Flapmax, a leading artificial intelligence (AI) company, has announced the launch of its second FAST Accelerator program. The initiative aims to support and fund the next generation of innovative companies and entrepreneurs across Africa. The announcement comes on the back of the success of the inaugural program, which saw over 800 startups from more than 25 countries apply to participate.
The FAST Accelerator program represents Flapmax’s commitment to supporting ambitious entrepreneurs driving sustainable innovation across Africa and emerging markets. “Through this comprehensive program, we are dedicated to connecting startup founders with a global community, industry-leading technology, and the essential startup funding necessary to forge the path towards local, sustainable, and AI-powered technological solutions of the future,” said Dave Ojika, CEO of Flapmax.
In partnership with Microsoft, the FAST Accelerator initiative combines business development, technology integration, funding opportunities, and community building. The program aims to empower startup companies based in Africa and emerging markets to deliver sustainable solutions. It also provides dedicated venture funding and invaluable mentorship opportunities. The top ten FAST Accelerator 2023 startup participants will be selected for a five-week program in Silicon Valley, California, to forge relationships with industry experts, potential investors, and global partners through Flapmax’s vibrant ecosystem of over 600 corporate partners.
The program is prioritizing business-to-business startups for this cohort, with the areas of healthcare, fintech, Edutech, and industrials/agtech of particular interest. Sustainability and deeptech startups are also encouraged to apply. To be eligible, startups must be based in Africa, prepared to scale or expand throughout the continent, and have demonstrated established product-market fit and revenue generation.
The program includes a two-week virtual bootcamp in August 2023, followed by a five-week accelerator program in October in California. The journey begins with an intensive virtual bootcamp designed to validate startup ideas, refine business models, and prepare founders for the next stage of growth. Next, the top startups are selected to join a five-week accelerator program on the ground in Silicon Valley to experience unparalleled acceleration, networking, and fundraising opportunities.
Several startups that participated in the inaugural program have lauded the transformative impact of the FAST Accelerator. Lekan Omotosho, co-founder and CTO of Pade, a HR technology company, stated, “The technology and business masterclasses offered through Flapmax Learn were truly exceptional, and the invaluable network of mentors and advisors has played a significant role in our growth.”
Edwin Lubanga, co-founder and CTO of Snark Health, a company pioneering a novel approach to healthcare payment solutions, said, “Through FAST’s support, we have gained access to critical infrastructure, enabling us to deploy our services at scale.”
Innocent Orikiiriza, founder and CEO of KaCyber Technologies, also praised the program, saying, “Our collaboration with FAST Accelerator has opened doors to an extraordinary opportunity, one that I fully endorse.”
The FAST Accelerator program is now open for applications from startup leaders across Africa.
Photo by ThisisEngineering RAEng on Unsplash
