Backend Series

Who ever thought there would be an event dedicated to supporting and awarding startup ecosystem builders, those who work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure founders and entrepreneurs thrive? This is what McKevin Ayaba, the convener of the Africa Startup Ecosystem Builders Summit & Awards(ASEB) set out to achieve — and the 2024 edition delivered on this vision in grand style! Held from October 1st to 4th 2024 in Accra, Ghana, the summit celebrated the unsung heroes of Africa’s tech and entrepreneurial ecosystem. It was four days of impactful discussions, meaningful connections, and well-deserved recognition of the individuals and organizations driving progress across the continent. As someone passionate about bridging the gap across Africa’s growing ecosystems, I captured some incredible moments from the event and I’m excited to share them with you. This year was even more special for me, as my project, Discovering New Tech Destinations Across Africa, was honored as the 2024 Cross-Border Collaboration Initiative Winner. From insightful panels to exciting networking mixers and the prestigious awards gala, this event was a testament to the power of collaboration, diversity, and inclusion in Africa’s startup ecosystem. Special thanks to McKevin Ayaba, Setup A Startup and the amazing sponsors, ecosystem partners, and every individual who made this initiative possible. 🎥 Watch the full documentary to relive the highlights and get inspired by the incredible work happening across the continent 👇🏽 🎬 https://lnkd.in/eBZAy2Av cc Fidelity Bank Ghana, Brand South Africa, GrowthAfrica, Orange Corners Ghana, National Entrepreneurship & Innovation Programme, UVU Africa, Synertium - Sustainable Impact Projects and Transitions, Ghana Digital & Innovation Week, MAYOTTE IN TECH XConnect, CloudPlexo, Tropics Magazine, Equally Digital, Backend Series Goitsemodimo Onneetse, Nadjmou B., Spiff Moses, Marietjie Engelbrecht, Fawaz Abdul, Haouthani Massoundi, Erica Kempken, Amma A. Gyampo, Maxwell Dawson, Kristin H. Wilson, Dr Mayowa Agboola, Ngumih Fien M., Oge Nnaife, Sally Njoh #AfricaTech #StartupEcosystem #Innovation #Collaboration #ASEBSummit2024 #DiscoveringNewTechDestinations #TechEcosystem

So great to have the Gerald Black come in all the way from Lagos to be part of this + create some great content around it. In case you missed Latitude, this is what went down 👇🏾

Last week Thursday, I had the incredible opportunity to join Caleb Maru at the Latitude59 event in Kenya where we made a presentation on 2024 Tech in Review Across Africa. We shared insights on the trends, the highs and lows shaping our continent’s tech ecosystem, it was both exciting and deeply fulfilling. With over 1,600 people in attendance, Latitude59 x Kenya felt like more than just a conference, it was a gathering of inspiring minds and meaningful connections It was also a platform to explore opportunities for deeper Africa-European collaboration. I loved reconnecting with my old gees, making new connections, and exchanging ideas with people who are just as passionate about driving innovation as I am. A huge shoutout to the Latitude59 team for creating such an impactful space. I’m still soaking in all the energy and ideas from the event 😌. cc Liisi Org, Dolores Daniel, Kaspar Kitsing, Kai Isand, Daniel Schaer, Tech Safari #Latitude59 #TechInAfrica #Collaboration #Innovation #TechEcosystems

Excited to be sharing the stage with Caleb Maru of Tech Safari at the Latitude59 x Kenya 2024 event this week! On November 28th, 2024 in Nairobi, we’ll be presenting; 2024 in review for tech in Africa. Together, we’ll highlight: • The wins that inspired the continent, • The lows that challenged us, • The audacious moves shaping the future of African innovation, and • Some interesting trends that have emerged this year. Latitude59 Kenya 2024 edition isn’t just an event; it’s a celebration of African innovation and a spotlight on how we connect with global opportunities. You don’t want to miss it! Secure your tickets now: 👉 latitude59.ee/kenya Let’s reflect, connect, and celebrate Africa’s incredible tech ecosystem. See you there! cc Liisi Org, Kaspar Kitsing, Dolores Daniel #TechInAfrica #Latitude59Kenya #Innovation #Startups #AfricaRising #CalebMaru #GeraldBlack

Throwing it back to our time in Tunisia, where we explored one of Africa's most vibrant tech ecosystems. From meeting visionary innovators to discovering impactful solutions, the experience was nothing short of inspiring. Tunisia’s fusion of history, innovation, and ambition is shaping its role in Africa’s digital future. Here’s a glimpse of our journey as we continue our quest to uncover the continent’s emerging tech destinations. #TBT #DiscoveringAfrica #TunisiaTech #InnovationAcrossAfrica #GeraldBlack #BackendSeries #TechInAfrica #GeraldBlack #BackendSeriesByGeraldBlack #Tech #DiscoveringNewTechDestinationsAcrossAfrica

Over 4,000 attendees, 140+ speakers, 9 content tracks, and representation from 14 countries — Moonshot by TechCabal 2024 wasn’t just a conference; it was a movement! I made a documentary that captures the heartbeat of Nigeria’s biggest tech event, the energy, ideas, and connections that made it unforgettable. From carefully curated panels to the innovation showcase, Moonshot proved why Africa is the future of tech. Shot by my amazing team at Backend Series, this documentary highlights the experiences of the attendees and moments that defined Moonshot 2024. And yes! I had an amazing time shooting this 😊. ft. TechCabal, Tomiwa Aladekomo, Peace Itimi, Ebinabo Joshua War, Oluseye Soyode-Johnson, Nnaemeka Clinton, Adam Wakefield, Babajide Duroshola, Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, Salem King, Janet C. Kemboi, M.A, Folarin Oreoluwa Aiyegbusi, Yinka Adewuyi, Harry 'Tomi Davies, Seni Sulyman, Fisayo Fosudo, Justina Oha, Lady Kay 🇳🇬🌈, Cynthia Alabi, Dare Olatoye, Victoria Ezekafor, Jessica Hope, Patience Ayeni, Albert iloh, Faithfulness Obasi-Kalu, Victor Uko, MBA, Gideon Udoh, Zinhle Phakathi, (MPhil) Cheri Blair Alumni, Promise Ekewuba (ACIM, ANIMN, PMP), Esohe Igbinoba, Obaloluwa Adeagbo, Nelly Agbogu #Moonshot2024 #MoonshotbyTechCabal #ThisIsMoonshot2024 #TechCabal #BackendSeries #MoonshotDocumentary #Moonshot2024Documentary #TechEventDocumentary #AfricaTechEventDocumentary

At the just concluded Africa Startup Festival, our founder, Gerald Black, shared a key lesson for founders: thriving in new markets begins with understanding local realities. At Backend Series, we’re all about spotlighting these behind-the-scenes moments, how founders use deep market insights to shape strategies that work. Catch this snippet and learn how startups can make meaningful moves! #BackendSeries #AfricaStartupFestival #StartupStories #InnovationInAfrica #GeraldBlack #TechInAfrica

What an incredible time in Tunisia 🇹🇳! Had the opportunity to meet some amazing companies and connect with lovely individuals who are absolutely killing it in the tech scene here. The energy, talent and innovation in Tunisia are undeniable. Fun fact: Tunisia has been home to some of Africa's largest tech exits. For instance, InstaDeep was acquired by BioNTech for a whopping $680 million, marking one of the continent’s biggest startup success stories. And recently, Expensya, a leader in expense management solutions, was acquired by Medius in a nine-figure deal! These are just a few examples of Tunisia’s growing influence in the global tech ecosystem. Can’t wait to share more stories and insights from this inspiring tech destination! #TunisiaTech #AfricanTech #Innovation #TechEcosystem #DiscoveringNewTechDestinationsAcrossAfrica #GeraldBlack #TechinTunisia

The Discovering New Tech Destinations Across Africa project has been a success so far! Here’s a look at some of the innovative companies we’ve been engaging within Tunisia. From exploring into local solutions to connecting with ecosystem leaders, we’re gaining valuable insights on the happenings around the Tunisia’s tech ecosystem. Stay tuned for more highlights! 🤞🏽🇹🇳 Cc: Gerald Black #BackendSeries #TunisiaEcosystemWeek #TechInAfrica #TechInTunisia #GeraldBlack #BackendSeriesWithGeraldBlack

The past few days in Tunisia 🇹🇳 have been nothing short of inspiring. I kicked off my journey by attending the Tunisia Ecosystem Week event, which started with an opening speech from Sarah Ben Younes, followed by an impactful keynote and insightful panel sessions that really set the tone. Since then, I’ve been exploring Tunisia’s tech landscape—connecting with founders, VCs, tech hubs, students, and other key players. Every interaction brings fresh insights, and I’m uncovering stories that I can’t wait to share with you all. The highlight for me? The incredible warmth and humor of the people here. It’s making this trip so memorable and lively 😁. Many thanks to V3 Factory, Dream VC and the incredible partners, donors and stakeholders for making this happen, and to Med Khaled Mezghanni for showing me around 🥂. cc Mark Kleyner, Cindy Ai, Backend Series #TunisiaEcosystemWeek #TechinTunisia #DiscoveringNewTechDestinationsAcrossAfrica #TunisiaTechEcosystem #GeraldBlack #BackendbyGeraldBlack #V3Factory #GeraldBlack