HustleSasa, an online store that offers event services in Kenya, is one of four startup companies that won prizes from NBA Africa’s “NBA Africa Triple-Double Accelerator,” which was started in April 2024 to help the continent’s innovation scene and the next generation of business owners.
Start-up accelerators, also known as seed accelerators, are mentorship programs with a set duration and cohort structure that offer advice, assistance, and restricted financial support in return for equity. Usually, they conclude with a demo day or public pitch event.
Among the four firms, HustleSasa came in third place and took home a USD 30,000 (about Ksh. 3.7 million) cash prize. Festival Coins (Nigeria), Salubata (Nigeria), and UBR VR (Egypt) are the other startups.
The first-place winner, Festival Coins, an event technology business that provides a customisable, no-code platform for event registration and ticketing, won USD 50,000 (about Ksh. 6.5 million).
Salubata, a business that makes modular shoes out of plastic waste, took home the USD 40,000 (about Ksh. 5.2 million) second-place award.
Recognised for providing cutting-edge, completely immersive virtual reality (VR) experiences, UBR VR (Egypt) won USD 20,000 (about Ksh. 2.6 million) for fourth place.
At a Demo Day on Wednesday at the NBA headquarters in New York City, ten finalists—selected from over 700 early-stage African startup companies that applied to participate—pitched their solutions to a panel of worldwide industry professionals.
Each of the other six finalists took home USD 10,000, or roughly Ksh. 1.3 million.
The winners were announced by NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum, who also mentioned that the businesses will receive mentorship and financial support in addition to the chance to take part in development programs and workshops led by NBA Africa or its partners.
NBA Africa CEO Clare continued, “Congratulations to all of the phenomenally talented entrepreneurs who took part in this year’s program, with special recognition to the 10 finalists and four distinguished winners.”
“These remarkable businesses have shown they have the imagination, tenacity, and resolve to mould African sports’ future and will assist the continent in reclaiming its due position in the international arena. We’re excited to follow their accomplishments for a very long time.
Early-stage African entrepreneurs with solutions in digital marketing, youth development, AI, event management and ticketing are welcome to apply for the “NBA Africa Triple-Double Accelerator.”
