Foundervine’s #SU54 Africa Tech returns to London from 18th - 20th October 2019. Startup 54 is an immersive learning event where 54 young, aspiring entrepreneurs from across the country come together for a weekend of imagining, building and launching new business ventures under severe time constraints. Foundervine’s ambition is to address the social and economic inequality that’s faced by women and young people from ethnic minority backgrounds when starting a business or social enterprise.
Through their programmes, they aim to build the next generation of global digital businesses emerging from the UK tech scene. By 2025, 97% of worldwide growth will occur in the world’s emerging markets, many in Africa. AfricaTech 2.0 marks Foundervine’s 6th Startup 54 programme and the second to focus on emerging markets. Participants will come together to build tech-enabled solutions to some of Africa’s most pressing problems and contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The African diaspora is vast and one of the most powerful agents for Africa's growth.
Izzy Obeng, Founding Director of Foundervine who, recently left the UK for West Africa, says: “The growth of African businesses will supercharge economic growth globally. It should be inconceivable in 2019 that Africa’s potential is overlooked. We need more investment going to African-led ventures on the ground and to facilitate engagement across the African diaspora. It’s in everyone’s interest to promote global partnerships that invest in the brilliant emerging tech talent we’re seeing across the continent”
Supported by international law firm Travers Smith and Cornerstone Partners, the UK’s first black angel network dedicated to black British businesses, budding entrepreneurs will not be short of expert mentors and speakers to take them through the programme.
Quotes from previous participants: “Startup 54 broke many common misconceptions I had around Business, allowed me to network and collaborate with several incredible like-minded individuals, gave me a real drive to continue pursuing my business ideas and made it feel possible again based on how much we achieved and what we learned across the two days.” Stephen Chapendama, Cyber Security consultant from Hertfordshire
"Thanks to Foundervine for organising a hackathon like no other. The modules were insightful, we learnt so much. We couldn't have done it without the mentors who used their vast knowledge and expertise to guide and challenge us!" Zainab Z Mohamoud, Consultant from London.
Prominent speakers joining us at Startup 54: Africa Tech 2.0 include Katie Mills, Head of Innovation at Schneider Electric; Afi Etomi, Digital at Lloyds Banking Group and Mahesh Varia, Partner at Travers Smith.
Startup 54: Africa Tech will be taking place on 18th - 20th October at Travers Smith offices in London. Tickets can be accessed via Eventbrite.