Pan-African hub network, AfriLabs, has increased its membership from 100 to 123, with five Nigerian tech hubs among the newly admitted into the ever-growing network. Enovate Lab (Kano), Heartland Incubation Hub (Owerri), GoDo.ng (Lagos), Tomruk iHub (Jos), and Fastlaunch Incubator (Lagos) are the newest Nigerian members of the network.
One more reason your tech hub should join the @AfriLabs network. This is a huge benefit for your entrepreneurs! Access a US office physically or virtually. https://t.co/AGiGKIUmNs
— Rebecca Enonchong (@africatechie) May 2, 2018
But they are not the only ones though as 18 other tech hubs from across Africa have also joined the 7 year-old network. This brings the total number of Afrilabs hubs to 123, a new milestone after crossing the 100 hub membership mark back in June 2018.
Now there’s a reason for this rapid growth in membership.
AfriLabs is an innovation capacity builder founded in 2011. Its vision is to create a community around fast rising tech hubs across Africa. It aims to “open collaboration, African made solutions and jobs for all, driven by technology, innovation and entrepreneurship.”
@AfriLabs is pleased to announce tech giant @IBM as a 'Key Partner' of the #AG18 X #SS18. AfriLabs in collaboration with IBM will expand IBM's Digital – Nation Africa (D – NA) programme. #Hubs #Technology #Innovation #Africa #Disruption pic.twitter.com/hMgOQ7EPLw
— AfriLabs (@AfriLabs) October 7, 2018
The network started out seven years ago with just five hubs as partners. Membership grew steadily as more partner hubs joined the network and by June this year, it had 100 partner hubs. Now, it boasts 123 members spanning 30 African countries, thus making it easy for startups and hubs to share information and collaborate on projects.
Executive Director at AfriLabs, Anna Ekeledo expressed her delight with the new additions.
“We are excited to have these new members join our AfriLabs family as well as extend our reach to more African countries,” she said. “We believe that we are moving closer to an integrated and prosperous continent fostered by open collaboration, innovation and entrepreneurship and driven by hubs and their communities across Africa.”
I/O Spaces partners with @AfriLabs to provide #African #startups with US office space @IOSpaces https://t.co/vPfahyghGt pic.twitter.com/hW9Ikx5wwe
— AfricaBizz (@AfricaBizz) May 2, 2018
Over the years, AfriLabs has organized several meetups and networking events for African tech accelerators. It also routinely supports hubs with resources to aid startups in their cadre.
The rising number of hubs in its network is testament to the entrepreneurial zeal in Africa. But numbers alone isn’t what
AfriLab is about. Productivity through actual collaboration remains the ultimate aim and over the years, AfriLabs has provided this.