Marrakech is set to welcome the second edition of GITEX Africa from May 29 to 31, 2024. Organized by the Dubai World Trade Centre, this year’s Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) aims to bring around 100 Nigerian tech companies to showcase their innovations and compete for substantial prizes.
At a stakeholders meeting on February 27, the organizers announced plans to expand Nigeria’s participation in the event. They highlighted the significant role Nigerian tech startups have played in developing Africa’s tech ecosystem in recent years. Last year, 70 Nigerian startups out of 450 global participants attended the inaugural GITEX edition.
Participating startups will have the opportunity to vie for a $100,000 prize for the most compelling innovation and other awards, including the Young African CEO Award, which comes with a monetary prize. The 100 Nigerian startups were selected from accelerators and other stakeholders working with the Dubai World Trade Centre. GITEX Africa offers a platform for startups to present their innovations to a diverse group of investors from different countries, learn from experienced entrepreneurs and founders, and interact with regulators on the continent.
Post-event onboarding includes matching startups with investors based on their industry and curating programs that enable startups to meet potential clients, including government agencies seeking innovative solutions tailored to their countries’ challenges.
The event will feature various scheduled sessions, including AI Everything, the Cybersecurity Forum, the Future of Finance Summit, GITEX Impact Africa, and World Future Health Africa. The launch of the World Future Health Africa session aims to bring more attention to the digital health space, which has the potential to provide affordable and accessible healthcare. However, funding for digital health companies and projects in Africa remains low due to the complex and varied regulatory landscape, which can deter potential investors.
While GITEX is sector-agnostic, the organizers often follow market trends and seek startups providing solutions in areas that investors are focusing on, such as artificial intelligence, fintech, agrotech, and healthtech. Startups with products already in the market are preferred, but founders with tested and market-viable ideas can also pitch to investors if they have some traction.
GITEX Africa 2024 promises to be a comprehensive event, bringing together tech innovators, industry leaders, and policymakers to drive the continent’s digital transformation. The event will feature notable participants and speakers, workshops, training sessions, and exhibitions, providing a platform for collaboration and knowledge sharing among African tech stakeholders.
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