Africa telecommunications company, Telecel Group, is bringing its flagship social acceleration and investment program, the Africa Startup Initiative Program (ASIP), to Ghana.
Supported by Startupbootcamp AfriTech, the Telecel Group ASIP helps develop new businesses across the continent by working with startups and early-stage companies to define their business strategy and secure funding.
Many of the Ghanaian startups who have completed their applications to join Cohort II of the ASIP acceleration program will, on January 20, 2022, pitch their innovative solutions at the Impact Hub in Osu, Accra, to an experienced panel of judges and mentors.
Telecel Group ASIP is backed by angel investors and program partners, including AWS, Google, Microsoft, United Nations, Senegal (DER/FJ), VC4A and many others who offer the top finalists the opportunity to benefit from approximately USD 750,000 earmarked in both cash and support.
The Pan-African tour of Cohort II of Telecel Group ASIP Accelerator Program event has already made stops in South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria.
The Executive Deputy of Telecel Group and ASIP Director Eleanor Azar said the firm remains committed to developing the next generation of tech businesses and entrepreneurs for the continent.
Launched by Telecel Group in 2019 at the World Mobile Congress in Barcelona, the Africa Startup Initiative Program (ASIP) in its first year offered sponsorship to over 20 African startups in the presence of African ICT Ministers and officials of the United Nations.
The first Cohort had 2229 entries, after which finalists from various African countries went on to pitch in the grand finale in Senegal. Cohort II was launched during the Africa Arena event in November 2021 in South Africa. So far, 1857 applications have been received from across the continent – 76 from Ghana. The application will close on January 28, 2022.
About Telecel Group
Telecel Group operates in four different lines of business all under the telecom industry: (1) Telecel Mobile owns and operates several mobile operators in Africa and Europe; (2) Telecel Global Services, provides wholesale, enterprise and digital security services to telecom operators and enterprises worldwide; (3) Telecel Play, a digital platform that is digitizing mobile users; and (4) Africa Startup Initiative Program supports innovative startups in Africa and offers them funding and guidance to scale up.
About the Africa Startup Initiative Program
Africa Startup Initiative Program (ASIP) is a Telecel Group social investment accelerator program to develop and scale the next generation of tech businesses and entrepreneurs for the African continent. Targeting tech startups with an emphasis on the African market, the Africa Startup Initiative Program aims to help its target beneficiaries redefine their business models and scale up with the right investment and guidance. The initiative created the first virtual accelerator program launched across Africa and has a range of exciting and successful startups from several African countries.
About Startupbootcamp AfriTech
Startupbootcamp AfriTech was launched in 2017 as the first multi corporate-backed pan-African startup accelerator. They run world-class accelerator programs, working with some of the most disruptive startups on the African continent, and provide access to a global network of corporate partners, investors, and mentors.
