A South African AI-based language technology platform is one of 10 startup companies from seven African countries that have been selected to pitch their products to a panel of international industry leaders at a Demo Day at the NBA headquarters in New York City.
NBA Africa made the selection of companies from the Triple-Double: NBA Africa Startup Accelerator, which the league launched in April 2024 to support Africa’s technology ecosystem and the next generation of African entrepreneurs.
Vambo Technologies, the only South African finalist, leverages AI to provide real-time translation, content creation, and language learning technology. It offers widely spoken languages such as Amharic, Yoruba, French and Portuguese, as well as more niche languages spoken across Africa. Its aim is to facilitate true digital inclusion on the continent.
Vambo Technologies (South Africa) as one of the 10 African start up finalist
At the event in New York on 25 September, the panel will determine four winning companies that will be awarded financial support and mentorship, including an opportunity to participate in workshops and development programmes facilitated by NBA Africa or its partners. The 10 startups that will compete for the four prize-winning spots are:
- Backrest (Rwanda) provides a wearable technology solution called WristWrist for venues and event organizers to facilitate cashless payments at event venues. WristWrist provides a payment system whereby attendees can load money onto wristbands before an event and spend it at the event venue through seamless, quick transactions.
- Buzza (Nigeria) helps sports organizations improve their operations through digital solutions, including enabling organizations to transition from paper-based to digital management, setting up websites, collecting payment, and growing revenue. Athletes can also sign up for the platform to track their matches and scores and build their profiles to become more prominent sports figures and influencers across Africa.
- Festival Coins (Nigeria) is an event technology company that offers a customizable, no-code event registration and ticketing platform called Tix Africa for events in Nigeria and Ghana. It enables event organizers to sell tickets online, process payments, and handle on-site registrations.
- Gara (Côte d’Ivoire) is a pan-African video gaming and comics platform that encourages and facilitates the distribution of digital entertainment experiences on the continent. Through culturally relevant products, including games featuring local celebrities and adaptable payment systems for local currencies, Gara aims to facilitate greater reach and monetization of the creative and cultural industries on the continent.
- HustleSasa (Kenya) provides live event services that support payment processing, attendee check-in, merchandise sales, customer data management, influencer tracking, and more.
- Naemo Global (Nigeria) aims to revolutionize sports scouting on the African continent through its proprietary scouting software Afriskaut, which utilizes data analytics and AI. The Afriskaut platform processes football match videos and extracts critical data, which it makes available to clients via a platform and application programming interface (API) to support scouting the next generation of elite talent.
- Power to Girls Foundation (Ghana) provides a social connection and mentorship platform called My Power App dedicated to empowering and supporting girls and women ages 13-20. The platform provides educational resources, connects users with mentors, offers a confidential helpline, and fosters a supportive community of like-minded girls, addressing critical growth areas such as education, mental health, and personal development.
- Salubata (Nigeria) creates modular shoes repurposed from plastic waste. With a global patent and two design rights for its innovation, the company aims to reduce the global carbon footprint through its environmentally friendly products.
- UBR VR (Egypt) delivers state-of-the-art, fully immersive, in-person virtual reality (VR) experiences across Egypt. Its rich historical and fantasy VR worlds are culturally relevant and localized, allowing players to roam freely in enclosed spaces and interact with each other in a designated play area. These VR experiences are unparalleled in the country and foster a sense of connection to both the local community and fellow players.
- Vambo Technologies (South Africa) provides a digital language technology platform that leverages AI to provide real-time translation, content creation, and language learning technology. Not only does Vambo AI offer widely spoken languages such as Amharic, Yoruba, French and Portuguese, it also offers more niche languages spoken across Africa to facilitate true digital inclusion on the continent.
“We have been inspired by the level of talent and creativity from all of the applicants,” said NBA Africa CEO Clare Akamanzi. “NBA Africa is committed to supporting the continued growth of startups on the continent, including the four prize-winners whose innovative solutions will further elevate the sport and creative industries in Africa for years to come.”
Operated by ALX Ventures, the Triple-Double: NBA Africa Startup Accelerator was open to early-stage startups in Africa that develop solutions in event management and ticketing, youth development, AI, and digital marketing. The initiative will support Africa’s tech ecosystem and the next generation of African tech entrepreneurs by providing them with access to mentorship and capital that will help drive growth in the sports and creative industries.