NBA Africa Names Five Startup Winners in 2025 Triple-Double Accelerator Program

The top three startups also received $10,000 in OpenAI API credits and an immersion day with the OpenAI engineering team at the company’s headquarters.

NBA Africa has unveiled the five prize-winning startup companies from the second edition of the NBA Africa Triple-Double Accelerator, a program launched in 2023 to strengthen Africa’s technology ecosystem and empower the continent’s next generation of entrepreneurs. The announcement was made at CMU-Africa in Kigali, Rwanda, where finalists pitched their innovations before an international panel of experts.

Selected from more than 700 applicants across 32 African countries, the 10 finalists showcased cutting-edge solutions spanning sports tech, entertainment, fitness, AI-driven analytics, and digital creativity. The five winning teams will receive financial support, mentorship, and entry into Carnegie Mellon University Africa’s (CMU-Africa) 12-month Business Incubation Program, valued at up to $70,000, helping transform prototypes into scalable, market-ready products.

The top three startups also received $10,000 in OpenAI API credits and an immersion day with the OpenAI engineering team at the company’s headquarters.

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Winners of the 2025 NBA Africa Triple-Double Accelerator

🥇 1st Place – Reborn (Morocco)

Reborn provides advanced athlete performance indicators that deliver deep insights into physical fitness, on-field movement, and progression. Awards:

• $25,000 cash prize

• Admission to CMU-Africa’s Business Incubation Program

• $10,000 OpenAI API credits

• Exclusive immersion day with OpenAI engineers

🥈 2nd Place – Fitclan (Egypt)

Fitclan is a digital fitness platform offering flexible subscriptions for individuals and corporate wellness programs. Awards:

• $15,000 cash prize

• Admission to CMU-Africa’s Incubation Program

• $10,000 OpenAI API credits

• OpenAI immersion day

🥉 3rd Place – Athlon Technology (Egypt)

Athlon uses mobile and AI tools to provide affordable video analysis for amateur and budget-conscious sports teams, filling a major technology gap in community sports. Awards:

• $5,000 cash prize

• CMU-Africa incubation opportunity

• $10,000 OpenAI API credits

• OpenAI immersion day

🏅 4th Place – Atsur (Nigeria)

Atsur leverages blockchain technology to help investors and collectors support African art while empowering artists and communities. Awards:

• $2,500 cash prize

• CMU-Africa incubation opportunity

🏅 5th Place – Songdis (Nigeria)

Songdis provides digital distribution and support services for independent African musicians and labels—boosting visibility and revenue for emerging artists. Awards:

• $2,500 cash prize

• CMU-Africa incubation opportunity

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A Showcase of Africa’s Most Promising Innovators

Finalists pitched their technologies to a distinguished judging panel including:

• Dr. Conrad Tucker, Director, CMU-Africa

• Emmanuel Lubanzadio, OpenAI Africa Lead

• Cheick Camara, VP & Managing Director, ServiceNow Africa

• Nikki van Gasse, Head of Strategy & Operations, ServiceNow Africa

The Demo Day was supported by CMU-Africa, OpenAI, ServiceNow, and ALX Ventures, which served as the official operating partner for the second year in a row.

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NBA Africa Celebrates Bold Innovation Across the Continent

NBA Africa CEO Clare Akamanzi praised the participants for their ambition and creativity:

“The finalists and prize-winning companies distinguished themselves through bold and innovative solutions shaping the future of sport and entertainment in Africa. The support they receive through this accelerator will help them scale their products and drive lasting impact on the continent and beyond.”

With growing participation and increasing support from industry and technology leaders, the Triple-Double Accelerator is rapidly becoming one of Africa’s most influential platforms for tech-enabled entrepreneurship.