10th Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation awarded to Esther Kimani

Last night, Esther Wanjiru, CEO FarmerLifeline was crowned the winner of the 2024 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation, making her the third woman, and second Kenyan innovator to win in the programme’s 10 year history! Her early crop pest and disease detection device was selected as the winning innovation for its ability to swiftly detect […]

We’ve just launched our newest programme: Angel Raise Ready!

After working with startup founders and hubs from across the continent and running the African Angel Academy for the past four years, we’ve realised there is a knowledge and support gap in terms of the last mile of fundraising from angels. 👩🏽‍💻 Introducing our new 7-week programme for African entrepreneurs – Raise Ready! ✅ A […]

African Angel Academy’s 10th cohort, and first women-only cohort

At the African Angel Academy, our flagship programme for training angel investors, we’re passionate about advancing gender equity in the early-stage investment landscape across the African continent.🌍 On the 18th of April 2024, we welcomed 86 aspiring women angel investors to our 10th cohort programme. This cohort features women angels on the African continent and […]

Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation – 4 finalists announced

The wait is over! We’re thrilled to reveal the 4 finalists for the Royal Academy of Engineering 2024 cohort. A huge congratulations to: Kevin Mureithi Maina (Eco Blocks & Tiles, Kenya) Martin Tumusiime (Yo-Waste, Uganda) Rory Assandey (La Ruche Health, Côte d’Ivoire) Esther Wanjiru, CEO FarmerLifeline (Early Crop Pest and Disease Detection Device, Kenya)   […]

GenBlue final session & programme outcomes

Herland CERVEAUX from the OceanHub Africa team recently hosted the final GenBlue session to close off the 7-month programme, a first of its kind for the continent. GenBlue was a training and mentorship programme designed to support a select group of Southern African hubs to build their own bluetech-specialised programmes. Of the 9 innovation support […]

2023 Impact report: Shared prosperity for Africa

From blue- and green-tech hub specialisation, to reaching new countries, to wonderful new partnerships, our 2023 impact report showcases the positive changes we have made through our programmes and projects for African entrepreneurs, hubs and angel investors. To all our partners, suppliers, friends and programme participants – we would like to sincerely thank you for […]

For the first time, two innovators win the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation

  Electrical engineer Anatoli Kirigwajjo wins with community ‘panic button’ inspired by traditional African warning drums. Biomedical engineer Edmund Wessels selected for increasing access to reproductive healthcare for women in remote areas, with portable device for gynaecology. Both innovators are awarded £25,000. Edmund Wessels, a South African biomedical engineer, and Anatoli Kirigwajjo, a Ugandan electrical engineer, have jointly won […]

Women’s Day 2023 – Women-focused resource, opportunity, and event roundup

Viridian is a female-owned business, with a predominantly female team, and proud of it. In this blog post, we’re excited to spotlight a collection of helpful resources, upcoming events, and exciting opportunities for women-led businesses.   Opportunities for female founders: Grindstone X opportunity Are you the female founder of a tech startup in South Africa […]

African Angel Academy partners with DGGF and FMO Ventures

The African Angel Academy (AAA) is thrilled to announce a strategic partnership with DGGF (Dutch Good Growth Fund), an investment initiative from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and FMO, the Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank. As sponsors, DGGF and FMO will join forces to bolster the capacity of early-stage investors in 5 growing African startup ecosystems through AAA’s 8th programme […]