Jesaya makes his GSA mark
Jesaya Hano-Oshike, founder of the Basecamp Business Incubator, has been chosen as a regional winner for the Startup Ecosystem Hero of the Year Award by the Global Startup Awards Africa.The Global Startup Awards (GSA) Africa platform continues to establish itself as the premier stage for startups, showcasing innovative solutions, attracting investments, and gaining international visibility.
This year, the competition has witnessed a record-breaking number of entries and public engagement, highlighting the robust and dynamic entrepreneurial landscape across the continent.
Of the 11 949 entries, Southern Africa accounted for 28%, the highest among the five regions (Northern, Eastern, Western, Central, and Southern Africa), with a 65% increase in entries compared to last year, proving to be the most competitive region.
Along with Namibia, other regional winners are from South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, and Angola.
In total, 22 African nations were represented and they will compete at the regional level, with the African finalists to be announced in October at the GSA Africa Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
A historic public voting turnout saw 215 210 people casting their votes to determine the winners, alongside a panel of expert judges who evaluated the entries. The panel of jury members consists of internationally renowned sector-focused industry leaders, ecosystem enablers, and influential individuals from across Africa in the tech innovation space.
Paving the way
“African entrepreneurs are paving the way for the continent's future, and this year's competition has highlighted this brilliantly,” jury member Guido Schwartz, the foundation for Space Development Africa, said.
“The diversity in business ambitions is impressive, and beyond agritech, education, and fintech solutions, sectors like pharmacy, eMobility, and aerospace are starting to play a stronger role. These startups are making significant impacts in their communities, countries, regions, and beyond.”
Kim Balle, co-founder of The Global Startup Awards, said that the awards have shown tremendous development, solving problems with solutions applicable beyond Africa.
“The startup world is transitioning, with decreasing entry barriers to knowledge, capital, and technology mastery. African startups are now technically advanced and built to scale, especially in sectors addressing global issues. I am confident we will see unicorns among the GSA Africa alumni winners soon.”
Regional winners will have the opportunity to engage with the GIIG Africa Fund, known for balancing tech innovation's commercial success with social impact. By investing in profitable and socially responsible solutions, GIIG ensures startups contribute to broader societal benefits.