Revamped NBA Africa Initiative to Support African Sports-Tech Entrepreneurs via the Triple-Double Accelerator Program
The 2023 NBA Africa Triple-Double Accelerator program is set to return, offering early-stage African startups an opportunity to scale their tech-enabled ventures in the sports and creative industries.
The program, now in its second edition, is backed by ServiceNow, an enterprise AI platform, and is managed by ALX Ventures, a pan-African incubator.
Startups headquartered in Africa, less than 2 years old, with a proof-of-concept prototype and two full-time co-founders are eligible to apply. After screening, shortlisted startups will be selected to join the 10-week mentorship program.
During the program, the selected startups will be paired with mentors from NBA Africa, ALX leadership, ServiceNow, and corporate partners. The mentorship program focuses on product development, business growth, and go-to-market strategies.
The program includes business coaching, masterclasses on AI, product, sales, fundraising, pitch refinement, and networking opportunities. The culmination of the program is an in-person event in a major African city, where startups present at a Demo Day.
The top 5 winners will receive up to $50,000 in cash and value-in-kind benefits, along with brand visibility and investor access. Additionally, the program provides a personalized roadmap for product, revenue, or investor goals, global mentorship, and exposure across the NBA and ALX ecosystems.
Last year, over 700 startups applied to the program, with four prize-winning startups – Festival Coins, Salubata, HustleSasa, and UBR VR – being announced at the Demo Day held at NBA HQ in New York City.
Clare Akamanzi, CEO of NBA Africa, stated that last year's program demonstrated the talent, passion, and creativity among African entrepreneurs. She added that the program is supporting Africa's booming tech and creative ecosystem.
Applications for the 2023 program can be submitted through Aug. 29 at TripleDoubleAccelerator.NBA.com. Details about this year's Demo Day will be announced later in the year. The program is aimed at supporting early-stage startups across Africa building solutions in sports and the creative economy.
- The 2023 NBA Africa Triple-Double Accelerator program, offering opportunities to African startups in the sports and creative industries, is partnering with corporations such as ServiceNow, a leading enterprise AI platform, and ALX Ventures, a pan-African incubator, to focus on finance, technology, education-and-self-development, and sports through the program's mentorship and masterclasses.
- As part of the 10-week mentorship program, startups will be guided in areas such as product development, business growth, and go-to-market strategies, showing potential for creating businesses that integrate technology and innovative solutions into various industries, including finance, business, sports, and education-and-self-development.
