Kenya-based startup accelerator 88mph will be sending one startup to Silicon Valley in July to participate in the Blackbox Connect Summer in the United States (US).
Also based in Cape Town, 88mph recently held their Demo Day to give their South African startups the opportunity to present to the public and investors.
The Blackbox Connect Summer ’13 programme offers two weeks of immersion to startup founders based outside of the US.
The programme will take place from July 15 to 26 in Atherton, California.
88mph’s three-month Nairobi startup programme will follow soon after from August 26.
HumanIPO reported last month on the applications opening for Kenyan entrepreneurs.
Nikolai Barnwell, programme manager at 88mph Nairobi, said: “Innovation is often born from necessity in Africa.”
“Because of certain challenges here, whether they be infrastructure, government or funding related, African technology has had to leapfrog and we’ve had to work with a little to successfully produce a lot.”
All applicants will be taken into consideration for the opportunity to be sent to Silicon Valley, as well as 88mph alumni, who will also be able to pitch for a chance.
Currently available online, applications close May 31.
Nairobi-based startups are invited to attend the personal interview session on May 30, where event livestreaming will also be viewable through the 88mph website and Blackbox YouTube channel.
With this event, 88mph aims for “startup enthusiasts across the globe… to see what kind of startup ideas are coming out of Kenya”.
