African startups take centre stage in Algiers

From 6 to 8 December 2025, the Algerian capital became the continental centre of innovation and entrepreneurship as it hosted the fourth African Startup Conference. Tens of thousands of entrepreneurs, policymakers, investors and technology leaders arrived from across Africa, united by the ambitious theme "Raising African Champions." The atmosphere reflected an increasing determination to shape the continent's digital future with its own vision and capabilities.

Across three intensive days, the corridors of the CIC Abdelatif Rahal were filled with ideas, pitches, debates and demonstrations that showed just how rapidly Africa's technology landscape is evolving. The energy was unmistakable and carried a sense of purpose.

Growing ambition and continental collaboratio

The African Startup Conference has quickly established itself as a flagship gathering for the continent's technology ecosystem. This edition represented a significant step forward. Delegations from dozens of countries travelled to Algiers, making the event a powerful statement of Africa's shift towards technology-driven development.

Panels and thematic workshops explored some of the most pressing questions for the continent's innovators: how African startups can compete on the global stage; what infrastructure is required to scale new ideas; and how to finance African solutions without ceding ownership of intellectual property. Discussions ranged across fintech, artificial intelligence, climate technology and the creative economy, capturing both the challenges and the possibilities shaping Africa's development trajectory.

Earlier editions of the conference focused mainly on ecosystem building. This year the emphasis turned more clearly towards financing and partnerships. Startup founders spent the week presenting their ideas not only to investors, but also to ministers, corporate leaders and international organisations intent on supporting the emergence of the next African unicorn.

For many entrepreneurs, the event was more than a series of speeches. It offered a rare opportunity to meet decision-makers who are often accessible only through online forms and delayed email exchanges. Algiers created space for direct dialogue, restoring human interaction as a critical catalyst for innovation.

Networking lounges, pitch stages, public exhibitions and closed-door meetings encouraged a degree of engagement that challenged, supported and refined ideas. One entrepreneur observed privately that funding is not simply a financial commitment. It is a sign of confidence, and confidence is built in person.

Algeria's strategic positioning in the startup landscape

Algeria's decision to host the conference for the fourth consecutive year reflects a deliberate strategy. The country has placed innovation at the centre of its long-term vision, positioning itself as a bridge between sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa and Mediterranean markets.

Investment in digital infrastructure and public initiatives supporting entrepreneurship and technology training have signalled a national ambition to diversify the economy beyond its traditional strengths. The conference offered Algeria an opportunity to demonstrate not only what it has already built, but also how far it intends to go.

More importantly, Algiers provided an ideal setting for conversations about Africa as a unified technological market rather than a constellation of fragmented opportunities. The prevailing mood was one of optimism tempered by urgency. The theme "Raising African Champions" was repeated throughout the venue, but it also captured an emerging conviction: African startups should not limit themselves to solving local challenges. They should aspire to global leadership in areas where the continent has unique experience or natural advantage.

Africa's agricultural innovators understand food systems that support a billion people. Its fintech pioneers come from communities that largely bypassed traditional banking. Its climate technology engineers confront environmental pressures that are already reshaping lives and livelihoods. These realities create opportunities for African solutions to influence global practice.

The sentiment was clear. The next wave of innovation may not emerge from Silicon Valley but from Lagos, Kigali, Cairo, Dakar, Nairobi and, increasingly, from Algiers.

A future built on continental confidence

As the conference concluded with announcements of new investments, partnerships and incubation programmes, one message resonated across the halls: Africa no longer regards itself merely as a consumer of technology. It is positioning itself as a producer.

Obstacles remain, including limited access to capital, regulatory complexities and gaps in infrastructure. Yet the African Startup Conference revealed something that standard economic analysis often overlooks: momentum. A new generation of innovators is creating products and services not only for African markets, but for global ones.

The central question is no longer whether Africa can innovate. It is whether the world will be ready when it does.