The 27th annual Africa Tech Festival concluded last week, achieving a record level of success. The event, managed by Informa Tech, brought together prominent founders, policymakers, investors, business leaders and startups from across Africa. A major feature of this year’s festival was the emphasis on skill development, especially in artificial intelligence and tech fields.
The event opened with a speech by Alderman James Vos, a committee member for Economic Growth, City of Cape Town. He highlighted Cape Town’s role as a leading tech hub and expressed excitement about the city’s potential as a beacon for African innovation. The festival also hosted the exclusive LeadersIn Africa Summit, fostering crucial discussions about Africa’s tech challenges.
A main topic of the event was addressing the gender gap in venture capital. The festival called for increased female representation in venture capital leadership, strengthening the business strategies of female entrepreneurs, and network building. Statistics reveal that female-founded companies receive only 16% of tech funding and 8% of total funding.
Several awards were given in the festival, recognizing technological advancements across the continent. The winners included MTN Ghana for Telco of the Year, WIOCC Group for Innovation for Impact, and Orange Burkina Faso for the Changing Lives Award.
The successful festival highlighted the progress made in Africa’s digital transformation journey, creating opportunities for dialogue and collaboration. The organizers expressed gratitude to all sponsors and supporters that made the event possible.
