Applications are now open for the second edition of SpeedUPAfrica, offering startups the opportunity to gain knowledge and advice from global experts, investors and accelerators.
Disrupt Africa reported in April last year Silicon Valley VC firm DraperDarkFlow partnered accelerator 500 Startups to launch SpeedUPAfrica, a four-day bootcamp for 100 of the continent’s most exciting startups, offering them the chance to win a share of US$1 million in funding.
Following on from the success of the inaugural Accra-based bootcamp – at which eight startups secured funding – the event is to return in July (5 – 9), but will this time be held in Lagos, Nigeria.
As with last year, the top 100 startups will be selected to join the bootcamp.
The four-day event is based on execution focused workshops, growth hacking sessions, individual mentoring, and Q&As, – not panel sessions -; and also places weight on peer-to-peer learning sessions and TED-style founder talks. The key focus of the event is on knowledge sharing.
There will also be a rolling schedule of one-on-one investment meetings, dubbed a “pitch roulette”, instead of the commonly used Demo Day format.
This year there is no specific investment amount to be secured by startups – such as the US$1 million up for grabs last year – but DraperDarkFlow will be making investments as opportunities arise.
This year’s SpeedUPAfrica sees a bigger range of partners come on board to make the bootcamp a success. In particular, there will be heightened integration with Google; while Singularity University, Seedstars World, the African Business Angels Network (ABAN), and Silicon Valley VC DDF are among this year’s partners.
The bootcamp is only open to startups with a live product or prototype, and must be able to display some traction.
Applications are open here, until May 1.
