African Innovation Week (AIW) is a global movement aiming to energize innovation and entrepreneurship that brings tangible and inclusive development in the African continent. Empowering the youths and initiating innovative technologies are at the heart of AIW. Once a year, AIW brings together global stakeholders from public, private, startup ecosystems and academia in Addis Ababa. Through out the year AIW arranges different events in AIW scope, provides follow to innovators and connect innovators to investors. This year AIW will be virtually due to COVID-19 and digital solutions to be discussed will center around 8 UN sustainable goals; Goal 1: No Poverty, Goal 4: Quality Education, Goal 5: Gender Equality, Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, Goal 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development. The following 4 tools can enable you plan ahead for a better AIW virtual event experience;
1-Have your digital business card handy. Digital business cards are convenient, eco-friendly and do not occupy space like the traditional business cards. During the AIW from the 9th – 13th Nov 2020 you will be networking with 1000+ participants online and a virtual business card is a must have to keep in touch with investors, entrepreneurs, start-ups, visitors, African Innovation Week organizers and Brand Ambassadors after the event. You can share business card using QR code, by sharing the link through direct messages to contacts or on social media platforms. Making your own personalized digital business card is simple and can be done within minutes with the use of apps like Canva, L-Card, HiHello, Inigo and Switchit just to name a few. Your virtual card can have as many information as you wish for example your name, position, company name, physical address, website, social media handles and so on. Meeting new people and growing your network is always amazing.
2-Get your earbuds/earphones/earpiece readily available. Earphones will enable you participate during AIW virtual event in a more discrete way especially if you work with colleagues or you find yourself in a crowded environment. This will solve 2 major problems which are preventing the noise around from distracting you and preventing you from disturbing the others especially if they are not attending the event.
3-Be mindful of your time zone because Africa uses six time zones and thirteen standard time zone names to describe them. This will enable you know the exact time to join the virtual event. Africa time zone offsets range from UTC/GMT -1 to UTC/GMT + 4. From west to east the time zones in Africa are; (UTC/GMT -1) Cape Verde Time Zone. (UTC/GMT +0) Greenwich Mean Time Zone, Western European Time Zone and Western Sahara Time Zone. (UTC/GMT +1) Central European Time Zone and West Africa Time Zone. (UTC/GMT +2) Central Africa Time Zone, Eastern European Time Zone, and South Africa Time Zone. (UTC/GMT +3) East Africa Time Zone. (UTC/GMT +4) Mauritius Time Zone, Reunion Time Zone and Seychelles Time Zone.
4-Chose the days of your thematic interest and set a reminder on you calendar so that you do not miss any part of the event. Day 1-Digitalization and gender equality, Day 2 – Edtech and TourismTech, Day 3 – Future of work in Africa and Agritech, Day 4 – Energy and innovation in textile, leather & fashion industry and Day 5 – HealthTech and Reviving indigenous knowledge, science and technology. Below are the speakers and moderators from Day 1 to Day 5;
Day 1 of #AIW2020 begins with a conversation around #Genderequality, redefining #women #entrepreneurship, and inspiring women innovators through women investors. Speakers include;
Phumza Dyani, Founder of the PAN AFRICAN NETWORK FOR INVESTMENTS & DEVELOPMENT and International Partner at WBAF Angel Investment Fund
Nermina Ljevakovic, Chief Financial and Impact Investment Officer TechBridge Invest
Chidiogo Akunyili-Parr, Founder at She ROARs
Veronica Motloutsi Founder & CEO SmartDigital Solutions
Tosin Faniro-Dada, CPA, Director, Programmes & Coordination at Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF)
Heidi Aven Founder SHE Community
Lorenzo Rovelli International Project Analyst UN Women
Day 2 of #AIW2020 continues with the theme “Edtech’ and the speakers are :
Marit Linnebo, Founder & CEO Leap Learning International
Leah Edwards, Partner Pegasus Tech Ventures
Noella Mosh, Executive Director Future Fund for Education
Sally Kimangu, CEO Edustore Africa
“Tourism-Tech” still on day 2 of #AIW2020 and panel discussion will be moderated by Dennis Kibirev, Global Growth Executive & Venture Advisor. Speakers include:
Håvar Bauck, CEO Founder Cloud9 & HotelOnline
H.E. Dr. Hirut Kassaw, Minister FDRE Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Ethiopia
Wisdom Mawuli Parku, Founder Majora Travels & Educational Consult
Ronald Osumba Founder & CEO iGov Africa
Day 3 of #AIW2020 starts with the theme “Future of Work in Africa” and the speakers are:
Davies Okeowo, Founder of Enterprise Hill
Modesta Mahiga-Mbughuni, Executive Leadership Coach Modesta.Africa
Dorcas Owinoh, Director LakeHub Foundation
Joram Mwinamo, CEO SNDBX The Village Experts
Rahel Boon-Dejene, Managing Director R&D Group, Ethiopia
Patrick M. Karanja, Digital Economy Program Partner Mastercard Foundation
Chepkemoi Magdaline, Founder EldoHub
Leonard Stiegeler, Founder Pulse
Day 3 of #AIW2020 continues with harnessing agricultural technology to achieve food security and a sustainable food system in Africa. Speakers for “AgriTech & Food self-sufficiency” are:
Wadzi Machena, Digital Technology Lead at Mastercard Foundation
Ladipo Lawani, Co-founder & CEO L&L Foods
Eli Bleie Munkelien, Director Innovation Norway Middle East and Africa
Ronald Osumba, Founder & CEO iGov Africa
Ashwin Ravichandran, Director MEST Africa
On day 5 of #AIW2020, will be reviving indigenous knowledge, science, and technology!
Can indigenous innovation be Africa’s major source of organizational or national wealth, health, and overall advancement?
Panel discussion will be moderated by Rahwa Tilahun Yohaness, Activist and Founder of Manifold Norway, speakers include:
Samuel Opoku, Founding Partner Start.Up Lounge
Yeharerwork Gashaw, Ambassador The African Film Festival – TAFF
Prof. Kalu Osiri, Professor at Osiri University
Dr. Diran Soumonni Senior Lecturer Wits Business School, Johannesburg
Dr. Abera Molla Professor and CEO Ethiopian Computers & Software
Prof Sunday O. Ojo, Professor and Executive Director Inclusive African Indigenous Language Technology Institute
Do not miss out!!
register for the event at www.africaninnovationweek.com
Ashu Ayem Nkumbe Maureen Akorsong
Brand Ambassador AIW
Cameroon
#AIW2020