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Start-up Night! Africa

Introduction

  • 26/10/2017

  • Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy Berlin

Keyvisual Start-up Night! Africa

© BMWi

The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy is hosting the Start-up Night! Africa. This will be a networking and matchmaking event where we will bring digital African start-ups together with start-ups and established companies from Germany.

Are you interested in broadening your network? If so, do make the most of this opportunity and be a part of the Start-up Night! Africa.

The evening’s programme includes:

  • Welcome address by Brigitte Zypries, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy
  • Keynote by Melanie Hawken, Founder and CEO of Lionesses of Africa,
  • Pitches by African start-ups that offer creative solutions for the German market,
  • Pitches by German start-ups that have developed attractive business models for Africa, Pitches by established German companies that would like to work together with African start-ups,
  • Poster and networking session with these companies and with further companies and institutions.

Date:
26 October 2017, 18:00

Location:
Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy
Scharnhorststraße 34–37
10115 Berlin
Access at Invalidenstraße 48

Photo Gallery

Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Brigitte Zypries opened the event on 26 October 2017 at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. Enlarge

Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Brigitte Zypries opened the event on 26 October 2017 at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. In what is a series of events geared towards linking up young, innovative and established companies, this latest edition of the start-up nights focused on Africa.

© BMWi/Maurice Weiss

Melanie Hawken, start-up entrepreneur and CEO of Lionesses of Africa – a community of African women entrepreneurs – underlined the fact that market access was one of the greatest challenges faced by African women entrepreneurs. Enlarge

Melanie Hawken, start-up entrepreneur and CEO of Lionesses of Africa – a community of African women entrepreneurs – underlined the fact that market access was one of the greatest challenges faced by African women entrepreneurs.

© BMWi/Maurice Weiss

As the night went on, eight African women entrepreneurs took the stage to present a number of innovative solutions that have the potential to be brought to market in Germany. Enlarge

As the night went on, eight African women entrepreneurs took the stage to present a number of innovative solutions that have the potential to be brought to market in Germany. In the first round, the persons pitching their business ideas to the audience included Vere Shaba (Shaba & Ramplin Green Building Solutions, South Africa), Moses Acquah (AgroCenta LLC, Ghana), Josephine Marie Godwyll (Young at Heart GH, Ghana) and Timothy Kotin (Super Fluid Labs, Ghana) (from left to right).

© BMWi/Maurice Weiss

Benji Coetzee (front) presented Empty Trips Pty Ltd – an African start-up seeking to find new ways of making use of the empty space found in trucks, trains, ships and planes. Enlarge

Benji Coetzee (front) presented Empty Trips Pty Ltd – an African start-up seeking to find new ways of making use of the empty space found in trucks, trains, ships and planes. Start-up entrepreneurs Gerard Badaweh Yitamkey (Ahonya, Ghana), Brenda Katwesigye (WaziVision, Uganda) and Temie Giwa-Tubosun (LifeBank, Nigeria) (from left to right) were also given the opportunity to present their ideas within a three-minute timeframe.

© BMWi/Maurice Weiss

In the second round, five German start-ups presented their digital business ideas aimed at the African market. Enlarge

In the second round, five German start-ups presented their digital business ideas aimed at the African market. The presenters included Patrick Mijnals of Bettervest, Martin Baart of ecoligo GmbH, Jesse Pielke and Gregor Henn of Africa GreenTec and Nico Hoeler of TEC4MED LifeScience GmbH.

© BMWi/Maurice Weiss

Dr Jörg Klein presented Africa Works – a start-up that aims to help international companies operating in Africa recruit skilled African staff. Enlarge

Dr Jörg Klein presented Africa Works – a start-up that aims to help international companies operating in Africa recruit skilled African staff. The other start-ups presenting themselves at Start-up Night! Africa were Startup Lions & Learning Lions, re2you and Wingcopter.

© BMWi/Maurice Weiss

Following the two rounds of pitches, it was the turn of the audience to ask questions about the entrepreneurs’ projects and possibilities for cooperation. Enlarge

Following the two rounds of pitches, it was the turn of the audience to ask questions about the entrepreneurs’ projects and possibilities for cooperation.

© BMWi/Maurice Weiss

Afterwards, four entrepreneurs from four established companies based in Germany talked about their experience working with African start-ups. Enlarge

Afterwards, four entrepreneurs from four established companies based in Germany talked about their experience working with African start-ups. From left to right: Bruno Gutierres (Airbus), Munyaradzi Chivas (Merck KGaA), Michael Pittelkow (SAP Deutschland SE) and Sabine Dall‘Omo (Siemens).

© BMWi/Maurice Weiss

Apart from entrepreneurs pitching their ideas, Start-up Night! Africa also provided a good opportunity for young companies from both Africa and Germany to get to know and connect with established firms. Enlarge

Apart from entrepreneurs pitching their ideas, Start-up Night! Africa also provided a good opportunity for young companies from both Africa and Germany to get to know and connect with established firms.

© BMWi/Maurice Weiss

As part of the accompanying exhibition, other multipliers and companies provided insights into attractive opportunities for cooperation between German and African businesses Enlarge

As part of the accompanying exhibition, other multipliers and companies provided insights into attractive opportunities for cooperation between German and African businesses – an opportunity for established companies and multipliers to meet with potential partners.

© BMWi/Maurice Weiss

All videos

Standbild aus dem Video "Start-up Night! Afrika" Enlarge

26/10/2017

Video: Start-up Night! Afrika

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26/10/2017

Video: Start-up Night! Africa: Greeting by Federal Minister Brigitte Zypries

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26/10/2017

Video: Start-up Night! Afrika: Begrüßung durch Bundesministerin Brigitte Zypries (Originalton)

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26/10/2017

Video: Start-up Night! Africa: Keynote by Melanie Hawken, Founder and CEO Lionesses of Africa

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26/10/2017

Video: Start-up Night! Africa: 1st pitch round

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26/10/2017

Video: Start-up Night! Africa: 2nd pitch round

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26/10/2017

Video: Start-up Night! Africa: 3rd pitch round

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Further information

Press release

  • 26/10/2017

    News: A bridge across the continent for start-ups – Minister Zypries opens the Start-up Night! Africa

    Bilderstrecke

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