African youth tech entrepreneurs tour Korea for tech benchmarking

Representing eight African nations—Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, and Uganda—the delegates span diverse technological sectors, including agritech and health. Their ambitious itinerary includes visits to prestigious institutions such as the Global Startup Centre, LG Science Park, the Korea Software Technology Association, unicorn companies with valuations exceeding $1 billion, and the Global Digital Innovation Network, a foundation supporting the expansion of South Korea’s tech startups.

Uche Ezadinachi, the founder of Kenya-based health technology venture Zuri Health, expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity. “I am excited to go to Korea because the country has made serious technological developments. The [country] is a technology-driven society, and this tour is an opportunity for me to see how we can bring such technology to Africa,” she said.

“We will share experiences with our Korean counterparts; they will learn from us as much as we learn from them,” she added.

The delegation, which is more than one-third women and entirely composed of entrepreneurs aged 18 to 35, will participate in several high-profile events, including, the K Startup Grand Challenge, an accelerator program supported by the South Korean government, the Africa Innovation Networking Gala, and COMEUP Korea, an event connecting Korean startups with global investors, corporations, and media.

David Chen, co-founder of Rwandan health data venture Kapsule, highlighted the tour’s potential for relationship-building. “This is an opportunity for us to have face-to-face interactions and build relationships. This trip will help us link with other health technology companies operating in Asia,” he said.

Financially supported by the Korea-Africa Economic Cooperation Trust Fund, the Africa Tech Startup Forum is part of the African Development Bank’s broader Jobs for Youth in Africa Strategy.

The Bank’s Director of Human Capital, Youth, and Skills Development, Martha Phiri underscored the program’s significance.

“This is a pivotal initiative that plays a crucial role in enhancing the skills of young entrepreneurs. These skills will empower young entrepreneurs to expand their ventures, which leads to significant employment creation,” she stated.

Ndeye Absa Gningue, Innovation Platform Officer, managing the Bank’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Lab, said: “Platforms like the Africa Tech Startup Forum provide young people with the opportunity to nurture their potential. We will continue to work with them so they can blossom.”