(JUBA) – Entrepreneurs in East Africa, including South Sudan, are set to benefit from a new $10 million (46 billion SSP) Swedish-backed digital start-up fund targeting technology ventures across the region. The fund will focus on Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Sudan, aiming to strengthen the technology ecosystem and foster cross-border innovation.
The initiative was announced by Charlotta Ozaki Macias, the resident Swedish ambassador, and Warioba Ventures, a regional technology firm, during a networking mixer held in Dar es Salaam. The event was organised in collaboration with Norrsken East Africa, a Swedish impact investment foundation, to showcase opportunities for local startups and introduce Africa Week 2025, scheduled for November 20–21 in Kigali, Rwanda.
Ambassador Macias highlighted Tanzania’s growing importance as a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship in Africa. She stressed that the event would break down barriers between regions, industries, and capital sources, helping innovative African businesses scale internationally.
Elie Habimana, managing director of Norrsken Foundation East Africa, said the mixer aimed to connect Tanzanian and regional innovators with broader networks. “Tanzania has an increasingly dynamic tech community. This mixer is a way of building bridges and integrating entrepreneurs into the Africa Week network, giving them access to global conversations and opportunities shaping African innovation,” he said.
Africa Week 2025 is expected to host 500 investors, founders, and ecosystem leaders from across the continent. The gathering will focus on amplifying technology and impact entrepreneurship, sparking collaborations, facilitating investment, and supporting sustainable business growth in East Africa.
Martin Warioba, managing director of Warioba Ventures, highlighted the economic potential of East African markets, including South Sudan. He noted the region’s low capital penetration, growing integration, and close trading relationships as key reasons for investing. “These countries already collaborate closely. With regulatory harmonization, we can leverage connectedness to support growth and innovation across the region,” he said.
