Matthias Machnig, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, is opening the Start-up Night! Africa 2018 today, continuing the successful series to network young and established companies in the Economic Affairs Ministry. The Start-up Night! Africa is the second event with this regional focus and the aim of building up Germany’s economic partnership with innovative African companies.

State Secretary Machnig said: “Following the success of the first Start-up Night! Africa last October, we hope once again that many of the start-ups at the event will be able to agree on specific cooperation with established firms. When a fresh breeze and fresh ideas meet with experience and professionalism, the upshot can be innovation and added value. Africa is a continent of opportunity and change. Digital technologies offer a massive opportunity for innovative business models and new jobs. At the same time, creative solutions can be found to challenges facing the African continent. We have stated our intention in the Coalition Agreement to expand our cooperation with Africa at all levels. Today’s Start-up Night! Africa 2018 marks a first step towards implementing this.”

The Start-up Night Africa offers five entrepreneurs from Africa the opportunity to present their digital business models and solutions that are also of interest to the German market. For example, the Ghanaian start-up Flippify has developed a platform for financial services using big data and artificial intelligence to offer tailored financial services to the younger generation in particular.

At the same time, five German start-ups have the opportunity to present their innovative ideas to reach the African market. For example, Mobisol’s Paygee software makes it easier and more affordable for end-users in Africa to access a wide range of solar products and the related equipment.

Finally, two investors will present their financing offers to African start-ups. As part of the accompanying exhibition, other multipliers and companies are providing insights into attractive opportunities for cooperation between German and African businesses. The Start-up Nights! offer start-ups, established companies, investors and multipliers an opportunity to network with potential partners.

The Start-up Night! Africa is being partnered by the German-African Business Association, the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and the African start-up network Lionesses of Africa. All three organisations are building bridges between Africa and Germany, and are thus good contacts for German and African companies intending to strike out into the other region.

Further information can be found here and under the hashtag #startupnight.