Unlock Your Startup’s Potential: Join the Revolutionary AI Accelerator in Africa Today!

Africa on the Brink of an AI Revolution

Africa is poised for a transformative AI revolution. To tap into this potential for tackling the continent’s most urgent challenges and to foster inclusive and responsible growth, a concerted effort to advance AI is essential.

A cohesive strategy is necessary to establish the core elements of AI development, which are: data, compute, and talent.

The newly launched AI Hub for Sustainable Development Co-Design: Startup Acceleration Pilot aims to guide the creation and advancement of the AI Hub for Sustainable Development. This initiative is jointly spearheaded by the Italian G7 Presidency and the United Nations Development Programme, with support from ITU’s AI for Good. It brings together various partners, including the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS), CDP Venture Capital SGR (CDP), and the Italian Innovation and Culture Hub (INNOVIT), to enhance this pilot’s learning experience.

The private sector—comprising the vibrant AI/tech startup ecosystem and both continental and global firms—plays a vital role in bridging the gaps surrounding data, compute, and talent.

• Data: Innovations from the private sector to enhance data quality and accessibility, as well as to create public data resources.
• Green Compute: Responsible innovations and collaborations from the private sector aimed at improving access to and reducing the costs of computing resources.
• Talent: Initiatives from the private sector, working alongside universities and research institutions, to build talent networks and address skill deficits through integrated work learning experiences.

Apply Now to Join the Startup Acceleration Pilot

Running from September to October 2024, this pilot program is designed to stimulate innovation and partnerships across data, compute, and talent pipelines—the three vital pillars that support local AI ecosystems in Africa.

By concentrating on these essential components, the pilot program aims to fulfill the need for a unified private sector approach to minimize risks and unlock AI’s transformative potential for sustainable development. It aspires to bolster locally-driven innovations that prioritize people and sustainability, ensuring that advancements benefit the communities in which they are created.

Selected startups will gain the opportunity to engage in an ecosystem-building event hosted by INNOVIT and the Italian G7 Presidency in San Francisco, California, USA from November 12 to 14, 2024. At this event, participants will showcase their innovative solutions, attract potential investments, forge strategic partnerships, and network with INNOVIT’s startup community and leading AI experts from Silicon Valley.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Be based in one of the nine pilot countries outlined in the Italy-Africa Mattei Plan: Algeria, Republic of the Congo (Congo Brazzaville), Côte D’Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, or Tunisia.
• Develop or aspire to create AI solutions that tackle one or more of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly focusing on Education and Training, Energy, Health, Agriculture, Water, and Infrastructure (both physical and digital).
• Contribute to one of the three pillars of the AI Hub for Sustainable Development:
  • Compute distribution and affordability
  • Talent development and orchestration
  • Data quality, accessibility, and digitization
• Show a commitment to responsible and sustainable AI development and deployment practices.
• Exhibit professional-level proficiency in English. At least one team member must be proficient in English to participate in the program’s in-person activities.

For additional information and to apply, visit the UNDP website here.