SpeedUPAfrica Bootcamp for start-ups returns to Nigeria

28/03/2017 TechTrends

SpeedUPAfrica

The SpeedUPAfrica Bootcamp is returning to Nigeria from July 5-9 with the goal of empowering a new wave of African start-ups.

Following the event’s success in 2016, the team behind the bootcamp – SiliconValley VC firm Draper Dark Flow (DDF) – will once again be providing practical solutions to everything from securing funding and attracting new users, to product differentiation and expansion.

SpeedUPAfrica is different from other African start-up events because it provides hands-on practical help from international experts including financiers, strategists and brand builders – as well as entrepreneurs who have built their own successful businesses both in Africa and overseas. The event is backed by DDF founder Tim Draper, who has now invested in more than 1000-plus companies, including Skype and Hotmail – and most recently, Swiftly and VugaPay, which he met through SpeedUPAfrica.

This year’s attendees will have the opportunity to pick the brains of senior representatives from Google, Singularity and Draper Universities, and some 60 potential investors. F6S – whose online platform provides entrepreneurs with access to start-up programs and investment funds as well as a host of other benefits – will be providing US$1 million of benefits to selected SpeedUp Africa participants.

Edem Dotse is CEO and founder of Swiftly, a People-not-present (PnP) movement of goods platform that enables people to reduce the cost of shipping by sharing shipping space (SSS). He says:

“SpeedUpAfrica transformed my business and had a great impact on my life. As well as helping me to secure investment, I learnt so much and have implemented the words of wisdom and advice, tips and hacks that I received. It was great meeting the awesome Silicon Valley folks and all the super African start-ups. I would recommend it to any start-up which is looking to take the next steps on the route to domestic and international success.”

Promising start-ups with live products or prototypes are invited to apply to participate. Last year’s 100 participants came from 18 countries and had an average of 60,000 users. The deadline is May 1 although SpeedUPAfrica advises people not to wait that long to make their interest known. The bootcamp is free to attend with airport transfers and hotel accommodation being covered by SpeedUPAfrica.

Toro Orero, Managing Partner at DraperDarkFlow, is the driving force behind SpeedUPAfrica. He says

“Our focus is on Mentors, Workshops and Investments as well as networking and socialising with like-minded enterpreneurs. We will ensure that the SpeedUPAfrica week is a defining moment in the life of the start-ups who attend.”