicants, congratulating the 10 finalists set to demonstrate their innovative solutions at the upcoming Demo Day. Akamanzi reaffirmed NBA Africa’s commitment to fostering the growth of startups on the continent, highlighting the potential of the four prize-winners to significantly impact the sports and creative industries in Africa for the foreseeable future.
