NBA Africa has announced the second edition of the Triple-Double Startup Accelerator programme that the league launched last year to support the continent’s technology ecosystem and the next generation of African entrepreneurs.
The startup accelerator, which awards financial support and mentorship to early-stage African startup companies that develop solutions in the sport and creative industries, will once again be operated by ALX Ventures, a leading technology incubator that provides the continent’s tech leaders with access to the skills and tools to launch and scale their startups.
NBA Africa has also announced ServiceNow, an AI platform for business transformation whose Now Assist and AI agents help organisations deliver faster and smarter experiences at scale, as an Official Partner of the programme.
Beginning today through Friday, August 29, startups can apply to participate after which the submissions will be narrowed down to a top 10. The shortlisted startups will then participate in a 10-week mentorship programme where they will be paired with mentors comprised of NBA Africa, ServiceNow and ALX leadership, as well as other corporate stakeholders, who will provide guidance to the companies with a focus on product development, business growth and go-to-market strategy.
The startups will then pitch their products to international industry leaders at the programme’s second Demo Day in December, where the top five prize-winning companies will be selected to receive financial support and mentorship.
“Last year’s inaugural Triple-Double Accelerator programme showed how much talent, passion and creativity there is among African entrepreneurs who are shaping the future of the continent’s rapidly growing sport and entertainment industries,” said NBA Africa CEO Clare Akamanzi. “We look forward to reviewing this year’s submissions and to helping another round of promising startups take the next step in their development.”
Last year, more than 700 early-stage African startups applied to the programme. Ten finalists were then selected to pitch their products to a panel of international industry leaders at the program’s first Demo Day at the NBA headquarters in New York City, after which four prize-winning companies – Festival Coins (Nigeria), Salubata (Nigeria), HustleSasa (Kenya) and UBR VR (Egypt) – were awarded financial support and mentorship.
Additional information about the Demo Day in December will be announced at a later date.
NBA Africa is an affiliate of the National Basketball Association (NBA), a global sports and media organization with the mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball. NBA Africa conducts the league’s business in Africa, including the Basketball Africa League (BAL), and has opened subsidiary offices in Cairo, Egypt; Dakar, Senegal; Johannesburg, South Africa; Lagos, Nigeria; and Nairobi, Kenya.
The league’s efforts on the continent have focused on increasing access to basketball and the NBA through youth and elite development, social responsibility, media distribution, corporate partnerships, NBA Africa Games, NBA Stores, the BAL, and more.
NBA games and programming are available in all 54 African countries, and the NBA has hosted three sold-out exhibition games on the continent since 2015. The BAL, a partnership between the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and NBA Africa, is a professional league featuring 12 club teams from across Africa that concluded its fifth season in June 2025.
ALX Ventures is a pan-African incubator equipping the next generation of bold African entrepreneurs with the mindset, tools, and community to build impactful, tech-enabled ventures. It leads immersive programs to help young innovators turn ideas into revenue-generating businesses and thrive in the digital economy. By championing grit, creativity, and self-leadership, ALX Ventures is fueling a movement of founders who are redefining Africa’s future-one venture at a time.
