2. AfriLabs has 13 hubs in 11 countries across eastern,
southern and western Africa.
AfriLabs Network
1. ActivSpaces (Cameroon)
2. Bongo Hive (Zambia)
3. Co-Creation Hub (Nigeria)
4. Habaka (Madagascar)
5. Hive Colab (Uganda)
6. Iceaddis (Ethiopia)
7. iHub (Kenya)
8. iLab Liberia
9. MEST (Ghana)
10. NaiLab (Kenya)
11. Ndar Numérique (Senegal)
12. Rlabs (South Africa)
13. Wennovation Hub
(Nigeria)
3. AfriLabs exists to support African tech
entrepreneurship.
AfriLabs launched in 2010 by 5 founding partners: ActivSpaces, Appfrica
Labs, iHub, NaiLab, and VC4Africa.
AfriLabs exists to support the growth of communities around African
technology hubs and to encourage expansion of the network by providing
tools and resources for emerging hubs.
We do this by providing best practices, mentoring, networking
opportunities and other resources for hub managers and high-potential
entrepreneurs.
As a network, we want to:
• understand the landscape of African technology entrepreneurship
• identify our highest/best use
• work with partners to build the ecosystem Critical
4. We have core principles that shape who we are and
what we do…
1 Encourage technology innovation and entrepreneurship in all forms.
Promote the creation of African-made technology, with a special
2 focus on the web and mobile sectors.
Provide an environment characterized by open collaboration, technical
3 innovation and support for the community at large.
Demonstrate commitment to mentorship, networking and forming bonds
4 that will serve as building blocks for a new generation of thinking.
6. In the coming months, AfriLabs needs to learn,
connect, and execute…
What do hubs need?
What does AfriLabs want to
Learn
Learn Which programs are effective?
achieve?
How can stakeholders engage? What does effective
implementation look like?
What partnerships are useful?
AfriLabs
AfriLabs What resources are needed?
How can hubs work together?
Connect
Connect Execute
Execute
In order to link specific activities to our strategic priorities.
7. Key activities over the next 6-12 months will include…
Learn
Learn
AfriLabs
AfriLabs
Connect
Connect Execute
Execute
Learn Connect Execute
Understand network needs Create collaboration platform Engage in impactful activities
Speak to AfriLabs members Pilot platform for inter-hub Broker new partnerships
Speak to key stakeholders exchange, knowledge sharing Execute projects such as
and potential partners and collaboration virtual incubation pilot with
Speak to potential Bring AfriLabs network infoDev
members* together for annual meeting Recruit new members
@ re:publica Share stories via website,
twitter, FB
8. AfriLabs needs big ideas that can shape the African tech
ecosystem.
GOT IDEAS? WE’RE LISTENING!
Building a global
network
10. You can apply for membership on the AfriLabs website.
Demographic Information: Content questions:
Name Workspace
Email address Activities in public forum
Phone number # events hosted
Name of lab Staff capacity
Lab’s website address Support for visiting entrepreneurs
Street address
Qualified management team
Country
Registered accounts
City Documented success story
Date lab began operations Reason for applying
Number of registered What you hope to gain
accounts
What you can contribute
Support for core principles
11. Applications are reviewed/approved by the Director and
the AfriLabs board.
Hub meets
requirements? YES NO
AfriLabs currently has three tiers of membership, which are under review.
Tier 1 New
Tier 2 Growing
Tier 3 Mature
12. AfriLabs is committed to building a community that will
shape the ecosystem for African tech
entrepreneurship…
So, if you are a/an….
African tech/innovation hub Apply to become an AfriLabs member; leverage AfriLabs
expertise to build your hub and support your members
Corporate Collaborate with AfriLabs hubs to build the tech
community, and engage budding technoproneurs
Foundation Support AfriLabs’ activities via operational, program, and
resource support
Academic institution Create knowledge-sharing partnerships; support ongoing
research on ICT hubs and the innovation ecosystem
Investor Connect with the network to source and support
entrepreneurs
Miscellaneous Get in touch! We’re open to new ideas for collaboration
After reading the job description and doing a bit of research, this was one of my first thoughts. Creating a network of African entrepreneurship/innovation hubs solves a big problem for those who support African entrepreneurship. With the launch of AfriLabs, members of the entrepreneurship community will know where to go when they want to find investible businesses, connect with like-minded technologists, provide support services to talented African entrepreneurs, launch new hubs, co-develop events and programs, or just experience a sense of community. Additionally, the hubs and their members will have access to each other, potentially unleashing a powerful exchange of resources and knowledge. However, a poorly-managed network could potentially “get in the way” of real work, imposing structure from above, and disrupting the organic evolution of each hub. Thus, it will be important to balance the opportunity presented by pooled resources with the challenge of maintaining the flexibility and identity of each hub.
This is a very high level overview of what I would do, and what I would prioritize. These are preliminary thoughts that are very open to challenge and discussion.
