20 young African entrepreneurs from technology ventures and enterprise support organizations have begun a groundbreaking two-week study tour in the Republic of Korea.
Organized by the African Development Bank Group’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Lab, the initiative seeks to connect African entrepreneurs with South Korea’s advanced tech ecosystem, fostering investment and collaboration. The participants were selected from 133 ventures that competed in last month’s Africa Tech Startup Forum.
These entrepreneurs, chosen for their outstanding business models during a virtual market access and acceleration program, represent eight African countries—Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, and Uganda. Their sectors include agritech, health technology, and more.
The itinerary features visits to leading tech institutions, such as the Global Startup Centre, LG Science Park, and the Korea Software Technology Association, along with unicorn companies and the Global Digital Innovation Network.
The entrepreneurs will also engage in high-profile events, including the K Startup Grand Challenge, Africa Innovation Networking Gala, and COMEUP Korea, a global networking event for tech startups. Uche Ezadinachi, founder of Kenya-based Zuri Health, shared her enthusiasm for the tour. “South Korea is a technology-driven society, and this tour presents an opportunity to explore how their innovations can be adapted to Africa. We’ll share our experiences and learn from each other,” she said.
David Chen, co-founder of Rwanda’s Kapsule health data venture, emphasized the importance of the tour for building partnerships. “This trip enables face-to-face interactions, helping us connect with health tech companies in Asia,” he noted.
The study tour is supported by the Korea-Africa Economic Cooperation Trust Fund and is part of the African Development Bank’s broader Jobs for Youth in Africa Strategy.
Martha Phiri, the Bank’s Director of Human Capital, Youth, and Skills Development, highlighted the initiative’s impact: “This program equips young entrepreneurs with skills to grow their ventures and create jobs.” Ndeye Absa Gningue, Innovation Platform Officer at the Bank, added, “Platforms like the Africa Tech Startup Forum help young people realize their potential. We’re committed to supporting their growth and success.”
This initiative showcases Africa’s emerging innovation landscape while fostering collaboration with global tech leaders, positioning young entrepreneurs to drive transformative change in their communities.
