Shape the Future of African Innovation
Award by Viva Technology
The Award
This year, VivaTech organizes the fourth edition of the AfricaTech Awards.
This pan-African initiative recognizes and supports startups striving to make a positive impact in three important areas - GreenTech, HealthTech, and E-commerce / FinTech. Startups provide vital solutions to major global challenges and help foster sustainable development. Despite increasing interest from investors, startups across the African continent often struggle to raise the capital necessary to scale their business. Through the AfricaTech Awards, VivaTech aims to create new opportunities for emerging startups in Africa. The program provides privileged moments for networking and mentoring with the leaders in tech, major investors, policymakers, and institutions, promoting the brightest African innovators shaping the future.
If you missed the third edition of the AfricaTech Awards, check out the winners and watch the replay
Our Challenges
GreenTech Challenge
Solutions aimed at reducing environmental impact, reducing CO2 emissions, protecting the environment and biodiversity or promoting the sustainable use of natural resources.
E-commerce & FinTech Challenge
Solutions that can contribute to economic development of African countries in the areas of e-commerce, and finance.
HeathTech Challenge
Solutions that can expand access to healthcare among underserved communities, reduce the cost of services, and boost innovation in the healthcare sector.
Rewards
TAKE PART IN VIVATECH 2025
★ Pitch your project on stage on the AfricaTech Lab
★ Reward for the grand winner: pitch your solution during the grand Award ceremony on VivaTech main stage
MEET KEY PLAYERS TO SCALE YOUR BUSINESS
★ Pitch your startup to top VC funds
★ Challenge your ideas with top other startups
★ Mentoring from jury members
BENEFIT FROM MAXIMUM VISIBILITY
★ Be included in the VivaTech communication plan
Selection criteria
★ Innovation:
Relevance and innovation level of the tech solution compared to existing alternatives (size, problem solved, technology used, protection of the innovation, etc.)
★ Impact:
Innovative product/solution addressing an important global challenge with a high social, economic, environmental, and gender impact.
★ Scalability:
Market sizing and scalability potential of the startup, track record of scaling (target addressable market, geographic ambition on the continent, clients targeted, etc.)
★ Team Profile:
Quality and size of the team (expertise, entrepreneurship background, academic background, number of employees, etc.)
★ Business Model:
Proven ability to monetize the business model and achieve sustainable operations with demonstrated traction and product-market fit (maturity of the startup, commercial traction, number of clients, annual global turnover growth, etc.).
Eligibility Criteria
● Having a solution or product addressing the African market
● Have raised more than 150K USD
● Must address one of the following themes: GreenTech, E-commerce, FinTech or Health Tech
AfricaTech Awards Special Guest
Édouard Mendy, godfather of the AfricaTech Awards for the second year in a row
Renowned goalkeeper Édouard Mendy has dazzled on the international stage, winning the Champions League with Chelsea and leading the Senegalese national team to victory at the African Cup of Nations in 2021. That same year, he was named the world's best goalkeeper, winning the prestigious FIFA Best Goalkeeper award. In addition to his exploits on the pitch, Mendy has eloquently represented football and Africa at high-profile conferences such as Davos and the Bloomberg Summit. Outside football, he has also invested in startups (Julaya, PowerZ, ScorePlay, Revibe) alongside prestigious funds (Isai, Edu Capital, Financière saint James, BPI, Speed Invest...) demonstrating his commitment to innovation and development.
Édouard Mendy is passionate about contributing to the development of the African continent, both on the sporting scene and in terms of business innovation.
Our Timeline
- 1
January 16
Launch of the
Challenge
- 2
March 2
End of applications
- 3
April 14
Official announcement
of the top 45
- 4
April 28
Official announcement
of the top 9
- 5
June 11-14
Final on stage
& Awards ceremony
2025 Partners
ORGANIZER
KNOWLEDGE PARTNER
2024 Winners
Top 9 2024
