By Patrick Chiriba

The AfricArena Grand Summit, the continent's premier tech and innovation event, is set to showcase Africa’s burgeoning tech ecosystem from December 3-4, 2024, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

This year's event marks the 7th edition of the summit, gathering over 600 investors and innovative startups under one roof. 

The summit will highlight cutting-edge solutions from more than 50 startups across 31 African countries.

These include Gjenge, an eco-tech startup that transforms plastic waste into building materials, and NextAV, a geospatial startup that offers remote sensing solutions powered by AI technologies, data analysis, and scientific interpretation. 

Prominent partners such as AWS Startups, TotalEnergies, and GIZ SAIS are backing the event, with TotalEnergies hosting the Grand Startupper Challenge—a platform for top innovators to pitch transformative ideas on a global stage. 

Attendees will hear from thought leaders shaping Africa’s tech future, including Maxime Bayen, Co-founder of Africa: The Big Deal, on the continent’s tech growth trends, Tonee Ndungu, Founder of Kyatbu, sharing bold predictions for Africa’s tech journey to 2025, and Maurizio Caio, Managing Partner of TLcom Capital, revealing strategies for achieving global-level returns in African venture capital. 

Panels will address pressing topics such as scaling AI and deep tech, gender diversity in tech, and bridging African and global innovation ecosystems. 

AfricArena has positioned itself as a launchpad for startups seeking funding and global visibility, connecting them with venture capitalists and corporate partners.

 To date, startups in its network have collectively raised over $500 million, cementing the summit’s reputation as a catalyst for growth in African tech.