Liquid Telecom group has announced a partnership with innovation hub network AfriLabs. A partnership which is aimed at exploring new ways of supporting startups and promoting sustainable innovation across Africa. The series of joint programmes from digital skills training and workshops to accelerator competitions are designed to accelerate growth within the region’s tech startup communities.
A part of the agreement states that Liquid Telecom, which is a Pan-African Telecom group, will deliver connectivity to AfriLabs innovation centres located within its fibre footprint. These centres includes Nairobi Garage in Kenya, BongoHive in Zambia and BUNI in Tanzania.
In addition, the group will provide startups with access to critical development tools by leveraging the Microsoft Azure platform. It also includes the software developer platform, GitHub, which was recently acquired by Microsoft.
In the words of Ben Roberts, Group CTIO of Liquid Telecom, “Liquid Telecom is passionate about scaling startups across Africa. Through our Innovation Partnerships initiative, we’ve already supported many inspirational startups over the last year, who are using technology to help solve African problems,”
“This new partnership with AfriLabs will really help push our initiative to the next level – both in terms of raising Liquid Telecom’s profile within Africa’s tech ecosystem and improving our ability to support the region’s start-ups with the resources they need to successfully bring solutions to market.”
While the Executive director of AfriLabs, Anna Ekeledo, affirmed that “AfriLabs is happy to partner with an organisation like Liquid Telecom that shares the same passion to build the African technology and entrepreneurial ecosystem by empowering the youth with valuable tools like internet connectivity, cloud services and access to opportunities to grow their businesses,”
Startups need all the support and training they can get to run a successful business. This is especially in Africa, which proves to be a very dynamic market. So, Liquid Telecom and Afrinollys’ partnership is just right for the continent ecosystem.