SABII – Swiss Africa Business Innovation Initiative

SABII is a joint program to foster startup entrepreneurship and cooperation in Sub-Saharan Africa and Switzerland. In a competitive scheme science-based business founders are selected based on their prior experience (own company incorporation, MOOC certificates, course attendance certificates at Higher Education Institutions or proof of business coaching through agencies).

African startups are invited to attend the Advanced Workshop in Africa in the environment of the Afrilabs Annual Gathering. During the 3-days workshop, mentoring is provided by experienced Swiss and African entrepreneurs. At the end, the eight most promising and innovative pitches to a Swiss-African jury are selected and the business heads invited to Switzerland for a one-week stay with business peers. Insights into the local startup ecosystem and creation of linkages and synergies with local stakeholders are provided by our partner Venturelab.

Swiss Startups are invited to attend the Afrilabs Annual Gathering where a Swiss – African Business Corner allows to showcase own products and business ideas to peers of one’s own field. In a preparatory workshop roughly one month before departing to Africa major stakeholders of the Swiss and African markets provide an overview and introduce to market opportunities. Participants of the Innosuisse Coaching program are very much welcome to apply!

Advanced Workshops for African Startups

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Advanced Online Workshop 2020

20 high-level startup entrepreneurs from across Africa joined the fast-track Afro-Swiss acceleration program.

Fields of business: Mobile health, Pharmacometrics, Innovative Financing and Digital Humanities

The Swiss – Africa Business Innovation Initiative (SABII) aims to boost the entrepreneurial know-how and exposure of Sub-Saharan Africa graduate-student-entrepreneurs seeking growth opportunities by offering a unique program bringing entrepreneurs to innovation hotspots in Sub-Sahara Africa and Switzerland.
Offered free of charge to ambitious young entrepreneurs, this highly competitive program comprises a 3-days workshop for advanced innovation entrepreneurs, and for the top eight candidates, a 4 days intense business development Venture Leaders program in the Swiss startup and business ecosystem. Successful participants qualified to join the AfriLabs Virtual Gathering from 12th to 14th October 2020, as well as the Business development bootcamp in Switzerland (also online) from November 30th to December 3rd.

The African and Swiss groups met and exchanged about their projects in a virtual room on Wednesday 14th of October 9h00 – 12h00 am.

Winners 2020

Congratulations to the winning African startup founders of the Swiss–Africa Business Innovation Initiative!

BACE Technologies | bacegroup.com

Entrepreneur: Charlette N’Guessan

At BACE, we are committed to satisfying the identity verification requirements of African businesses.

Dawa Health | dawa-health.com

Entrepreneur: Tafadzwa Munzwa

Dawa Health is an AI-powered platform reshaping access to maternal health for pregnant and nursing mothers in low-income communities of Africa.

Kwiky | kominity.com

Entrepreneur: Titose Chembezi

Kwiky is a platform that allows for micro-lenders to provide credit within 48 hours to street vendors and students through our partnership with mobile wallet operating companies.

Lend an Arm | lendanarm.ng

Entrepreneur: Imodoye Abioro

Lend an Arm is a smart blood bank, leveraging AI, digital technology and drones to ensure blood is supplied to patients in <30 minutes.

Mavimpy Care | mavimpycare.com

Entrepreneur: Gracien Kibala

The e-health start-up Mavimpy Care will facilitate emergency medical assistance and will play a priority role in preventive medicine.

Natal Cares | natalcares.com

Entrepreneur: Uche Udekwe

Natal Cares harnesses mobile technology and machine learning to combat maternal and infant mortality especially in under-served communities in Nigeria.

Salubata | salubataofficial.com

Entrepreneur: Fela Akinse

Affodable shoes made from plastic wastes.

SnooCODE | snoocode.com

Entrepreneur: Sesinam Dagadu

SnooCODE RED is an offline digital system that enables emergency responders to determine the nearest ambulance or hospital to an emergency scene.

Photogallery 2020

As the workshop was conducted virtually we feature screenshots from the video meeting here.

Call and Program 2020

The call for applications ended on June 28th, 2020.

Inspire yourself with information about the program (PDF Download).

This call was also featured by regional media channels:

Opportunities for Africans | Afri-Carrieres | Oyaop | Bond

Download Program here as a PDF

Advanced Workshop in Addis Ababa 2019

20 high-level startup entrepreneurs from across Africa joined the fast-track Afro-Swiss acceleration program.

Fields of business: Mobile health, Pharmacometrics, Innovative Financing and Digital Humanities

The Swiss – Africa Business Innovation Initiative (SABII) aims to boost the entrepreneurial know-how and exposure of Sub-Saharan Africa graduate-student-entrepreneurs seeking growth opportunities by offering a unique program bringing entrepreneurs to innovation hotspots in Sub-Sahara Africa and Switzerland.
Offered free of charge to ambitious young entrepreneurs, this highly competitive program comprises a 3-days workshop for advanced innovation entrepreneurs, and for the top eight candidates, a 4 days intense business development Venture Leaders program in the Swiss startup and business ecosystem. Selected participants qualify to join the AfriLabs Annual Gathering starting October 28th.

The workshop took place from 25th to 27th October 2019 in Addis Ababa just before the Afrilabs Annual Gathering .

Winners 2019

Call 2019

Eligibility

Participation is open to graduate-student-entrepreneurs and startups from Sub-Saharan African innovation hubs, with a strong link to academia, developing products or services in the fields of mobile health, pharmacometrics, innovative financing and digital humanities/knowledge transfer.
The projects or companies must be based on research or technology developed at a local university/research institute.

Conditions

The program is free of charge. All expense are covered by the program for Addis Ababa and the Swiss week.
See detailed conditions of participation on www.venturelab.ch/sabii

Dates

Advanced entrepreneurs’ workshop in Addis Ababa: October 25th – 27th 2019
Africa Market Discovery Camp (for Swiss based science startups): October 27th – 30th 2019
Business development bootcamp in Switzerland: Spring 2020 (dates to be confirmed)

Program

Meeting with selected entrepreneurs from the SABII program
Participating in the AfriLabs’ Annual Gathering 28 – 30 October in Addis
Guidance to market validation and market entry in Sub-Sahara Africa
Exposure to Venture Capitalists – from Africa and Overseas
This year, for the first time, a group of 10 Swiss entrepreneurs will join the Entrepreneurship Camp in Addis in the framework of the Africa Market Discovery Camp.

3-days workshop in Addis Ababa
Day 1: Learn to deliver a unique customer value and define a striking business plan
Day 2: Shape a winning team and secure funding for growth
Day 3: Master a convincing pitch and individual coaching sessions
Presentation to an African – Swiss jury and selection of eight candidates for a 4-days action packed entrepreneurial development week in Switzerland.

Download the current program as PDF

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Advanced Workshop 2018 in Nairobi

Impressions of the 2018 Workshop

Swiss Sub Sahara business development program continues. @ErichThaler @UniBasel_en shares the next steps of the workshops with participants #SSABDP #AITCamp pic.twitter.com/xELSVBJFTS

— Venturelab (@venturelab_ch) December 11, 2018

Successful Participants

to be invited to the Swiss Venturelab Workshop.

Accadius Lunayo, University of Nairobi.
His company Nairobi-based Til’Data LLC uses 3D computational modelling to develop more efficient fertilizers and crop-vaccines for farmers.
www.lunayo.co.nf

Chisepo Chirwa, studied computer science at ZCAS University in Zambia.
His Lusaka, Zambias-based Outsource Now Ltd makes software for businesses, schools and restaurants.
www.outsourcenow.us

David Sayia, University of Eldoret, Kenya.
His platform, Paybobby, connects freelancers with those looking to hire digital talent.
www.paybobby.com

Elorm Allavi, University of Ghana.
His company mfarmPay uses alternative datasets and algorithms to facilitate loans for farmers.
www.mfarmpay.com

Oladele Bakare, Anglia Ruskin University.
U.K. Findworka, his Lagos-based platform outsources software development and digital services.
www.findworka.com

Ruth Kerubo, Karabak University.
Nairobi-based M-shamba Ltd offers a mobile application to help smallholder farmers increase their yield and profit, broadcasting weather forecasts and agronomic advice.
www.m-shamba.net

Nonso Opurum, Abuja, Nigeria.
The aim of JaraCare is to improve access to healthcare in Nigeria leveraging on technology,
www.jaracare.com

Image Gallery 2018

Call for Proposals 2018

Topic:	Swiss Sub-Saharan Business Development Program
Date:	Workshop 10th-12th December 2018
Place:	Nairobi Garage Kenya
Price:	Free of charge
Partners:	Venturelab Universität Basel AfriLabs SERI (Swiss Confoederation)

Bring your science based startup to next level!

Maximise the potential of your booming startup with a fast-track Afro-Swiss acceleration program.

If you are an entrepreneur or a startup from an Sub-Saharan African innovation hub in the field of Mobile health, Pharmacometrics, Innovative Financing or Digital Humanities then join the Swiss Sub-Saharan business development program.

If you think your project should get a boost, apply until October 31st.

The Swiss – Sub-Saharan business development program (SSABDP) aims to boost the entrepreneurial know-how and exposure of Sub-Saharan graduate students – entrepreneurs seeking growth opportunities by offering a unique program bringing entrepreneurs to innovation hotspot in Nairobi and Switzerland.

Offered free of charge to ambitious young entrepreneurs, this highly competitive program comprises a 3-days workshop for advanced innovation entrepreneurs, and for the top eight candidates, a 4 days intense business development Venture Leaders program in the Swiss startup and business ecosystem.