African Startups Bridge to Europe Through Italy Program

When Simon from Lishe360 stood on stage at Italy's We Make Future festival, he realized something powerful: his startup wasn't there because it was African, but because it deserved to be there.

He was one of six founders selected from 672 applicants across 19 African countries for the Startup Africa Roadshow, a program that brought them to Milan, Bologna, and Florence in June. Over nine intense days, these entrepreneurs met with over 80 impact investors, foundations, and Italian companies looking for innovative solutions.

The roadshow wasn't just about pitching. In Milan, the founders participated in investor days with firms like CDP Cooperazione and Azimut, then spent three 45-minute rounds meeting potential corporate partners. They visited companies tailored to their sectors, from ENI's accelerator program to healthcare tech firms like TeiaCare and agritech operations like Pontella Farm.

At Startup Africa Day in Milan, 150 people watched the six teams pitch, hearing from mentors and keynote speakers including Albert Antwi-Boasiako, known as "The Entrepreneur Who Changed a Country's Law," and Neo Mooki, Chairman of the Botswana Stock Exchange. His message was clear: "Africa is the First Frontier, Not the Last."

The results speak volumes. All ten founders gave the program top marks, rating the experience 4.9 out of 5. Eight out of ten now have new corporate and NGO contacts with follow-up meetings scheduled, and half are in active discussions with investors.

The Ripple Effect

What happened in Italy is now expanding across Africa. BeEntrepreneurs, the organization behind the roadshow, just launched H.E.R.O. (Harmonic Euro-African Ramp-up Orbit) in Nairobi with support from the Italian Embassy. The new acceleration program will help African startups integrate with European markets while maintaining balanced growth that respects local innovation.

Glory from Vortan captured the program's philosophy perfectly: "What BeEntrepreneurs is doing is exactly what Africa needs: building with Africa, not for Africa." For Peter from Impactio, the experience became more than professional networking. "It became a family," he said.

The founders left Italy with more than business cards and investor contacts. They left with refined visions, bigger ambitions, and proof that their innovations can compete on any stage, anywhere in the world.