GSA AFRICA CONTINENTAL FINALE: CELEBRATING AFRICAN INNOVATION
Global Startup Awards Africa Continental Finale 2024
The Global Startup Awards (GSA) Africa, in collaboration with the Global Innovation Initiative Group (GIIG), UVU Africa, and Global Startup Cities, honoured 15 of Africa’s most transformative startups at the GSA Africa Finale.
Held during The Unique Summit in Cape Town on November 19, 2024, the event was powered by a collective commitment to advancing African innovation, supported by the City of Cape Town, Wesgro, Fetola, UVU Bio, and Robertson Winery.
This year marked unprecedented growth, with a staggering 57% increase in applications, reaching 27,814 entries since 2021. This surge reflects Africa's thriving momentum in developing Sustainable Development Goal-aligned solutions. By engaging over 300 jury members, ambassadors, and hundreds of innovation hubs across the continent, the awards continue to champion tech-driven answers to global challenges.
A SHOWCASE OF PAN-AFRICAN EXCELLENCE
The winners of edition 11 represented nine African nations—South Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Egypt, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Morocco, Zambia, and Uganda—illustrating the continent's diverse talent and ingenuity:
Women in Tech: Anna Ekeledo (Nigeria) – Executive Director of AfriLabs, a network of over 450 tech hubs in 53 countries.
Best Accelerator/Incubator Program: OceanHub Africa (South Africa) – Advancing ocean-impact solutions for sustainable development.
Best Green Tech: Octavia Carbon (Kenya) – Pioneering geothermal-integrated DAC technology to combat climate change.
Youth Startup of the Year: Ultrateb (Egypt) – Revolutionizing healthcare e-commerce to improve efficiency and access.
Founder of the Year: Bethelhem Dejene (Ethiopia) – Championing environmental sustainability through Zafree Papers.
Best Agri Tech: Winich Farms (Nigeria) – Enabling rural smallholder farmers with commerce infrastructure and embedded finance.
Startup of the Year: SeaH4 PTY Ltd (South Africa) – Creating biofuels and e-fuels from seaweed and green hydrogen.
Best Coworking Space: Silikin Village (DRC) – Empowering startups through talent development and innovation.
Best Health Tech: Pharmarun (Nigeria) – Connecting patients to medications through an on-demand platform.
Best FinTech: Chari (Morocco) – Providing embedded e-commerce and financial services to small stores.
Best Newcomer: Mytochondria Group (Zambia) – Revolutionizing agriculture with smart soil sensors.
Best Mobility & Logistics: Loop (South Africa) – Bridging formal and informal markets with innovative transport solutions.
Ecosystem Hero of the Year: Dr. Eng. Nabil Shalaby (Egypt)– A prolific author and advocate for entrepreneurship.
Investor of the Year: EdVentures (Egypt) – Driving innovation in education and learning solutions.
GIIG Future Shaper: Medref Healthbridge Solutions (Uganda) – Ensuring healthcare is accessible and that every child has a chance to thrive.
Notably, 23% of entries came from women and youth-led ventures, reinforcing diversity’s critical role in Africa’s innovation narrative.
LOCAL AND GLOBAL IMPACT
Cape Town's economic growth leader James Vos celebrated the city’s startups, Loop, OceanHub Africa, and SeaH4, for putting the city at the forefront of innovation. Meanwhile, Jo Griffiths, Founder of GIIG and Co-founder of GSA Africa, emphasized collaboration as a cornerstone of Africa’s startup ecosystem transformation, and Kim Balle, Founder of GSA, highlighted Africa’s rising prominence on the global stage, with plans to expand activities in 2025.
James Vos Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth
From left to right; Jo Griffiths (GIIG & GSA Africa), Bethelhem Dejene (Founder of the Year), Kim Balle (GSA & XO Group)
The winners will now advance to the global competition, gaining access to a major network of global innovators, investors and leading industry experts.
BUILDING A THRIVING FUTURE
As GSA Africa sets its sights on 2025, the focus remains on fostering collaboration, strengthening ecosystems, and celebrating African innovators. With announcements of next year’s hosting countries on the horizon, the mission to power and light up Africa continues.
For more information or partnership opportunities, visit Global Startup Awards Africa or contact the team at info@africanstartupawards.com.
About the Global Startup Awards (GSA) - Founded in 2012, GSA is the world’s largest independent startup competition. With a presence in over 150 countries, GSA connects startups, investors, and ecosystem players globally.
About GSA Africa - Founded in 2020 under the Global Startup Awards umbrella, it is the African continent’s largest startup competition. GSA Africa drives SDG-aligned innovation, empowering the next generation of African leaders through the GIIG Africa Fund and pan-African collaboration.