East Africa’s startup ecosystem is gaining international recognition as five innovative ventures earned fully-funded trips to Italy’s innovation hubs after competing in BeEntrepreneurs’ Next Generation Africa (NGA) bootcamp in Dar es Salaam. Out of 25 startups that joined the four-day program, these winners stood out among more than 600 applicants, demonstrating strong business performance and growth potential. The opportunity offers these startups a chance to connect with the Italian innovation ecosystem, explore European markets and strengthen partnerships with investors, universities and industry experts.
The winning ventures, Maritest, Lishe360, TruSource, Afya Mnyama Digital and Vortan, selected as a special winner, will travel to Italy in 2026 for an immersive business experience. During the NGA bootcamp, startups underwent intensive training, mentorship and pitching sessions, culminating in Demo Day presentations where judges assessed their business metrics, scalability and potential impact. This program highlights the growing connection between African innovation and European market opportunities, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange across continents.
Lishe360, one of the winning startups, showcased impressive growth, generating over $300,000 in revenue with a tenfold increase over three years and achieving profitability within six months of incorporation. Afya Orbit, focusing on waste management, has recycled 732 tons of waste, generating $9,000 in revenue while contributing to sustainability efforts. Saratani AI, a healthcare venture, has collected over 6,000 medical images to train its diagnostic system, demonstrating the role of technology in improving health outcomes. These metrics underscore the practical impact of these startups on local communities and the economy.
Judges for the bootcamp included experienced professionals from both African and international institutions: Noela Mwamanga of the Italian Trade Agency, Abbas Sykes of Ifakara Hub, Mariah Grubb from Renew Capital, George Mtemahanji of Waka Payments and Naomi Mattary of Africapital. They evaluated 11 finalists whose solutions spanned healthcare, agriculture and waste management. Their expertise ensured that startups were assessed not only on innovation but also on sustainability, scalability and alignment with market needs.
The initiative also benefits from strong European support. Italian Ambassador Giuseppe Coppola attended the event, emphasizing Italy’s commitment to fostering African entrepreneurship. Highlighting Bologna’s 1,000-year tradition of education and innovation, the ambassador framed the program as part of a seven-year European commitment to supporting African startups. This connection between long-standing Italian innovation and emerging African businesses demonstrates the potential for sustained collaboration and investment across sectors.
BeEntrepreneurs has been active in East Africa since 2017, operating programs in Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and Morocco, and regularly facilitating European market access for previous cohorts. The NGA bootcamp is part of this broader effort to bridge African startups with international markets, providing mentorship, funding and exposure to global investors and innovation ecosystems. Participants gain practical experience in navigating international business landscapes, preparing them for regional expansion and long-term growth.
The bootcamp’s structure is designed to maximize the impact of the program. Startups receive mentorship tailored to their sector and stage of development, learning to refine business models, improve operational efficiency and scale sustainably. Demo Day presentations offer a platform to showcase achievements, measure progress and attract investor interest. For many participants, the program represents a transformative experience that accelerates business growth while enhancing their capacity to contribute meaningfully to local economies.
By focusing on sectors such as healthcare, agriculture and waste management, NGA ensures that participating startups address pressing societal challenges. Ventures like Lishe360 and Afya Mnyama Digital demonstrate how technology can enhance food security, improve healthcare outcomes and foster sustainable practices. These solutions not only drive business success but also generate measurable social and economic impact, reinforcing the role of startups as engines of development in East Africa.
The inclusion of Vortan as a special winner highlights the program’s flexibility in recognizing exceptional innovation. By rewarding startups with strong potential even outside conventional selection criteria, the bootcamp encourages creativity and bold solutions, fostering a culture of entrepreneurship that is responsive to local and global challenges.
Looking ahead, the fully-funded trips to Italy will provide these startups with access to investors, universities and innovation hubs, offering networking opportunities and exposure that can open doors to additional funding, partnerships and market expansion. This experience is expected to accelerate their growth, enhance operational capacity and strengthen their ability to scale solutions across East Africa and beyond.
Overall, the Next Generation Africa bootcamp illustrates the growing support for Africa-Europe startup collaboration. With European institutional backing, mentorship from experienced industry leaders and exposure to international innovation ecosystems, East African startups are positioned to transform promising ideas into scalable businesses.
