In 2011, five small innovation hubs across four African countries decided to connect their shared dreams. It was not a grand plan, just a conversation among visionaries who believed that Africa’s innovators deserved a home of their own, a network to share ideas and experiences.
The five wanted a place they could meet, speak their language and understand their realities.
From that modest beginning, AfriLabs has grown into a continental powerhouse, connecting more than 500 innovation hubs across 53 countries and 200 cities. Today, it stands as the beating heart of Africa’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, the network that links the continent’s brightest minds, boldest founders, and most determined changemakers.
From Small Beginnings to a Continental Force
What began as an informal alliance has become one of Africa’s most influential innovation networks. AfriLabs’ founders envisioned a future where African startups could thrive without waiting for validation from the West.
“We were not merely building an organization; we were building a movement,” AfriLabs leadership reflected. “A movement rooted in the belief that Africans can build the solutions that Africa needs.”
Over the past decade, AfriLabs members have incubated thousands of startups, influenced national innovation policies, and created thousands of jobs. Their work has shaped Africa’s digital economy — from fintech breakthroughs in Lagos to agritech solutions in Nairobi, AI research in Kigali, and climate innovations in Cape Town.
Ten Years of Growth and Impact
In 2025, AfriLabs celebrated its 10th Anniversary Annual Gathering in Nairobi, Kenya, under the theme “Africa’s Innovation Future: Policy, Partnerships, and Progress.”
Hosted in partnership with Timbuktu by UNDP, the event brought together delegates from more than 70 countries, including innovators, policymakers, investors, and development partners, to explore how Africa can drive its innovation decade forward.
The Nairobi edition was more than a celebration. It was a strategic moment of reflection to measure how far the ecosystem had come and to define the next phase of Africa’s innovation story.
“We have the creativity, the youth, the resources, and the ambition,” said the AfriLabs leadership. “What Africa needs now is speed, unity, and conviction. The next decade must be Africa’s innovation decade.”
Connecting the Continent
The AfriLabs network’s expansion mirrors the rising confidence of Africa’s tech economy. From five hubs to five hundred, its growth tells the story of a continent that is learning to collaborate rather than compete.
From Accra to Addis, Cairo to Cape Town, local innovators are reimagining solutions for Africa’s most pressing challenges, transforming industries such as fintech, agritech, health, education, and climate resilience. The result is a vibrant, interlinked innovation ecosystem that speaks to Africa’s ingenuity and resilience.
“AfriLabs is not just a network of hubs; it is a network of hope,” said one participant. “It is where innovators realize they are not alone.”
A New Decade, A New Mandate
As AfriLabs steps into its second decade, its focus is shifting from building connections to driving outcomes. The next chapter will prioritize policy advocacy, regional collaboration, and global partnerships that turn innovation into inclusive growth.
Its leadership envisions a future where every African country has a thriving startup ecosystem — where innovation becomes part of the culture, not the exception.
“We want African innovation to lead, not follow,” an AfriLabs director said. “This is the decade of acceleration.”
From Africa to the World
The story of AfriLabs is more than an organizational success. It is a continental awakening. A decade after five hubs dared to dream together, their idea has become the foundation of Africa’s innovation future.
As the Nairobi gathering closed, one message echoed through the halls: Africa’s innovation journey is only beginning.
And if the past ten years are any indication, the next decade will not just redefine Africa’s innovation landscape — it will reshape how the world views Africa’s role in global progress.