Is Africa’s Future in Basketball or Business? NBA Africa’s Surprising Move!

From over 700 early-stage African startups, only 10 finalists got to pitch their innovations to a panel of global judges at the NBA headquarters in New York City. The winners? Festival Coins, a Nigerian event tech company, snagged the top prize, walking away with $50,000 for their Tix Africa platform, used in Nigeria and Ghana. This no-code, customizable event registration tool left others wondering if it’s truly groundbreaking or just well-timed.

Second place went to Nigeria’s Salubata, which recycles plastic waste into modular shoes, grabbing $40,000. Their mission? Reducing the global carbon footprint. But are they offering a real solution, or is this another bandwagon approach to the “green” craze? The third prize, $30,000, was clinched by HustleSasa from Kenya, offering live event services, from payment processing to influencer tracking. Egypt’s UBR VR, providing virtual reality experiences, took home $20,000 for their immersive technology across Egypt.

The event’s star-studded panel featured NBA’s top brass, including Commissioner Adam Silver, who addressed the finalists. However, it’s the selection process that has drawn the most curiosity. The judges, including tech and business leaders like Iyinoluwa Aboyeji and Franciscus Diaba, picked the winners based on a mix of creativity, drive, and the ability to shape Africa’s sports future. Yet, critics argue—does shaping Africa’s future rest on these startups alone?

What about the rest? While the four winners cashed in, the six remaining finalists were awarded $10,000 each. That’s far less compared to the financial backing the top winners received. Some industry insiders argue that the prize distribution highlights a flawed support system that only truly benefits the frontrunners. Where’s the long-term support for the other contenders?

NBA Africa’s Accelerator Program is undoubtedly a bold step, but does it offer real, long-term change, or is it just another PR move? The program supports startups in fields like AI, youth development, and digital marketing—areas ripe for innovation. Yet, the real test will be whether these startups flourish or fizzle out under the bright lights.

NBA Africa’s expansion across the continent, with offices in Cairo, Dakar, Johannesburg, Lagos, and Nairobi, has brought basketball closer to the African public. But this startup initiative shows how much more there is to the game beyond just the court.

The question remains: is NBA Africa paving the way for lasting innovation, or are they just scoring quick points?