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Nairobi to host continental competition targeting youth in tech ahead of French-Africa summit
French President Emmanuel Macron shares light moment with President Ruto at the UN headquarters in New York on September 22, during the 80th United Nations General Assembly.
Nairobi is set to host a pan-African competition aimed at young technology entrepreneurs, as part of the newly launched Nova Garage platform, ahead of the French-Africa Summit in May.
The initiative, ahead of the summit that President William Ruto will jointly host with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, is designed to showcase the breadth of African innovation and promote homegrown technological solutions across sectors, including energy, agriculture, mobility and finance, areas widely seen as critical to the continent’s economic transformation.
“Designed as a dynamic space for exchange, demonstration and dialogue, Nova Garage will bring together in Nairobi a curated selection of some of the continent’s most promising entrepreneurs, alongside investors, corporate leaders and public stakeholders committed to advancing innovation across Africa,” a statement from Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs read in part.
The Summit, dubbed Africa Forward Summit, will take place between May 11 and 12, and is expected to bring together top corporate executives from across the continent, spanning 55 African countries.
Convened by the French-African Foundation and the Autonomous Advancement Initiative, in partnership with Concerto and Nuvision, Nova Garage will bring together a curated group of young innovators, investors, corporate leaders and policymakers in Nairobi.
Organisers say the platform is intended to act as a hub for exchange, demonstration and dialogue, giving African entrepreneurs greater international exposure while helping to build connections that could unlock investment and scale.
“It reflects growing international interest in Africa’s startup ecosystem, which has expanded rapidly over the past decade despite global economic headwinds,” the statement added.
A cohort of 15 entrepreneurs under the age of 35 will be selected through a continent-wide process to present solutions addressing real-world challenges, with an emphasis on scalability and commercial viability. The selection is expected to highlight ventures working in climate technology, digital finance and smart mobility, sectors attracting increasing attention from global investors.
The launch comes as Nairobi continues to strengthen its reputation as one of Africa’s leading innovation hubs, often referred to as “Silicon Savannah”. Kenya has seen sustained growth in startup formation, supported by a relatively mature digital infrastructure, widespread mobile money adoption and a network of innovation hubs and accelerators.
The city is also home to regional headquarters for several global technology companies and has attracted significant venture capital funding in recent years, positioning it as a gateway for investment into East Africa.
Beyond the summit, organisers say Nova Garage is expected to evolve into a longer-term platform supporting African entrepreneurship, fostering cross-border collaboration and deepening economic and technological ties between African innovators and global partners.
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