Tosin Eniolorunda, founder and Group Chief Executive Officer of Moniepoint, has been appointed honorary chairman of the first cohort of the Askya AI Growth Platform, a pan-African programme aimed at supporting African artificial intelligence startups.
Launched by Askya Investment Partners, the initiative will provide up to $200,000 in funding to 10 selected AI-focused startups operating across Africa.
The programme will also offer participating startups execution support and access to markets, with the goal of helping them achieve product-market fit and expand their businesses across the continent.
Askya said the initiative comes as Africa’s artificial intelligence ecosystem continues to grow. The African Development Bank has estimated that inclusive adoption of AI could contribute as much as $1 trillion to Africa’s Gross Domestic Product by 2035.
According to the investment firm, the programme is designed to position Africans not only as consumers of AI technology but also as developers of innovative solutions that can compete in global markets.
Speaking on his appointment, Eniolorunda said African entrepreneurs have the capacity to develop solutions for markets around the world, describing AI as one of the biggest opportunities to demonstrate that potential.
“Africans can build solutions for people all over the world, and AI may be the clearest opportunity yet to prove it,” he said.
He added that young African founders were ready to build, but needed stronger execution support and access to customers.
Eniolorunda said supporting talented technology entrepreneurs to build sustainable businesses remained one of his major priorities.
“Helping talented builders go further is the work I care about most, and it is why I am glad to chair this first cohort,” he stated.
Founder and Managing Partner of Askya Investment Partners, Babacar Seck, said Eniolorunda’s track record of building a major African technology company made him well suited to lead the programme.
Seck described Eniolorunda as an entrepreneur who had demonstrated how to build a technology company focused on solving real African problems through strong execution and ambition.
He said Eniolorunda would help guide the next generation of African technology founders as they work towards achieving product-market fit and expanding across the continent.
Applications are still open to African AI-native startups, while shortlisted companies are expected to be announced in October.
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