The selected companiesReborn Morocco, Fitclan Egypt, Athlon Technology Egypt, Atsur Nigeria, and Songdis Nigeriawill each receive financial backing and access to Carnegie Mellon University Africas yearlong Business Incubation Program, worth up to 70,000.
The program supports startups as they evolve early concepts into viable, scalable products that contribute to the continents sports-technology and creative industries.
Chosen from a pool of more than 700 applicants across 32 African nations, the ten finalists presented their ideas during a Demo Day at CMU-Africa in Kigali, Rwanda. The panel of evaluators included CMU-Africa Director Dr. Conrad Tucker, OpenAI Africa Lead Emmanuel Lubanzadio, ServiceNow Africa Vice President Cheick Camara, and Strategy Operations Head Nikki van Gasse.
Now in its second year, the accelerator continues to benefit from a powerful coalition of partnersCMU-Africa, ServiceNow, and OpenAIwith ALX Ventures returning as the official operating partner, collectively providing the ecosystem needed to nurture early-stage African startups.
2025 Winners
1st Place Reborn Morocco Delivers sophisticated performance metrics that help athletes assess their physical condition, uncover weaknesses, and enhance overall training efficiency. 2nd Place Fitclan Egypt A dynamic digital fitness platform offering flexible subscription options for both individuals and corporate clients. 3rd Place Athlon Technology Egypt Uses AI and mobile tools to deliver affordable video analysis tailored to amateur teams and low-budget sports organizations. 4th Place Atsur Nigeria A blockchain-based platform enabling investment in African art and supporting artists and their communities. 5th Place Songdis Nigeria Provides distribution and digital services customized for Africas independent musicians and record labels.
Driving the Future of African Sports and Innovation
NBA Africa CEO Clare Akamanzi commended the selected founders for their creativity and forward-thinking solutions, noting the programs growing influence on the regions sports and entertainment sectors.
The 10 finalists and five prize-winning companies differentiated themselves through bold, innovative solutions that are shaping the future of sport and entertainment in Africa. The support they receive from this program will help them scale their products and make a lasting impact on the continent and globally.
Together, this years winners demonstrate how athlete development technology, digital fitness, AI-powered coaching tools, creative-industry platforms, and blockchain solutions are redefining whats possible in Africas basketball and technology ecosystem.
